Thescreescore – Ralph Ineson, the actor embodying Galactus in the upcoming The Fantastic Four, has delivered a sharp retort to Rob Liefeld, the co-creator of Deadpool, following Liefeld’s critical comments about the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The exchange highlights a simmering tension between the comic book originator and the current direction of the franchise, particularly regarding the treatment of creators.
Liefeld’s initial jab came via X, where he shared a GIF of Galactus from The Fantastic Four promotional material, deriding the visual effects as "fake" and suggesting a decline in Marvel’s FX quality. Ineson’s succinct response, "Rent free," accompanied by a laughing emoji, quickly gained traction online, igniting a debate about the validity of Liefeld’s critique.
The roots of Liefeld’s discontent run deeper than just visual effects. His grievances stem from a perceived lack of recognition for his contributions to the Deadpool character, particularly concerning a special credit request for Deadpool & Wolverine. While his name appears in the standard comic creator acknowledgements during the end credits, Liefeld felt his role warranted a more prominent distinction.
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Further fueling the fire, Liefeld expressed feeling snubbed at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere, alleging that he and his family were excluded from the afterparty and that Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige failed to acknowledge him despite their proximity on the red carpet. These incidents led Liefeld to sever ties with Marvel, claiming on his podcast that the premiere events were designed to "embarrass, diminish, defeat" him and that Feige "does not treat comic book creators well."
His criticisms extended to The Fantastic Four, with Liefeld posting a photo of a sparsely populated IMAX theater and asserting that the film suffered from a lack of repeat viewings due to its perceived dullness.
Despite Liefeld’s harsh assessment, The Fantastic Four has garnered largely positive reviews, boasting an impressive 86% critical score and 90% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. While some opinions on the MCU’s portrayal of Galactus were mixed, many considered it a significant improvement over the character’s depiction in 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.
While not a record-breaking box office success, The Fantastic Four still managed to gross approximately $520 million worldwide, despite experiencing a notable drop in revenue during its second weekend. The film’s ending leaves Galactus stranded in another part of the universe, casting uncertainty on his future within the MCU. However, the core Fantastic Four members are slated to reappear in Avengers: Doomsday, where they will confront Doctor Doom (played by Robert Downey Jr.) as the primary antagonist.
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