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How far did Spawn creator Todd McFarlane go to get noticed when starting out? Straight to the bathroom
Speaking at New York Comic Con 2024, Spawn creator Todd McFarlane revealed how he got Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter's attention when breaking into the industry
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Breaking into comics isn’t easy — and sometimes, it takes unexpected methods to get noticed in the first place, as Todd McFarlane, a man who you might not have considered particularly retired or restrained, revealed during New York Comic Con 2024’s Retailer Day presentation.
“It seems like I'm not a shy guy, but I was,” McFarlane shared. “I went to San Diego [Comic-Con] one time to show my portfolio [but] I got there too late. I was never going to be able to show my artwork, so you have to find a backdoor. I'm a complete backdoor guy. There's always a back door.”
So, what was the back door for McFarlane’s portfolio review? Well, then-Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter is human… and humans do have certain needs.
“Always bet on the bladder. Guys, I could go on about bladders all day long, but in this particular case, Jim went to the bathroom, and I followed him. I took a fake pee next to him. He went in, I went in. He took a pee. I took a pee. He washed his hands, and I wash my hands. And then when we came out, I said, ‘Hey, Mr. Shooter, I've got my portfolio, and I know I shouldn't be asked,’ or whatever. But he took the time to look at it!”
Thankfully, McFarlane also put this lesson into a more comic book context. “I tell every one of my employees every day: come into my office, ask for a raise. Why? Because if I say no, which I'm probably gonna, you're going to get paid the same amount as you walked in. But there's the off chance I may say yes and you're gonna walk out with more cash. There's no downside to asking me for a raise every single day of your life. And still, I get a lot of them that don't ask. I don't get it.”
The moral of this story? Apparently, shoot your shot. (Or piss your… well, you know what I’m saying.)
Look out for more from McFarlane at New York Comic Con 2024 on Popverse over the next few days.
Relive New York Comic Con 2024 with Popverse's all-star crew of writers, editors, and video producers right here.
About New York Comic Con
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Dates
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Location
Jacob Javits Convention Center
USA
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