Knull Creators Surprised by Character’s Inclusion in ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ – Plan to Seek Compensation

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As a lifelong comic book enthusiast who has witnessed the industry evolve over the decades, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions when it comes to the latest development with Venom: The Last Dance and the introduction of Knull, the King in Black.

The final trailer for Venom: The Last Dance has just been released, marking a significant moment for several reasons. Not only is it the concluding chapter in the trilogy, but it also introduces one of Marvel Comics’ most fearsome and powerful villains—Knull, the King in Black.

Despite being a recent introduction to the Marvel universe, Knull swiftly established himself as the most formidable adversary any symbiote might face, thus making him an ideal antagonist for the movie.

Audience responses were diverse upon hearing the announcement, primarily because of Sony’s past difficulties with comic book adaptations. Many spectators are worried that Knull, a formidable antagonist from the comics, hasn’t been adequately developed within the cinematic universe, which could result in him being weakened or “toned down” for the movie, making it easier for Eddie Brock and Venom to overcome him.

It wasn’t just the fans who were taken aback – even Knull’s creators, Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman, expressed surprise at seeing their character in the trailer. Now that they know he’s part of it, they are trying to negotiate payment since they claim they weren’t compensated for the use of their creation.

Back in 2018, I stumbled upon Knull for the first time in “Venom” Vol. 4 #3. There was a hint of something enigmatic in “Thor: God of Thunder” #6 before him, but his name wasn’t revealed then. Later on, he made appearances in multiple issues of “Web of Venom”, “Guardians of the Galaxy”, and during the “War of the Realms” event. However, it was in Donny Cates’ “Silver Surfer: Black” #1 that he truly stepped into the limelight as the central villain.

In the comic series “King in Black“, Knull emerged once more as the main adversary, orchestrating an assault on Earth with his symbiote forces. This narrative appears to serve as inspiration for the plot of the forthcoming Sony film.

Ryan Stegman, a joint creator of Knull, shared on social platforms his shock over the character’s appearance, mentioning that although he wasn’t previously aware of it, he anticipates receiving fair remuneration.

Indeed, I was a part of the team who developed knull. To my surprise, though, I hadn’t realized until now that he would appear in Venom: The Last Dance. It’s exciting to anticipate that one day, I might have enough resources to install a leisurely river surrounding my home.

— Ryan “x-men man” $tegman (@RyanStegman) September 12, 2024

Cates responded by posting an inverted Venom logo that cleverly spells out “Money.”

lol

— DONNY CATES (@Doncates) September 12, 2024

If you’re wondering why the two main creators of Knull weren’t involved in this agreement, it’s an indication of the persistent inequality that artists and writers have faced in the industry for quite some time.

In most cases, comic book writers and artists sign contracts that classify their work as “work-for-hire.” Under this arrangement, the company (Marvel, DC, etc.) holds ownership of any characters or stories developed while employed there. This allows the company to exploit these intellectual properties across multiple platforms like films, without having to distribute royalties to the original creators.

Jim Starlin, who is well-known for his role, had to battle against Disney to get fair payment for employing Thanos in the Avengers series, a figure he originally crafted.

When an author or artist introduces a fresh character, it’s typically the corporation that retains the ownership rights. This means that when these characters are featured in films, it’s the company that earns profits, not the original creators. While some artists might secure additional compensation like bonuses or ongoing payments (residuals), this is often rare and the amount can vary greatly based on specific agreements with publishers or production studios.

Stegman and Cates might achieve greater success by leveraging Knull’s growing fame and turning it into profit, but a significant concern arises: Sony failed to involve the original creators during the filmmaking process at all. This potential move could provide fans with a glimpse into how they intend to approach the adaptation.

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2024-09-14 10:13