Todd McFarlane is a comic book artist and creator. McFarlane is most recognized for his contributions to the ‘Amazing Spider-Man series.
He was a comic book sensation in the late 1980s thanks to his work on Marvel Comics ‘ Spider-Man franchise. Image Comics was founded by McFarlane in 1992.
Sports Memorabilia
Todd received a baseball scholarship to attend Eastern Washington University, where he studied graphics and painting. An accident prompted him to abandon his baseball ambitions, so he shifted his concentration to graphics.
He never lost his love for baseball. After becoming immensely wealthy, he began assembling what has become one of the most coveted collections of baseball memorabilia in the world.
In 1998, he purchased Mark McGuire’s then-record-breaking 70th home run ball for $2.6 million, or nearly $4 million in current values.
In the same year, he paid $175,000 for the 66th home run ball hit by Sammy Sosa. In 2003, he paid $517,500 for the record-breaking 73rd home run ball by Barry Bonds (hit in 2001).
Early Life and Beginnings of Career
McFarlane was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, in 1961. His brothers are Derek and Curtis. Bob’s father worked in the printing industry and accepted whatever jobs he could find. As a result, the family resided in thirty various locations, from Alberta to California.
McFarlane began drawing as a hobby at a young age and acquired a passion for comics. His influences included comic book artists like Frank Miller, Jack Kirby, and George Pérez.
McFarlane attended William Aberhart High School and worked for the Calgary Cardinals as a groundskeeper. After completing high school, he attended Spokane Falls Community College for one year before transferring to Eastern Washington University on a baseball scholarship.
During his time there, he studied painting and graphics and worked weekends at a comic book store. After sustaining a devastating ankle injury during a college game, he decided to pursue a career in drawing instead of playing professional baseball after graduation.
McFarlane began sending monthly submission packages to comics editors while he was still a student at Eastern Washington University; half were rejected and the other half received no response.
However, DC Comics’ Sal Amendola provided McFarlane with a mock screenplay to evaluate his writing ability and encouraged him to work on page-by-page stories rather than pinups.
McFarlane then submitted a five-page sample of “Coyote” to Marvel Comics editor Ann Nocenti, who subsequently forwarded it to Epic Comics editors Archie Goodwin and Jo Duffy. The latter two sent it to Steve Englehart, the creator of “Coyote,” who then offered McFarlane a job.
McFarlane began illustrating for both Marvel and DC shortly thereafter. He worked on “Infinity, Inc.,” “Batman: Year Two,” and “Incredible Hulk” in the 1980s.
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“The Amazing Spider-Man” and Marvel
In 1988, when he collaborated with writer David Michelinie on Marvel’s “The Amazing Spider-Man,” McFarlane’s popularity skyrocketed.
He sketched the first full appearance of the character Eddie Brock, gaining recognition for his intricate, dynamic paintings of the web-slinging superhero.
However, McFarlane grew increasingly dissatisfied with his lack of authority over his work, particularly with regard to the direction of the comics’ plots. After 28 issues of “The Amazing Spider-Man,” McFarlane left the series in 1990 with number 328.
To appease McFarlane, Marvel provided him with a new “Spider-Man” comic to write and illustrate. The first issue, which was published in August of 1990, sold 2.5 million copies; McFarlane has since written and described 14 further issues.
Despite this popularity, fans were dissatisfied with McFarlane’s writing, and editors complained about the author’s grim storytelling tone. In November 1991, he released the final edition, number 16.
Image Comics and “Spawn”
After leaving Marvel, McFarlane established Image Comics with six additional artists, each of whom controlled a different publishing business. McFarlane then published his new comic book character, the anti-hero Spawn, under his studio Todd McFarlane Productions.
Upon its release in 1992, “Spawn #1” set sales records for an independent comic book, selling 1.7 million copies. McFarlane later issued written by notable authors such as Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore, and Grant Morrison in response to complaints about his work.
In 1994, McFarlane and DC Comics collaborated on a cross-company crossover in which each company produced a book featuring both Spawn and Batman. McFarlane ceased being the regular illustrator and author of “Spawn” later that year.
Later, he hired writers like David Hine and painters like Angel Medina to assume responsibility for the series. In 2006, McFarlane resumed his publishing career, and in 2008, he returned to construct plots alongside writer Brian Holguin.
In addition, McFarlane co-created the television series “Haunt,” supplying artwork and co-writing the series conclusion.
McFarlane gained a spot in the Guinness World Records in 2019 for having the longest-running creator-owned comics series in history after writing and illustrating “Spawn” issue #301.
Todd McFarlane’s Net Worth
Todd McFarlane is a comic book creator, illustrator, entrepreneur, and author with a $300 million net worth. He is arguably best known for his work on “The Amazing Spider-Man” from Marvel Comics.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, when he was a comics industry sensation, he helped found Image Comics and developed the occult anti-hero Spawn.
McFarlane began focusing more on entrepreneurial endeavors in the late 1990s and early 2000s, founding companies such as McFarlane Toys and Todd McFarlane Entertainment. During the zenith of his career in the 1990s, Todd earned more than $1 million each year.
The first issue of “Spawn” remains the highest-selling independent comic book of all time.
He founded an independent film and animation firm that, among other things, makes video games. The 1997 version of “Spawn” that he independently financed and released grossed $90 million on a budget of $45 million.
Toys and Entertainment
McFarlane is a well-known entrepreneur in addition to his comic book work. He founded Todd Toys in 1994 to market “Spawn” products.
Later, he changed the company’s name to McFarlane Toys and started producing collector figures of everyone from KISS band members to “X-Files” characters. McFarlane founded the film and animation studio Todd McFarlane Entertainment in 1996.
In addition to co-producing the 1997 feature adaptation of “Spawn” adaptation, it also developed an Emmy-winning animated series based on the same franchise. Additionally, the studio created music videos for Pearl Jam and Korn.
McFarlane and Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling also co-founded 38 Studios, a gaming studio. In 2012, the business released its sole title, “Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning,” before filing for bankruptcy later that year.
Private Life
McFarlane is married to Wanda McFarlane, his high school sweetheart whom he wed in 1985. They lived in Spokane, Washington until 1986, when they relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia.
They subsequently relocated to Portland, Oregon, and later Phoenix, Arizona. They reared their children Jake, Cyan, and Kate in Phoenix.