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Joe Casey, the writer and co-creator behind Marvel Comics character America Chavez/Miss America, said he has not received payment for the use of his character in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Casey and artist Nick Dragotta introduced the character to Marvel Comics in 2011 when she first appeared in Vengeance #1. America Chavez/Miss America, portrayed in live-action by Xochitl Gomez, will make her MCU debut in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. However, Casey explained that while Marvel made him an offer ahead of America’s first MCU appearance, the writer said he rejected it entirely, describing it as a “pittance.” “The fact is Marvel owns America Chavez. That’s not in dispute on any level, but there are still systemic flaws in the way that creators are neither respected nor rewarded,” Casey told The Hollywood Reporter. Marvel has not responded to Casey’s comments at the time of writing.
“Marvel has paid me nothing for America Chavez, not only for appearing in the Doctor Strange sequel, but in numerous animated TV episodes, for the numerous action figures they’ve made of her, for video games she’s appeared in,” Casey continued. “They seem to be fine with that.” Before her upcoming live-action role in Multiverse of Madness, the character has appeared in several forms fo media, including video games, board games and the animated Marvel Rising specials.
“For me, it’s not about money. It’s not even about the respect,” Casey continued. “I would never expect to be respected by a corporation. If I’m in a position where I can afford not to take their insult of an offer, and be able to talk about it, maybe the next guy — where that kind of money could change their life — would get a fair shot of receiving that money.”
“I’m a happy guy,” Casey said. “I’m not disgruntled. I’m not bitter. Because I know this is how this goes. I also know, this is how you change things, by talking about it.”
This isn’t the first time Marvel has been called out by one of its creators for improper credit. In August 2021, artist Joe Quinones noticed that his signature had been scrubbed from an official poster made from the cover of America Vol. 1: The Life and Times of America Chavez, written by Gabby Rivera and illustrated by Quinones.
Multiverse of Madness wrapped extensive reshoots in January 2021 with the additional material helmed by director Sam Raimi and Loki writer Michael Waldron. Raimi took over directorial duties from Scott Derrickson, who directed the first film and departed the sequel over creative differences. Gomez was originally intended to debut as America Chavez in 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, but those plans were inevitably scrapped.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will premiere in theaters on May 6, 2022.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter