Rob Liefeld, the visionary creator behind the beloved Marvel character Deadpool, dropped a bombshell on fans on Tuesday as he announced his retirement from working on any future Deadpool comics. Liefeld, who co-founded Image Comics and is celebrated for his contributions to the comic book industry, took to social media to share his decision, citing a desire to move on from his most iconic creation despite the imminent release of Deadpool 3.
In a note on microblogging platform X, he wrote, “One of the fun parts about getting older is you can retire from things, so here I am.”
I am retiring from Deadpool. It’s official. Yup, after 33 years of not only introducing Deadpool but chronicling many of his most popular adventures it’s time for the Deadpool Daddy to say farewell. One of the fun parts about getting older is you can retire from things, so here I… pic.twitter.com/Kq4XAjslNT— robliefeld (@robertliefeld) February 5, 2024
In a candid statement to ComicBook.com, Liefeld expressed that while he won’t be actively involved in creating new Deadpool content, he remains committed to promoting the upcoming movie. He humourously quipped, “I’m not dying,” when addressing the timing of his announcement, but emphasised that factors like age, health and a desire to explore other projects influenced his decision.
Comparing his departure from Deadpool to other comic creators who’ve stepped away from their signature characters, Liefeld highlighted the importance of knowing when to bow out gracefully, avoiding overstaying one’s welcome with the audience.
“The truth of the matter is, every artist knows their expiration date,” Liefeld remarked in an interview with ComicBook.com. “We’ve all had an artist that we liked, who you suddenly see their heads are too big…There are telltale signs of an artist and older age.”
At 56, Liefeld reflected on his prolific career, acknowledging the toll it has taken on his health and artistic abilities. He candidly shared his recent health scare and the realisation that his body wasn’t as resilient as it once was, leading him to reconsider his priorities and long-term commitments.
Despite stepping away from Deadpool, Liefeld assured fans that he remains dedicated to completing his ongoing projects, including the Last Blood series, which he sold out through Whatnot last month. However, he hinted at a slowdown in his workload and hinted at a potential reevaluation of his career trajectory at the end of the year.
Liefeld’s retirement marks the end of an era for Deadpool fans, who have long admired his contributions to the character’s rich mythology.
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