Rob Liefeld, Deadpool Creator, Severing Ties with Marvel After 30 Years

by Annika February 6, 2025

Rob Liefeld, renowned comic artist and creator of characters such as Deadpool and Cable, has announced his departure from Marvel after over three decades. This decision, which was detailed on Liefeld’s podcast and in a subsequent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, comes after the creator experienced a number of perceived indignities at a recent premiere.

Rob Liefeld, Deadpool Creator, Severing Ties with Marvel After 30 Years

– Renowned comic artist Rob Liefeld, who created popular Marvel characters like Deadpool and Cable, has announced that he is severing his ties with Marvel after more than 30 years.
– Liefeld’s decision came after a series of perceived slights, including not being invited to the afterparty of a premiere and feeling that his professional photos were deleted as a sign of disrespect.
– Liefeld also expressed his dissatisfaction with how Marvel credits its creators and how he believes they are treated, citing examples from his own experiences, including his interaction with Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige.

After more than three decades, comic artist Rob Liefeld is cutting ties with Marvel, the publisher for which he created notable characters such as Deadpool and Cable. Liefeld’s disappointment in Marvel became apparent during an episode of his podcast, Robservations, where he discussed a series of perceived snubs from a recent Marvel event.

Attending the New York premiere of Deadpool & Wolverine in July, Liefeld was notably absent from the afterparty and felt ignored by high-ranking Disney executives. On his podcast, Liefeld expressed his belief that these actions were deliberate attempts to undermine and belittle him. He mentioned additional disrespectful gestures, such as the deletion of his photos with the Deadpool & Wolverine creative team from Disney’s press portal.

His discontent with Marvel started around 2023 when he disagreed with Marvel’s decision to award co-creator status for Wolverine to Roy Thomas, instead of his friend Christine Valada, the late widow of Wolverine’s co-creator Len Wein. Following his discontent, Liefeld officially decided to sever ties with Marvel after feeling unwanted and unappreciated by the company.

Despite his rich deal with Marvel and the standard credit he received as Deadpool’s creator, Liefeld wanted more recognition for his creations. He believed that being acknowledged only as an afterthought was unfair and demanded more significant credits, comparable to those awarded to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in 1978’s Superman. This request, however, was met with hostility and went unacknowledged by Marvel.

Liefeld’s influence within the comic book industry cannot be denied. He championed for recognition of co-creators and often gave credit to fellow creators who contributed significantly to Deadpool’s success. Nonetheless, insiders have accused Liefeld of undermining others’ contributions to his creations.

While Liefeld was acknowledged via inside jokes and a store named after him in the Deadpool & Wolverine movie, he felt unwelcome and out of place during his set visit in London. This treatment contrasted with the inclusion and respect Liefeld experienced working with 20th Century Fox on Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018).

In his podcast, Liefeld criticized Kevin Feige, head of Marvel Studios, claiming Feige does not appropriately acknowledge comic creators’ contributions. He believes Feige and other Marvel executives should improve their relationships with creators and take after James Gunn of DC Studios, who is known for his praises and public acknowledgment of comic creators.

Despite the snubs and perceived disrespect, Liefeld remains optimistic, enjoying the experiences of hosting fan screenings and promoting his work. Even though he feels a sense of loss, he believes his decision has allowed him to be truer to himself and his audience.

His final Marvel project, Deadpool Team-Up No. 5, is due to hit stands a week from now. The experience, he claims, has been one of growth, learning, and a humbling “miss.” He uses his experience to remind others that not every endeavor is a success, and sometimes it’s important to share failures as well as triumphs.