Deadpool Creator Rob Liefeld Teases Legal Action Against Marvel Comics and Disney’s Bob Iger

John F. Trent |

Oct 8, 2019

Deadpool and Cable creator Rob Liefeld took to Twitter to tease legal action against Marvel Comics and Disney’s CEO Bob Iger.

Liefeld wrote, “Had a good long talk with my attorney. Time to hold some feet to the fire for some shady practices over at Marvel. Good times to come Robert Iger.”

Had a good long talk with my attorney. Time to hold some feet to the fire for some shady practices over at @Marvel. Good times to come @RobertIger

— robliefeld (@robertliefeld) October 8, 2019

Liefeld would add, “Gotta shake up that good ol’ boy network that’s been making things up as they go. You have no idea.”

Gotta shake up that good ol’ boy network that’s been making things up as they go. You have no idea.

— robliefeld (@robertliefeld) October 8, 2019

Liefeld would clarify that the possible legal action does not involve “Deadpool proper.”

Not DP proper. https://t.co/dc7qcFEGgN

— robliefeld (@robertliefeld) October 8, 2019

He also noted he is specifically referring to the Marvel Comics “New York” side which is overseen by Ike Perlmutter and includes Marvel COmics and Marvel TV.

And, for clarification, when I say Marvel, I’m not taking the west coast cinematic branch. “New York” as referenced here in 2015 Hollywood Reporter. https://t.co/Xfnl4MtWRd

— robliefeld (@robertliefeld) October 8, 2019

Liefeld would not specifically clarify what he was referring to, but he did discuss an old motion that Marvel had filed against him back in 1996 regarding the Joe Simon and Jack Kirby creation Fighting American. It’s unclear if this new legal action relates to that previous motion or not.

As artists we have to protect ourselves from practices that compromise our livelihood. I have always championed creators rights and I always will.

— robliefeld (@robertliefeld) October 8, 2019

True story, back in 1996, Marvel filed a motion against me that stated in the complaint that I created a character called Fighting American in order to prevent me from publishing it. It was sent over at 5pm pacific time, 8pm eastern, the case was being heard 9am the next day.

— robliefeld (@robertliefeld) October 8, 2019

We contacted a rep in NYC & flew Matt Hawkins overnight to assist with defending the motion, Fighting American was not created by me but by Joe Simon & Jack Kirby and Marvel had actually published a compendium of the work in 1987. Their attorney was shocked we showed up to oppose

— robliefeld (@robertliefeld) October 8, 2019

The motion was filed in a misleading manner in order to obtain a temporary restraint against my publishing Fighting American. Had the Judge granted it based on the misleading filing it would have taken me months to unwind the ruling and it would have stopped me cold.

— robliefeld (@robertliefeld) October 8, 2019

The Judge ruled against the TRO as we showed Marvel had published a version of the comic they were seeking to stop. Then Marvel filed that Fighting American could not wield a shield as he had not previously. Bottom line, we won that ruling as well. Fighting American went to press

— robliefeld (@robertliefeld) October 8, 2019

The court would rule that Fighting American would not be allowed to throw his shield as a weapon. However, that didn’t stop subsequent stories featuring Fighting American adding additions to his shield like spike projectiles.

Liefeld would indicate this previous motion filed against him is not what he was referring to when he was discussing filing a lawsuit against Marvel stating, “Old story. Outcome determined long ago.”