SDCC '11: Todd McFarlane Shares His Thoughts On The DC Relaunch

SDCC '11: Todd McFarlane Shares His Thoughts On The DC Relaunch

While at San Diego Comic Con Todd McFarlane was asked his thoughts about the new DC Reboot coming in September where he was less than supportive and offers his ideas on how he would have done it.

By WaylonJones - Jul 23, 2011 07:07 AM EST
Filed Under: Comic-Con
Source: Comic Book Resources

Spawn creator Todd McFarlane sat down to talk with Comic Book Resources about the new 52 title relaunch from DC that is coming in September. McFarlane, who has worked on famously Batman, said the he is betting against it.


Said McFarlane:

"I'll bet against it. And here's why: I think it's a fool's game, I'm not on board, I think it's a fool's game what they're doing. They've got 52 titles that they're launching #1, I'm down with that idea. Right? I get it, right. To do it all in one month is the fallacy there. As a businessman, one of the things I try to do before I get headstrong on something is to look at historical data that will basically back up my position. I'm trying to figure out what record company, what car company, what TV show, what theatre, what ice cream parlor, put out 52 new products in the same month and expected the consumer to upgrade all 52 of them. If the answer is -- and I'd be curious to talk to DC -- if they said, 'No, no, no, we don't expect all of them to necessarily bump up," then it seems like a missed opportunity. So I understand the Top 8, 9, 10 book -- Greg Capullo, who did "Spawn," is doing "Batman," one of the more anticipated ones. But if I'm somebody who is writing, pencilling, inking the 47th book? My question would be, how are you getting the word out that my book is also gonna be a #1? How are you promoting the 47th one? It doesn't seem like there's room to get it there. And then the problem is, if you don't get a spike in the sales, it seems like a missed opportunity.

Here's what I would have done at DC (and they're not asking me): I would have taken the 52 and put out six or seven new #1s each month and spread it for seven, eight, nine months, and then you would have had people talking about those new books for half a year to a year. You could stretch it out for a year! And then, after a year, then let Marvel have the megaphone. But you could have done this, and instead you blew your whole entire wad. So now, here are your two problems: one, [say] I'm a retailer. I don't even know if they talked to any retailers."



Click the source link for the full interview.

You can check out the new 52 hitting your local comic book shop this September.

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KingMarvel
KingMarvel - 7/23/2011, 8:13 AM
Im gonna Give him a point on the part that dc is gonna trow 52 comics at you in 1 month!

Spreading would have been better!

And i did not nee Captain Shazam Marvel in the 52!!
SCOURGE
SCOURGE - 7/23/2011, 8:18 AM
I don't often agree with him, but in this case he's right...
duncboy
duncboy - 7/23/2011, 8:24 AM
DC has lost a ton of ground in the last few months in the eyes' of its' readers (myself included, as I buy 6+ series every month, on top of other books as well. I'm picking up all of Flashpoint for example, and while most of it looks like complete shit, I figure I'll still buy/read them as I'm a collector regardless.
CapA
CapA - 7/23/2011, 8:26 AM
@Intruder : Amen !
KingMarvel
KingMarvel - 7/23/2011, 8:49 AM
@ intruder AMEN brother!
KingMarvel
KingMarvel - 7/23/2011, 8:59 AM
@ no regrets but less face it you allready know that some of these titles wont last a 6 month before being pull back so yes they spike in sales for 1 month but what they gonna do after that! with titles like O.M.A.C. or i,vampire you just know they gonna Fail!

And has any body seen Captain Shazam Marvel.
THRILLHO
THRILLHO - 7/23/2011, 9:11 AM
Rubbers
Rubbers - 7/23/2011, 9:12 AM
@ NoRegrets

But Teeder Todder had it to spend regardless of what later happened with Ginger Hulk! But the guys who have nothing and choose to give a prize ball back without getting anything in return are the real brainiacs. Cause everyone knows, the true testament of one moral character is giving back a prize record setting baseball you caught to the player who hit it.

You may now return to your regularly schedule loser life: I'm talking to you Christain Lopez!
SageMode
SageMode - 7/23/2011, 9:12 AM
How many times has DC retconned their universe? ........Smh. shame
quickdraw1021
quickdraw1021 - 7/23/2011, 9:14 AM
Does it really matter what DC does at this point,Marvel is just superior in every way "NUFF SAID"
Ceejay
Ceejay - 7/23/2011, 9:35 AM
A reboot is what happens when you actually run out of creative ways to write new stories. DC reboot their stuff far too many times, those guys ran out of creative ideas years ago when they started bringing the likes of Hal Jordan and co back to life!
SageMode
SageMode - 7/23/2011, 9:39 AM
@NoRegrets: Heroes Reborn and House of M are all apart of the mainstream 616 universe. And they both had to do with reality warping. FRANKLIN RICHARDS with Heroes Reborn, and SCARLET WITCH with House of M.

The Ultimate universe is just a different universe continuity of Marvel.
cable23
cable23 - 7/23/2011, 9:39 AM
Im a huge fan of Todd McFarlane and what he's saying is somewhat true. He dont dislike the reboot just the marketing. Yeah all 52 titles should not be released all in one month but rather spanned out. I cant wait to get about 30 of these new titles. But you know the same people are going to keep on hating.
SageMode
SageMode - 7/23/2011, 10:02 AM
@Intruder: Lol. You're funny man.

I just never understood why DC does that.....smh
SageMode
SageMode - 7/23/2011, 10:02 AM
@Intruder: Lol. You're funny man.

I just never understood why DC does that.....smh
thewolfx
thewolfx - 7/23/2011, 10:11 AM
hell has just frozen over

because i agree with intruder.
gangbuster
gangbuster - 7/23/2011, 10:13 AM
But really, would you take ANY advice from Todd?
Priest
Priest - 7/23/2011, 10:28 AM
For those talking trash about Marvel, If Marvel is so bad, how come it is dominating the comic book market and in the top ten comic books sold last month, 7 where Marvel and only 3 where DC? And the #1 and #2 spots where Marvel comic books.

More info here:

http://www.diamondcomics.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=3&s=237&ai=110838&ssd=

http://www.diamondcomics.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=3&s=237&ai=110909&ssd=

I guess that Marvel must be doing something right and DC isn't.

Btw, I find it interesting that out of the 3 comic books in the top ten that are DC, two of them are Batman comic books. That makes me think that Batman is really the only good thing going on for DC.
canvilella
canvilella - 7/23/2011, 10:29 AM
If you changed all of the dc staff to marvel and all of the marvel staff to dc, you'd still hear the marvel fanboys say: "marvel is superior to dc in every way!" and "the people at dc ran out of ideas a long time ago!"... Idiots! They're both good! Grow up willya!!!
Priest
Priest - 7/23/2011, 10:33 AM
One may say that both are good, but the facts point out that Marvel IS better than DC. You may argue that it is a matter of taste, but right now, no one can deny that Marvel is dominating the comic book market and they are having better sales. I think it says a lot if more people are willing to buy Marvel comic books instead of DC.
Priest
Priest - 7/23/2011, 10:43 AM
@ Intruder, Exactly. Btw, you are a difficult person to contact. Apparently, your email address for your contact form in your member page on this website doesn't work anymore.
SageMode
SageMode - 7/23/2011, 10:46 AM
@Intruder: i definitely see that. SOME DC fans just can't face the facts. The only really good DC crossovers that came out in recent years were BRIGHTEST DAY and BLACKEST NIGHT.

Priest from a general standpoint, if Batman and/or Superman wasn't in DC (moreso Bats), DC would crumble.
thejokernwb
thejokernwb - 7/23/2011, 11:06 AM
He is right expanding it would give us more time to take in all the changes their doing to the DC universe plus, more time to react so they can see what the did right and wrong with us the fans . Shoving it out there all at the same time is too much to take in . I feel a Major Backlash coming in DC's future !!!!
Mechagino
Mechagino - 7/23/2011, 11:13 AM
This coming from the guy who can't keep his own books on scheduled releases AND he's the sole reason image united isn't even finished! D:<
Fogs
Fogs - 7/23/2011, 11:17 AM
He's right, like it or not.
AC1
AC1 - 7/23/2011, 12:34 PM
his work on spiderman is some of my favourite comic art ever. And the guy makes complete sense in this, why throw 52 new books at the fan at once? Spread them out.
I mean, they could release a new one each week, 52 weeks in a year, so it fits.
"Slow and steady wins the race" springs to mind about now.

DC seems to be copping out, throwing in the towel on their current continuity, rushing out all their titles at once, and mostly Marvelizing their character designs.
AC1
AC1 - 7/23/2011, 12:37 PM
Agree with @NoRegrets though, at least the way DC have rebooted it story wise makes sense, they havent just done it off the bat, theres a whole storyline to it. It's still too rushed though.
Oxion
Oxion - 7/23/2011, 12:45 PM
Todd does know about the booK that DC is releasing wit all 52 #1's in it right? I cant remember if its gonna have the complete or just samples of each comic but there is one. So everyone can read it and possibly want to buy later titles. And for any SMART comic book readers, you can go to the comic book shop and read and not buy ya know to make sure it's worth your interest and money. But hey, what do I know. Todd does make a good point about spreading through out the year but at the same time, where the [frick] has he been and been doin for him to say anything about a big company like DC? Plus, they are gonna start promoting in movie theaters and so on. I think DC has it covered and everyone just needs to chill out till THE [frick]ING COMICS ACTUALLY COME OUT! Pre-judgement, comic book fans worst quality.
comicbookjerk
comicbookjerk - 7/23/2011, 12:59 PM
Todds a Fart blister
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