About 20 years ago, I met Todd McFarlane at a comic book store. He seemed like a smart cat. Today, while Alison was in her class, I wandered around the shops at the Renaissance Glendale Spa/Resort. i was a little buzzed from my meal at Gordon Biersche. I had a Marzen and a burger. I forgot how much I missed those garlic fries.

I had two beers and it was enough to knock me on my ass. I wandered dizzily into the AMC to see if I wanted to see a movie. "I am Legend' was the only appealing movie and if I saw it, it would be too late to take Alison back to our hotel.

Anyway, right next to the theater is a McFarlane Toys. This guy has turned a career in comic books into a full on retail location. I shouldn't be suprised that he has his own retail location, but still, it caught me off guard.  I think he was smart in that he saw how crazy people went for his comics and how much they paid. Like smart entrepenuers he saw an opportunity.

He noticed that PEOPLE LIKE TO COLLECT STUFF. From that, the rest I guess is history. I think he was able to recognize and seize an opportunity because he put himself in the middle of the storm. He's ushered forth a bunch of people who copy his drawing style, so while that's easy enough, being smart about getting something like a collectible toy line is harder to get off the ground. I remember Thomas Blackshear was doing something like this, but Hallmark didn't get the idea. Oh well, this worked out better for Blackshear.

Still, it leaves me wondering, will I ever create something like this?  Will people someday clammor for my work?  Since I'm in Arizona, I won't be at AI for the Faculty Show.  Still, I would have liked to have been there.

Comments

Add New Search RSS

Write comment
Name:
Title:
UBBCode:	-color-aquablackbluefuchsiagraygreenlimemaroonnavyolivepurpleredsilvertealwhiteyellow -size-tinysmallmediumlargehuge

Powered by JoomlaCommentCopyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved.Homepage: http://cavo.co.nr/