Part 4/10:
The hosts contextualize this situation within a long-standing industry pattern. Many comic creators are aware that creating work for major publishers like Marvel or DC often involves relinquishing certain rights in exchanges for exposure and initial payments that rarely reflect the work’s long-term value. Neon reminisces about personal experiences working on Disney comics, where reprints and recolors often happened without further credit or compensation.
This practice is not exclusive to comics. Neon highlights how creators of iconic characters like Superman still pursue royalties decades later because they originally sold their rights under unfavorable contracts. The industry, historically, has often favored the publisher’s rights over creator profitability—a pattern that persists today.