The Superstar Artist Who Lost Everything (Todd McFarlane)

[@sayitwithhellhounds]

I'll never forget being a 14-year-old wannabe comic book artist in 1988 and writing to Todd, who actually took the time to write back an encouraging reply letter. I still have it. I see now from his early struggles that he must have known how much that sort of support matters.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

having someone who believes in you will always help your dreams become a reality!

[@sirmustardofhousemayonnais9907]

​@@Gadget-Walkmenso where's the guys comic books then?

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@sirmustardofhousemayonnais9907 Not everyone wants to end up doing comic book for life, sometimes things happen and you have other goals and ambitions you want to purpose. That should be obvious, what’s with this “sO whErE tHiS gUyS cOmIC bOoK tHeN” lol are you for real? Not every’s goal when their 14 is going to be the same throughout their life, that should be obvious. Stop with the snark, seriously.

[@sirmustardofhousemayonnais9907]

@@Gadget-Walkmen why so triggered little guy?

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@sirmustardofhousemayonnais9907 The only “lItTle gUy” here is you and you alone based on how terrible your childish comments are and I’m not “sO tRiGgeRed” AT ALL as I’m just BAFFLED from the nonsensical garbage you’re saying as you’re trying to talk down to someone as you are. That simple!

[@AscheWholeProductions]

The fact that a man can keep his high school sweetheart by his side through all of the ups and downs says everything about his character.

[@dboboc]

He’s still an arrogant egomaniac who screwed people over.

[@jaimetheone9150]

An actual alpha.

[@dplj4428]

An actual partner. 6:11 married his best fan.

[@azuresaiyan9005]

It also says a lot about his partner too.

[@KnowOneNoWhere-86]

​@@jaimetheone9150more of a sigma

[@sweetsweetmeat]

Was completely obsessed with McFarlane in 1997. Met him at a demo in Calgary when I was around 8-10y/o and got a super quick gestural drawing of Spawn in either '97-99, thanked him and asked if he has any advice for me to me to become an artist... He said "DRAW DRAW DRAW, never stop, never give up and you will be great. Just keep drawing." That really stuck with me and is the reason I pursued the arts.

[@RealGateGuardian]

How's that working out for you? I'm currently writing a Superhero Comic, looking for an artist & inker.

[@_CharlieH]

@@RealGateGuardian No way! Can I know the synopsis?

[@diddlypoop]

@@_CharlieH damn, if only you'd responded a little quicker

[@_CharlieH]

@@diddlypoop what do you mean?

[@diddlypoop]

@@_CharlieH cause i dont think he'll respond since it's been so long

[@mohdfairuzbinhusin3504]

Maybe some people hate Todd. But for me he is really encouraging and supportive. He never accept no as a, awnser he never give up for his family and he never give up his dream

[@jerichothirteen1134]

People can say whatever. He changed the way comics were drawn. Probably the most influential artist since the King. He created the modern age spiderman. Gave me so much joy and inspiration as a young artist.

[@LuisSierra42]

I watched the HBO show and had to skip all the parts where he appears with cringy dialogue to introduce each episode, it was too painful

[@turtleanton6539]

Spiderman Venom Spawn

[@jerichothirteen1134]

@LuisSierra42 like I said you can say whatever. You probably shit your pants once.

[@nickangelo116]

When I was a kid, I didn't appreciate Todd's art at first. It wasn't what I was accustomed to. I remember vividly when I began to appreciate it, Spider-Man issue thirteen. I don't know what made me change my mind. It just suddenly clicked. I was a little boy, probably eight or nine years old. I used to call him Todd "Mc Fire Lane."

[@jerichothirteen1134]

@nickangelo116 Fineline lol. Thats apt. Was it the way he drew the webs? For me, it was the way he drew the webs. And the ninja style poses. I was reading Amazing when he took over so that was 1st I saw of him and just loved it straight away. Romitas Style was so iconic also so I guess it must have been a bit off putting for some fans. Such a dramatic change in style. But his Batman stuff. He did stuff with the Cape and posing him to make him look more Bat like. Sheer genius. I would get any comic with a cover by Bisley, Zeck, Mignola or Macfarlane. I got a few valuable numbers baby.

[@andrewdonatelli6953]

I met Todd and his father at a con. He signed autographs for free and talked with each fan for as long as they wanted to talk to him. He stayed hours after the con had ended that day while his father talked with people in the lineup and played harmonica. It was a great experience, and I got my Spider-Man #1 signed!

[@Burglecutter]

When I was a kid, this guy was the #1 comic artist on the planet. I didn't even know he had so much bad luck.

[@jacedjohnson3541]

That’s a timeless experience!

[@msg360]

met Todd at comic con here in NY and I got my sketch book signed, I didn't need to pay money or anything like other celebrities . I can confirm that he treats his fans well and he is very down to earth.

[@CT-nb5lm]

I never understoo paying to get a autograph. And 1990-1997 i was always getting NFL & NHL autographs for my friends father & myself(rarely myself) Paying to enter the event is one thing.. I remember Drew Bledsoe in 1993 or the year or 2 afte rhis rookie year he got mad that he wasn't paid enough to sign autographs & he up & left(49ers/Chargers SuperBowl in Miami aka the very 1st NFL Experience super bow week of festivities.. My friends dad was a vendor for his memberobilia and i was running all ove rthe place... Man, Bledsoe was hated by EVERYONE that day... Marshal Faulk(rookie) was offended & stayed late to sign for the butthurt fans... I still have the personalized autograph from Marshal...

[@christopheromarrah1785]

Facts

[@msg360]

@@CT-nb5lm at conventions you usually have to pay for autographs and pay even more for pictures.

[@neobaldurevermore3757]

I knew an aspiring artist who talked to McFarlane back in the day and said McFarlane was full of himself and told him he would only be good if he drew like McFarlane.

[@msg360]

@@neobaldurevermore3757 hmm must have been really back in the day like the 90's or early 2000s? when I saw TODD it was 2015 so he was already 52, and I was 30. so he was already pretty mature and kind . I didn't meet TODD when he was in his 20's or 30 or 40's etc if he was a different person than I wouldn't know because I didnt meet young Todd

[@404-file-not-found]

I've never forgiven HBO for canceling Spawn

[@ironhell813]

You will one day, but don’t blame Todd for it…

[@albandrejaj]

Hbo is garbage. You'll never see anything from them again.

[@cmaden78]

It was AWESOME ❤🖤 Great memories of watching it with my dad. Miss u dad

[@schvyler]

Or, like Adult Swim, thank them for even green-lighting the project.

[@Kiiieeechiii]

The fact it ends on a cliffhanger too…

[@coboat6508]

I swear this channel popped outta nowhere and started making the most high quality comic book videos ever

[@Wintercrow1]

Agree 100 percent!

[@BonkerLK]

bro read my mind

[@SEXlSDEATH]

Fr And It Was made in this year too 😭

[@pkrockinomega4184]

Most Accurate statement ever!

[@victorkaranja1420]

Industry baby and we for it 🗣️

[@cavemann_]

What kind of person pushes through 700 consecutive rejections? The drive this man possesses is insane!

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

LOL I probably would have given up after the first 5 or 10 rejection letters but hearing that massively motivates to just keep on improving my artwork to get the job!

[@HarryBuddhaPalm]

He's probably got Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

[@kevinpillar6934]

I think have a person in your life being there for you and encourage you like Todd's McFarlane wife (Wanda) helps a lot

[@Kurotaisa]

700 consecutive rejections when you're looking for a job? Oof, but good to see you're still trying. 700 consecutive rejections when asking people out: STAHP

[@cavemann_]

@@Kurotaisa so true

[@user-qg1cz5ie9j]

It was Todd Mcfarlane who gave Spider-Man the boost he needed back in the day. His illustrations and artwork blew away anything going on in comics than at the time. His Venom symbiote and Mary Jane layouts were the reason I couldn't wait to get my hands on another issue. Thank you for the memories Todd. Spidey was never the same without you!

[@AlainBoudard]

Yeah, I still have my few iconic albums of Spiderman from Todd, wouldn't let them go 😎

[@ANUBASS]

yeah growing up is realizing everything you liked about spiderman is due to this legend

[@EvanJosephAldridge]

McFarlane being forced to change his toy company's name from Todd Toys to McFarlane Toys was probably the best mistake Mattel could have made. Everyone recognizes McFarlane's name, even if you weren't into Spawn comics, you were familiar with the dark style. McFarlane Toys weren't just toys, they were works of art in themselves.

[@plaztik767]

Todd’s wife is amazing, Her unyielding support for his aspirations is beyond tremendous..

[@Terrible_Peril]

I want to scream this from the top of a mountain. This woman deserves a statue where offerings are placed and wishes are granted.

[@jaefrmbk2k]

women ☕️

[@plaztik767]

@@jaefrmbk2k ??? ☢️

[@mugsofmirth8101]

She is truly a rare one. Most of us could only dream of finding a woman of her resolve and loyalty.

[@JukeHighwalker]

Luckiest man on earth...

[@guillermoroa1356]

I find it really sweet that he named his OG character's family after his own family. So every time Spawn said "I love you, Wanda" in the comics... he was saying it too, to his wife. What a power move

[@greglombardi90]

And what was Spawns name? Hahahaha Todd's a cuck.

[@nickthelick]

It's actually a very common occurrence with comic writers/cartoon animators. ie South Park and The Simpsons... There are more but I forget. (Ok, not _quite_ the same as not all comics become animated, but it's sorta the same discipline!) ✌🏻🙂👍🏻

[@trickshot_katebishop7612]

Yes! That is so sweet! 😊

[@jwpcwrd]

Having interacted with Todd at several Cons over 20+ years, the fan service thing is absolutely true. Doesn't matter if you're a first time fan or not. Todd is always so gracious and kind, just like John Romita Jr.

[@projektkobra2247]

I LOVED JRJ's take on The Punisher (War Zone)....made him a real scary, dark Italian mobster that would make Tony Soprano quiver.....I wished he'd done that book forever.

[@JimmyNuisance]

Todd's quick drawing tutorials on youtube are a joy. Dude seems like he just wants to leave the world with something positive. He wants to help people create. It's also cool to see his process and how fast he gets stuff done, very impressive. I don't even draw and I'm still watching his stuff.

[@joedent3323]

I second this: the drawing tutorials are amazing. Real fun to draw-along, in real-time, and have a piece at the end of 5 minutes. :)

[@gokuwrightattorneyatlaw5227]

I didn't know he had drawing tutorials. I gotta check them out

[@DavidClark-vu3dw]

Anybody have link to these tutorials?

[@Fryguy845]

I had a comic book store from April 1992-May 1993. I'm almost 60 now and that was the best year of my life. I even met Lee, McFarlane, and Liefeld at a signing hosted by the largest comic store in my area at that time. I still have several hundred boxes of books from my old store and I know it is full of the Image line of comics from that year. Sadly, many of the just didn't sell back then because it took so long for subsequent issues to come out and I lost a lot of $$ waiting. However, I'm so happy I found this channel. I look forward to watching more of the stories...thanks Matttt for the nostalgic look back..

[@AmandaRaeGA]

send me the TMNT xD

[@oatlord]

OP goes on to say: "so anyway, I sold that letter and used the proceeds to become a Disney executive. "

[@moonasha]

I remember going to comic book stores in the late 90s when I was a kid. I still have the first 10 issues of spawn that I collected for no reason, I was too young to understand what happened in them lol, I just liked McFarlane's art so much. It was a real bummer seeing all those comic book stores and arcades dry up in the 00s, lot of nostalgia there. I think the last one I went to was in 2009 or so when I was in college, and it closed that year.

[@turbo8628]

As an outsider to the comic book scene, these video essays are a window into a world i know nothing about. The fact that you can keep an outsider such as me engaged for 39 minutes is a rare quality. Well done.

[@Bladestar7]

What I like about this story is that at the end of it all, Todd got what he truly wanted. A Family. A wife that loves and supports him through thick and thin. That kept him going. He won it all and lost it. And now getting it all back again. Yet through it all. he has Wanda. He has his family. He HAS LOVE. Truly an inspirational story. 🙂

[@Dupreegod]

The spawn movie flopped because a lot of people didn’t know what it was. I don’t think spawn was popular amongst none comic book fans. I think it would work now

[@PunkRockZombie205]

Yep. Grown ups weren't into comics yet at that time. Those kids are grown now tho, and a new film would kill at the box office

[@EricExistentialism]

I loved this, but I also can’t believe how you just completely glossed over McFarlane toys overtaking the DC Comics license from Mattel in 2020. That was a HUGE turning point recently and went hand-in-hand with the Spawn kickstarter!

[@GaryTabarJr]

He also forgot to mention mcfarlane toys was sold out to a canadian company, and all the new jersey guys were given a raw deal about closing up shop. 70% of this video wasn't about the downfall, but climbing the ladder.

[@nfa_copium2479]

​@@GaryTabarJrmafex still better mcfarlane toys peaked in the 90s and had way better qc

[@KeijiMaeda86]

​@@nfa_copium2479 mafex is also about 3x time the cost.

[@Creatures1504]

you're comparing a company that makes $100 import figures to a company that makes $20 budget figures. apples and oranges, dude 😅@@nfa_copium2479

[@chrisortiz7487]

​@nfa_copium2479 Of course, Mafex is better! Their figures are 3 to 5 times more expensive than a McFig! McFigs are the best bang for your buck!

[@TetsuShima]

I love Todd's '80s run of the Earth Two hero group Infinity Inc. McFarlane's art literally made you feel that said universe was completely different from that of Superman, Batman and the other main heroes.His career shouldn't have went downhill AT ALL

[@tejón2394]

😊😊😊😊

[@User8vfjhejf]

His career didn't go down hill, he stopped drawing comics cause he didn't wanna spend 80 hours a week drawing anymore, what kind of life is that?

[@ginogatash4030]

​​@@User8vfjhejf an artist life? I mean, not to say it can't be exhausting or anything but drawing a bunch is kind of the whole thing in an artistic career.

[@99Michael]

Wanda is proof of what a good woman having your back can do for a man, giving him the strength and willpower to keep fighting.

[@Arshay]

I almost broke down crying on when he spoke of her support through his 15 years of struggle. That's fucking love right there. That man loves his wife and realizes he would not make it without her.

[@VirideSoryuLangley]

It's sad that the bar for females is set so low that all they have to do is not abandon you, and some people will give them credit for a man's success. Sad and disgusting.

[@Deephouse_Gent66]

I certainly agree

[@lawrencelord9777]

@@Arshay i cried. that was real love right there

[@JB-xi2yv]

@@larryb4598 Clearly.... Now go and be a jealous loser.

[@rickwj324]

I met the Toddfather when he had just started his own Spider-man title (before he had started Spawn and Image Comics)! I saw him again in 1993 at that Philly ComiCon. I was a huge fan of his then and I'm a huge fan of his now. He revolutionized the comic book industry as well as the toy industry! God Bless you Mr. McFarlane!!

[@ANUBASS]

he started spawn when he was a kid or teenager I believe, It just never got turned into an actual comic/series for release till later

[@EggPlanet492]

Dude, your bibliography and reading order sections in the description are second to none. Thank you for the high level of info you’ve been providing beneath every video.

[@Gguy061]

Fun fact: Todd McFarlane regularly produced album covers for Flordia metal band Iced Earth in the 90s and early 00s. The band released an album in 1996 called "the Dark Saga", which was a concept album based on Spawn.

[@gabrielgoes0]

Great fucking album, it's a shame Matthew Barlow left the band and Jon Schaffer became such a humongous idiot

[@TylerInTraining]

Me too. And Jon Schaeffer did nothing wrong.

[@biffboffo]

Richard Christy on the Howard Stern show used to drum for Iced Earth. Richard seems like he would be a big Todd McFarlane fan, but I never heard this connection. I think Iced Earth has had a few drummers though.

[@mugsofmirth8101]

@@TylerInTraining what's this a reference to?

[@punkfacexo6066]

I remember how it influenced me when it came out. Iced Earth, Kiss and Korn got the coolest art from McFarlane and this is how I got into comics. Absolute legend

[@QuestMode]

Todd McFarlane was a phenomenon in the early 90s. He didn't just change comics, I'd say he changed animation, and even art in general.

[@jasonleveck8546]

As a fan of the medium for almost 40 years, I can still remember when Todd did the titular Spiderman issues with the Lizard and Wendigo. The art blew my mind!

[@akmalshabazz9497]

he might might of been one of the 1st in the States but Japan was already doing his style of adult theme anime and arts.

[@j.2512]

@@akmalshabazz9497 no, european comics did it decades before. French comics pretty much made the anime industry , every japanese mangaka and animator was copying from that

[@cmaden78]

He was so good and so cool that he converted me as a little girl who had just read Archie, to someone OBSESSED with Spawn ( to be fair I also love horror)

[@perceivedvelocity9914]

Todd McFarland's brother in law used to have a comic book shop in my hometown called the Spider's Webb. Todd would visit the Spider's Webb every once in a while. Every time that I ran into Todd he was a really nice to me. Very easy to talk to. I had a conversation with Todd and his brother in law after the Spawn movie failed in theaters. Todd was proud of the movie and was disappointed that they wouldn't be able to make a sequel. From what I remember Todd really liked the star, Michael Jai White's performance.

[@gamble777888]

The movie wasn't that bad, but the digital effects and some of the editing really let it down. Leguizamo as the violator was great too.

[@Kishimatto]

I watched spawn three times in theatre as kid then started reading the comics ^__^ I also collected some spawn pogs

[@TheGAMEGENIE101]

I remember Spider’s Webb. Downtown P right. I believe it’s a Sushi place now. Used to go there all the time when I was a kid, then go play some arcade games at Vans arcade next door.

[@humblemonkm61]

I thought the movie was great! I never understood why it wasn't a bigger success. But what do I know, I'm just a McFarlane devotee from his beginning.

[@perceivedvelocity9914]

@@TheGAMEGENIE101 100% correct. It was in the same strip mall as Van's. Van's was a great arcade.

[@TetsuShima]

Speaking of Infinity Inc, it's really sad that they fell into oblivion after the 1985 Crisis. It's really fascinating to see the descendants of Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and the other heroes of the Golden Age taking the role of their parents in a long-lasting series starring them. Something like this would only be seen again in Batman Beyond

[@AL-lh2ht]

There was some else world stories that were somewhat similar to it.

[@cesarscheck1]

I always admired McFarlane for his amazing style, an astonishing pioneer. But the way you told his story made the man even more inspiring. He's a legend.

[@nuke97]

He didn't just talk the talk he did the walk. His accomplishments are incredible. His perseverance is his super power.

[@brianmoreau5274]

I remember when all these comics hit the scene in my teenage years. Todd, in my opinion, is one of those people who changes the world. Shaking things up and seeing what lands. No fear. He was, and still is, one of my hero’s.

[@JpOcDenver]

heroes

[@jamesfehr2071]

Heerows*

[@dasaggropop1244]

definitely the freshest art of the nineties and a huge influence on the business

[@nurannahadiislam7940]

He might have done Injustice towards his fellow writers but I deeply appreciate the dedication he fosters towards his family and towards innovation. Both of which have enabled him to come so far from the kid who wanted to be a Baseball player.

[@AL-lh2ht]

The whole Neil gaiman thing was more just legal nonsense that Neil found out he could take advantage of, but of course people love him a incredible amount so no matter the outcome Todd reputation would be hurt.

[@MGrey-qb5xz]

Oh please these modern writers are destroying every industry now, marvel has both them and trash artists now

[@ddl3718]

​@@VuotoPneumaNN and to add to that gaiman gave him YEARS to come to an agreement, and eventually he was done

[@User-gs1dk]

@@VuotoPneumaNN What I don't understand is why wasn't this Gaiman's fault? McFarlane paid him to do work for him and he took the check did he not? If Gaiman wanted his work protected why didn't he get a contract signed before he did the work? I'm sure I must be missing something but in every other field of work if I do something for a company then the company owns it unless I get the company to sign a contract giving me the rights.

[@ryanjacobson2508]

Hate to say it, but in the creative realm it is quite commonplace for people to earn little to nothing for their work. I think that Neil would have let this stuff go if he had remained friends with Todd, but given the bad blood, they kept going back and forth for years.

[@HeyThreshold]

I was around McFarlane time on Spider-Man and later Image and for as much as I hated him for leaving Marvel with all the best artists of the time I have always admired his determination in following his vision. It wasn't a clear path, few are, and the Gaiman lawsuit will forever remain the biggest stain on it but he still kept going headstrong his way regardless. One thing I particularly appreciated of his books is the importance of the legacy which he mentions in several interviews: Spawn has never rebooted e-numbered like Marvel and DC foolishly keep doing on their titles.

[@DetroitMetroRetro]

I think Todds story is a true testament to not only how hard work and persistence can get you anywhere but also how high the price of getting what we want can be

[@The_Eldest_Millenial]

What a story. "Todd McFarlane" is one of those names that you grow up hearing, or become somehow exposed to, and you kind of just accept the ubiquitous-ness nature of it. Hearing the backstory of this artist is fascinating and this was an excellent and well-structured video on the subject. Well done. ♥

[@Marzimus]

I initially believed he was working on Family Guy. 😅 Read the first dozen Spawn as a kid but unfortunately comics were a luxury. Mortal Kombat paid homage!

[@AnnusMirabilus]

Yeah, the name is everywhere, so you just assumed that the streets were paved in gold for him since the jump. I had no idea that he got started in art later than most artists and experienced so much rejection early. I like him more now.

[@GentlemenG]

I completely agree I grew up knowing the name but now knowing his story makes him a legend

[@Marzimus]

@@AnnusMirabilus Always appreciated how DL Bill Watterson conducted himself. 🐅

[@Obi-Wan_Kenobi]

This comment is so true, I've always know that name and when I learned it came from a comic book artist in the 90's I was like "what?" There are so few artists whose names everyone and their mom knows, I'm thinking Picasso, Da Vinchi, Van Gogh. And along side them is some guy who made Marvel comics in the 90's. It really is crazy.

[@get8bit]

Wanda is a keeper. Not many women would even tolerate their husband's passions, much less fully support them.

[@Manta665]

As far as I can see most women love men with passion and are very supportive of them. Especially if their respective men are supportive of their woman's passions, too!

[@jiyu9277]

@@Manta665i agree

[@sparking023]

"Todd McFarlane" is one of those names you always hear being thrown around if you're anywhere into comics, but I never knew about his story or the details if his career. I don't look a lot at authors, editors and directors, it's something I have been trying to pay more attention to. But damn, the man revolutionized every industry he worked on, despite all the negatives and criticism. And he gave the iconic looks that I love so much in Spider-Man, my number one super hero. We should all aspire to be a little like him, not only on the drive to always get better at what we do, but also giving your all for your family. This is the time for independent artists and creators to stand up and show everyone what they're capable of. The public loves passion, and they can tell what has it

[@sevenproxies4255]

Even as a young kid, I wasn't into comic books at all. I thought Spiderman, X-Men, Iron Man and the rest to be kind of silly. But Todd McFarlane's Spawn really got me engaged into reading comic books. As in to the point where I wanted to get ahold of the next issue to see where the story goes.

[@bagoftrix]

Todd Mcfarlane was the first comic artist that made me look up the name of the artist as a kid, and wanting to buy comics based on the look. It was mindblowing at the time for me.

[@DaleBouwman]

Same here bro!! He made me pay attention to artists after ASM #298 & SM #1

[@mack1305]

I like Todd alot but for me it was Mike Grell. I was blown away by his art when I that first Warlord special.

[@hegyidaniel1022]

I used to buy comics before Spawn appeared but when i first saw and read the 1st Spawn issue my mind just.......pff i fell in love! Still love Spawn!!!

[@axamitidynamit]

Yup! Once I saw/read the Torment, nothing was ever the same for me

[@saul102]

For me it was Art Adams, but Todd made me a Hulk fan when I had never bought a Hulk comic.

[@redsofaanimation]

As a writer and artist, Todd McFarlane is a huge inspiration on me. The art flow of each pages, just makes your eyes go big in amaze.

[@SAMZIRRA]

This is a masterclass of a documentary. The amount of respect and detail you put into this is only rivaled by Tom’s early ambition.

[@last808]

Though the "lost everything" is clickbait. Only one company of his went bankrupt and the rest are fine.

[@jaustill237]

I'm going to assume that you are referring to MySpace Tom.

[@SZINNAPALM]

Bring us spawn the most awesome badass anti-hero hero villain of all time

[@SethCooper-mf4im]

@@jaustill237Tom!

[@arsxnavlt]

Man, you gotta admire the drive of Todd McFarlane. It's also amazing that his wife always stood by him through thick and thin. What a wonderful story! He will always be loved in Canada 🇨🇦

[@honaleri]

When I heard he got 700 rejection letters... I immediately cried. I was so impressed. That's tenacity on a godly level... and I'm genuinely inspired by him.

[@simonanderson5241]

Different industry, but my start was the same - I'd get rejection after rejection. Once I started a job - all was great, got promotions But the job industry is nuts now, you have to explain to people who don't know how to do their job how the company is spending too much money on nepotism ? Funny world we live in.

[@AJDraws]

McFarlane is the Metallica of the comic realm. He might have been difficult to work with by some other artists, but he also not only paved the way for other artists, but gave so many new artists the opportunity to launch their careers. He revolutionized so many stylizations and brought what I can only describe as METAL to the comic world.

[@ryanjacobson2508]

Actually, Metallica is an unusual example of a rock band that has always been financially generous to all current and former members, and also has a track record of covering lesser known bands to make sure they get paid for their works. They've also performed these covers live with some of the original artists, which also shows their respect for them.

[@godstomper]

I agree with this comment, him and Frank Miller, Dave McKean, Grant Morrison, Alan Moore

[@billbog25]

I still have a lot of Todd's comics and to this day he is the best artist I've seen. His spiderman drawings are fantastic. Spawn is just sick!

[@christdolphin69]

The story of his family driving his motivation and being all he worked for is one of the most based influential stories I’ve ever heard Great work

[@justinwallace269]

God I love that story. This one really hits me as an aspiring writer as well as a Todd fan. I'm just so glad they keep things going as a family and caring more about quality than selling out. Huge respect for this guy and his wife for being true creators and a true love story that most can only envy. Wish you all the best, McFarlianes! His version of Spider-Man and Hobgoblin are what inspired me to become an artist in the first place.

[@bryan-still-a-poker-player]

I saw the title of this video and got curious....I googled Todd MacFarlane net worth. Surprisingly rich for a guy that "lost it all"...says 300 million. (I am just now starting video, so maybe it will be talked about...I just thought, "holy shit he's broke" when I saw title...so if nothing else the title was good enough to get me to click.

[@awaynekerr]

f̷̩̜͚̤͇͔̿̋̓̐͜͝͝e̷̞͍̲̜̔̃́͝e̷̠̭͎̽̂̾̕d̷̛͈͓͉̮̦͔̼͈̳͔͙͊͌̌̊̔̏̊͂̔̚̚t̸̢̛̤̰̯͕͊̀̈́̈͛́̈̒̓͝͝h̴͖̠̱̝̣̼̩͕̥̭̜͊̍͗̋͛̾͋̌̍̒̓̍͝ę̴̛̯̮̰͖̝͎̼͎͙̼̻̻̺̈́͒̈́͐͂̔͒͘͠â̵̬̰͍̾̉ĺ̸̞͌̐͐̉̑̐̓͒̎̊̈͘͝g̸̛̩̥͌͋̌̊̑̌̈̓͝õ̴̡̯̥͔͓̙̪͓̫͓̞̞̣̜͓̅̀̑̉̒̋̇̄̐̋͝r̸̨̤̤̔̆̍͌̾̈́͆́̚͜į̶̨͓̗͚͚̳͉͕͚̝̪̳͍̲͌̈̊͗͛̎͌̌͒̏̒͋͘͝t̶̨̘͕̂̽̀̉͐̈́̎͌̌̿́̆̿h̴̡̥̺̤̳̘̳̜͈̝̤̱̾̐̽m̷͉͊̾̊̽̅́͋͋̍̂̋́̚̕͘

[@thepaper888]

I remember John Leguizamo as the clown in the Spawn film, exploding into the sky saying, "See you at Wanda's", now you're telling me that's Todd's wife's name. Gasp!

[@Kitto0]

Its good to see SPAWN still rocking in 202X's & Todd doing good for himself. 1 of my all time favorite Comic Artist, his work is just straight up LEGENDARY.

[@LecheroMalvado]

Man, I've known Spawn since I was a kid, mostly due to the toys, but this is the first time I hear Todd's story. Respect, man, never backing down so he can provide for his beloved family doing what he loves.

[@shayneswenson]

Todd is a legend here in Spokane. My childhood wouldn’t be the same without his work and he is directly responsible for me moving into a full time art career. I never made it into comics(as originally intended), but my love of comic art and drawing was “spawned”😊 by endless hours of copying his work and drooling over his illustrations.

[@xixGoBL1Nxix]

Its funny to me how todds dialogue and writing can be so heavily criticized(rightly so), but the way he tells a story is actually gold when he speaks. The bit about the toy buyers is a great example, its more or less word for word the way todd tells it and its just good story telling. Honestly the old school artists and writers come across as utter snobs. He could have been a great all round story teller had he just had some guidance at an earlier stage rather than being attacked by older people.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

His writing and dialogue was VERY well done and very well told FOR Spawn and he shouldn't have been "heavily criticized" AT ALL for any of it for Spawn, which for the most part nobody really did. For his past work, yeah maybe but NOT for his Spawn issues run as he wrote out Spawn pretty well to be a great and compelling story and it even improved ALOT for the animated series adaption of the comic!

[@JimAirborne25]

Those guys were the guys who were the “old-timers” who had been in the business for decades. They fell victim to the syndrome of “they’re older and know better.” As a guy who is older now, there’s always that danger. But for that Boomer generation (the TRUE Boomers) and those that were still of the generation before that (I think it’s officially the “Greatest Generation,” those that fought in and helped win WWII.) who weren’t going to let any “young punks” tell them what might work. I respect John Romita for who he was and his accomplishments, but whiting out and redrawing other guys’ work because it didn’t look like his? That’s douchebaggery! Joe Kubert had a drawing school. I think he got a little flack for churning out “clones.” Learning how to draw from some of the greats is not a bad thing, but developing one’s own style SHOULD be encouraged, with the teacher being an “inspiration.”

[@dreamofstuff9125]

Honestly, Todd is one of my favorite people. His story is of passion, ambition, greed, and love. He will always be one of my favorites and to this day, has the only comic book character I care about. My kids are young... I cannot wait to introduce them to Spawn/Al/Wanda/Todd... Nice video. Knew pretty much all of this stuff, but it was great to hear it all again wrapped up like a gift. Thanks!

[@AedanBlackheart]

I was like 5, no regrets :) I'm glad my eyes liked that sort of stuff lol

[@weazz]

As a Calgarian artist myself, Todd has always been an inspiration. Even his missteps are important to his story and success. Mistakes are how we learn and grown. Todd is an inspiration to every artist whose willing to listen to the story. "You don't have to reinvent the wheel" - Todd McFarlane

[@philwiermann]

Man, what one the best thing in Facebook a few years ago was to watch Todd make his sketches on a digital pad whilst making funny blast noises and explaining his process. Really satisfying!

[@TeddScheckler]

Like fart noises? 💨

[@christiany.m.3604]

This man changed kid cartoons to being more dark and gritty he changed how super heroes look, he changed how toys look.. hes definitely iconic

[@Nay089]

Spawn wasn’t a kids cartoon tho

[@80sDudeTV]

This has to be one of the best videos I’ve watched. Great pacing, wonderful storytelling, and the score is great as well. Very well done, and inspiring. Also, Todd McFarlane is an absolute legend. I met him a couple of times at conventions and he’s a very nice dude. Great to see a video of this quality dedicated to TM’s life and journey. Nicely done sir!

[@Superior_Design]

Couldn’t agree more! This video was so incredibly helpful to me, as a comic artist working on my own comic book!

[@jdmj0]

Growing up as a child during the advent of Spawn, with my dad being a HUGE collector of all things McFarlane, his name is embedded into my childhood memories. I was too young to really even grasp any behind-the-scenes drama but this video was gripping from beginning to end. Well made and succinctly put!

[@infinitesquarez]

Gaiman getting Marvel to fund his lawsuit and then selling them the winnings to get back at someone who threatened to "bury" him is a true sigma move.

[@kaska456]

Can’t lie it definitely is, but Todd is still amazing as well.

[@gentlemandank9827]

selling Angela to Marvel was the cherry on top

[@marktheshark7588]

@@gentlemandank9827Not exactly.Since Neil Gaiman sold Angela to Marvel.She hasn't made an appearance after that the lawsuit was over.

[@Neximus2]

@@marktheshark7588 Shes actually Thor's sister and recently appeared in Donny Cates Thor run

[@PersonalityOrder]

Neil Gaiman, such a Sigma… Ex-Scientologist who moved to Scotland, abandoning his family, in the pandemic and was too dumb to cover his tracks. Who’s so spiteful over the one mediocre character that he gave to Spawn and now put it in the hands of the dying Marvel/Disney, who is currently being sued for fraud… and did absolutely nothing with that character… Who probably still is a Scientologist and just hides it because he’s so humiliated by it… That sigma Neil Gaiman? He is a complete waste and, as for his contributions to comics, his pretentious garbage is boring and he’s a complete hack. His woke nonsense gets sold to Amazon like every other hack… We can sit and discuss the details all we want, but it comes down to one very important distinction. Something embedded in fact. It doesn’t matter what you say or what you draw from, too much has happened that we know it’s absolutely true. Neil Gaiman is a whore. Todd McFarlane will never sell out. Never. I’m not even sure what Neil Gaiman has done that is iconic. He’s created things, sure. Of course he has, but nothing that is so iconic people will remember it forever. He’ll be lost…

[@rogueguardian]

This is the best episode you ever made Matt. Wholly crap Todd's story is downright incredible. He really is the living embodiment of that stan Lee quote " if you have an idea that you genuinely think is good, Don't let some idiot talk you out of it" Seriously though I need to give a shout out to his wife Wanda she stood by him through thick and thin and you can tell she's where Todd gets his strength to succeed. What a story.

[@xsoultillerx]

that quote reminds me of how stan downright trashed & mocked him and lefield at a workshop.

[@VirideSoryuLangley]

She didn't do anything.

[@rogueguardian]

​@@VirideSoryuLangleyclearly she offered moral support and if you watched the video Wanda was the editor of Spawn she clearly contributed something.

[@VirideSoryuLangley]

@@rogueguardian Men never get credit for "morally supporting" their girlfriends or wives, so why should she?

[@colddeadhand7414]

I remember watching the animated series on HBO as a teen and remember thinking, "I have never seen a more violent cartoon before in my life and it was drawn so realistically". It was great! Spawn had become my favorite comic book character after that. He really was a mesh of everything that made other characters awesome and the toys were always the most detailed toys. I had a huge collection of them and the comic books until my first divorce when I lost all of them.

[@TheYoungjames22]

Your wife wanted your comic books??? That’s messed up.

[@daviddiazv17]

The bad ending :(

[@hulkslayer626]

I hope you eventually find your Wanda...

[@savagethedragoncom]

Thank you so much for making this episode. It popped up in my stream and I never heard of you before but the episode was awesome. I never knew what happened to Todd McFarlane. This episode of left a warm feeling in my heart. I had met him at his McFarland Toy both. He told me about how his company created the Twisted Storybook figures. He was quite nice.

[@AdamLacy228]

Okay... the end made a grown man cry. Imagine having your high school sweetheart staying with you through thick and thin.

[@scarletsletter4466]

Same. That’s true love. ❤🥹

[@chrish7308]

Thank you for this, I forgotten how much of a McFarlane fan I was in the 90s. I had the Spiderman poster, the Spawn comics and toys, I even thought I'd be a comic book artist because I was inspired by his art. I didn't choose that path, but I did end up making video games for a bit. About a decade ago I could have said hi to him at a game expo before it opened because I was at a booth nearby, but I didn't want to bug him despite him being alone, I wish I did. Anyways, I appreciate this video, because my wife died around that time too and I went off the deep end and destroyed my career. Todd shows that you just got to be persistent and not give up, despite the failures and tragedies that happen in life. Here's to another round.

[@browner420]

Good luck on your next chapter of life. Losing a beloved wife is a tragedy 💔

[@chrish7308]

Thank you@@browner420, best of luck on your journey as well

[@adampatino5372]

Just knowing that Todd is still together with his wife since their teenage years warms my cold, dead heart and gives me hope that perhaps one day, this monster may too find love. Perhaps.

[@rodneysettle8106]

That’s such a rarity in these times.

[@RRTNZ]

I remember when McFarlane started on Hulk and then Spidey, I had a few issues - just for the art really. Spawn didnt do much for me, but hearing his story gives me a whole new level of respect for Todd and his determination to succeed. Cheers

[@gamble777888]

Standing ovation for this video and Todd McFarlane. Obviously not a perfect human being by any stretch, but how do you not respect an artist who is true to himself and does it all for his family.

[@natman6905]

I just needed to pop in and say what a remarkable video this is. I was a teenage comic nerd when all this was happening and watching it unfold in real time, Pre-Internet. This vid has lots of new and interesting information and is presented in a riveting manner: visuals, music, story telling/pace are all absolutely top-tier. Kudos Matt! This is how it should be done. Not unlike Todd McFarlane in a way...

[@ltrigga219]

More than I probably ever wanted to know about Todd MacFarlane, but wow, he disrupted three separate industries multiple times. Kinda hard not to admire his career. And then the part with his family…that’s insanely admirable. I love how you framed that aspect of this whole story. Well done, you made me a legitimate fan of a dude I was always half “yeah!” and half “eh” about.

[@ElectricDoktorLand]

I loved the video but I might just be loving all the comments more. Hearing so many people tell their Todd Stories is heartwarming. I hope he understands what a positive effect he has had on SO many people.

[@carolinavenger]

As someone with a personality that can at times be... too much for some people, Todd tearing up while he's talking about his amazement that his wife still puts up with him made me cry too. I totally understand that feeling. I've never been super into comics but these videos make me think I should really start reading more of them!

[@briantxcattleskull2752]

That’s true love… ride or die

[@dcaseng]

Unlike most people who are as driven as he is, he at least seems to be self aware of his personality traits. Most people who share his off putting personality traits are unable to accept criticism or the fact that they are flawed.

[@cyborgchicken3502]

​@@dcaseng I think if Todd didn't simply leave Gaiman in the dust then things wouldn't have been so bad and they would've made an awesome duo... I follow Todd on Instagram and see his reels and posts sometimes, it seems like he has learned from the many mistakes his younger self made... He's far from completely bankrupt though but he seems more humble now

[@s2mc-w899]

I met Todd.. was one of the best days of my life. Much respect to this amazing man

[@AL13NM]

Let's not forget he also helped to Launch the career of The Greg Capullo! His work on Spawn rivaled and I think surpassed Todds art. Although already working for Marvel Capullos work really improved beyond expectations with Spawn!

[@rockon8174]

John Romita Sr. Was the one who got Capullo in.

[@Nichole-440HP]

I grew up loving Jack Kirby’s work and fell in love with Todd’s work in the 90’s .

[@roebuckmckinney]

"And to Todd, who made it necessary" How is it that this video makes me love both of these guys more?

[@kayakerdude3727]

John Romita Sr. version of Spider-Man and the stories he made with Stan will always be my Spider-Man but I grew to love and accept the version Todd made in the years after John left. Todd was the perfect artist to take over during those years and perfect for drawing Peter Parker's adult life after completion of high school and college. He drew the black suit, Venom and the darker more adult stories for the character that made sense at that stage of Spider-Man's run and existence - I bought the Todd McFarlane Omnibus and it's worth every penny. Love his unique version where he makes him even more like a spider with poses, the big eyes, the neat intertwined and the more spider like webbing and webs. Love it! Spidey was needing a fresh new take and stories and Todd came in and gave him that along with a huge boost in sales, new fans, and even more popularity.

[@apple_fire]

I've always loved Spawn - I never realized how committed Todd was to his art and his family until watching this! Great make and thanks for sharing :D

[@dodidodidabada1954]

Had the movie on vhs and watched it repeatedly next to the fifth element. Watched and read some more since and have only a positive impression. Wondering if I should binge the comic? Finnished watching the video now. Yes will binge the comic and Neil gaimans doesn't make the nicest impression even if a patient one. I don't mind, did not like his work much yet. Except the sandman life action/tv show.

[@jacobwebb1876]

Why is older comic art SO MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT IS OUT NOW

[@svenjansen2134]

Old stuff is usually better because most things are just overdone now.

[@Tripledashhh_]

Nothing gets me more choked up than hearing Todd’s coming of story. He’s a good man with an imagination that is infectious.

[@RocoPwnage]

I grew up on comic book characters in other media, but (mostly due to the price) I never got much into comic books themselves. Your videos are super interesting and easy for me to follow while having borderline zero context of all those releases.

[@CarbonScoring]

Geez, Mattt! I know every detail of this story like the back of my hand, yet your story telling, your pacing, your interconnectedness made this totally fresh and new! Just another brilliant video. Keep doing what you are doing and I wish you great success - if you happen to be going to San Diego Comic Con this summer, I would love to shake your hand!

[@poob1082]

Hi carbon scoring

[@SimonLacey-MySleekDesigns]

When McFarlane drew Spiderman his talent was immediately apparent. His anatomy and style was so far beyond everyone else's work.

[@Nateolison]

Bro I had this on in the background while working on my comic. Seriously, thank you for this. I never knew Todd's story, but I relate to it right now. It's been truly beneficial. (Also Spawn is my MK11 main.) I quit my non-profit job mentoring kids to make my own business using the visual storytelling in comics to teach literacy, the premise being that I'd be able to positively impact many more lives than where I was at, but it's failing hard. I've lost not only all my money, but my ability to pursue my purpose, serve my students and the ability to truly take care of my wife the way she deserves. I work 7 days a week and make just enough to cover living expenses. Murphy's Law has been in full effect but I'm close to landing some big school contracts and concept art work that'll change everything. This is inspiration that I wouldn't even have admitted was necessary an hour ago. You da goat!🙏🏿

[@congoose100]

I have to respect the hustle. This guy went all in every time. I was 13 when Spawn came out and this brought back a thousand memories. Thank you!

[@manicpixiedreambuoy]

I've only read a handful of comics in my life, but your humanistic, thoughtful, sleekly presented and visually striking biographies are just so fascinating. Thanks for introducing me to all these amazing artists and writers!

[@nonifuji1566]

Inspirational. I hope to have even a fraction of Todd's grit one day.

[@peterjaketalkswrasslin6920]

I think it’s also important to add that “in a world” of almost exclusively white superhero’s, Todd also broke ground by making Spawn an African American character. Not some lame ass character either. Not some stereotype exploitation character that was either a side kick or some lighting character or some guy with his ear to the street but untrustworthy… Spawn was a man with a complex story and a unique personality. A breath of fresh air for young Black kids like me at the time that had given up on waiting for a character I could genuinely connect with.

[@Breakaway-ic5gj]

Why does the color of a character influence your connection

[@peterjaketalkswrasslin6920]

@@Breakaway-ic5gj the same reason to why you would ask.

[@LuisSierra42]

Well he was white himself so he had limited knowledge of black people's struggles. On the other hand, it did feel very refreshing, especially at that time

[@Breakaway-ic5gj]

@@peterjaketalkswrasslin6920 So, no reason? Idk, I never really felt like a character has to look like me for me to connect to them. I dont think Spawn goes over the struggles of black people or anything though I haven't read it all the way through

[@GrayskullPrime]

Like all white people are born rich and know no hardship.The only problem black superheroes have ever had was continually falling into the same, stereotypical, race obsessed, inner city gang crap and coming off like a preachy lecture. It's rare you get a character like Spawn that branches out into another genre that's more accessible to a wider audience. Stop obsessing about race, worshipping criminals and holding grudges over things that happened years before you were born and things will get a lot better.

[@TheRookaManDesigns]

This channel just appeared, I'm all for it. The content being created on this channel is honestly mind blowing! I absolutely love this type of stuff as a comic book fan and an illustrator/graphic designer. Its always engaging, always inspiring and the stories told always gets me in the mood to create. Seeing the stories unfold help put into perspective if you are truly passionate about something, pursue it despite all the trials, its worth it. Amazing work Matttt cant wait to see more content like this.

[@MrRozyB]

Fantastic. The editing, story, research, all of it is amazing. You've come out of left field and become the bar by which I judge every other comic book channel...hell, the bar by which I judge comic critiques in general. As a lifelong fan of the medium, thank you for doing what you do.

[@bluscorpion]

I lovehow you genuinely sound interested and invested in the topic. Great video!

[@themightykabool]

Commitment to fans. Dedication to craft and learning. Busting walls and finding solutions. Dedication to wife. This guy is amazing.

[@joshbrekke6374]

Exactly, I could not agree more! Great Comment, well said/written. I’ve always felt this way about McFarlane honestly. Since the mid to late 1980,s learning about how he wanted to make comics better from store owners.

[@BuildinWings]

Commitment to fans my butt. He sent C&D letters after fan artists in the early 00s.

[@wesNYC]

Doesn't matter. Spawn comic books and spawn animated series are a gift from God. Thank you Mr. McFarlane. Make another season on animated series. We're begging at this point

[@smokingbeetles5793]

I love Todd, he was one of my favorite artists. IMO, he was treated by executives, as he treated writers. That was ironic. He needed to continue pressing on with drawing, I think he alienated many fans by his inconsistency and just abandonment of his art.

[@shizachan8421]

Yeah, I feel like the whole Gaiman episode was purely on him, no matter where you read the story, it always feels like Gaiman just wanted to be treated with respect and dignity.

[@ThailandDantotherescue]

I am a huge fan of the man and his work ethic. Image being paid 100k to write a 22 page comic book and then sue the guy for millions. Nothing but respect for Todd.

[@Theexplorographer]

McFarlane's net worth... 300 million.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

lol Looks like he sold ALOT of toys!

[@AltCutTV]

That's a hundred baseballs!

[@ZeroOverOne]

Todd is definitely one of my favorite artists of all time. The way he draws Spider-Man just pops, like he’s coming out of the page itself! He even got my back into drawing recently. Anyways, like always, this video is great. Keep up the good work.

[@oz_jones]

I saw a video of him drawing pages of Spawn a few years ago. He made noises like a kid would. 😂 Noises like "swooosh!" "Kablowie!" Etc. Bless his heart.

[@brichan1851]

No matter how the industry views him, I will always love Todd.

[@learrus]

He was one of the main artists we all studied as kids to get good. I feel the same way lol

[@elidragom]

super dope video!! the one thing i noticed that’s wrong is you said “most comic book writers break at 18 or 19” when Stan Lee himself & half the writers started in their 30s & mid 40s

[@elidragom]

then saying that todd mcfarlane drew comics for kids like it was kid comics vs adult comics☠️ boy, that is literally the only comic series i knew before reading was more “adult”😂

[@nycborn9032]

I worked @ Marvel when Todd, Rob, et al were there…wow! So impressed by your video and storytelling with family at the heart of it … Todd was always the wild card and i believe in him as I did with Jack Kirby…if only he had the media behind him. We would be talking about Kirby Toys and Marvel Toys in the same way, i think. Keep up the great work and reach out if you need some some stories about Terry and James Cameron

[@nycborn9032]

Awwww….thank you so much for the highlight. Merry Christmas!

[@RLucas3000]

Did you not care for Stan Lee? He always seemed like a pretty stand up guy. I don’t ever remember him attacking Jack. It was nice to see in this video that Steve Englehart gave Todd his first job, as his writhing in Avengers, and Mike Grell’s art in Legion are what really drew me in and cemented my love for comics.