DeepSummary
In this episode, Jordan Harbinger interviews Todd McFarlane, the creator and founder of Image Comics and one of the largest comic book and toy companies in the world. McFarlane shares how he successfully reinvented Spider-Man and created the iconic character Venom while working at Marvel Comics, despite facing resistance from his bosses who were reluctant to change the status quo.
McFarlane discusses why he left Marvel to co-found Image Comics, which became the third-largest comic book company in the world, and where he set records for independent comic book sales with his highly successful character Spawn. He emphasizes the importance of creating the best possible product and offering it at a competitive price point, even if it means spending more time and money than the competition.
The conversation also covers McFarlane's unorthodox negotiation tactics, which allow him to outlast opponents in meetings and get better deals. McFarlane is a living example that you can succeed by embracing your creativity, focusing on quality, and challenging the status quo.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Challenge the status quo and don't be afraid to innovate, even in established industries.
- Prioritize quality and value over conventional wisdom or industry norms.
- Find creative ways to compete and succeed against larger, more established competitors.
- Embrace your unique perspective and don't be constrained by traditional fan expectations.
- Be persistent and don't back down when facing resistance or criticism.
- Look for gaps or blind spots in the market that competitors are overlooking.
- Focus on creating the best possible product, even if it means investing more resources.
- Adopt unconventional strategies and tactics to gain an edge in negotiations and business deals.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I looked at it and it essentially had been repeating the same trick from 1965 until I'd walked into that office, which was about 19, 88, 89, something like that. And I was staggered that they had not updated it in almost two plus decades.“ by Todd McFarlane
- “I've easily exceeded some of those. By a lot. I mean, sometimes we used to go camping. I could tell. I could actually tell my body. And I go, kid, you might want to time this one. Yeah, right. I actually know when there's gonna be, like, a two and a half, three minute one happening right about now.“ by Todd McFarlane
- “I literally am at war against giants every day of my life. What I'm not ever trying to do, Jordan, when I'm out there, is slay the giant. I'm never going to do it. I'm not big enough. I don't have enough resources to do it. That's not the goal. The goal is to survive amongst the giants and to thrive amongst the giants.“ by Todd McFarlane
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Episode Information
The Jordan Harbinger Show
Jordan Harbinger
6/4/24
Listen here to discover how Todd McFarlane reinvented comic book icons, founded Image Comics, and revamped the toy business with a priority on quality!
What We Discuss with Todd McFarlane:
- How Todd McFarlane successfully reinvented Spider-Man and created the iconic character Venom while working at Marvel Comics, despite facing resistance from his bosses who were reluctant to change the status quo.
- Why Todd left Marvel to co-found Image Comics, which became the third-largest comic book company in the world — and where he set records for independent comic book sales with his highly successful character Spawn.
- Why Todd emphasizes the importance of creating the best possible product and offering it at a competitive price point, even if it means spending more time and money than the competition.
- How Todd's unorthodox negotiation tactics allow him to outlast opponents in meetings and get better deals.
- Todd is a living example that you can succeed by embracing your creativity, focusing on quality, and challenging the status quo. With hard work and a willingness to innovate, you can make a significant impact in your chosen field.
- And much more...
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/999
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