Stop Screwing Creators!

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In a recent Instagram post, the artist Dustin Nguyen voiced his discontent with Marvel Comics, highlighting ongoing problems such as low compensation and insufficient royalties for artists. His honest comments have ignited a discussion about how creators are treated within the comic book world.

In simpler terms, “Nguyen expressed his frustration by saying, ‘Anyone I’m not collaborating with at Marvel can take a hike.’ He has been asking politely for the past 15 years on behalf of all artists. Until they stop exploiting creators, they won’t receive another cover from him.

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A post shared by dustin nguyen (@duss005)

Nguyen’s angry response stemmed from his belief that Marvel has been consistently underpaying him and taking advantage of him. He likened the situation to “minimum wage nonsense,” stating that earning $6.25 an hour at a fast food job was more beneficial than creating Spider-Man covers and receiving a few complimentary copies in return. Nguyen expressed his affection for his editors at Marvel, saying he would fiercely defend them, but admitted that it might lead to him fighting against Marvel itself – a battle we all may eventually lose.

The latest contribution from artist Nguyen for Marvel is a variant cover for October’s “Spider-Man: Black Suit & Blood” issue No. 3, which also features a five-page story titled “Dysmorphia” written and illustrated by Nguyen in the first issue, as well as a team-up cover for the upcoming “Doom’s Division” issue No. 3.

As stated by Nguyen, the pay rates at Marvel for covers and pages are worryingly low. He pointed out that an artist typically needs to earn between $6,000 and $7,000 for a cover to receive a fair wage. Regrettably, he observed that only a small number of artists can command higher rates, which he attributes to Marvel’s reluctance to offer fair payment.

Nguyen’s remarks echo a common feeling within the creative field, as numerous artists find it challenging to earn a decent living. He stated, “[Marvel] has been shortchanging creators since day one, unless you’re receiving $6,000 – $7,000 per cover, then good luck to you. I hope you’re getting a share of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and additional sales.” He added, “Only they and [DC Comics] don’t pay royalties for international sales. The United States is where superhero comics originated… not paying creators a piece? That’s unfair. This situation is frustrating. Also, merchandise like lunchboxes and t-shirts – good luck getting any of that.

Additionally, he highlighted that the base pay rates have fallen behind inflation, expressing, “I’ve requested a $75 page increase from Marvel over the past 15 years, and yet their minimum wage still lags behind California’s.” This practice not only shows disregard but also lack of foresight, as it tends to deter top-tier talent.

One point of dispute brought up by Nguyen involves Marvel’s decision not to distribute royalties from international sales. He emphasized, “They and DC Comics are the only ones who don’t provide royalties for overseas sales.” This absence of payment is concerning, especially considering that financially well-off Marvel (which belongs to Disney) is at play here.

Nguyen’s feelings of discontent are mirrored by several artists within the field, such as Sean Gordon Murphy who voiced his own unfavorable experiences with Marvel, asserting that he was effectively blacklisted following the sale of a book at a convention without Marvel’s consent. This underscores an atmosphere of apprehension among artists, as they fear expressing their opinions could potentially endanger their professional careers. Moreover, ‘Youngblood’ creator Rob Liefeld concurred by stating, “I apologize. I’ll hire you for a cover and other work.

Yanick Paquette, an artist who’s worked with multiple publishers, responded by saying, “Marvel has been leveraging its near monopoly over mainstream comics for years. Everyone else pays me more for cover work. This includes DC, Boom Studios, Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Oni Press, even some independent creators launching Kickstarters. Marvel is bringing up the rear.

The Sad State of the Industry

The concerns that Nguyen has brought up aren’t just isolated instances; instead, they point to a deeper, systemic problem within the comic book industry. In fact, numerous artists have spoken out about being underpaid in this field. For example, Zoe Thorogood shared her story of receiving only $100 for designing characters, which were later used as a cover without her permission. Although it was arguably not worth much more, the company should have informed her they intended to use it on the cover, even if it was just an afterthought.

It’s accurate that artists often don’t hold the copyrights to their own work, but royalties are a mechanism designed to guarantee creators a reasonable portion of the income earned from their artistic productions. Some advocate for artists to unite and press for improved compensation from companies like Marvel. As artist Jason Alexander highlighted, some creators are reluctant to ask for higher payments out of concern they may be blacklisted, a worry that fuels the persistent issue of underpayment.

For a while now, there’s been a lot of debate about the remuneration at Marvel. While I think it’s fair to say that not all creators should be paid equally, taking into account both quality and popularity when setting pay scales, I believe Marvel has been exceptionally unfair in this regard. They have a history of underpaying their artists, particularly when you consider the vast sums of money their intellectual property generates through various media outlets.

The accusations of maltreatment towards creators extend beyond just financial issues. The upcoming documentary titled “Stan Lee: The Last Act” portrays a deeply troubling scenario, suggesting that even Marvel’s most legendary character creator suffered mistreatment in his later life. The snippets from the trailer are emotionally wrenching to behold, and if someone as esteemed as Stan Lee endured such treatment, it raises significant concerns about how lesser-known comic creators might be treated.

It’s crucial that talented artists at Marvel demand fair payment for their work, given the company’s immense profits and Disney’s substantial resources. With such vast financial reserves, it’s only reasonable to expect Marvel to offer top compensation. Nguyen’s recent post underscores the necessity of putting artist well-being first and ensuring they receive a just wage, rather than leaving them in financial distress while their work contributes substantially to corporate profits. Regrettably, this issue is symptomatic of broader problems in many creative fields, where creators’ contributions are frequently underappreciated.

It’s important for artists to boldly assert their own rights and demand respect and fair payment. Speaking up might mean facing potential backlash, but if you’re already being treated unfairly, it’s better to go where your talents are valued. Kudos to Nguyen for standing up! I hope other creators find the confidence to do the same.

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2025-03-26 22:31