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Beau offers out a lesson in this panel from Scout: war Shaman #13. Art by Todd Fox.
by beloved Smith
You may or may not understand that from 1992 with 2000 I was the vice president of advertising as well as publishing for Todd McFarlane Productions/McFarlane Toys. When I went to work for Todd there were basically only five of us working for him as well as he was still living in Canada. By the time I left, he was in Arizona as well as there were more than one hundred people working for him, however all that’s a story for one more Beauology 101 column.
Some of you may question what type of scientific process Todd utilized to discover creative skill in those days. Well, basically, it’s the exact same one he utilizes today.
He flips with a stack of marvel Comics.
All you have to do is look at a few of the artists that he’s hired as well as you’ll see that most are marvel alumni. It makes sense when you believe about it, after all, it’s where Todd came from. In the late 1980’s Todd was doing Spider-Man as well as marvel was kicking the butt of DC Comics in sales as well as market share. He figured the very best art skill was at Marvel, so that’s where he cherry picked. (Greg Capullo, Angel Medina, as well as Dwyane Turner for example.)
One of his picks was a smart, skilled youngster from the Chicago area named Tony Daniel. Tony was a heck of an artist that soaked info up like a sponge. Todd signed Tony up for Spawn: Blood Feud in addition to some problems of Spawn as well as different other TMP/Image projects. Tony thrived there as well as always listened to what Todd had to state about comics. He likewise made a point to ask concerns about the publishing process, marketing, sales, printing, as well as the whole game of making as well as producing comic books. like I said, Tony was a wise kid.
The Tenth
In the late 1990’s, Tony, myself, as well as inker Kevin Conrad were all at the Pittsburgh Comicon representing Todd McFarlane Productions. It was a fantastic show, as always, as well as we had a truly great time. Tony as well as I sat together signing different books as well as talking. Tony told me of an concept that he had for a comic book series that he’s like to do. I’ve got to admit, it was more than an idea, it was a well though out fantastic idea. It was called The Tenth.
I was impressed at exactly how much Tony had worked this story as well as characters out, even more to ensure that he already had a beginning, middle, as well as end. trust me, for somebody that has never written a comic book before to have all that laid out was impressive.
Tony was likewise bright sufficient to understand that even though he had the enthusiasm as well as imagination for this story, he wasn’t a writer, at least not yet. Tony understood I was, liked my work, as well as most of all, enjoyed the dialogue that I pride myself in providing the characters that I compose as well as create. As we sat in the Pittsburgh flight terminal waiting on our planes, he asked me if I would be thinking about composing The Tenth as well as assisting his establish it as a series. I told him that I was extremely interested as well as that we should talk the next week after we had gotten house as well as settled in.
It didn’t take much thinking. I was on board as well as told Tony that the next week. I was stoked by not only Tony’s concept as well as story, however by his enthusiasm for The Tenth. I can tell you, there’s nothing more satisfying as a writer than to work carefully with your artist to the point where you’re speaking every day, sometimes a few times every day, producing characters as well as stories. Tony as well as I spent a great deal of late nights going over stuff as well as ending up so jacked up that speaking till the wee hours of the morning ended up being the norm.
It likewise assisted that both Tony as well as I are both die-hard, lifetime Chicago Bears fans.
Tony told me that not only was I his option since he liked the method I provided characters their own voice, however he understood I would market The Tenth with my retail, media, as well as distribution connections, providing The Tenth the very best possibility at success as well as a long shelf life.
Out of respect as well as loyalty to Todd, we offered him very first refusal on The Tenth to print it under the Spawn umbrella. Todd passed on it, not since he didn’t like it, however since Todd only publishes things that he owns. We understood that, however in great belief we felt we should offer him the possibility just the same.
As expected, Todd stated for us to go ahead as well as offer it with picture Comics. picture jumped on it. (I was likewise the VP of advertising for picture Comics as well. It never hurts to have the inside track, kids.) Tony as well as I both agreed that a four-issue mini-series was the method to begin out. If it was got well, then we’d talk about one more mini-series or perhaps an continuous series.
Was the book well received? Did The Tenth continue? tune in September 4th for the interesting conclusion!
Beau Smith
The flying Fist Ranch
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