droid714 wrote:
It sure would be nice if I could go back to my former employer and say: "You know those 25 years that I agreed to work for you for 'X' dollars? Well upon further reflection, I've decided that my efforts on your behalf were actually worth 'X+Y' dollars. Please send me a check for the difference at your earliest convenience. And if I die before you cut the check, just make it payable to my heirs."

The problem with your statement is that Kirby contends that Marvel was not his "employer."  And that makes a big difference.