"It can't really happen today the way it did back then and part of that is because I think there's a bit of a competitive scare over at Marvel and DC so they lock guys up with exclusive contracts"

In this quote, Todd McFarlane, a well-known comics creator and entrepreneur, is talking about the present state of the comics industry, particularly in relation to the practices of significant business like Marvel and DC. When McFarlane says, "It can't really occur today the method it did at that time", he's likely describing the golden age of independent comic development, especially the period throughout the late 20th century when creators had more liberty to work across different platforms or individually.

The quote recommends that the comic book landscape has actually altered dramatically because those times. In the existing environment, major business like Marvel and DC are more protective of their imaginative skill. McFarlane indicates that these corporations are cautious about losing their secret artists and authors to rivals, which has actually led them to use strategies like special contracts. This suggests that skilled individuals are connected to one company, restricting their prospective to deal with tasks outside of that business's world of control.

McFarlane utilizes the expression "competitive scare" to describe the fear that Marvel and DC experience relating to losing their prominent creators to other publishers. This worry triggers them to "lock guys up" with these unique arrangements, making it difficult for creators to achieve the very same level of cross-company collaboration or self-reliance as in the past.

His observation highlights the shift from a more fluid market to one marked by stiff contracts and business control. These exclusive agreements might be effective from a business standpoint, making sure that popular characters and storylines remain in-house, however they also stifle creative liberty and limit the chances for creators to explore brand-new opportunities. In essence, McFarlane regrets the loss of a once-dynamic landscape where artists and authors might browse the market with higher ease and liberty.