Todd McFarlane over the years has gone from a great artist and storyteller to a brand.
The name McFarlane is now synonymous with quality toys and collectibles. These figures and vehicles are sort after by sports fans and nerd alike. Let’s face it, Todd knows toys.
Toy Fair 2012 gave us a peek at what is in store for McFarlane fans for this year and some of those things that may never see the light of day. Halo fans may be interested to know that though the UNSC Falcon may not ever be made (I know I want one) 2012 brings us a Drop Pod and a Cryo Chamber; both of which look awesome. There is also a line of micro-vehicles and figures coming out that will make you drool.
Fans of The Walking Dead will be happy to know that McFarlane is adding new figures to that line including the well zombie (they don’t really refer to them as zombies) and a Shane figure. The Walking Dead figures are amazing with multiple points of articulation and superior sculpting. Keep an eye out for all of the decaying action coming to store shelves throughout the year.
Sports fans don’t fret you haven’t been forgotten. McFarlane has added to each of the sport figure lines for 2012. Sport geeks will be happy with the new additions that will grace shelves in 2012. Check out the pictures below to get a first look at the upcoming offerings.
We met Todd McFarlane back at the New York Comic Con in October. He was a really nice guy and you can see the passion in his eyes when he talks about toys. We had a chance to talk to get a quick interview in about why he makes toys and what figure he would like to make most.
This is what five minutes gets you:
James: First of all, what made you go into making toys?
Todd: I met with all the toy makers, and I just got a sense that they were going to take Spawn – which is a nontraditional character – and they were going to put it into a 
traditional sort of toy-making mode. And I kept thinking you have to make the toy slightly different and sell it in slightly different places, but the big companies weren’t built to do that. So after having my conversation with them I just thought, “You know what? I’ll just start my own company and do it myself because they have their own formula, and what I’m thinking in my head isn’t going to work within the context of what they do for a business model.”
James: Secondly, about Spawn…are we going to see Spawn in a movie or an anime or something like that again?
Todd: Yeah, we’re working on all of the above…bringing back the toys, statues, the movie and the animation. The only thing that’s slowing things down is me getting the script finished for the movie. We’ve got five producers and five companies going, “The moment you’ve got the script done, we’ll go.” In fact I had an Academy Award winning actor come out to the studio saying, “Let’s do it! What are you doing? Let’s get it done! Get the script done! Let’s go! I’m ready to go!” So I’ve got plenty of interest. I’m the only guy slowing it down right now.
James: And my last question: any action figure you would like to make that you haven’t gotten the license for yet?
Todd: Umm…you know…I’d be interested to do at least one figure from Star Wars. It’s the biggest brand name on the planet and I’ve never gotten to do one. It seems like everybody in the world has been able to do Star Wars but me, so I would like to be able to do at least one.
spawn seems to have a bad case of camera crotch