THE TODDCAST · WITH TODD MICHAELThe Snail-Safe Stairway
Todd McFarlane drew stairs down from a cloud; friendly monsters appeared along the way. Todd Glass tested the handrails as a cautious snail, wearing a thimble helmet offered by a polka-dot monster.
A noodle-shaped rail passed inspection. The stairs reached the garden, where the monsters added a slide for anyone returning to the cloud. The snail requested a helmet upgrade.
Monsters need handrails
Todd McFarlane opened a sketchbook on a cloud and drew stairs down to a garden. The stairs grew into friendly monsters with curly tails and oversized shoes. Todd Glass brought a charcoal pencil to add handrails, but every monster wanted a different style: one asked for stripes, one for polka dots, and one wanted a rail shaped like a spaghetti noodle.
Todd McFarlane gave the monsters pencils and let them design the rails. Todd Glass tested each one by pretending to be a very cautious snail. The spaghetti rail bent politely but did not break. The striped monster held the door; the polka-dot monster offered the snail a helmet, which was mostly a thimble.
The staircase reached the garden without losing a single step or snail. The monsters formed a welcoming parade, and Todd Glass arrived at the bottom with his thimble helmet still on. Todd McFarlane signed the sketch “community-approved.” The snail asked if the stairs went back up. They did, though the monsters had added a slide for the return trip.
The Staircase Re-Sketch
Todd McFarlane’s first staircase grew into monsters without handrails. Todd Glass tested the sketch as a snail and slid gently into a cloud cushion.
They added rails, including one shaped like a noodle. The snail reached the garden safely and took the slide home, helmet first.
Noodle Handrail
Todd McFarlane draws a stair,
Todd Glass tests the rail with care.
A snail wears thimble for a hat,
The monsters hold a welcome mat.
The cloud stairs reach the garden door,
A slide goes back up, one floor more.
They march below with curly tails,
The snail leaves smiling, telling tales.