Deadpool Creator Rob Liefeld Says Kevin Feige Doesn’t Treat Comic Book Creators Well

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Deadpool Creator Rob Liefeld Says Kevin Feige Doesn't Treat Comic Book Creators Well

Deadpool creator Rob Liefeld says that the head of Marvel, Kevin Feige, doesn’t treat comic book creators well and that he will no longer be a part of Marvel.

First, a bit of history: Marvel Comics used to be separate than Marvel Studios. Kevin Feige was in charge of the films, but Marvel Entertainment under Ike Perlmutter and his Marvel Comics Creative Committee were in charge of the comics and TV brands. That’s when you got things like the Netflix shows including Daredevil, and stellar comics like Annihilation, Planet Hulk, World War Hulk and Civil War. Feige became in charge of all of Marvel back in 2019. It’s safe to say Marvel hasn’t been the same since. It’s also well known Feige didn’t get along with the Marvel TV and Comics people and that they butted heads. Reportedly, Perlmutter didn’t like Feige’s injection of woke content into Marvel, among other things.

What did Rob Liefeld say about Kevin Feige and Marvel?

Rob Liefeld, the creator known for Deadpool, Cable, and lots more, which led to the MCU’s billion dollar Deadpool & Wolverine, opened up about Kevin Feige and Marvel on his latest episode of his Robservations podcast and said more while speaking with THR.

“Kevin Feige does not treat comic book creators well. That is my personal experience,” Liefeld said on the podcast. He also told THR, “Do I think he can improve his relationship with comic creators? Yes.” 

Snubbed from Deadpool & Wolverine afterparty and at Red Carpet

Liefeld didn’t like that he and his family weren’t invited to the Deadpool & Wolverine afterparty, something he attended with the previous Deadpool movies at Fox before the Disney acquisition.

Liefeld says he felt snubbed by Kevin Feige who was near him at the Red Carpet premiere but didn’t bother to acknowledge him.

“It was meant to embarrass, diminish, defeat me,” Liefeld said on his podcast in regards to not getting an invite to the afterparty. Liefeld added in a tweet, “Not so much as a single handshake. Classless.”

In addition, Liefeld says Marvel deleted photos of him with the Deadpool & Wolverine team at the premiere.

Deadpool & Wolverine Makes The Oscars Short List

Liefeld’s Marvel exit

Regarding exiting Marvel, Liefeld made the decision in July after the premiere. “At some point, you go, ‘I’ve received the message, and the message is clear,’” he said on the podcast.

According to Liefeld, things started to go sour with him and Marvel in early 2023 when Roy Thomas was given co-creator credit for Wolverine. Len Wein has been credited as the creator of Wolverine, and Christine Valada, the widow of Wein, was upset with the decision, who Liefeld is close to.

Liefeld’s Deadpool Team-Up #5 is his last comic book at Marvel Comics, which gets published next week.

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Not about the Money

Liefeld also says it’s not about the money, as he claims to have one of the richest deals among Marvel creators. He says he sent Marvel an e-mail in June of 2024 asking to receive a special credit on Deadpool & Wolverine and anything else they could offer him, movie premieres, promotion opportunities etc. (Deadpool & Wolverine does have that “Liefeld’s Just Feet” store). While Marvel credits creators in the after-credits at the end of the movie, Liefeld wanted to be credited before the movie like the opening credits of 1978’s Superman listed Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster as the creators of Superman.

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Marvel has never treated comic creators well

Liefeld also wrote in the e-mail, “Marvel’s treatment of creators has never been their strength. Without the worlds, the characters and the concepts that we create — and in this specific case, the world of Deadpool — there are no films to shoot. No blockbusters to distribute. … I am not the easy button at Staples. I am the human imagination behind it all.” 

It’s noted he asked if his requests could be sent to Kevin Feige or even Disney CEO Bob Iger, but it went nowhere. “Comic book creators cannot continue to be relegated as afterthoughts. This is easy to address. Unless I reach out to address it, it will never manifest,” said Liefeld.

According to THR, Liefeld didn’t receive a response and Marvel didn’t like the e-mail. Liefeld believes the tensions led to him not being invited to the Deadpool & Wolverine afterparty. Liefeld also adds that while he was invited to the Deadpool & Wolverine set in London that he felt unwelcome, but he didn’t expand upon those thoughts.

Insider responds

Disney and Marvel haven’t responded, and it’s unlikely they will. An insider for THR shot back at Liefeld: “While we respect what he’s contributed, he does not respect what others have contributed.”

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About The Author

Matt McGloin
Matt McGloin created, designed and launched Cosmic Book News in 2008, an independent website that covers entertainment news including movies, comics, tv, video games and more. Matt helped Marvel Comics promote 'Guardians of the Galaxy' and 'Nova' and has expanded into movies, TV and more. Matt's scoops include the biggest of them all when he released the 'Avengers: Endgame' title before 'Infinity War.' Recently saw Matt first say Marvel is retooling 'Daredevil: Born Again,' which was confirmed exactly as he said months later by the trades.

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