A Brief History Of Image Comics

[@manwiththebeak]

Seems like the success of Image comics was no small feet

[@Insaneian]

*rimshot*

[@JmanMarvelMenace95]

Got em

[@kenthehobo]

Ha ha! GOT 'EM!!

[@bbrbbr-on2gd]

LarryFromTheTDCommercials You did it, you crazy son of a bitch! - Geostorm (best movie ever or worst movie ever, who bloody knows?)

[@doctorhandsome]

I pronounce it to be the most whimsical jape of the season.

[@criticascronicas]

I freaking love Image Comics, mainly because of the fact they always bring new stories. They don't stick to the same characters during 80 years, neither all of their stories have to work in the same universe. Creators have a lot of freedom thanks to this and that's given us some of the best comic books ever, imo.

[@Band_Aid_Man_]

How many comics do you own?

[@elewoo7131]

I understand that people want to hype up image that's fine I love it but why through unnecessary shade at DC marvel they have multiple stories characters and concepts great creativity it ain't the same stuff and also dc already did what image is doing with other own worlds and stories

[@DynamicUnreality]

@@elewoo7131 DC and Marvel were both stuck in MAJOR ruts when Image came up in the 90s and refreshed the scene. Creators had almost no control over the characters they were writing, other than a select few who could get away with anything they wanted by virtue of being so good, IE Alan Moore. Image and Dark Horse changed all that.

[@luismangiaterra1031]

@@DynamicUnreality they're still spitting image.

[@watashiiru]

Image Comics are the success story of Indie Comics As Comercial😊

[@cj_welsh]

My dad was actually one of Whilce Portacios co-workers and closest friends way back when, so my dad is choc full of Whilce stories. We actually went to Chicago Comic Con to hang out with him for a couple of hours a few years ago, it was really cool. He's like the most chill guy, like he just sat around drawing superheros for us for hours. It was really dope.

[@-ladiesman2173]

Much respect for your father

[@ThreadBomb]

White Portaloo

[@BLASTER0913]

Why did Portacio scrap Wetworks because his sister died? Why would that derail his whole career?

[@angbald]

When you already listened to the podcast Monday morning but can't resist that "bonza content"

[@andrewhuynh6556]

Yup

[@mattball8622]

Nothing drongo here.

[@WalkoffGrandslam]

The editor of these has their own type of humor that adds a different depth to it.

[@StudioChojin]

Kick-Ass wasn’t released by Image. It was released by Marvel’s Icon imprint. I know this because I was a production artist on the book.

[@Greg12839]

Studio Chōjin nice

[@giggidyboi5768]

Rad

[@IronicHavoc]

It was later republished under Image comics so that's probably the source of the confusion.

[@dragonite77]

invincible is my favorite comic ever, and saga isn't far behind, so i'm pretty damn happy with the way that image comics turned out.

[@limberlad]

Based off this comic I'm going to go pick up a copy of invincible asap. Saga is my favorite comic

[@Dogflamingo]

Hehehe, Amazon just released an animated show for Invincible. Haven't read the comic, but damn that show is so well written

[@TriColoredTiger]

The Maxx was my favorite Image Comic. Way ahead of its time and had an excellent abridged MTV series. Sam Kieth has done a number of excellent short run series.

[@RBrianRedd]

Agree! The Maxx was way ahead of its time, and surprisingly deep and heartfelt for a book featuring a bum in purple leotards with spikey fists.

[@ZipDraw]

The maxx was amazing. I also have the VHS of the series from mtv. Lol I cant watch it, because I dont have a VCR, but I have it! Lol

[@blackphoenix77]

Same. That was the first comic series I ever got the complete run because I loved it so much. Unfortunately, Kieth kinda dropped the ball near the end: strong start, weak finish.

[@CT68]

I was just about to comment on the Maxx. I didn't collect the books because from the covers, I thought it would be dumb, but then I saw it on MTV, and the story was pretty good.

[@benjamincoutts5864]

THE MAXX gets over looked and deserves a cinematic universe.

[@fenrir8497]

A brief history on dark horse comics

[@ggt47]

Yes!

[@willyum1620]

Sounds fsmilar who is it?

[@eastvandb]

Injection, Saga, The Black Monday Murders, Paper Girls, Monstress I'm very glad Image exists. They satisfy my weird tastes, and make lots of stuff for other people at the same time.

[@simianbarcode3011]

and the "Top Cow Universe" within Image Comics is great too! Witchblade, The Darkness, Death Vigil, Cyberforce, IXth Generation...

[@nickmartin5518]

Wasn't Bone published by Top Cow at first?

[@Germania9]

It's still like it's 90's incarnation only upgraded and more mature.

[@HsienKoMeiLingFormerYANG]

Sam Brickey Crap! I love those comic.

[@JackDManheim]

2:33 Immediately my new favorite comicbook character. He created the 90's, I heard, combining bits from his many different pouches & pockets. I wish he also had a fanny-pack on.

[@takeit1229]

Image comics gives writers/creators the freedom to tell meaningful stories again. DC/Marvel have been stuck in loop stories for decades.

[@ScooterinAB]

It sounds like they sure weren't telling meaningful stories for a long time.

[@la_void9750]

Now since Disney owns marvel now it gone to turmoil now strictly.

[@doomstadt2371]

The freedom, yes, the talent to do so, no lol. Image was so hyped when they started up, and you had like 4 titles that were decent and everything else was pretty shit lol I wasted so much of my young money on those books lol

[@NavySharkz]

Exactly! When you have to keep rebooting your universe every couple of years maybe it's time to retire those characters and create some new ones and new types of stories.

[@elewoo7131]

@@NavySharkz I don't understand when people say this tho DC and marvel have millions of characters and stories and concepts it ain't like the same thing over and over

[@bryanprocaccini9753]

The image cinematic universe. Someone's, somehow, is gonna make it

[@jayaprakash387]

Not live action though

[@mrXOwarrior]

Too many licenses to acquire and ppl to pay.

[@Buckwildhb]

I was a huge fan of Image comics. I wanted to work for them when I grew up. I think I at somepoint had a lot of their number 1s because I gave every series a chance. To this day Jim Lee's art work wows me. And Savage Dragon was one of my favorite characters.

[@samueltheprideofafrikarobi9319]

Another little known comic that's supported by image that more people need to read is Monsteress. It has some of the best writing and most arresting art I've ever seen in a comic. Honestly, it's almost too good for the medium and deserves a movie or a series.

[@jcwdesigns82]

The Maxx was an amazing series. It was pretty much solid all the way through, in my opinion.

[@dugonman8360]

The ending was megadumb though

[@CalvinHikes]

Today I learned that there was an Image Comics.

[@Band_Aid_Man_]

today i learnt about image comics

[@kkurion]

Grifter was my favorite WildCat. I also loved the Wetworks title! Good stuff guys.. Thanks for taking me back to my college days!

[@jonknight4616]

No mention of Sam Keith and The Maxx, easily the best thing from Image Comics in the 90s. I also enjoyed most of The Pitt's run. And at various points liked Spawn.

[@popsicill]

I thought Kick-Ass wasn't initially on Image. It was on Icon the Marvel Creator Owned imprint.

[@lancedenis4172]

Daniel Urena Correct

[@aztektheultimatewoman]

While, yeah, you’re technically right, Icon wouldn’t have existed if Image hadn’t existed

[@jimgegegegegegegege2306]

shadow hawk cover is amazing!

[@johnny13r]

Invincible is my favorite comic at image and i'm really sad to see it end.

[@faresfares-ultra]

@Nagashi im from the future we have an amazing animated show

[@luismangiaterra1031]

I'm glad it ended

[@jamesschrader8667]

Invincible, Walking Dead, and Saga.

[@watashiiru]

​@@luismangiaterra1031 Because of Reboot for over and over it means"Blunder"😊

[@jmpw005]

Last Image series I collected was Monstress. The artwork and story are so complex. I stuck with Savage Dragon for over 100 issues because it was really entertaining. Supreme was a guilty pleasure.

[@eastvandb]

Monstress is amazing.

[@Mike_Ka-Chowski]

I met Whilce Protacio in the Philippines. He was a very nice man.

[@RockandrollNegro]

I met a three dollar hooker in the Philippines. Nice girl.

[@TimpossibleOne]

WildCATs, Gen13, Wetworks, PITT, The Maxx, Deathblow, Groo the Wanderer, StormWatch and Supreme

[@SuperArppis]

You know what... I think those pouches are actually pretty practical and it's nice to see that they can carry the stuff they collect around. I WISH video game characters would have pouches, then it would explain where they put the things they pick up. It usually looks like they stuff them into their pants or something. But yeah, don't have anything against someone like Cable having Pouches, he has bunch of guns and stuff. Instead of having a skin tight bodysuit with no pockets. Where he carries his keys? Are they in a string around his neck? Where is his wallet? But whatever. :D Loved the fanny-pack joke in the Deadpool 2 tho.

[@relaxingsoundsforsleeping4852]

funny thing... both those characters were created by rob liefeld who's also the culprit of the too many pocket/extreme unreal proportioned art that this video is referring to.

[@doctorhandsome]

Batman always carried way too much gear to realistically fit in his utility belt. Liefeld pouches would make perfect sense on Batman.

[@ScooterinAB]

I don't see a problem with pouches, as long as they have a purpose.

[@SatBrumane]

i grew up on Team 7, Deathblow, Gen13, and Wildcats. travis charest is one of the greatest artist! youngblood and savage dragon were okay.

[@WhiskeyBrewer]

The Team One stuff was great as well. There's a part of me that would love a Team 7 movie based on that first mini series

[@BKGboy]

The Maxx!! That is the strangest best bizarre comic of the 90's. I would LOVE to hear you guys take a crack at that one.

[@ZeusHands]

My older brother was a HUGE spawn fan when we were kids, I was more in to Spider-Man, Punisher and X Men but always liked spawn cause of the violence and his story. So they get a thumbs up for the 90’s from me!

[@enocpueyesmendez777]

I Love Image Comics! It gives me so much hope for the future, for my dream of being a ComicBook writer and for anybody else who wants to make a name in the ComicBook industry.

[@atquinn1975]

95% of the bad art examples were Rob Liefeld LOL Anyway, all of Ed Brubaker's Image stuff is great and the great majority of the 90s stuff was good if you were the target audience (which I was).

[@ThreadBomb]

But Liefield also drew those pictures of The Pouch, so maybe he has earned a bit of a pass?

[@aariz611]

Liefeld isn’t that bad, considering he’s self taught, he has a fun way of drawing that I can appreciate.

[@tylerbrunton7696]

Top Cow took the Darkness, Witchblade, Cyberforce and Aprodite IX in some really interesting directions. Matt Hawkins deserves so much more recognition for his talent.

[@jacobvalentine1676]

I’m aware of spawn savage dragon and of course invincible but I don’t know much else about image comics , is it mostly a separate self contained stories or is it a full universe ?

[@bubbabibleman5970]

Most Image comics today are self contained stories.

[@Germania9]

Self contained, yes, but occasionally, the heroes from other books do make appearances in other titles. The twist here is that those heroes that cameod exist in this one title. Meaning, a Spawn appearing in Savage Dragon is different from the 'real' Spawn etc. This means it doesn't break canon from their own titles.

[@rodney2x48]

Most are self contained, but a lot of the first Image titles had crossovers or existed in the same universe. Stuff's changed over time, but I like the fact that Image can be whatever the writer and artist want it to be. I love DC, but the creative freedom and interesting stories that comes from Image is something else. DC has Vertigo, which is kind of like Image, though.

[@jeffii9890]

Jacob Valentine I'd suggest watch the videos on SYFY's channel. It was very informative and interesting. It Chronicles the beginning to today and all the guys that started it Image and are important to Image today participated and were interviewed. Check it out.

[@robonick3607]

There’s also a universe of superheroes within the comics called I forgot

[@dillbert4084]

You guys should definitely look up current Savage Dragon...

[@LordBigSlime]

Is that good or bad?

[@dillbert4084]

@@LordBigSlime they've basically become a hardcore porn comic

[@kaylamolino3223]

@@LordBigSlime , It's trash now , I missed the original Savage Dragon.

[@tomdrewart]

Met Whilce Portacio at a Comic-Con a couple years back, really cool dude. Answered a bunch of questions that my friend and I had and was overall just really chill.

[@x5992]

For me, I was in high school from 1996-2000 and remember reading Image comics. For me, my favorite artist was J. Scott Campbell and Gen13. Then there came Cliffhanger comics Danger Girl and Battle Chasers which was suppose to be all about creator owned titles, but the problem was the artists would only put out maybe 2 or 3 issues a year.

[@judahsoremy9857]

Gen 13, Tenth, Cyberforce, Danger Girl, Darkchylde, PITT, Witchblade, The Darkness, and Youngblood.

[@DeadpoolAndFriends]

i started reading comics right before Image started. And i was an early Rob Liefeld fan. I loved everything he made. Bought some Spawn. Liked WildCats. loved the show. Cyberforce was cool too! But Savage Dragon was the one i got into later in life. And DAMN, it is cool!

[@TrueAuthenticSweets]

My favorite Image character has to be Super Patriot. Anyone remember him? Anyone? No? Ok.

[@noahbaia2902]

Just make sure you don't let him get a look at Savage Dragon.

[@doctorhandsome]

Super Patriot was almost a Marvel character. Larsen wanted to introduce him in Spider-Man when he was writing and drawing that book, but the editors were uncomfortable about a guy with flags all over him, so he was reworked into "Cyborg X" or something, and Larsen got to keep him to use in his own books once Image was formed.

[@munjee2]

Only thing know about him is that he doesn't have a secret identity and marks mom was talking to his girlfriend

[@scottbruckner4653]

I'm more of a Spawn guy.

[@rangereric18]

Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillip's Sleeper was an Image mini series that made use of the characters and factions in that universe to good effect. Definitely worth a read.

[@notorioustampaton]

Early image comics are all about art over story, and it’s fantastic! If you go in expecting good stories you’re a dafty. It was created by artists for artists, and is literally called “Image”. Rob Liefeld is a great. Todd McFarlane is a shady businessman. Sam Keith and Erik Larsen are master artists.

[@RadioofHorror]

Image changed everything forever

[@jabelzebub1451]

Just when I thought I couldn't love this channel more. Gyyd job

[@SebastianAceFawkes]

MY TOP 5 IMAGE COMICS COMICS: 5 - Savage Dragon 4 - the Maxx 3 -Ant 2 - Bone 1 - Spawn

[@jizzz186]

the boys now has a tv series

[@jacksonweseman3391]

most of the writing may not have been the greatest but there's one moment in early spawn that gets me every time I see it, where spawn having just woke up saves some woman and he suddenly remembers stuff and next page is him writhing in agony on the floor and the woman he just saved just embracing him

[@brothersofwrath4785]

Same

[@estebanrosas5103]

DC will always be the universe for SUPERIOR comic fans. You have to have significantly high I.Q. to appreciate the intricate story lines and well crafted side characters. That's why the DCEU will always be SUPERIOR to Marvel. BETTER WRITING, BETTER CHARACTERS, BETTER PIZZA, PAPA JOHNS.

[@powerbad696]

Man,Image Comics brings back some good memories!!!LOL.Bought untold amounts of Image comics,anybody remember WIZARD magazine!!! A BRIEF HISTORY OF WIZARD MAGAZINE!!!

[@YouSuperJ]

That ShadowHawk reveal was one of the most memorable 90s moments for my young brain

[@mrXOwarrior]

Remind what was the big reveal? I remember Valentino was rather unique in that group. Not a superstar and was actually a writer turned artist. His biggest book to that point was rebooting the original Guardians of the Galaxy, way b4 the modern and more popular version was created. GotG never recovered when JV left for Image.

[@joshmccoy1033]

Tomb Raider, Witchblade, Fathom, Ascension, Arcanum, Darkness....these were all great titles from Image.

[@richborn6700]

Great is a stretch. Alot of those were trite, edgelord garbage

[@INDIG0MAR]

Saga, TWD, Outcast, Invincible, Paper Girls Pretty much Robert Kirkman and BKV properties. 😂

[@MrMichaelEPeter]

The more Image comics I read (newer, non-90's titles) the more they become my favorite titles. Saga is delightful. Anything Ed Brubaker writes (Fatale, Kill or Be Killed, The Fade Out, Velvet). Invincible is great. Just started East of West and am enjoying it. Walking Dead lost me long ago...somewhere around the introduction of the Whisperers.

[@gunsmokeandghouls]

Walking Dead should have concluded at the prison story arc.

[@brentbartley6838]

I was onboard when image first started, I had almost all the initial first issues. Spawn, Supreme, Shadowhawk, Stormwatch, Wildcats, Brigade maybe Youngblood. Followed a few of those, especially SPAWN for a long time. But as you mentioned, the inconsistent issue releases as the creators didnt seem to hold themselves to any deadlines became a big turnoff. But I'd pick up some new stuff along the way. J. Michael Starzynski's Midnight Nation was a really good limited arc series.

[@Ovetupp]

This video made me feel good in the void where my heart once was.

[@palmfirevisuals8269]

The Savage Dragon and Freak Force, yo!

[@noirangel6416]

4:48 Ive seen alot of strange comic charater...BUT WHO IS THAT!! PATCH MAN!? POUCH MASTER?! BAG HEAD!?

[@ChaseBlackmoon]

ISSUE #1: "The Thief of Baghead". It would be the origin story of Bag Head and would be like Aladdin, it would show him as an orphan living on the streets and stealing food but then he would gain powers somehow and his powers would include being able to carry a lot of things, in pouches. ISSUE #2: All fear the high prices of, "THE MERCHANT!"

[@zalo6616]

Funny, My alarm did not go off but the notification of this woke me up, thank you! Getting ready to work now.

[@DL-ph7qu]

This was great very informative

[@darthu4home]

I really enjoyed this! Thanks!

[@changowowowoezzy9617]

God Damn I love those spider man torment covers they look good all lined up. I also have a spawn issue were he's holding like a huge like 9 barrel gun in each hand and his got spikes and huge muscles. I love this channel now

[@willnuffsaid5752]

Read Nailbiter. Definitely my favourite from Image. What's not to love about a town full of serial killers? Also the way it's written makes it feel a bit like a tv series which really adds to the story

[@reklawxero6946]

WildCats, Gen13, and Team7 Wetworks, loved 'em all!

[@QuestioningYourSanity]

If i could only read comics from one company, Image wins without question. Quality, quantity, and variety, all in the same house.

[@jonathonbisiach749]

You left out how all the OG creators couldn't stop suing each other for a decade.

[@mrXOwarrior]

Rob Leifeld was the main culprit. His attitude and his inability to ever hit a deadline really caused some bad blood.

[@MrDman21]

Image Comics is just a shell of what it used to be.

[@Inevitableu]

I love Image comics. My favorite movies for comics are Marvel, favorite games and animated series/movies are DC, but Image comics are great. Love Hack/Slash, Spawn, Shadowhawk, and Cyforce. The issue when it comes to Image is that there isn't as much content compared to DC or Marvel so I think it's really easy to overlook it due to lack of more Iconic characters.

[@thomasnash6641]

Please tell me you've seen Deadpool's comment as "Mister Deadpool Movies" on the Deadpool 2 Honest Trailer...I was like HEY I KNOW THAT REFERENCE!!! XD (shows up at 1:11 in that video)

[@Insaneian]

A lot of this footage (and story, it seems) looks like it came from that TV show Robert Kirkman's Secret History of Comics, the episode (obviously) about Image. Great series. Hope there's another season.

[@kadh9941]

My favorite "Death of..." comic was the Death of Optimus Prime, which rather than killing off a hero in one of the most generic manners ever they actually showed the death of an ideal.

[@mrXOwarrior]

Did you mean when he lost a computer game to Megatron and was deleted? Don't worry, they backed him up to a 5 1/4 floppy disk.

[@antoinejohnson3477]

I was a big Shadow Hawk fan

[@evilmousse1]

When I really enjoy a work, I can daydream about having fun conversations with the author. I rarely daydream about having fun conversations with the intellectual property owner. We've come a long way from wondering who "the good duck artist" was, and it's not just better for the authors!

[@Miniatures_Hall]

Song reference at the beginning killed me! Haha

[@porterflynn8038]

Good 90's Image comics aside from the Maxx, WildCats etc.? My favourites that slipped through the cracks would be Freak Force and Trencher.

[@rivaltag]

This was very interesting, a nice change of pace.

[@infctdppt]

Can't believe when you talked about the meeting you didn't use the Jonas clip from Spider-Man telling Peter "Freelance! Best thing for a kid your age."

[@continueprisoner]

Wetworks, Pitt, Deathblow, Team 7, Wildcats, Shadowhawk, Youngblood, so good an era

[@make.and.believe]

I owned a ‘Tribe’ #1, for decades and recently gifted it to a close friend. Image rocks.

[@malmwest1832]

invincible is my fav ever, no question

[@Poncho5rc]

Do one for Variant

[@mguy1977]

I enjoy Criminal, Fatale, Saga & Paper Girls. The only image book I got burned out on was Walking Dead. The first 48 issues great after that it hits the rinse repeat cycle in comics.

[@reynederrick9444]

I never realised how much I like image comics My fav is walking dead Invincible was great Saga is incredible

[@floopdoop3136]

The Beauty by Image is SO GOOD, can't recommend enough

[@Hybridsoulman521]

Criminal, Deadly Class, Low, Black Science, Monstress to name a few are amazing

[@callumcleary1163]

The Walking Dead is my favourite and imo one of the best if not the best continuing comic book of all time

[@willr2733]

The spawn writer saying Spawn saying spawn is spawn in movie form is also spawn is spawn.

[@ComicNerd1103]

Here are some more ideas:- Brief history of Dark Horse Comics Brief History Of IDW Comics Brief History Of Vertigo Comics Extensive History Of DC Comics Extensive History Of Marvel Comics

[@ComicNerd1103]

@BlueNews Podcast A small company owned by a rat.

[@cipwreck68]

Saga is such a gem would be a great HBO mini series.

[@sethmatrisciano9375]

The Maxx by Sam Kieth is great, it wraps up well in 35 issues, has been reprinted in a three volume trade recently, and there's an MTV cartoon that is probably the truest animated rendition of any comic without being a motion-comic

[@LEE-337]

Are we gonna act like Gen 13 didn't happen?

[@craighicksartwork]

Surprised it didn't even get a mention. That was huge.

[@DamianLewd]

Yuuuup one of my faves

[@diywrites8703]

I was a big fan of Jim Lee and his Wildstorm brand. Not really mentioned in this video. As a prepubescent boy Gen13 was certainly a favorite of mine. Nowadays as a semi-adult I try not to miss Saga.

[@meltedcopper9247]

You should do an episode on image cartoons.. like the maxx spawn and I think savage dragon.

[@doctorhandsome]

Yeah, Savage Dragon had one. So did Wild C.A.T.s.

[@GrumpyTy34er]

They also managed to steal Howard the Duck

[@hansen66100]

This channel made a video about this already, check it out!!!

[@GrumpyTy34er]

It's a 4 year old video but here you go kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6WbgIalm9impsU

[@ExetremeJabber]

Smashing Video! nice to come home from work and watch this Comedy Gold!

[@dfailsthemost]

Jim Lee's X-men at the time just seemed to be so much more vivid than the books I had been used to.

[@mrXOwarrior]

Its too bad, X-Men never recovered in my mind and Lee never created anything as cool as early 90s X-Men. It was magic in a bottle at the time and they blew it.

[@JaqenHghar.]

Spawn is my all time favorite comic book character followed by the punisher and Jonn Jonzz. But... regardless of my bias I would have enjoyed you guys mentioning: 1) how Todd MacFarlane revolutionized Spidey with spaghetti webbing and 2) the fact that even though he left Marvel and created a rival company he and Stan Lee are still very close friends. I just like happy endings like that

[@ghostgabe81]

I have a hard time getting into comics, but I absolutely loved Invincible. Pretty much the only comic I've been really invested in

[@aWhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

never had interest in any of their series....but Image did do one thing in the market. The most significant thing. They raised the bar in print quality.

[@moeomoton520]

RIP Mike Turner, I loved his art!

[@blakespon4822]

I once bought a 5 dollar grab bag at my local shop which included 5 random comics and one in 5 bags guaranteed to have an autographed comic. I got X-men #1 autographed by Tom Orzechowski the letterer.

[@macuna1995]

Can we please get some more Image Comics cartoons????

[@Band_Aid_Man_]

How.many comics do you own?

[@macuna1995]

@@Band_Aid_Man_ Like, tons.

[@Band_Aid_Man_]

@@macuna1995 Cool man! take care.

[@AnjelCaido69]

Dude, Invincible on amazon is so good