The Tim Ferriss Show

#639: Todd McFarlane, Legendary Comic Book Artist — How to Make Iconic Art, Reinvent Spider-Man, Live Life on Your Own Terms, and Meet Every Deadline

149 snips
Dec 1, 2022
Todd McFarlane, an Emmy- and Grammy-winning director, is known for creating the iconic comic book Spawn and co-creating Venom in The Amazing Spider-Man. He shares his journey from sports to comics, detailing over 700 submissions that honed his craft. McFarlane discusses the founding of Image Comics, advocating for creative freedom against major publishers. He reflects on reinventing Spider-Man, balancing artistic vision with corporate demands, and emphasizes the importance of personal investment in storytelling.
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ANECDOTE

Early Competitive Drive

  • Todd McFarlane was driven by competition from an early age, fueled by his brothers and later, baseball.
  • He got a Pac-10 baseball scholarship and was one of two out of 25 teammates to graduate in four years.
ANECDOTE

Rejection Letters and Persistence

  • Todd McFarlane received over 300 rejection letters while pursuing comic book jobs.
  • He sent 700 samples over four years, wearing companies down until Marvel hired him.
ADVICE

Keys to Comic Book Success

  • Two keys to comic book success are drawing skills and storytelling.
  • Meeting deadlines is crucial, even over flashy art, as the industry demands monthly releases.
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