I know, I bought it and hated it for reasons I didn't understand at the time. Now I know so much better and I defy anyone to find a story or anything to enjoy in this issue. Not one single ounce of originality. If you want to learn more about those dark days then follow the above link.
On the anniversary of the formation of Image Comics, it’s worth noting the legacy of the seven creators who wanted a better deal, who wanted to own their work, and who set out to do exactly what they wanted. They held firm so they could tell stories of their own heroes; heroes with big guns and metal limbs and superfluous spikes and flowing capes and massive shoulder pads and gritted teeth and giant fins. In doing so, they kicked open the door for new generations to tell new kinds of stories, and kicked off a comic book revolution.
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4 comments:
This, Brigade and every other Rob Liefield "creation" was such a pile of manure and only a handful of the original Image titles from any of the creators were worth a damn. It's a wonder it didn't fail miserably like so many other also ran small presses. But -- oh my -- what grew from that stinking pile of compost! Most of the best titles on the stands today are Image titles: Walking Dead, Saga, Invincible, Lazarus, Chew, Manhattan Projects, Sex Criminals, and the ubiquitous "many, many more." While Marvel and DC are retconning and rebooting, Image is turning out fresh and original ideas. Marvel tried it with their Epic (and now Icon) line and DC with Vertigo, but it took Image to make "creator-owned" comics a mission statement, not just a sideline. And, for that ya gotta give credit where credit is due.
And if you notice NONE of the original creators have ANYTHING to do with the best comics Image puts out these days like Invincible. That grew out of their desire to fill their stables with talent - some like Kirkman who rose to the top. Could he have done the same with Marvel or DC, maybe. If anything has ruined DC it's been because of the Image guys who think that change and EXTREME change is the only way to generate interest. But what do you do after the eyes of the world are on you? NOTHING of interest. Even McFarlane doesn't make good action figures anymore. Having lived through the times it all just leaves a bad taste in my mouth to this day. I don't want to see Liefeld get anymore chances to mess up a title.
I got caught up in all of that initial Image excitement and bought a lot of the comics. (Although I'm proud to say I never got into Youngblood -- I don't think I've even got one of those.) I really liked Jim Lee's stuff, and the crazy issues of Spawn where he somehow got Dave Sim, Alan Moore, and Frank Miller to write scripts. It was definitely "the thing that was happening" in the comics world at that time.
In retrospect, Cal's right; the initial six titles just weren't that good. The young Image-verse was very promising, though -- I really enjoyed how Alan Moore turned WildC.A.T.S. into such an engaging sci-fi saga later on. (And his 1963 miniseries was fantastic.)
1963 was a fantastic mini-series that I wish would be collected into one book. I loved the old timey art that went with it as well.
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