I was watching Family Guy, the Television show and the creator, a guy in his 30’s Seth MacFarlane happened to mention off-hand, how the show made him a millionaire.

I for some reason, probably because I’m reading some issues now, thought about Spider-Man’s creators, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.

I was thinking: Family Guy is an animated show, that Seth MacFarlane started. And it is a hit show, and him being a millionaire is great. He earned it, cause he started and created all these characters and concepts.

Now I look at Spider-Man, who is a cultural icon. Yet, WHO makes all the money off this creation? The Marvel Comics corporation. NOT the men, Stand Lee and Steve Ditko who ONLY CREATED the character. Created the majority of his main villains. His supporting cast, and story lines that have been repeated again and again, and even in various media from animated to movies. Basically they created not only Spider-Man, but the world he operates in.

Let’s face it: It is a Billion Dollar idea and creation.

And while Lee, good for him, has made his millions. It’s cause of ALL his Marvel work and co-created characters. Not just Spider-Man. I think for Spidey alone he deserves more money.

But the real shame is Ditko, who gets NO residual income for Spider-Man, cause back then it was a “work for hire” agreement, and the company owns the character. And the creator has NO RIGHTS in terms of financial income, in making the character.

Its just a darn Shame.

In other media, from Animation, and Books, CREATORS are not treated this shabby.

Comic book history, in this respect, is a Shameful Disgrace. Creators, in a just world, Should Benefit FINANCIALLY, from their creative work. It’s only right.

Yet it didn’t happen in comics back then.

And yet, it was BACK THEN, that all the Truly Creative Works and characters appeared.
All the Icons.

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P.S. I know some will mention, creators now get a Financial Cut, and Royalty, of characters they make. I agree, but wonder, does anyone know, and can post statistics, and what percent a creator gets for his creation? And does it count for all other work and media outside comics?

From what I’ve read and tried to find, it seems from admittedly, little I know. It still seems like a Raw Deal. And compared to other creative media like Books, Animation, or Films. The creators of Comic Book Characters, in terms of Financial restitution, is still a Raw Deal where you get the financial shaft.

And I guess it shows in a way cause: Comic book companies are pretty notorious in being cheap, and not wanting to give financial royalties AT ALL. Much less, to a creator over and over again, for use of their character.

And if this is the case, Which it is. Then it’s pretty easy to assume, the Financial Cut and royalty you make, in comic books, is not much, for a new creation.

Also, it’s No Surprise, the big two, Marvel and DC Comics DO NOT publish titles, (or at least ones that last) with new characters. It’s a rarity, and something not usually done.

Instead, it’s the same old characters again and again recycled in a new comic book series every few years. I wonder why? It’s gotta be the fact that: They don’t have to pay a royalty for them. Cause those characters, are owned by the company and before the Royalty Plan was in place.

And as a creator: If you learned your history, and how past creators got screwed financially, and how you can’t even dictate the direction of your creation. (And editor can overrule you in terms of how the character should develop.) Why would you want to contribute that new character you made?

Makes no sense.

If you got a good idea, and thanks to diversity now in publishing, it’s better to go to a company like Image, and make a book where you own the rights to your creation.

Bottom Line: Spider-Man’s creators got financially screwed, as well as most of the Golden and Silver age creators. And from what I know, the compensation plan, still isn’t great in terms of your contributions creatively. So if you got a great character or idea, it’s probably best to think it over and publish it in a place where you own the rights.

And at the Very Least, read all contracts carefully and think Long, NOT short term, in regards of finances and if you will get your financial just due if you are working for Marvel, DC, or any other company, that would own your creative ideas.

In this day and age, if you don’t know your creative rights, you had better ask and check what is written in the contract. Lack of such foresight, can cost you financially, a million dollar idea.