As a founding member (and driving force) behind Image Comics and the man who revolutionized the action figure category, Todd McFarlane is one of the most important and controversial (see 'Why Gaiman Sued McFarlane') figures in the world of North American popular culture.  On March 26 Docurama will release a 77-minute documentary on McFarlane--Todd McFarlane:  The Devil You Know--filmed by director Kenton Vaughan and produced by the National Film Board of Canada.  The film proves to be an excellent portrait of McFarlane at what could be the apogee of his career in the late 90s.  Director Vaughan 'lets Todd be Todd' in extensive interviews, but he also humanizes his subject in a compelling recollection by McFarlane's wife Wanda, who recalls Todd's courtship as well as major dispute that she had with her husband over an issue of his comic book Spawn.

 

The film follows McFarlane over several months, and since Kenton Vaughan's previous experience consisted of reporting for Forbes and the CBC financial program Venture, he pays particular attention to Todd's business empire, which extended from comic books to toys (see 'McFarlane Toys Part I').  Maybe every Spawn toy collector doesn't necessarily want to see Todd playing with Spawn action figures, but for many it may be worth the $19.99 price of admission for this fascinating DVD documentary.