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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2023 10:40:15 GMT -5
We all have our favourites. We may like a talent’s writing only. Or you may just like their art. You may like their writing and art. I like both John Byrne the writer and John Byrne the artist. I can talk about his vibrant art on Man of Steel while also appreciating his writing on FF. With Todd McFarlane, I can’t honestly - off the top of my head - mention a standout story he has written. But I am a fan of his art. He’s been a convenient punching bag at times (I am not referring to this forum, where people put articulate arguments forward, but cesspits such as social media). It’s fine not to like someone’s art. I don’t care for Erik Larson’s art, to be honest. But social media often seems filled with vitriol. Anyway, to Todd McFarlane. I did like the “barbed wire” webbing:  His Spidey was very distinctive while sill being recognisable. As I revisit Peter David’s Hulk, I commend McFarlane for giving us a real mean-looking brute of a Hulk:  McFarlane is actually my favourite Hulk artist of the “modern era”. “Modern” is a bit of a vague term, but for me, if modern is 1980s to late 90s/early 2000s, then McFarlane is my favourite Hulk artist. I mean, I also like artists such as Dale Keown, but I just found McFarlane’s brief run on the Hulk to be mesmerising. For me, McFarlane’s art strikes the right balance between fantasy caricatures and reality. Yes, Batman’s cape was very long whenever McFarlane drew it, but there was a fantasy aspect to enjoy. In reality, Batman’s cape would be cumbersome and awkward, but for me, it felt like McFarlane wanted to preserve the mystique and fantasy of superhero universes while not totally ignoring/neglecting the “fictional reality” that I feel artists should strive for. (Some artists on Dredd go far too much in the caricature/unrealistic proportions direction while some artists, on various titles, go too far in the reality direction) I just love this:  So, any thoughts on McFarlane’s career? |
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Post by Slam_Bradley on May 3, 2023 10:46:49 GMT -5
So, any thoughts on McFarlane’s career? No. |
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2023 10:54:32 GMT -5
So, any thoughts on McFarlane’s career? No. You’re like the guy in the Royal Rumble who is eliminated after just a few seconds. Thanks for dropping by!  |
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Post by james on May 3, 2023 11:06:24 GMT -5
i have to echo Slam's response. When I think back I liked his art as a 19 year old and i can't say that I remember much of his writing.
Unlike JB's FF run still gets me every time I reread it. Every couple years or so.
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2023 11:16:01 GMT -5
McFarlane will have a much larger legacy in the toy industry than he will in comics. His impact there pretty much changed the industry and consumer expectations for their action figures, for better or worse.
In comics, his legacy will rest on his role in the creation of Image rather than any image or word he put on the page. Early Image not so much, but what Image morphed into was a seismic shift in creating a whole new world of creator-owned opportunities, not only at Image, but at a number of other companies emulating or riffing off the Image model.
So essentially, Todd's biggest legacy will be as a businessman who also created some comics, but primarily as a businessman.
And when you understand that he was a businessman first and foremost, it puts many of his decisions as a creator in perspective.
-M
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,701
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Post by shaxper on May 3, 2023 11:21:59 GMT -5
I can see nearly any issue from multiple sides and debate it with restraint and maturity. Not Todd McFarlane. I think he is a bad person who did irreparable harm to the industry and screwed over a lot of folks on the way. So I'll bow out of this conversation before I start flaming those who disagree with me. (I know Icctrombone was just waiting for me to chime in on this one...) |
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Post by DubipR on May 3, 2023 11:33:22 GMT -5
Anyone that has longevity in the comics medium will always have my respect, no matter what they've done. Personally I have never cared for McFarlane's stuff, like a majority of Marvel in the 90s. He was a major factor of me dropping Amazing Spider-Man. I found his work to be subpar and lacking. From having a run of great ASM artists to his work, it was so jarring and unappealing to me. That was teenage me. Now I'm late 40s me, I've gone back and looked it and I still stand by my assessment.
I will give all the accolades that's he done for comics; bring in a new generation of fans, artists and creatives. Shook up the comics industry with the creation of Image, revolutionized the modern toy market. He's a marketing genius and brilliant businessman. As a modern creative type... that's subjective. To me, he's still the terrible artist that gave Spider-Man no backbone, created a terrible mask and made me stop a run of ASM of 100 to 300.
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Post by Cei-U! on May 3, 2023 11:39:23 GMT -5
Nice guy.* Shrewd businessman. Decent artist. Wretched storyteller. Cei-U! That about sums it up!
*Nice to me, anyway, the one time I met him.
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Post by james on May 3, 2023 11:39:24 GMT -5
I can see nearly any issue from multiple sides and debate it with restraint and maturity. Not Todd McFarlane. I think he is a bad person who did irreparable harm to the industry and screwed over a lot of folks on the way. So I'll bow out of this conversation before I start flaming those who disagree with me. (I know Icctrombone was just waiting for me to chime in on this one...) I'm unfamiliar with this side of his legacy. What things did he do? |
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Post by badwolf on May 3, 2023 11:48:26 GMT -5
As I've mentioned elsewhere, there was a time when I liked McFarlane's art, but I'm not sure what I was seeing now. I bought Spawn for a while, beginning with the four issues that featured other, much better writers (Gaiman, Moore, Miller, Sim). Eventually Greg Capullo took over the art. I remember very little about any of this. I bought the first arc of his new Spider-Man title. I remember little about that. I hate the big eyes on the mask, and the way it follows the contours of a human head. It looks like he spent more time drawing that webbing than the rest of the book.
When my local comic shop had the Michelinie/McFarlane Spidey omnibus on the half price table, I was tempted to pick it up based on the writer, but I never could pull the trigger.
I did buy some of his toy figures. I have to admit they were nicely done. |
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Post by Reptisaurus! on May 3, 2023 11:54:20 GMT -5
Very charismatic. I covered the Todd M panel for CBR circa 2008 or so and left saying "I should buy Spawn" - a thought I have never had before or since.
He was a dick to poor Rob Leifeld at the Image founders panel, though.
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Post by james on May 3, 2023 11:59:44 GMT -5
As I've mentioned elsewhere, there was a time when I liked McFarlane's art, but I'm not sure what I was seeing now. I bought Spawn for a while, beginning with the four issues that featured other, much better writers (Gaiman, Moore, Miller, Sim). Eventually Greg Capullo took over the art. I remember very little about any of this. I bought the first arc of his new Spider-Man title. I remember little about that. I hate the big eyes on the mask, and the way it follows the contours of a human head. It looks like he spent more time drawing that webbing than the rest of the book. When my local comic shop had the Michelinie/McFarlane Spidey omnibus on the half price table, I was tempted to pick it up based on the writer, but I never could pull the trigger.
I did buy some of his toy figures. I have to admit they were nicely done. When my local comic shop had the Michelinie/McFarlane Spidey omnibus on the half price table, I was tempted to pick it up based on the writer, but I never could pull the trigger. I think of McFarlane's run on Spiderman the same way I think of Frank Miller's beginning of (and best issues of his run in IMHO) Daredevil Roger Mackenzie Neither Micheline nor Mackenzie ever get the credit they deserve. |
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Post by badwolf on May 3, 2023 12:04:46 GMT -5
I think of McFarlane's run on Spiderman the same way I think of Frank Miller's beginning of (and best issues of his run in IMHO) Daredevil Roger Mackenzie Neither Micheline nor Mackenzie ever get the credit they deserve. Yeah, I liked Rog's work on DD and Cap. |
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Post by Rob Allen on May 3, 2023 12:41:34 GMT -5
Todd has employed my friend Tom Orzechowski as the letterer on Spawn from the beginning. The last few decades haven't been easy ones for freelance letterers, so I appreciate Todd for this.
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2023 13:07:17 GMT -5
I'm in the minority....not a fangirl, but he had enormous support for Spawn and his rendition of Spidey. And I collect none of those books.
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