Comics Todd McFarlane's amazing run on the Spider-Man comics.

[deathshead2]

Isn't he drawing jonan Hex?

 

[VICTORVONDOOMX]

Mcfarlane...meh

The guy who created the "good guy" Wendigo?

The guy whose art was a so-so version of Pat Broderic?

Meh...

 

[KingOfDreams]

I've nver read any of his ASM issues but I do have a two-issue arc of his Spider-Man series that stars Morbius that's really awesome.

 

[Rez]

Hey, it's all different of opinion. Torment's cryptic and repetitive writing style is what I loved about it... it shares a lot in common with some of my favourite authors. With the exception of Torment, I do find his ASM run better than his own title's run.
And yes, I still love his art.
As for the man himself, I've never met him, so I don't plan to make judgements. If I saw him in real life, went up to him to praise him and shake his hand, and got a gruff look and a puff in my face, then yeah, maybe I'd not like the man so much. But until we meet face to face, I don't care what his reputation as a person is. His work in the entertainment industry has my support.

 

[Tokyo Vigilante #1]

Isn't he drawing jonan Hex?

Luke Ross? Yeah he is and doing an AMAZING job.

Great comic to check out. Especially issue 3.

 

[Tokyo Vigilante #1]

For what it's worth, I'd rather have Erik Larsen back on Spidey any day.

As long as he would draw Peter without making him look so young he looks like Mary Jane's kid, I'd like to see it. I'm a big fan.

 

[Kittie Rose]

Torment was pretty hard to bear. It was a good story in concept, it just reminded me of a page of The Sandman drawn out for 5 issues.

He drew the best Spidey though, by far.

 

[deathshead2]

Luke Ross? Yeah he is and doing an AMAZING job.

Great comic to check out. Especially issue 3.

Yeah 3 was great so far I have liked the past 4 issues better than most comics going on right now.

 

[GreenMamba]

Todd MacFarlane's just about the most untalented hack in the comic industry.

 

[Popo 85]

"Todd MacFarlane's just about the most untalented hack in the comic industry."

Ouch. Maybe a better phase would be, "most overrated." I'm sure there are many other artists out there that do terrible artwork, we just don't know about it. Or at least, don't talk about it.

 

[GreenMamba]

Most definitely--I just have a vehement dislike for MacFaralane.

 

[Duneboy]

I think Erik Larsen, John Romita sr., & John Buscema drew Spidey pretty damn good too. Todd Mcfarlane is an excellent artist; what the heck are you guys talking about?? You mean because he's pursuing other avenues in stead of comics?

 

[deathshead2]

No becuase his art is crap. Spawn sounds cool and I wanted to buy the trade but then I saw the art and didnt buy it.

 

[shinlyle]

I think Erik Larsen, John Romita sr., & John Buscema drew Spidey pretty damn good too. Todd Mcfarlane is an excellent artist; what the heck are you guys talking about?? You mean because he's pursuing other avenues in stead of comics?

I'm really trying hard not to laugh at those saying McFarlane is "an untalented hack" and that he does "crappy art". You're entitled to your opinion, but this is kind of like listening to someone say that they thought that they always thought the New Kids on the Block sucked. Yeah...they may hav sucked, but someone bought all their damn albums...

You may think Todd sucked, but someone had to make Spider-Man #1 the second best-selling comic ever....

Anyways, the reason I'm hating on Todd McFarlane is because he's an artist...and he doesn't draw anything for the fans anymore. It's like being able to sing better than anyone else, and only singing in the shower...when you're alone.

God gives you a gift, then you need to use it. I'd give my left nut and my right ear to be able to just "walk-on" to any comic I wanted, and this clown CAN do that, and he deosn't draw a damn thing. Hell, he doesn't even draw OR write "Spawn" anymore, and that's a character he used to swear up and down that he would never leave. He and Dave Sim even did an issue about it! (issue #10 of Spawn, for htose who don't know)

Maybe it's that I'm envious, or maybe I'm just being as ass, but if you have the buckets if talent that this man has, you should be doing something with it aside from sitting on your keister running a toy/production empire.

Yeah, I love the man's artwork...hell, I'd love to have a piece of his Spidey art....but I have little or no respect for him nowadays.

 

[wolvie2020]

I'm really trying hard not to laugh at those saying McFarlane is "an untalented hack" and that he does "crappy art". You're entitled to your opinion, but this is kind of like listening to someone say that they thought that they always thought the New Kids on the Block sucked. Yeah...they may hav sucked, but someone bought all their damn albums...

You may think Todd sucked, but someone had to make Spider-Man #1 the second best-selling comic ever....

Anyways, the reason I'm hating on Todd McFarlane is because he's an artist...and he doesn't draw anything for the fans anymore. It's like being able to sing better than anyone else, and only singing in the shower...when you're alone.

God gives you a gift, then you need to use it. I'd give my left nut and my right ear to be able to just "walk-on" to any comic I wanted, and this clown CAN do that, and he deosn't draw a damn thing. Hell, he doesn't even draw OR write "Spawn" anymore, and that's a character he used to swear up and down that he would never leave. He and Dave Sim even did an issue about it! (issue #10 of Spawn, for htose who don't know)

Maybe it's that I'm envious, or maybe I'm just being as ass, but if you have the buckets if talent that this man has, you should be doing something with it aside from sitting on your keister running a toy/production empire.

Yeah, I love the man's artwork...hell, I'd love to have a piece of his Spidey art....but I have little or no respect for him nowadays.

Took the words right out of my mouth

 

[shinlyle]

Took the words right out of my mouth

That's what I'm here got, amigo!

It's true. It happens with everything. It's like listening to the "John Byrne sucks" crowd. He sucks now, no doubt, but the man is a legend. The X-Men and the Fantastic Four wouldn't be where they are today without him. Same goes with Spider-man and Todd McFarlane. Withotu Todd, we'd probably be seeing the exact same Romita Sr-esque Spidey that we had for the ten or 20 years before McFarlane came along. Nothing wrong with Romita, as he was a legend, but we already had Romita....and Romita Jr.....things move on, and every artist shoudl put his/her own stamp on what he or she does.

Hell, I son't like Ramos, but at least I can pick his Spidey out of a line-up! Same with McFarlane's. And Larsen's. Pretty much everyone since McFarlane has their own unique Spidey. Not that everyone before was a clone of Romita, but the signature wasn't as evident as it is now.

 

[Lt. Figgnuts]

I'm really trying hard not to laugh at those saying McFarlane is "an untalented hack" and that he does "crappy art". You're entitled to your opinion, but this is kind of like listening to someone say that they thought that they always thought the New Kids on the Block sucked. Yeah...they may hav sucked, but someone bought all their damn albums...

You may think Todd sucked, but someone had to make Spider-Man #1 the second best-selling comic ever....

Anyways, the reason I'm hating on Todd McFarlane is because he's an artist...and he doesn't draw anything for the fans anymore. It's like being able to sing better than anyone else, and only singing in the shower...when you're alone.

God gives you a gift, then you need to use it. I'd give my left nut and my right ear to be able to just "walk-on" to any comic I wanted, and this clown CAN do that, and he deosn't draw a damn thing. Hell, he doesn't even draw OR write "Spawn" anymore, and that's a character he used to swear up and down that he would never leave. He and Dave Sim even did an issue about it! (issue #10 of Spawn, for htose who don't know)

Maybe it's that I'm envious, or maybe I'm just being as ass, but if you have the buckets if talent that this man has, you should be doing something with it aside from sitting on your keister running a toy/production empire.

Yeah, I love the man's artwork...hell, I'd love to have a piece of his Spidey art....but I have little or no respect for him nowadays.

Can't say much else except that I pretty much agree 110%.

 

[wolvie2020]

1) David Micheline created Venom. MacFarlane had nothing to do with him other than being the artist in charge of drawing ASM at the time of his first (visual) appearances. I say visual because Eddie Brock/Venom first appeared in Web of #18 with a second appearance in Web of #24 (the former written by Micheline, the latter plotted by Micheline). Perhaps Todd's art may have helped popularize Venom, it was still Micheline's ideas and concepts of Venom that helped make him so popular... to the point of over-appearances and sugar-coating the character.

2) I actually hated what Todd did with Spidey's webbing. The overdetailing of the webbing as well as the over dramatic Spidey poses took away from the background art, which still needs to be solid in order to properly tell a story. When I look at some of the artwork after ASM #300 (when Todd's popular art really took off), a lot of panels have just solid colors in the background with a few minimal lines. While his art may be at times "fantastic", it still can't hold a candle to Ross Andru for "good" storytelling.

3) While Todd's art definitely did make Spider-Man look more "spidery", I would have preferred an emphasis to solid storytelling art to make the stories flow and read better. If I wanted to buy a poster book, I'd buy a poster book. But I buy comics for good art AS WELL as good storytelling.

4) Again, as with point number 1, Todd had nothing to do with the return of the red & blue costume. These were all the ideas of either David Micheline and/or Jim Salicrup (the editor of the Spidey books at the time). All MacFarlane did was draw the book.

Actually, you got a couple of details kinda wrong there.

Todd was VERY instrumental in the charachter of Venom. One of the many (arrogant,) aspects of Todd was that he liked things to go in his direction. Why do you think he got his own book? He was gonna leave Spidey, but Todd was too much of a money maker for them to let go of him from Spidey. Venom is a weird gruesome charachter VERY much in the vein of all of Todd's creator owned charachters. Micheline dealt with many various charachters, (personally I'm a bigger fan of Micheline on Spidey.) Todd has always been OBSESSED with charachters like this, and this was his 1st chance to be involved in the CREATION of a charachter, and the charachter went VERY much in Todd's style.

Don't get me wrong, I think Micheline is cool, and he was VERY much crucial for Venom being who he is, but if ANYONE else was involved apart from Todd, Venom would NOT be the charachter he became.

Also, Todd, (I can't believe he was this arrogant,) he said he wouldn't do Spidey unless he was in his Red & Blue Togs. Luckily, Salicrup had thought about it a little before, and was into the idea. Micheline then felt he could work it into the plot, and it would be a cool turn of events for issue 300.

I know Todd's an arse, but I'm once again gonna have to agree with Shin here. People may ***** about him, but he STILL has MANY fans, and his Spider-Man is still the 2nd best selling comic of all time. This was at the time EVERYONE in the mainstream public was into Batman, (because of the films.) And all the cool, nearly pre Gen-Xers were into Batman. Watchmen, Sandman, and anything from Frank Miller were the cool intellectual cutting edge stuff to buy at the time. Yet, Todd's Spider-Man STILL beat them ALL. There was no hype/trendy reason for this to happen, and to this day, his Spider-Man trades STILL SELL.

While Shin's New Kids metaphor is still funny, I don't feel it's the right comparison. McFarlanes work was NEVER manufactured, and he still had his own style and integrity. I would use the example of Axl Rose from Guns 'n' Roses. People still revere his work, he changed popular mainstream rock music, but he turned into a bizaare self obssesed knob that's been talking about changing the world with a new album going on 10 years now.

P.S. I was actually pissed when he changed Spidey back to his Red & Blue togs, 'cause I loved the black costume. And you KNOW that Todd wanted it to happen NOT for creative reasons, but he wanted to be attached to coming onto Spider-Man for the time such a drastic move would be made, as he knew the average Joe was familiar with the Red and Blue Suit. Todd's style even suits the black costume! Dark and edgy! He even made him wear the black costume for one of his stories! While I loved those issues when they came out, I immediately thought he realised his mistake! And wanted to draw him in that suit at least ONE more time b4 he left. Spawns bloody mask even LOOKS like Spidey's black mask!

 

[The Lizard]

A better metaphor would be that McFarlane is sort of the Quentin Tarantino of comics. Lots of style, lots of attitude, but sort of a one-trick pony.

 

[shinlyle]

Actually, you got a couple of details kinda wrong there.

Todd was VERY instrumental in the charachter of Venom. One of the many (arrogant,) aspects of Todd was that he liked things to go in his direction. Why do you think he got his own book? He was gonna leave Spidey, but Todd was too much of a money maker for them to let go of him from Spidey. Venom is a weird gruesome charachter VERY much in the vein of all of Todd's creator owned charachters. Micheline dealt with many various charachters, (personally I'm a bigger fan of Micheline on Spidey.) Todd has always been OBSESSED with charachters like this, and this was his 1st chance to be involved in the CREATION of a charachter, and the charachter went VERY much in Todd's style.

Don't get me wrong, I think Micheline is cool, and he was VERY much crucial for Venom being who he is, but if ANYONE else was involved apart from Todd, Venom would NOT be the charachter he became.

Also, Todd, (I can't believe he was this arrogant,) he said he wouldn't do Spidey unless he was in his Red & Blue Togs. Luckily, Salicrup had thought about it a little before, and was into the idea. Micheline then felt he could work it into the plot, and it would be a cool turn of events for issue 300.

I know Todd's an arse, but I'm once again gonna have to agree with Shin here. People may ***** about him, but he STILL has MANY fans, and his Spider-Man is still the 2nd best selling comic of all time. This was at the time EVERYONE in the mainstream public was into Batman, (because of the films.) And all the cool, nearly pre Gen-Xers were into Batman. Watchmen, Sandman, and anything from Frank Miller were the cool intellectual cutting edge stuff to buy at the time. Yet, Todd's Spider-Man STILL beat them ALL. There was no hype/trendy reason for this to happen, and to this day, his Spider-Man trades STILL SELL.

While Shin's New Kids metaphor is still funny, I don't feel it's the right comparison. McFarlanes work was NEVER manufactured, and he still had his own style and integrity. I would use the example of Axl Rose from Guns 'n' Roses. People still revere his work, he changed popular mainstream rock music, but he turned into a bizaare self obssesed knob that's been talking about changing the world with a new album going on 10 years now.

P.S. I was actually pissed when he changed Spidey back to his Red & Blue togs, 'cause I loved the black costume. And you KNOW that Todd wanted it to happen NOT for creative reasons, but he wanted to be attached to coming onto Spider-Man for the time such a drastic move would be made, as he knew the average Joe was familiar with the Red and Blue Suit. Todd's style even suits the black costume! Dark and edgy! He even made him wear the black costume for one of his stories! While I loved those issues when they came out, I immediately thought he realised his mistake! And wanted to draw him in that suit at least ONE more time b4 he left. Spawns bloody mask even LOOKS like Spidey's black mask!

Well put, man! On all counts..

As for the "New Kids" analogy, I just thought it would be a nice joke to lead into what was basically a long argument telling everyone that I couls smell what they were full of... (that was a joke, too, people)

And, yeah, McFarlane's signature is permanently attached to Venom, as well as Spider-Man. Look at Spawn. He IS Spider-man with Batman characteristics. It's so bleedin' obvious! Viloator had a very Venom-inspired look as well...

And also, I'll be the one to say it; I HATE Todd's attitude and his ego, but if he finally swallowed his pride, put away his grudge with Marvel, and drew Spider-man ONE MORE TIME, I'd buy the hell out of that issue.

If anyone here thinks a "Spider-Man/ Spawn" crossover drawn by Todd McFarlane and written by just about anybody wouldn't sell in the #1 spot, then you're delusional.

 

[stillanerd]

Well put, man! On all counts..

As for the "New Kids" analogy, I just thought it would be a nice joke to lead into what was basically a long argument telling everyone that I couls smell what they were full of... (that was a joke, too, people)

And, yeah, McFarlane's signature is permanently attached to Venom, as well as Spider-Man. Look at Spawn. He IS Spider-man with Batman characteristics. It's so bleedin' obvious! Viloator had a very Venom-inspired look as well...

And also, I'll be the one to say it; I HATE Todd's attitude and his ego, but if he finally swallowed his pride, put away his grudge with Marvel, and drew Spider-man ONE MORE TIME, I'd buy the hell out of that issue.

If anyone here thinks a "Spider-Man/ Spawn" crossover drawn by Todd McFarlane and written by just about anybody wouldn't sell in the #1 spot, then you're delusional.

A Spider-Man/Spawn crossover written and illustrated by Todd McFarlane would sell like hot cakes, no question.

Also, people seem to forget that McFarlane has probably had far more impact on Spidey's current look than people like to admit. Heck, Erik Larsen and Mark Bagley practically copied the "big eyed, spaghetti webbing, twisted body poses" Spidey almost to the letter. Granted, McFarlane's an egotistical punk, but his caliber as an artist (and who is also one of the few comic book artists that actually made money off of his creations) is unparalleled, lawsuit with Neil Gaiman notwithstanding.

BTW, one of the best images of Spider-Man he ever did: the one where he had Spidey upside-down eating donuts. That just seemed so like Spidey to me. Plus it was the same issue where he donned the black costume once again.

 

[shinlyle]

A Spider-Man/Spawn crossover written and illustrated by Todd McFarlane would sell like hot cakes, no question.

Also, people seem to forget that McFarlane has probably had far more impact on Spidey's current look than people like to admit. Heck, Erik Larsen and Mark Bagley practically copied the "big eyed, spaghetti webbing, twisted body poses" Spidey almost to the letter. Granted, McFarlane's an egotistical punk, but his caliber as an artist (and who is also one of the few comic book artists that actually made money off of his creations) is unparalleled, lawsuit with Neil Gaiman notwithstanding.

BTW, one of the best images of Spider-Man he ever did: the one where he had Spidey upside-down eating donuts. That just seemed so like Spidey to me. Plus it was the same issue where he donned the black costume once again.

Dude! That is like, my favorite Spidey pic ever!! It was from Spider-man #13, by the way, and he was talking to himself about which ones he should eat!

Those scenes like that were what I loved about McFarlane's work...those quirky scenes that made Spidey really shine...even when the rest of his story may have been sorely lacking.

 

[stillanerd]

Dude! That is like, my favorite Spidey pic ever!! It was from Spider-man #13, by the way, and he was talking to himself about which ones he should eat!

Those scenes like that were what I loved about McFarlane's work...those quirky scenes that made Spidey really shine...even when the rest of his story may have been sorely lacking.

That issue also contained one of the best Spidey one-liners "I've got the agility of spider and some guy is trying to beat me up with trash?" or something like it. I'm paraphrasing because, sadly, I no longer have it anymore. Years ago, my younger brother traded it for a bunch of Darkhawk issues. Not that there's anything wrong with Darkhawk, per see, but even so...

It also showed that McFarlane wasn't a jerk all the time. In the letters page (remember those) the letter writer basically blasted him all over the place saying that he couldn't draw, that he had no concept of basic anatomy, and that he knew dozens of other artists who could do better than him that weren't even in comics. McFarlane's response. "Who are these artists? Maybe I can help get them a job."

 

[shinlyle]

That issue also contained one of the best Spidey one-liners "I've got the agility of spider and some guy is trying to beat me up with trash?" or something like it. I'm paraphrasing because, sadly, I no longer have it anymore. Years ago, my younger brother traded it for a bunch of Darkhawk issues. Not that there's anything wrong with Darkhawk, per see, but even so...

It also showed that McFarlane wasn't a jerk all the time. In the letters page (remember those) the letter writer basically blasted him all over the place saying that he couldn't draw, that he had no concept of basic anatomy, and that he knew dozens of other artists who could do better than him that weren't even in comics. McFarlane's response. "Who are these artists? Maybe I can help get them a job."

LOL! I remember that!

I think part of what led to McFarlame beign a jerk was his fallout with Marvel. They gave him his own Spider-man book, but they still recieved all the profit, comparitively speaking. He didn't get paid for his involvement as he deemed fit. It's kind of like Professional Athletes and Pay disputes...only in comcis, you can actually go somewhere ekse or do your own thing.

Greedy damn athletes...like you could do so much less with 50 million dollars than you can do with 40 million....

 

[stillanerd]

LOL! I remember that!

I think part of what led to McFarlame beign a jerk was his fallout with Marvel. They gave him his own Spider-man book, but they still recieved all the profit, comparitively speaking. He didn't get paid for his involvement as he deemed fit. It's kind of like Professional Athletes and Pay disputes...only in comcis, you can actually go somewhere ekse or do your own thing.

That wouldn't surprise me. After all, he was getting a lot of name recognition back then, and fame has tendency to change people often for the worse, though not always.

Greedy damn athletes...like you could do so much less with 50 million dollars than you can do with 40 million....

No kidding. It's that kind of attidute that's ruining professional sports these days, especailly baseball and basketball.