S Poddar
The mastermind behind co-creating the inspiring anti-hero Deadpool has announced his cut from Marvel, all stemming from a movement of grievances over the release of Deadpool & Wolverine.
The chasm between Liefeld and the studio was noticed after he claimed to have made public his feeling of being disrespectful during the prime event. For instance, while Liefeld was excluded from the premiere afterparty, what really got on his nerves, he said, was the slights by the Marvel executives on him, such as franchise head Kevin Feige.
During his Robservations podcast, Liefeld detailed his disappointment, claiming Feige ignored him on the red carpet, and even more shockingly, that photos he took with the film’s creative team were deleted. For the legendary comic book creator, this series of snubs was more than just an oversight—it felt like a calculated attempt to minimize his presence.
“It was meant to embarrass, diminish, defeat [me],” he said, adding that the studio’s publicity team reportedly declined to invite his family to the exclusive afterparty.
Liefeld, who has been a part of the success of Deadpool since the character’s creation in 1991, said that the treatment he received from Disney was in contrast to what he had experienced at 20th Century Fox. The first two Deadpool films were released under Fox’s banner before Disney took over the studio, and Liefeld said he was always treated with respect and appreciation by the former studio.
“Disney is the deciding factor here. To have them say, ‘You and your family are not welcome here. We tolerated you for the screening.’ At that point, I knew in my heart I couldn’t go forward,” he shared.
Liefeld reflected on his career and the relationship with the studio and agreed that, whereas he had overlooked some business tension in the first place, now he was well aware that Marvel no longer felt the same for him.
“At some point, you go, ‘I’ve received the message, and the message is clear,'” the 57-year-old creator said, signaling that he had no interest in continuing any professional association with Marvel moving forward.
Despite being ignored at the premiere, Liefeld claims he carries no grudges against the fans or the creative team behind the movie. What bothered Liefeld, however, was that their superiors appear to have been bent on sidelining him. Given that he was responsible for one of the most iconic characters in the franchise, he seems miffed at how this film played out.
“I forgive you, whoever made that decision to say, ‘Hey, you can come to the movie. [But] we’re not going to talk to you,'” he said. “Maybe you should work on doing better for the next guy.”
His leaving Marvel at such a momentous time with Deadpool & Wolverine coming out is no doubt to end up one of the biggest grossing franchises ever in comic books. In any case, not having one of the character’s co-creators attend such a triumphant celebration throws shadows over how a studio would go about dealing with its legacy.
In no way unique in the entertainment world, creators such as Liefeld have long been put to the side while corporate interests took precedence over personal contributions. In this light, Liefeld’s candor speaks directly to the friction between creative vision and major studios.
Fans might wonder whether Marvel has a good relationship with the talent behind its most iconic characters, given Liefeld’s departure from the studio. While Disney and Marvel have not responded to his claims publicly, this situation highlights the ongoing struggle for recognition that many comic book creators face in an industry driven by blockbuster profits.
Despite parting ways with Marvel, Liefeld’s legacy is forever in the history books of Deadpool. Whether or not he ever joins forces with the studio again, his impact on the character and the greater world of comics stands. As the Deadpool franchise moves forward, it will be wise to remember that words such as Liefeld’s are just as important to honor those characters’ creators as they are for the fans to celebrate the creators themselves.
