'It's just home': Comic book icon Todd McFarlane returns; appearing at Calgary Expo all weekend
Comic book icon Todd McFarlane feels it whenever he's north of the border.
He says it feels just like "a robe and slippers."
"At this point in my life, I've probably spent way more time in the States than I have in Canada but every time I cross the border, it's just home," McFarlane told CTV News on Thursday, the opening day of the Calgary Comics and Entertainment Expo.
"This is where I'm the most comfortable."
McFarlane, who hails from Calgary, rose to comic book fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s as the artist and later writer on "The Amazing Spider-Man" and "Spider-Man" titles for Marvel Comics.
He then left the character, and the company along with several other creators, to form a new business, Image Comics.
At Image, McFarlane launched his own character and title, "Spawn", which also led to toys, a feature film and an animated series, as well as other multimedia endeavours.
But Spawn was born right here, long before that.
"In the basement of a house on the corner of Crowchild and 24th, right across from McMahon Stadium. That's where Spawn was born," McFarlane said.
McFarlane celebrated 300 issues of the "Spawn" comic book series, a few years back.
Around the same time, the Spider-Man character McFarlane had a hand in creating, Venom, made the leap from the comic book page to the movie screen.
"Venom" has since had one sequel, and another is in the works.
While comic book icon Todd McFarlane is at Calgary Expo, appearing Friday, Saturday and Sunday yet, he's signing autographs and snapping photos for fans, as well as taking part in multiple panels.
McFarlane's a rock star of popular culture, even though he'll tell you "it depends on the room."
In Calgary, though, he spends most of his time with family, helping with "shopping and folding laundry."
He also made it to Peters' Drive-In. That's important, you understand.
"I had Peters' yesterday!" he said.
"I took my dad up to Edmonton. ... This is just how it works. We stop at Tim Hortons on the way up, get the gas, the exact same order every time. Go up, visit, come back and then we stop at the Peters' in Red Deer. ... We order the same thing, we have a good time and then we leave."
While McFarlane is at Calgary Expo, appearing Friday, Saturday and Sunday yet, he's signing autographs and snapping photos for fans, as well as taking part in multiple panels.
And carrying on with the motif of coming home and being close to family, he will be joined by his dad – Bob – on the stage for one of those panels.
"In 40 years, I've done hundreds of panels. Never once with a family member. On Friday, I get to do a panel with my dad," McFarlane said.
"My wife and daughter are flying in from the States (to see it). They don't really come to my panels, but they go, 'I gotta come see Grandpa!'"
You can, too – The McFarlanes panel is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Friday, on the Comics Stage at the Big Four.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING 122 active wildfires burning across Canada, 32 considered 'out of control'
The 2024 wildfire season has begun, and it's shaping up to follow last year's unprecedented destruction in kind, with thousands of square kilometres already consumed.
Veteran TSN sportscaster Darren Dutchyshen has died
Veteran TSN broadcaster Darren 'Dutch' Dutchyshen, one of Canada’s best-known sports journalists, has died. He was 57. His family says 'he passed as he was surrounded by his closest loved ones.'
BREAKING B.C. parents sentenced to 15 years for death of 6-year-old boy
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has sentenced the mother and stepfather of a six-year-old boy who died from blunt-force trauma in 2018 to 15 years in prison.
Speaker cuts ties with Sask. Party, alleges he faced threats, harassment from gov't MLAs
The Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature Randy Weekes has severed ties with the Sask. Party after accusing some members of harassment and intimidation tactics, including a situation he claimed saw the Government House Leader bring a hunting rifle to the legislative building.
Kevin Spacey receives star support as he fights to get his career back
Kevin Spacey is pushing back on the 'rush to judgment' against him and is being backed by some big names as he seeks to reclaim his acting career.
A Toronto man killed his mother and decapitated her. His lawyers argue it wasn't murder
A ‘lifetime of abuse’ led Dallas Ly to snap and repeatedly stab his mother inside their Leslieville apartment in 2022 but he never intended to kill her, his defence lawyers argued during his murder trial in Toronto on Thursday.
Father charged with second-degree murder in daughter's stabbing death southwest of Montreal
A father has been charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of his 34-year-old daughter in southern Quebec.
Trudeau calls New Brunswick's Conservative government a 'disgrace' on women's rights
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assailed New Brunswick's premier and other conservative leaders on Thursday, calling out the provincial government's position on abortion, LGBTQ youth and climate change.
The latest advice for expecting parents? Sign up for childcare as soon as you're pregnant
Canada's new $10-a-day child care program is expanding, but there's growing evidence that demand for the program is rising even faster, leaving many parents on the outside looking in.