Rob Liefeld, the comic book artist behind Deadpool and Cable, has officially cut ties with Marvel after more than 30 years. The Deadpool creator blasted Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige and accused the company of treating comic book creators poorly. Liefeld made his grievances public in a fiery 90-minute episode of his Robservations podcast and a follow-up interview with The Hollywood Reporter, detailing what he perceives as repeated slights—including his snub at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere.
Marvel’s Cold Shoulder at the Premiere
Liefeld attended the July premiere of Deadpool & Wolverine, only to find out that he and his family were not invited to the afterparty—a major departure from his past experiences with the franchise. Adding insult to injury, he says Marvel executives, including Kevin Feige, ignored him entirely, despite being near him on the red carpet.
Not so much as a single handshake. Classless. https://t.co/tbAMuc88wq
— robliefeld (@robertliefeld) February 6, 2025
“It was meant to embarrass, diminish, defeat me,” Liefeld fumed on his podcast.
His frustration grew when he learned that professional photos taken of him with members of the Deadpool & Wolverine team were later deleted. While some images of Liefeld and his family surfaced in Disney’s Getty press portal, he believes the group photos were only taken as a courtesy and never meant to be used.
The snubs confirmed to him that his time with Marvel had come to an end. “At some point, you go, ‘I’ve received the message, and the message is clear,’” he said.
Liefeld’s Frustration with Marvel Runs Deep
The Deadpool creator’s grievances didn’t start at the premiere. Liefeld had already been angered by Marvel’s 2023 decision to credit editor Roy Thomas as a co-creator of Wolverine—something that upset Christine Valada, widow of original Wolverine co-creator Len Wein.
Liefeld decided to push back in June 2024, sending an email to Marvel asking if he could receive a special credit in Deadpool & Wolverine and inquiring about his access to events and promotions. However, he says he was met with hostility, not negotiation.
Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool/Wade Wilson in Marvel Studios‘ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.
“Marvel’s treatment of creators has never been their strength,” Liefeld wrote in his email. “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.”
He even requested that his concerns be elevated to Kevin Feige or Disney CEO Bob Iger, stressing that comic book creators should not be treated as afterthoughts.
Liefeld claims he never received a response from Marvel, but he was told by his agents that the email was not received well inside the company. A day later, he tweeted:
“My reps were screamed at today, ‘We are NOT Fox!’ Tell me about it. Also hung up on.”
Liefeld believes this behind-the-scenes tension is the real reason he was shut out of the Deadpool & Wolverine afterparty.
Did Marvel Really Disrespect Liefeld?
Marvel Studios did give Liefeld an on-screen nod in Deadpool & Wolverine, featuring a store called “Liefeld’s Just Feet” in a major battle scene—an inside joke about the artist’s infamous struggles with drawing feet. He was also invited to the film’s set in London.
Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool/Wade Wilson in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL
However, Liefeld suggests that even during that visit, he felt unwelcome.
“They had me along for the ride, and I caused zero drama. I was happy to be there,” he told THR, comparing his treatment at Marvel unfavorably to his experiences at 20th Century Fox, which produced Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018).
Liefeld, who has long had a reputation for being outspoken, has also faced criticism for downplaying the contributions of other Deadpool creatives, such as Fabian Nicieza, who scripted Deadpool’s first appearance. One industry insider noted:
“While we respect what he’s contributed, he does not respect what others have contributed.”
(L-R): Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool/Wade Wilson and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine/Logan in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.
Despite the criticism, Liefeld insists he personally lobbied for Nicieza to receive co-creator credit on the first two Deadpool movies and has praised both Ryan Reynolds and Joe Kelly for their contributions to the character’s evolution.
Liefeld Blasts Feige for Ignoring Comic Creators
Perhaps the most headline-grabbing statement from the Deadpool Creator was his harsh critique of how Kevin Feige treats comic book creators.
“Kevin Feige does not treat comic book creators well. That is my personal experience,” Liefeld declared on his podcast.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 11: Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios speaks onstage during the Walt Disney Studios presentation at Cinemacon in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 11, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
He went on to contrast Feige with DC Studios’ James Gunn, who frequently praises comic book writers and even invites them to movie sets.
Liefeld acknowledged that Feige sometimes name-drops creators at events like San Diego Comic-Con, but he believes that’s not enough. He wanted Feige to personally acknowledge him at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere and believes Marvel needs to do more to honor its creators.
Liefeld is closing the chapter on his Marvel career with Deadpool Team-Up No. 5, set to release next week.
“You can’t always share your hits. Sometimes you have to share your misses. This one was a miss,” Liefeld admitted.
(L-R): Hugh Jackman as Wolverine/Logan and Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool/Wade Wilson in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.
He also acknowledged the emotional toll of the situation, saying, “It was important for me to do the podcast, so people could hear my voice. You didn’t hear anyone who was angry. At times, it was hard to hide how sad I was.”
Despite the drama, Liefeld remains one of the most influential creators in modern comics. But if his words are any indication, Marvel Studios has officially lost one of its most vocal—and opinionated—founding fathers.
Are you surprised that Kevin Feige reportedly disrespected the Deadpool creator? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
Feige likely views him as somebody who would demand money. Disney doesn’t like original creators, because they are a soulless IP factory.
“Maybe if we urinate on the goose that lays the golden eggs, it’ll show everyone how our pee is far superior to anything the original people did.”
Don’t be surprised when it doesn’t work.
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