How much of a change has Image gone through? [Archive]

Killer Bee

01-09-2007, 12:06 AM

I'd say compared to ten years ago, they've done a complete 180 and definitely got their act together. :D

I recently got back into comics during the Summer of '06 (I stopped collecting during '99 due to shops closing and comics crashing) and I'm quite surprised. A lot of their titles are high quality stuff. What forced the change?

Jimmykitty

01-09-2007, 03:39 AM

Well, let's remember that Image is not a single company,
but several "partner studios" under the umbrella called, "Image".

Some of those divisions are still working on titles from long ago. Top Cow, Todd MacFarlane, WildStorm, et. has seen less change - as they continue with the favorites you might recall when you left comics: Spawn, Witchblade, Darkness, Tomb Raider, et...

The significant change is from "Image Central" - and that personal focus came from Jim Valentino and Erik Larsen. Image Central, which isn't "owned" by any one partner, is free to play the field and that's where the majority of change has come. Even Jim Valentino's SHADOWLINE branch of Image has ventured out to expand new titles.

I was part of the Shadowline re-launch in the 1990s - which were only black & white books at the time... and NO superheroes. Valentino went out of his way to find talent that did not fit the "1990s perception" of Image Comics that people stubbornly held to. Books from Scott Morse, Lea Hernandez, and others.

Erik Larsen continued that - and more!

However, let's also remember Image was already putting out a variety of books even back "in the day" with Colleen Doran, Jeff Smith, and others. It wasn't all foil covers and superhero teams all the time. But I get what you're saying... don't get me wrong, I hear ya'. I believe there has been a sea of change. It's not an "either / or", instead this is an "also / and" - which marks true diversity.

And we're all the better for it.