Marvel Allegedly Has An Absurd MCU Cameo Rule That Angers Comic Book Creators

There’s no denying that without the talented artists and writers who have made Marvel Comics such a print juggernaut, Marvel Studios and the MCU wouldn’t exist. Be that as it may, as claimed in THR’s article on the matter, the minds behind so many beloved and influential superhero adaptations have gone above and beyond to shrink comic creators’ payouts for using their characters. In addition to the aforementioned “cameo” tactic, Marvel Studios has reportedly pulled some other strategies out of its bag of tricks to reduce the amount on the checks of Devin Grayson, J.G. Jones, and others.

First and foremost, the $25,000 Grayson and Jones were each seemingly promised when they signed their Special Character Agreements — contracts creators sign with Marvel to handle payouts based on character use — back in 2007 was actually split between them. That leaves them both with roughly $12,500, but, as established, that number dropped significantly. In the event a Marvel film, like “Black Widow,” features multiple Special Character Agreement-attached characters, that $25,000 is supposedly split among all creators, not just those tied to a single specific character. Funds are stretched thin, and everyone gets a very small piece of the overall pie.

One can only hope that someday those responsible for the many heroes, villains, and stories that have been adapted for the MCU will receive fair compensation for their hard work and creativity.

There’s no denying that without the talented artists and writers who have made Marvel Comics such a print juggernaut, Marvel Studios and the MCU wouldn’t exist. Be that as it may, as claimed in THR’s article on the matter, the minds behind so many beloved and influential superhero adaptations have gone above and beyond to shrink comic creators’ payouts for using their characters. In addition to the aforementioned “cameo” tactic, Marvel Studios has reportedly pulled some other strategies out of its bag of tricks to reduce the amount on the checks of Devin Grayson, J.G. Jones, and others.

First and foremost, the $25,000 Grayson and Jones were each seemingly promised when they signed their Special Character Agreements — contracts creators sign with Marvel to handle payouts based on character use — back in 2007 was actually split between them. That leaves them both with roughly $12,500, but, as established, that number dropped significantly. In the event a Marvel film, like “Black Widow,” features multiple Special Character Agreement-attached characters, that $25,000 is supposedly split among all creators, not just those tied to a single specific character. Funds are stretched thin, and everyone gets a very small piece of the overall pie.

One can only hope that someday those responsible for the many heroes, villains, and stories that have been adapted for the MCU will receive fair compensation for their hard work and creativity.