The co-creator of the superhero character Miles Morales has spoken out regarding royalties, confessing that she receives nothing from the Spider-Verse movies, merchandise, or games.

In an interview with Jamesons, Sara Pichelli spoke at CCXP 25 and stated she doesn’t get royalties despite co-creating the Miles Morales character alongside writer Brian Michael Bendis. Pichelli was asked during the interview if she receives a share of the money, to which she responded, “If only! Don’t even mention it… I would be a billionaire.”

The interviewer stated that the game alone sold millions, to which Pichelli adds, “Yeah, but I don’t get anything. And that’s the saddest part of my life.”

©Sony Pictures Releasing/© Marvel Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection

The Spider-Verse is vast and full of money-making potential. It’s been revealed that the Miles Morales story alone, told through movies such as Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the Insomniac video games, and any merchandise, is projected to be worth billions.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was a major success for Sony Animation. It won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature, and grossed over $384 million worldwide at the box office. The first film’s success paved the way for the sequel, Across the Spider-Verse, and its third film, due to be released in 2027, titled Beyond the Spider-Verse.

Despite the franchise being valued at well over $1 billion, it’s shocking that one of the people responsible for the character that the whole franchise is based on hasn’t been given any monetary rewards for the ongoing success of Miles Morales. The movies alone brought in over $1 billion without counting the games and merch.

Pichelli created Miles Morales under a contract with Marvel, and as such, the company owns the IP and isn’t required to pay royalties; however, she was paid upfront for her art. Despite this, it seems unfair to creators to have their work rinsed dry and not see any of the rewards for the hard work and dedication to their craft.

She also illustrated his debut in Marvel’s Ultimate Fallout and Ultimate Spider-Man comics while also designing supporting characters like the Morales family.

While this is shocking to hear, Pichelli and the interviewer have expressed interest in an online campaign to help artists like Pichelli get what’s rightfully owed, and so the character Miles Morales can keep thriving, but so do the people responsible.