# Stern Pinball's Next Release...Why Venom? Why Not Another Todd McFarlane IP **Source:** Knapp Arcade **Type:** article **Published:** 2022-07-15 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/stern-pinball-s-next-release-why-venom-why-not-another-todd-mcfarlane-ip --- ## Analysis The author speculates that Stern Pinball's next major release might not be the widely-rumored Venom game, given Todd McFarlane and Ozzy Osbourne's appearance at Comic Con. They suggest Spawn—a McFarlane-owned IP where he has creative control—as a more logical choice, or possibly a Heavy Metal-style boutique game. The author acknowledges Venom remains most likely but explores the possibility of a surprise announcement. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Stern Pinball has released numerous Marvel games including Avengers: Infinity Quest, Deadpool, Guardians of the Galaxy, Spider-Man, X-Men, and Iron Man — _Author lists Marvel titles in Stern's catalog to argue for saturation_ - [HIGH] Todd McFarlane stated in 2015 that he will never draw for Marvel or DC Comics again due to conflict of interest as president of Image Comics — _Direct quote from McFarlane cited via Digital Spy article from 2015_ - [HIGH] Todd McFarlane and Ozzy Osbourne will appear at Stern Pinball's Comic Con booth next week — _Author states this as confirmed fact: 'We know for a fact'_ - [MEDIUM] Todd McFarlane created Spawn when he was 16 years old and has been drawing it for practically his entire life — _Author's characterization of McFarlane's relationship to Spawn character_ - [MEDIUM] Venom is the widely-rumored next Stern Pinball game, but the author has never heard this confirmed by a trustworthy source — _Author's meta-observation about rumor sourcing: 'I've never actually heard that specifically from anyone who I trust'_ ### Notable Quotes > "What if the next game isn't Venom like everyone expects?" > — **Article author (Knapp Arcade)** > _Central thesis framing the speculative analysis_ > "Stern's done Marvel themes to death with its games." > — **Article author (Knapp Arcade)** > _Argument for fatigue with Marvel IP at Stern_ > "NO!... I WILL NEVER DRAW for Marvel or DC Comics AGAIN!" > — **Todd McFarlane (quoted from 2015 Facebook post)** > _Cited to challenge the assumption that McFarlane would return to Marvel for Venom project_ > "If everyone hadn't been talking about the Venom rumor for so long, objectively given what we know about Comic Con next week, my guess as to what the next Stern Pinball game will be would probably be Spawn." > — **Article author (Knapp Arcade)** > _Author's alternative prediction based on available evidence_ > "What if...this event is to introduce a new Heavy Metal-esque boutique pin based upon McFarlane's newest comic and featuring Ozzy music?" > — **Article author, citing 'Pinner Up' site member** > _Third possibility introduced for the Comic Con announcement_ > "It's been a while since we were surprised by a pinball release and surprises are fun." > — **Article author (Knapp Arcade)** > _Expresses community desire for unexpected announcements_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Stern Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer with multiple Marvel-themed releases; expected to announce next major title at Comic Con | | Todd McFarlane | person | Comic artist and Image Comics president; will appear at Stern's Comic Con booth; created Spawn IP; historically left Marvel in 1992 | | Ozzy Osbourne | person | Rock musician; will appear at Stern Pinball's Comic Con booth; potential music connection to announced game | | Venom | game | Widely rumored next Stern Pinball release; author questions whether this is accurate | | Spawn | game | Todd McFarlane-owned IP; author's alternative prediction for next Stern game | | Image Comics | company | Comic publisher founded by Todd McFarlane in 1992; third largest comic company in North America; owns Spawn IP | | Comic Con | event | Event where Stern Pinball will have booth with McFarlane and Osbourne appearances; site of expected game announcement | | Marvel Comics | company | IP source for numerous Stern pinball games; subject of saturation argument | | Knapp Arcade | organization | Source website/forum where article was published; community member 'Pinner Up' contributed alternative theory | ### Topics - **Primary:** Next Stern Pinball major release speculation, Todd McFarlane IP options (Venom vs. Spawn), Comic Con announcement implications - **Secondary:** Marvel IP saturation in Stern's catalog, McFarlane's historical relationship with Marvel, Pinball community rumor sourcing and reliability, Heavy Metal-themed boutique pinball possibility, Surprise announcements in pinball industry ### Sentiment **Mixed** (0.55) — Author expresses healthy skepticism toward Venom rumors while remaining optimistic about the announcement. Tone is speculative and playful rather than critical. Slight frustration with rumor culture, but enthusiasm for potential surprises tempers negativity. ### Signals - **[sentiment_shift]** Pinball community desires surprise announcements rather than predictable rumored releases (confidence: medium) — Author notes: 'It's been a while since we were surprised by a pinball release and surprises are fun' - **[design_philosophy]** Possible shift toward Heavy Metal or music-themed boutique pin rather than major cornerstone game at Comic Con announcement (confidence: low) — Community member 'Pinner Up' suggests announcement might introduce 'Heavy Metal-esque boutique pin based upon McFarlane's newest comic and featuring Ozzy music' - **[event_signal]** Todd McFarlane and Ozzy Osbourne appearance at Comic Con expected to coincide with Stern Pinball announcement (confidence: high) — Author cites this as confirmed: 'We know for a fact that Todd McFarlane and Ozzy Osbourne will be appearing at Stern Pinball's Comic Con booth next week' - **[licensing_signal]** Todd McFarlane's control of Image Comics and Spawn IP may make Spawn more viable than Marvel's Venom for licensing to Stern (confidence: medium) — Author notes McFarlane owns Spawn outright vs. potential conflict returning to Marvel where he hasn't worked since 1992 - **[market_signal]** Author perceives Marvel IP saturation in Stern's recent catalog (confidence: medium) — Lists eight Marvel-themed Stern games to argue for oversaturation: 'Stern's done Marvel themes to death with its games' - **[announcement]** Stern Pinball expected to announce major title or new game at Comic Con booth (confidence: high) — McFarlane/Osbourne appearance timing strongly suggests announcement; author and community members anticipate reveal - **[rumor_hype]** Venom widely rumored as next Stern cornerstone game, but author questions sourcing reliability and suggests alternative possibilities (confidence: high) — Author states 'I've never actually heard that specifically from anyone who I trust' despite widespread Venom rumors --- ## Transcript I've been thinking about Stern Pinball's next cornerstone game a lot lately, which is a good thing. Having a hobby and something positive to obsess about is healthy IMHO. One thing that keeps popping into my head is...what if the next game isn't Venom like everyone expects? I've heard countless people say "rumor has it" or that "they've heard" that the next game is Venom, but I've never actually heard that specifically from anyone who I trust. Sure, the next Stern pin could be Venom. Heck, it probably is Venom...but WHAT IF? What if the next game isn't Venom? We know for a fact that Todd McFarlane and Ozzy Osbourne will be appearing at Stern Pinball's Comic Con booth next week. And we know that Stern has done Marvel themes to death with its games. Stern's done Avengers: Infinity Quest, Deadpool, Guardians of the Galaxy, Spider-Man, Spider-Man Comic aka Vault, Avengers The Pin, Avengers, X-Men, Iron Man...man that's A LOT of Marvel. BUT Todd McFarlane is a prolific artist. He's done waaaaay more than just his work for Marvel. In fact, when doing research on the subject last night I came across an article containing this quote from McFarlane "Here's the answer to a question I get asked a lot: 'NO!... I WILL NEVER DRAW for Marvel or DC Comics AGAIN!'" he wrote on Facebook. "But it's not why you might think... "The reason I don't and won't draw for them is that one of the many titles I have, at my various business interests, is that of president of Image Comics. And I take that responsibility very seriously. "Image Comics is the THIRD largest comic company in North America, and as such we are in direct competition with both Marvel and DC Comics. "As president of Image, I personally think it would be a conflict of interest for me to do work for a direct competitor. And in fact in some states being the President/CEO of a company forbids you to work for a direct competitor (the president of Microsoft won't/can't do freelance work for Apple Inc). So, for me this isn't any different." McFarlane said that he has not done any work for DC or Marvel since the founding of Image in 1992." Todd McFarlane will not return to Marvel or DC https://www.digitalspy.com/comics/a624193/todd-mcfarlane-will-not-return-to-marvel-or-dc/ This article is old, 2015, and things change particularly when money is involved, so McFarlane obviously could reconcile with Marvel, which he left in 1992 after a dispute to form his own company, Image Comics, and do new Venom art. But is that the most obvious conclusion here? If everyone hadn't been talking about the Venom rumor for so long, objectively given what we know about Comic Con next week, my guess as to what the next Stern Pinball game will be would probably be Spawn. McFarlane's current company owns the rights to Spawn and he has been drawing the Spawn character for practically his entire life, he created it when he was 16 years-old. After I put this post up, a site member named "Pinner Up" brought up the very distinct possibility that the Stern announcement at Comic Con isn't even the company's next cornerstone game. We are a little earlier than the next cornerstone's expected release date. What if, this event is to introduce a new Heavy Metal-esque boutique pin based upon McFarlane's newest comic and featuring Ozzy music? That's very possible as well. There's been so much smoke about Venom being the next Stern game that it probably is, but in the back of my mind I can't help but wonder what if it isn't? What if we're getting a Spawn pin with Ozzy Osbourne music? Traditionally the pinball manufacturers leak rumors like a sieve so if the game wasn't Venom we probably would have heard that by now, but if Stern did catch everyone completely off guard with a different theme, that would be absolutely EPIC. It's been a while since we were surprised by a pinball release and surprises are fun. Probably Venom, BUT... _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 71e80a03-6b91-4ea7-a5e3-75ae449cd5b3*