Despite only recently premiering its first official trailer, Marvel’s upcoming Ironheart series has already attracted its fair share of controversies, having garnered over 420,000 dislikes in just five days. Adding to the show’s troubles, Ironheart co-creator Mike Deodato Jr. has come out to make the jarring claim that Marvel did not pay him justly before moving forward with the Dominique Thorne-led series.
Mike Deodato Jr. claims he wasn’t compensated for the Ironheart series
The Brazilian comic book artist conceptualized the character of Riri Williams alongside writer Brian Michael Bendis. He recently took to social media to express his disappointment about Marvel not paying him for the forthcoming Ironheart series.
One day before the release of Ironheart’s trailer, Deodato shared a heartfelt message on his Instagram handle. He detailed how Marvel failed to acknowledge his contributions to the series monetarily. In the post, Deodato first articulated his enthusiasm for finally getting to see his creation make the jump to television from the world of comic books. “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,” he noted.
Here’s what Deodato shared:
Deodato then shifted focus to how Marvel failed to compensate him for the Ironheart series. He shed light on the impact it has on creators’ motivation. Deodato wrote, “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.”
The Ironheart co-creator added, “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. 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.”
Mike Deodato Jr. concluded, ” I hope one day, the companies that thrive on our imaginations will truly recognize the value we bring to the table. Marvel, you can do better.”
Despite the ongoing problems, Marvel’s Ironheart is still on track to come out on Disney+ on June 24, 2025.
