Blood for the Baron!

ah, well... see not to come over all SteveD, but compensation for creation of characters in a work-for-hire scenario is dependent on the contracts signed. in America, it's pretty standard that if you do 'work for hire' at some media giant like Marvel, DC, CBS or NBC or whoever, they own the rights to any and all characters, concepts and situations you create in the story. which they can then utilise at will.

this is what the Harlan Ellison thing is about where he's suing Paramount, CBS and Pocket Books over their use of elements of his 'City on the Edge of Forever' script in merchandising and ancillary media without his permission. he claims his WGA contract gave him rights that nearly every other writer on TOS never had.

so, you can bitch and whine all you like about people not getting compensation commensurate with the creation of a huge character - like say Wolverine - but if the writer and/or artist signed away all rights to the characters they created when they joined the company, then legally the artiste has no one to blame but themselves.

if you wanna make money off your creations, set up your own company or negotiate a better deal. that's what Image was all about and that's what Millar did with his creaetor-owned 'Millarworld' stuff like Kick-Ass and Wanted.

wanted was also bloody terrible!
wolverine is a terrible film regardless of how the characters where interpreted.
as far as im concerned, the only REALLY good comic book film is watchmen!

ghostworld!

yeah, that was good but i think the subject matter was easier!

It may be legal, doesn't make it right.

and a somewhat loose comic adaptation and one of my favourite films of all time, mystery men!

uhm and another of my favourites sin city!

Definitely Sin CIty, I also think the last two Batman films have been superb.

sin city was on ok film, but im not a big fan overall coz it was originally just a bad film story board anyway!
last 2 batman films were ok, but i just dont think they ever get it quite right.......

Don't forget that films based on comic books have to made as to be accessible to Joe puplic too, & not just fans of the comic.
Not every one knows the full history of the characters before seeing the film, & also some concessions have to be made due to budgets costs or running length.. what makes a good comic book (or any type of novel), wouldn't always make a good film without changes...