Todd McFarlane Restarts A Debate About Comics Online – And Nobody Asked For It

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Todd McFarlane, a key figure in the 1990s creator-owned comic book movement and co-founder of Image Comics, often speaks frankly about the industry. His recent comments in an interview sparked a debate among both comic creators and fans, leading to a wide range of reactions and disagreements.

Todd McFarlane is a leading figure in independent comics, especially since he left Marvel and launched Spawn in 1992. He’d already become well-respected in the industry, and his fans enthusiastically supported his move to Image Comics. Since then, he’s not only continued to create successful work with Spawn, reaching record levels of popularity, but has also become a prominent voice within the industry. Recently, his comments about what fans want from comics unintentionally brought a long-standing debate back into the spotlight.

Todd McFarlane’s Comments, Explained

During an online question-and-answer session with Wired, Todd McFarlane was asked whether art or story was more important in a comic book. His answer, which likely won’t surprise comic fans, was that he could sell a beautifully illustrated comic with a poorly written story, but not a well-written comic with bad artwork. He stated he’d stick by this belief forever, even to his grave, and jokingly compared it to selling a book illustrated by Michelangelo but written by his dog, versus one written by William Shakespeare and drawn by his mother.

Some people felt McFarlane’s statements seemed to criticize artists and writers themselves, instead of their work. If he’d suggested writers weren’t important to the comic industry, many would have understandably taken offense. But, similar to his past comments about sales and gender, McFarlane is simply explaining what he thinks makes people buy comics. Ultimately, the whole discussion is missing the real issue: recognizing artists and writers, and selling comics, aren’t opposing ideas.

How the Writers vs. Artists Debate Keeps Spiraling Beyond Reason

In the comic book world, artwork is often the biggest draw for readers. It’s the first thing people notice, and it usually makes or breaks their interest in a comic. While people often say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, striking cover art still attracts many buyers. However, if the story inside isn’t enjoyable, that initial excitement can quickly fade. Unfortunately, conversations about supporting each other have turned into arguments, particularly among independent creators.

Successful comic books, like those created by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Batman or the classic work of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, demonstrate how important strong creative partnerships are. When Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created The Fantastic Four, it wasn’t just Lee’s vision for the characters that revitalized Marvel—Kirby’s artwork was equally crucial. Both were experienced creators, but their collaboration took them to new heights. Similarly, while characters developed by writers like Gardner Fox, Roy Thomas, and Len Wein are noteworthy, their impact wouldn’t have been the same without the artists who brought them to life visually. Essentially, artists enhance the work of writers, but even the most talented artist needs compelling ideas to truly shine.

Even when creative teams face challenges, it’s unproductive to view writer-artist pairings as competitions. When a team truly clicks and creates something special, they should celebrate that success instead of constantly comparing themselves to others. While compelling art initially grabs attention and attracts readers, a strong story is what keeps them engaged over the long term. A poorly written first issue, even with great art—like with “The Court of Owls”—might generate initial sales, but those sales wouldn’t last, and it wouldn’t become a lasting favorite. Todd McFarlane is right to point out that a writer needs an artist to make a comic, not just a novel, and an artist can create a comic on their own, even if the story isn’t perfect. Ultimately, both writing and art are essential to the process.

When it comes to comics, strong writing isn’t just about a writer’s skill, but how well they understand the unique demands of the format. Some writers, despite having good stories, have lost readers by using too much dialogue, which makes it hard for the artist to contribute to the storytelling. After all, artists are crucial for turning a story into a visual experience, and their contribution is just as important as the artwork itself. A good editor should aim to team up well-known writers and artists, bringing both their audiences to a single book – something DC successfully did with Justice League Unlimited.

The Debate Presents a False Choice That Consumers Shouldn’t Make

Experienced comic book collectors understand that the debate about whether strong art can make up for weak writing (or vice versa) is a simplification. Creating comics has always been a team effort, not a competition. While a few artists, like Steve Ditko, Darwyn Cooke, and John Byrne, excel at both writing and art, most comics rely on collaboration. Readers generally appreciate both aspects of a book, and a recent example demonstrates this. Even when the artist on a particular title changes, the book can still maintain a dedicated following, proving that both writing and art are crucial to its success.

Generally, customers don’t encounter truly awful work. When they do, sales quickly reflect the quality, and those projects are usually discontinued. A talented artist can improve a weak writer’s work, but ultimately can’t save a fundamentally flawed book. In an industry built on teamwork, using Todd McFarlane’s comments to create conflict between writers and artists is an unnecessary and unwanted argument.

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2026-02-12 17:39