In advance of the debut of the trailer for the expressed apprehension about the company’s business practices, noting that “the compensation model” for artists and authors “hasn’t kept pace with the success” of the publisher and its movie studio wing.

Posting on Instagram, Deodato, who created Ironheart alongside author Brian Michael Bendis, itted that while he has reached a level of financial security as a creator, that is unfortunately far from the norm in the industry.

“When a character you poured your heart into helps fuel the engine of a multi-billion-dollar machine,” the artist reasoned, “a small share of that success feels only fair,” once more reigniting the conversation about what Marvel can do to take better care of its creators.

Original Ironheart Creator Mike Deodato Is The Latest To Call Marvel Out Over Its Compensation Rates

Deodato Posted On Social Media Ahead Of The Ironheart Trailer's Release

Mike Deodato's statement about Marvel's compensation practices came in the form of a caption for an Instagram post. The post itself featured a clip from the Ironheart trailer which shows the hero suiting up and stopping a runaway box truck by leaping in front of it and smashing the hood, sending the truck flipping end over end, next to effectively identical art of the same action beat, done by Deodato. For the artist, this raised complicated feelings, which he noted in his post, prefacing his criticism of Marvel with the positive impact of the trailer.

On one hand, Deodato acknowledged the thrill of watching one of his creations take the next step into the MCU, writing that “there are few feelings more satisfying.” Yet at the same time, he felt he had to use this moment to add his voice to the chorus of comic book industry veterans who are critical of the rates Marvel pays the majority of its creators, which have not increased substantially, despite the ballooning value of the company, thanks to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Mike Deodato Tells Marvel It "Can Do Better," And Explains Why It Should

The Publisher Has To Maintain Its Deep Talent Pool

"Marvel, you can do better" Mike Deodato, a thirty-plus-year veteran in the comic book industry, said in his Instagram post, after noting that "it’s not just good ethics," to deliver equitable compensation to creators, at all stages of their careers, but that "it’s good business," because "happy creators stay invested, inspired, and loyal." As Deodato warns, if Marvel doesn't make itself a more appealing alternative to independent, creator-owned comic book work, "more and more" top creative talent are invariably going to choose the latter.

The problem of fair and proper compensation is larger than just Marvel Comics, but as explained to Mike Deodato...the publisher should take the opportunity to set an example for other industries by increasing rates for all of its creators.

There will always be prestige associated with working for Marvel Comics, of course, but the danger for the publisher is that creators will look at it, at best, as a place to break into the industry, rather than make a career. The problem of fair and proper compensation is larger than just Marvel Comics, but as explained to Mike Deodato, with the Marvel Cinematic Universe and strong revenue for the company at large, the publisher should take the opportunity to set an example for other industries by increasing rates for all of its creators.

Source: Mike Deodato (Instagram)