From redefining comic book storytelling with “Spawn” to revolutionizing the toy industry, Todd McFarlane’s creative journey is nothing short of legendary. In this episode, Todd shares the incredible story of how he built a global empire by breaking industry rules and trusting his vision. Todd dives into the challenges he faced while disrupting both the comic and toy industries, the lessons he learned as an entrepreneur, and the passion that drives his storytelling. He also opens up about the importance of perseverance, staying true to your creative instincts, and the mindset required to succeed in any venture.

In this episode, Darius and Todd will discuss:

• (00:00) Introduction to Todd McFarlane
• (02:04) Todd’s Journey into Comic Books
• (08:03) The Birth of Image Comics
• (14:24) Challenges of Starting a New Venture
• (19:50) Reflections on Success and Independence
• (21:48) The Bold Move: Leaving Marvel for Independence
• (27:34) The Rise of Image Comics and Spawn
• (33:12) Navigating the Competitive Landscape of Art
• (39:21) The Impact of AI on the Creative Industry
• (44:49) The Power of Focus and Longevity
• (49:39) Navigating the Giants: Finding Your Niche
• (52:13) The Importance of Personality in Entrepreneurship
• (57:04) Embracing Fearlessness and Authenticity
• (1:01:03) Advocating for Yourself and Taking Risks

Meet Todd:

Todd McFarlane is a Canadian comic book creator and entrepreneur best known for his work on “The Amazing Spider-Man” and as the creator of “Spawn.” A co-founder and President of Image Comics, he revolutionized the industry by championing creator-owned properties. Todd’s “Spawn” debuted in 1992, selling a record 1.7 million copies and cementing his legacy as a visionary in comics and entertainment.

Meet Darius: 

Darius is your host of The Greatness Machine. Darius is a mad scientist, high-growth CEO, serial entrepreneur, author, conscious capitalist, speaker, and entertainer. Darius is on a quest to create 1,000,000 Core Value Driven Organization by 2030. He is calling this “The Core Value Revolution.” Darius is an alumni of the Birthing of Giants Entrepreneurial Program at MIT and Stagen Integral Leadership Program. Darius’s accolades include being ranked #9 Top Rated CEO in America on Glassdoor, has won numerous Stevie Awards, and has founded and grown organizations that have been ranked #40 in the Inc. 500 and were ranked #3 Best Places to Work By the San Francisco Business Time. He is all about the P’s: Passion, Pizza, Puzzles, and, especially, Pink Unicorns. His book, The Core Value Equation, is an Amazon #1 Best Seller and is available at www.thecorevalueequation.com.

The Greatness Machine shares lessons on how to framework your drive for results, create limitless space, and win the war on talent.

My team and I are on a mission to help YOU create a cultural revolution. I want to teach you how to build a core value driven organization. 

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therealdarius.com

Make Greatness Happen!

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Don’t let your Core Values become a company artifact!  Learn how to make Core Values the language of your organization.  Pre-order my book The Core Value Equation found at the link below 

The Core Value Equation

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