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Deadpool co-creator Rob Liefeld has officially cut ties with Marvel after what he described as attempts to “embarrass, diminish [and] defeat me” at the New York premiere of 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine, going on to say that he believes that the company no longer wants to be in business with him. “The message is clear,” he argues.

His decision was announced during an episode of his Robservations with Rob Liefeld podcast, although he subsequently expanded on his thinking when speaking to the Hollywood Reporter. The creator’s dissatisfaction with Marvel began when the company declared that Roy Thomas would officially be credited as a co-creator of Wolverine, a controversial decision that upset many creators and industry insiders; he subsequently asked Marvel for a special credit on Deadpool & Wolverine recognizing his authorship of Deadpool, which was officially unanswered by the company but, he believed, caused a rift in his relationship with Marvel. (Liefeld and writer Fabian Nicieza receive a “created by” credit at the end of the movie.)

Subsequently, he found that he and his family were not invited to the post-premiere party for Deadpool & Wolverine, and was ignored by Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige on the red carpet of the premiere itself. “It was meant to embarrass, diminish, defeat me,” Liefeld says on his podcast, adding, “Kevin Feige does not treat comic book creators well. That is my personal experience.”

Speaking to THR, he added, “Do I think he can improve his relationship with comic creators? Yes.” Specifically, he said that he wished the studio head had talked to him and his family at the premiere.

Additionally, he claims, publicity photos were taken with Liefeld and other creators at the premiere, but his publicist later told him they were deleted. Soon afterwards, he explains on his podcast, he decided to move on from Marvel permanently. “At some point, you go, I’ve received the message, and the message is clear.”

It’s not entirely clear what it means for Liefeld to step away from Marvel, given that he’d already announced what he described as his final Deadpool comic from the publisher in May 2024, two months ahead of the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere. The five-issue Deadpool Team-Up launched in August 2024 and is about to release its final issue February 12. At the time of its announcement, Liefeld said, “Deadpool Team-Up is the most fun I’ve had in years! I’d like to thank [Marvel editor-in-chief] C.B. Cebulski and [series editor] Mark Basso for making this a great experience!”

Further adding to the confusion, Liefeld’s return to his 1990s creator-owned series Youngblood was announced for an April launch in late January.

Marvel's regular Deadpool series continues apace, from the creative team of Cody Ziglar and Andrea Di Vito; the latest issue of that series, #11, will be released February 12. 

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