The world of comic books and comic book adaptations is a collaborative medium. Artists tend to use each other's works in order to enhance a given universe. However, it's still always important to assign credit when it is most certainly due. Artists generally receive some sort of credit when their art is used in any capacity; it's just the nature of the beast. However, the folks behind X-Men: Apocalypse seems to have forgotten that -- and one artist is certifiably pissed off.
In a new (and downright scathing) Facebook post, comic book artist Bill Sienkiewicz laid into 20th Century Fox for not crediting him or notifying him after using his artwork for an X-Men: Apocalypse promotion at San Diego Comic-Con, as well as the movie itself. He wrote:
I've been doing this comic-book thing for years. I'm aware most everything is Work-Made-for-Hire. Still, I received no prior notification (a common courtesy), no thank you (ditto), no written credit in any form whatsoever either on the piece or in connection with the premium, absolutely no compensation and no comp copies of the album. It's like two losing trifectas wrapped in an altogether indifferent fuck you.
The artwork in question was a relatively iconic Dazzler cover. Bill Sienkiewicz worked on the piece over three decades ago, and FOX recently dusted it off for a promotional material, featured it at San Diego Comic-Con by giving away replicas of the album from the movie. He reportedly had no idea that FOX had even decided to use his artwork as a giveaway item until fans started coming up to him and asking for signatures. As a result of this, he received no compensation, credit, or even a mention from the company who utilized his own work. The event has clearly weighed heavily on him, as he even joked about confronting FOX over the issue.
Many fans might even be surprised to learn about this issue involving Bill Sienkiewicz' art , as the Dazzler cover art actually didn't even appear in the theatrical cut of X-Men: Apocalypse. His work showed up in the now cut "mall sequence" in which the young Scott Summers (Tye Sheridan) and Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) hang out in a record store and compare cover art with one another. Although it never actually made the final cut of the movie, the scene eventually became part of the film's marketing and the art featured at San Diego Comic-Con, where the studio used it as a major giveaway item.
It's worth noting that Bill Sienkiewicz does not think that 20th Century Fox did anything illegal, or infringed upon him in any manner. He seems far more concerned with the fact that this is more of a missed opportunity to promote himself as an artist than cashing in on work three decades old. In the end it seems that he would have just preferred a bit more credit and citation on FOX's part.
You can check out the Dazzler cover from Apocalypse below to see Bill Sienkiewicz' work for yourself:
What do you think of this situation? Is Bill Sienkiewicz overreacting to a very minor issue, or does he deserve for more credit and compensation than what he received? Let us know what you think in the comments section below to keep the conversation alive.
