Joe Quesada has been challenging Spawn (as well as a way cool line of toys) creator Todd McFarlane to come back and do some penciling in comics again, to help revive the industry and excitement a bit. His latest proposal is where we get involved, as he’s asked Todd if he’d come back to do a 2-book (but each its own one shot) Spawn/Spidey crossover, one done by him, the other, Todd. He even tapped Kevin Smith who submitted an outline (that these webmasters would LOVE to read) for the story (Kevin would also write Marvel’s, maybe even both books, as well). Years ago, when Spawn was getting underway, Image and DC each did something similar with their own Batman/Spawn crossover one-shots. So, it certainly seems like everyone is interested if Todd would just get involved (Todd, are ya listening?). Here’s Joe’s full open letter courtesy of Comics Newsarama:
This Time the Marvel Editor-in-Chief Kicks It Up a Notch!
Author: Michael Doran
Date: 12/19/00
Late last month in a series of letters and emails to the comics press and message board posts, Marvel’s Joe Quesada issued a very public challenge to creator Todd McFarlane. The crux of the challenge..? That McFarlane make some kind of return to comics penciling, with the idea/intent that a new high-profile project by one of the architects of the early 90’s boom would be of great benefit to the slumping market [for more on the original challege, see the December 1st Newsarama Weekly edition].
Quesada’s ‘call out’ garnered the attention of many readers, industry pundits and news sources such as Wizard Magazine. In addition, writer Peter David devoted an edition of his But I Digress column to the subject in a recent issue of Comics Buyer’s Guide; and ours truly contributed a reader poll asking how McFarlane should respond to the challenge, with 49% of over 1100 respondents agreeing the creator owed it to the industry to draw some new comics projects. Even McFarlane’s attention was grabbed, and he issued an early response on his own Spawn.com message boards, though essentially dismissing the matter.
After a few weeks of silence on the topic, Quesada is back at it, and this time upping the ante considerably. In an open letter to McFarlane – by way of Comics Newsarama – the Marvel editor-in-chief gets more proactive, and makes the Spawn creator and former Spider-Man artist an offer he can’t refuse… or at least one Quesada hopes he can’t.
“First I want to start by wishing everyone within earshot of this message a glorious and happy Holiday Season,†began Quesada. “I`ve been pretty naughty, so I`m not expecting more from Saint Nick than a couple of lumps of coal, but that`s not going to keep me from getting into the giving spirit! NOW, let`s get to the meat of this…
“Thank you, all of you who have swamped my electronic mail box with all of your letters of support and anticipation over the McFarlane challenge! Todd responded briefly and politely but basically went back into hiding. Now along with all the letters from fans dying to see this happen came several questions, let`s clear a few of them before I move on with this.
“Yes, my offer of $1000, later $1100, was absolutely spun off from Lorne Michaels offer to the Beatles way back in Saturday Night Live’s heyday. “Yes, I realize that Todd, doesn`t need the money and that $1000 ($1100) is a ridiculously low amount. It`s a goof!
“No, I wasn`t asking Todd to draw for Marvel, I was just asking for him to come back and draw!
“Was I joking, well, anyone who knows me knows that I wrote it with fun in mind. If I had just written a boring letter pleading ‘Gee, Mr. Toddy-woddy, would you pweeze come back and dwah somethin`, 90% of you wonderful folk reading it would have collectively said this…
‘SNOOOOORE!’
“So I was partially joking in tone, but deadly serious in intent. We`re in tough times now folks, but we don`t have to live there! I`m sick and tired of all the negativity that`s floating around the industry, the net, at conventions. It`s driving me nuts! I hear fans grumbling and even sadder I hear creators grumbling incessantly. It`s all negative this, negative that! Come on, it`s time to stop now! Stop with the griping and let`s look towards the future, go ahead, take a look, it looks pretty bright to me! I`m just trying to bring a little levity and get fans talking again. I can`t tell you how many message boards I`ve read were people actually think that I should be acting more like a suit! Now that made me laugh!!! Doesn`t anyone remember when it was okay to have fun in the comics industry? “Okay, getting back to the serious part of this.
“Toddster, this is my last and final offer. I`m going to make it as easy as possible. What I`m offering is that you draw a book and I draw a book. And just because no one thought that it could happen, let`s make it worth everyone`s while. Here`s my Holiday gift for ya, I`m talkin`…
…†SPIDER-MAN/SPAWN!!!â€
“That`s right, you draw a Spidey/Spawny crossover for TMP and I draw one on the Marvel end. I say we make them 48-page one-shots! Maybe we`ll even have the fans vote on which one they like better!
“Now I`m not done yet, I`m starting to feel that Holiday spirit coming on strong!
“I put in a call to a writer friend of mine to see if he was interested in writing my end of it and he immediately accepted. Not only was he blown away by the whole ‘Get Todd penciling again’ idea, but the next day he e-mailed me a synopsis of the story cause he couldn`t stop thinking about it. It wasn`t bad for a beginner like Kevin Smith!
“Oh, there`s more and with the season of giving upon us I`m getting to the most important part of this challenge. I have recently agreed to be on the Board of Directors of the ACTOR Fund. ACTOR is “A Commitment To Our Roots,†a non-profit corporation dedicated to helping out old-time comic creators in financial need. Since many Golden Age or Silver Age creators toiled to build today`s groundwork by working only for page rate with no chance of ownership and no pension, this fund has been set up to help some of our elder statesmen in need.
“I`ll donate $10,000 of my proceeds from Spider-Man/Spawn as well as half of the artwork and Kevin (who looks considerably more like Santa than I do) has agreed to donate cash from the project as well.
“So what more could you ask for, Toddy Boy? I`m giving you the Wallcrawler to have some fun with and we`re looking to help an amazingly good cause. Let`s go over it one more time…
“1-SPIDER-MAN/SPAWN
2-KEVIN SMITH
3-$10,000 and half my artwork to ACTORâ€
“Oh, and you get a $1100 check from me! “Now to all the fans who would like to see this happen, send Todd a note, go to Spawn.com and be heard. We want Todd to come back to what gave him his start. I would hate to think that he didn`t feel it was worth his time because there was nothing to be gained from it. “That`s it from me, once again I hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday Season and here`s looking forward to an amazing 2001 filled with great times, comics and who knows maybe a really cool Spider-Man/Spawn crossover! See ya in the funnybooks – JQ, EEK!â€
In a follow-up conversation, Quesada assured Newsarama this is a genuine offer, and not just a publicity stunt…
“Kevin has already sent me a synopsis. If Todd agrees, we can start whenever he says go,†he replied. “Why would I make this up? The boss said I could do it…And, I am the boss, right? Plus, we`ve been getting so much press lately, it`s not like we need it. I really want to see the guy help us move the needle the same way Frank [Miller] is doing with his Dark Knight sequel.â€
Where does it go from here?? Stayed tuned, you never know…
Wow. This is some exciting stuff, indeed. Let’s hope something comes of it, as we’re sure these suckers would set sales records all over the place. Come on, Todd, the ball’s in your court, don’t let us down!
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