CBR: Stephenson Looks to Image Comics's Future

[CBR News]

Publisher Eric Stephenson tells CBR about capturing attention in the wake of DC's relaunch, a new ratings system, the future of "Image United" and big plans for Image's 20th year.


Full article here.

[alemander]

"I'm not sure I get what you mean about Marvel's aggressive promotion. Slapping a burst that says something is still issue whatever, even if it's relaunching the month after? I thought that was really funny, but considering the fact that Marvel has been ending and relaunching series on a pretty regular basis since the late '90s, I'm not sure how that's good for anything but a laugh."

Whatever, Eric. I like how he defines what Image puts out as "new comics" and Marvel/DC do what they have always done. Eric, you would be having the success Marvel/DC with superheroes, if you put out any superhero comics worth reading.

I thought that was really funny when you said Image United would be finished. Considering the fact that Image people have repeatedly said it would be finished at some point since the late 90's, I'm not sure how your words are good for anything more than a laugh. The thought that you think Image United will actually be finished is one of the funniest things I have ever heard.

[Alex A Sanchez]

I thought that was really funny when you said Image United would be finished. Considering the fact that Image people have repeatedly said it would be finished at some point since the late 90's, I'm not sure how your words are good for anything more than a laugh. The thought that you think Image United will actually be finished is one of the funniest things I have ever heard.

Image United came out in 2009. You are confusing it with Image's 10-year Anniversary Hard Cover, which was released almost a decade ago. Get your facts straight before running your mouth and making a fool of yourself.

[Bendrix]

"I'm not sure I get what you mean about Marvel's aggressive promotion. Slapping a burst that says something is still issue whatever, even if it's relaunching the month after? I thought that was really funny, but considering the fact that Marvel has been ending and relaunching series on a pretty regular basis since the late '90s, I'm not sure how that's good for anything but a laugh."

Whatever, Eric. I like how he defines what Image puts out as "new comics" and Marvel/DC do what they have always done. Eric, you would be having the success Marvel/DC with superheroes, if you put out any superhero comics worth reading.

That's funny.

[ScotsScribbler]

I love Image, I think they're on course to overtake a big chunk of market share with their original cult material, especially with DC winding down Vertigo.

I'm glad Image are on fire, and being so prolific with original ideas. They must have done so well from Walking Dead and good for them.

[Ballistic27]

Yes give props to Image for putting out some of the best comics on the stands. Stephenson has had a big role in this so I applaud him as well. And next year has me excited. I can't wait to see what they'll do for the 20th anniversary.

[PsychoGoatee]

if you put out any superhero comics worth reading.

Invincible, Savage Dragon, Witchblade, etc, hello McFly.

I like the shots Eric takes at DC/Marvel, Image just puts out better stuff in my view.

[Genki Sudo]

Good interview

[bluetyson]

"I'm not sure I get what you mean about Marvel's aggressive promotion. Slapping a burst that says something is still issue whatever, even if it's relaunching the month after? I thought that was really funny, but considering the fact that Marvel has been ending and relaunching series on a pretty regular basis since the late '90s, I'm not sure how that's good for anything but a laugh."

Whatever, Eric. I like how he defines what Image puts out as "new comics" and Marvel/DC do what they have always done. Eric, you would be having the success Marvel/DC with superheroes, if you put out any superhero comics worth reading.

I thought that was really funny when you said Image United would be finished. Considering the fact that Image people have repeatedly said it would be finished at some point since the late 90's, I'm not sure how your words are good for anything more than a laugh. The thought that you think Image United will actually be finished is one of the funniest things I have ever heard.

You mean Image could do something like Powers, for example?

[briest57]

Invincible, Savage Dragon, Witchblade, etc, hello McFly.

I like the shots Eric takes at DC/Marvel, Image just puts out better stuff in my view.

All of which are rubbish IMHO.

[Jared Song]

Shinku is an awesome new comic. I've also enjoyed Phonogram, and the Next Issue Project. I'm not going to lie, I haven't bought much Image over the years, but I haven't bought Marvel and DC in a long time.

Image is easily my favorite independent comic company. They still have competetive prices, and the quality of their books still sets the standard all these years later.

Oh, I forgot, they also put out Flaming Carrot!

I also forgot I Hate Gallant Girl, and Bomb Queen!

[oscarhardwick]

With all comic companies, good and bad comics will be released. I love what image is doing and am loving Chew at the moment along with being really excited for The Red Wing even if it will only be a mini series.

That said I don't have any company that I am loyal to as such (and it would seem that a few people in this thread do) and I generally look to enjoy comics regardless of where they are from and what they are about (although their plot obviously affects whether or not I enjoy them)

Good interview either way, I respect the honesty from Eric here although some of the digs at other companies weren't all that called for. I look forward to image continuing to give us good (and some bad) comics with very original twists to them.

Oscar.

[eric_image]

Whatever, Eric. I like how he defines what Image puts out as "new comics" and Marvel/DC do what they have always done. Eric, you would be having the success Marvel/DC with superheroes, if you put out any superhero comics worth reading.

I guess you don't understand what "new" means. See, the way it works is Superman, Bat Man, Spider-Man, the X-Men, etc. have all been published for many years. In Superman's case, 73 years. If you like Superman, that's fine. If you like Spider-Man, that's fine. I like both those characters, too. I grew up reading Marvel comics pretty much exclusively and I still have great fondness for all those characters. They are not, however, "new," and no amount of re-numbering or re-booting them will ever, ever make them "new." Superman won't stop being 73-years-old. (Well, at least not until he's 74...)

Image, meanwhile, publishes new comics every month. When we do a new comic, it is not a new version of a superhero comic that came out in the '30s, '40s, '50s or '60s. They are brand new comics that feature characters that have never existed before. They may not be to your particular taste, but they are new.

Marvel and DC do a great job of publishing superhero comics – as they have pretty much always done – and I'm proud of the fact that we publish the wide variety of books we do. We're going to keep doing that, and I'm sorry that upsets you in some way.

I thought that was really funny when you said Image United would be finished. Considering the fact that Image people have repeatedly said it would be finished at some point since the late 90's, I'm not sure how your words are good for anything more than a laugh. The thought that you think Image United will actually be finished is one of the funniest things I have ever heard.

Well, Image United actually wasn't announced until 2008, so "Image people" most definitely were not repeatedly saying it would be finished at some point in the late '90s. My best guess as to what you're on about is the Image Comics HC that was announced for Image's 10th anniversary in 2001. That was originally supposed to be out in 2002, but it was late. Around three and a half years late, in fact, as it came out in late 2005. Either way, nobody was promising that would be finished in the late '90s.

The only other thing you could possibly have confused Image United with is the 1963 Annual, originally planned to follow the six 1963 one-shots created by Alan Moore, Rick Veitch and Steve Bissette. The 1963 Annual was never solicited, and it will never come out.

Seeing as how you don't seem to have much interest in the comics Image publishes, I can't fathom why any of this would matter to you, but I figured I'd clear things up for you anyway.

Good luck.

[prismablue]

I enjoy quite a few books published by Image at any given time but I do miss the larger than life attitude of the early image stuff.

[Rasputin9977]

"I'm not sure I get what you mean about Marvel's aggressive promotion. Slapping a burst that says something is still issue whatever, even if it's relaunching the month after? I thought that was really funny, but considering the fact that Marvel has been ending and relaunching series on a pretty regular basis since the late '90s, I'm not sure how that's good for anything but a laugh."

Way to make a fool of yourself Eric. I guess you didn't know that Top Cow's the Darkness did the samething. Not good to slam the competition if youve done it as well.