Image is everything
The independent comic publisher promises to put up a fight against Marvel and DC Comics. And they might just win.
If you’ve been following the comic book industry lately, you would have noticed the controversies happening between creators and publishers. On one hand, you have Alan Moore (creator of and ) and DC Comics. On the other you have
creator Gary Friedrich, and Marvel Comics. Both cases revolve around the creator-rights and company policies, each party claiming one thing over the other. For Friedrich, his problems with Marvel are just coming to light, while with Moore and DC Comics, their rift has gone on for several years now. Needless to stay, if you’re a creator wanting to get into comics, Marvel and DC might not be the place for you right now. Enter: Image Comics.
Founded 20 years ago by a group of Marvel Comics artists in their prime, Image Comics launched and lauded their publishing house as truly independent and 100-percent creator-owned. They shot the first bullet in their biggest challenge to date, of getting the best artists away from Marvel and DC and beating the Big Two in the sales chart. For a while, they succeeded. Titles such as , and generated a lot of buzz from the general population, which turned into a big sales. If you remember buying or getting a comic in the ‘90s, it was probably an Image title. But as fast as it rose to success, Image quickly dropped. Marvel and DC again dominated the industry. Then a funny thing happened: a man named Robert Kirkman started putting out quality comics such as and under Image, and the rest, as they say, is history. Twenty years after it began, Image just concluded their first Image Expo to a resounding success, promising big names and creators joining their publication. So if you’re an aspiring comic book creator or a fan who wants something new, Image might be the best place for you.
With all the controversy surrounding Marvel and DC, and how they’ve been treating their work-for-hire creators, the sound of 100-percent creator-owned stories is starting to ring in the ears of the biggest names in comics. The highlight of the Image Expo was the announcement that Grant Morrison would be releasing his new comic under Image. Details on the comic have been scarce, but it is clear that this is a huge win for Image and their campaign to get more quality creators in their house. For now though, all eyes are on creator Brian K. Vaughan ( ), who is releasing his first comic under Image. This is considered a coup for Image, getting one of the best writers of the new millennium away from the Big Two. Vaughan’s new book, , debuts March and it’s safe to say that the greater industry will be monitoring its success.
Despite the promises of Marvel and DC with their crossover storylines, most have fallen unfulfilled. Image however, has been the opposite. When Image says that changes are coming in their comics, they don’t lie. Take for example, with Robert Kirkman (SPOILER ALERT) killing one of his main characters, Lori Grimes, in one of the series’ most shocking twists. The beauty of independent comics is that it allows the creators to have full control of their stories. They decide what happens to their characters and plots, and are not under company rules and editorial mandates. Unlike Marvel and DC, the changes that Image promises, usually stick.
2012 looks to be a banner year for Image. Not only are they getting a new comic from Grant Morrison, but Image has already brought in big name writers such as Ed Brubaker of fame, and and writer Scott Snyder. This year, Mark Millar is also heading over to Image to release his latest wave of creator-owned comics. If was any indication, then Image is sure to have a lot of success on their hands. And we’ll be there to experience all of it.
***