IRONHEART Co-Creator Says Marvel Studios Didn't Pay Him a Dime for Disney+ Series
Mike Deodato Jr. is proud to see Ironheart on screen, but he’s not exactly celebrating.
The veteran comic book artist, who co-created Riri Williams (aka Ironheart) with writer Brian Michael Bendis in Invincible Iron Man Vol. 3 #7 back in 2016, took to Instagram to share his complicated feelings about Marvel’s upcoming Ironheart Disney+ series.
While he’s thrilled to see a character he helped bring to life in comics step into live-action, he’s also making it clear that Marvel didn’t compensate him for any of it.
“As a comic book artist, there are few feelings more satisfying than seeing a character you helped create come to life on the big screen.
“But as much as I celebrate this moment, there's a bitter edge to it. You see, while Marvel has built an empire worth billions on the backs of its creators, the compensation model hasn't kept pace with the success.”
Typically, Marvel pays creators a one-time fee when their characters or storylines are adapted, and that’s usually around $5,000, plus a red carpet invite.
It’s more of a token “thank you” than meaningful compensation. In many cases, that token feels more like an afterthought. Just ask Ed Brubaker, who was reportedly paid more for his cameo in The Winter Soldier than for creating the Winter Soldier character.
Then there’s Jim Starlin, who said DC paid him more for a KGBeast cameo in Batman v Superman than what Marvel paid him for using Thanos, Gamora, and Drax. Deodato Jr. added:
“It's not about me. It's about the principle. When a character you poured your heart into helps fuel the engine of a multi-billion-dollar machine, a small share of that success feels only fair.”
Deodato’s frustration echoes a bigger issue that’s been bubbling under the surface of Marvel and DC’s media expansions and that’s the lack of meaningful recognition for the original creators behind the intellectual property driving billion-dollar films and streaming content.
“Creators don't ask for billions or even millions. Just a nod, a bit of recognition, and a share that reflects the contribution they've made. It's not just good ethics—it's good business.”
Deodato warned that if the trend continues, more artists and writers will shift their focus to creator-owned projects where they retain control and profit from their work rather than giving their best ideas to Marvel or DC under work-for-hire agreements.
“Marvel, you can do better. And I genuinely hope you will, for the sake of the characters we love and the creators who bring them to life.”
Ironheart premieres June 24 on Disney+ with a three-episode drop, and will run for six episodes total. Despite introducing a major new character, the series has had minimal promotion, and judging from the response of fans when the trailer was released, their not much excitement for the show.
Regardless, Disney and Marvel should really rethink how they treat their comic book writers and artists who create they things that they utilize in the MCU.