Image Comics co-founder Todd McFarlane was at New York Comic Con this past weekend and we asked him who was the company’s Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, or John Romita?
McFarlane’s answer is passionate, inspirational to comic creators, and well thought out.
“Erik Larsen, hands down. Hands down. I say that not necessarily because he’s created 20 iconic characters that will last forever. (…) Of anybody I’ve met in the comic book industry in my almost 30 years now, Eric Larson is the purest comic geek that I’ve ever met. I mean, he gets up every morning and he only wants to do one thing in his career and that’s to draw comic books. Write and draw comic books. He doesn’t want to worry about making toys. He doesn’t want to worry about making TV shows like Robert [Kirkman] and I do. He doesn’t worry about having a staff. He just wants to do comic books, and I admire and I’m jealous at how myopic that love affair is that he has. It’s brilliant,” said McFarlane to Monkeys Fighting Robots.
From our time interviewing creators, one of the consistent themes is they ‘have to create.’ There is no other option. That is a special quality in a creator and that is what separates them from others. You have to work at your craft every day to get better and to fend off the thousands behind you nipping at your heels.
Read the full interview here: Exclusive NYCC Todd McFarlane Interview
What did you think of McFarlane’s comments? Who is Image Comics Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, or John Romita? Give us your feedback in the comment section below.
