Todd McFarlane

'Spawn' creator designs logo for school

Firm donated time, talent to Wildcats

Nora Fascenelli
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 5, 2003 12:00 AM

Willow Canyon High School in Surprise is months from completion, but the team's Wildcat logo is already baring its teeth.

Todd McFarlane Productions, best known for the Spawn comic-book series, donated time and talent to come up with academic and sports designs for the Dysart Unified School District's newest campus.

The Willow Canyon Wildcat logo was unveiled Friday in the partially completed media center by Ben Timmereck, art director for the Spawn publications and Web site.

Timmereck handled most aspects of the logo designs, incorporating a professional look while preserving a theme of simplicity.

"I tried to mirror professional sports logos like the ones you'll find in the NFL and the NBA," Timmereck said. "Since it's for high school athletics, I wanted to keep it looking a little bit intimidating and scary."

The Wildcat logo reflects many of the artistic characteristics that make Spawn such a memorable image: long, curving claws that seem menacingly sharp, beastly teeth and a vivid contrast of color.

Before putting the finishing touches on the Willow Canyon Wildcat, Timmereck ran it by his 3- and 5-year-old children.

"They said it was cool, neat and scary," Timmereck said.

Future Willow Canyon students gave the Wildcat logo the thumbs-up when it was unveiled Friday.

"It passed the 'kid test,' " said Tom Murphy, assistant superintendent for the Dysart Unified School District.

McFarlane and Timmereck also designed the logo for Sundown Mountain School, and Willow Canyon's academic logo.

Willow Canyon's $28 million campus opens to freshmen and sophomores in August. The 225,000-square-foot school was built with Students FIRST funds and serves a newly developed area of the West Valley with a population of more than 7,000.

Reach the reporter at nora.fascenelli@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-6930.

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