Image Comics

On April first at Emerald City Comicon, Robert Kirkman and Chris Giarrusso revealed a new project: THE WALKING DEAD for Kids. A panel-by-panel recreation of the original issues using Kirkman's scripts, THE WALKING DEAD for Kids would be drawn in an art style with kid appeal by G-MAN creator Giarrusso.

The project, of course, was yet another April Fool's Day prank on a day that saw a few "announcements" come out of the convention. But the image is part of a series of special limited edition variant covers that Image Comics will be releasing in the upcoming year.

In commemoration of Image's 20th anniversary, Giarrusso will re-create twelve classic first issue covers. First to get the too-cute treatment is YOUNGBLOOD, the very first Image title. The cover will ship in limited quantity as a variant for YOUNGBLOOD #71 (FEB128256), the relaunch of the Rob Liefeld Extreme Studios title written by screenwriter John McLaughlin (The Black Swan, Parker) and drawn by John Malin (AVENGELYNE) and Liefeld. YOUNGBLOOD #71 will be in stores on May 23.

The covers are Giarrusso's tribute to his youthful love of Image Comics. "Twenty years ago, I was eagerly anticipating the launch of Image Comics," said the artist. "Maybe it was partially due to my upcoming high school graduation, but it felt like the whole world was changing. I vividly recall the excitement of seeing the Image books on the shelf for the first time.  It was a new era, and these cover images were instantly iconic. The opportunity to pay tribute to these classic Image covers is an honor and a privilege, and I couldn't be more excited about my role and participation in Image's 20th anniversary celebration."

Look for more Giarrusso tribute covers in the coming months!

Fans of THE DARKNESS responded to the new creative team, David Hine and Jeremy Haun, by quickly snapping up copies of their debut issue, THE DARKNESS #101: The Crack in Everything, Part 1. The issue, which arrived in stores on March 21, has sold out and will be re-printed, with the second printing (JAN128232) arriving in stores on April 18.

Hine and Haun took over the story of Jackie Estacado after the events of ARTIFACTS #13 and in the wake of Top Cow’s REBIRTH initiative. On the surface, Jackie Estacado has everything he ever wanted — control of the Darkness, a successful career, wealth and, most importantly, a happy family life. However, his desire to make his life truly perfect will be his undoing. What happens when all of it begins to slip through the cracks?

THE DARKNESS #102 (FEB120499) will be in stores on April 25.

The Division of Global Surveyors (D.O.G.S.) is on Mars to carry out a terraforming mission, making the red planet habitable for humans. But what the crew of Mars Base Bowie doesn't know is that there was something there before them. In D.O.G.S. OF MARS, a graphic novel coming from Image Comics in May, the intrepid team will discover that there is something on the planet just as deadly as Mars' freezing temperatures and carbon dioxide atmosphere. Something alive.

Written by Johnny Zito, Tony Trov, and Christian Wieser, D.O.G.S OF MARS explore the effects of isolation and fear as the team desperately tries to evade an unrelenting alien life form. Mission captain Zoe must struggle to keep her team together — and alive — as they're pursued by a nocturnal monster that mutilates and transforms its victims, even as forces that aren't alien threaten them from within.

Zito and Trov have collaborated on comics for several years, winning DC Comics' Zuda competition in 2008.  "I think this is the best project we've ever collaborated on," said Trov. "It's heavily inspired by horror films like Alien and Event Horizon, and the actual experiment known as Mars-500."

The unique art style of Paul Maybury, awash in shades of red, helps bring the gruesome story to life. Johnny Zito comments, “Paul's designs are very industrial with Japanese gore splattered about. His vision of the monster is a grotesque, alien twist on the classic werewolf.”

Collecting the four-issue miniseries that was sold digitally on ComiXology, D.O.G.S. OF MARS is a 120-page paperback. It will be available in stores on May 2 and its ISBN is 978-1-60706-550-0.

DANGER CLUB #1, the first issue of the new Image Comics superhero series by Landry Q. Walker and Eric Jones (Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade, Batman: The Brave and the Bold) has sold out at the distributor level a week before its release in stores on April 4.

Image Comics has immediately sent the issue back to press. The second printing (FEB128147) will be in stores on May 2. DANGER CLUB #2 (MAR120479) will be in stores on May 16.

A dark vision of a world where the world's superheroes have gone missing and teenage sidekicks must create a new order, DANGER CLUB has been described by writer Walker as "Lord of the Flies with superheroes."

The relaunches of Rob Liefeld's Extreme line for Image Comics has continued to be a sure bet for retailers, as the debut issue of the latest title, BLOODSTRIKE #26, has sold out.

The continuation of the story of Cabbot Stone, a black-ops soldier who can survive any injury, thanks to a shadowy military program called Project Born Again, is written by Tim Seeley (HACK/SLASH) with art by Franchesco Gaston, and is in stores today, March 28.

A second printing of BLOODSTRIKE #26 (FEB128069) will be in stores on April 25, the same day as BLOODSTRIKE #27 (FEB120496).

Image Comics has yet another sell out with the debut issue of the new horror series REBEL BLOOD by Alex Link and Riley Rossmo (GREEN WAKE). The issue will immediately go back to press, and the second printing (FEB128198) will be in stores on April 25, the same day as REBEL BLOOD #2 (FEB120517).

Published under Image's Shadowline imprint, REBEL BLOOD pits fallen firefighter Chuck Neville against a contagion that is turning people — and animals — into bloodthirsty killers. Alone in a remote fire station in the forest, Chuck will have to fight his way out to save his family... or find out that he's too late.

REBEL BLOOD is a monthly five-issue miniseries. It is available in comic book stores and on multiple digital platforms.

Image Comics is showing up in a big way at Emerald City Comicon (ECCC) in Seattle, Washington this March 30 through April 1, with a slew of convention exclusives (announced here) and an extensive signing and programming schedule. Many Image creators will be at the Image, Skybound, and Top Cow booths, as well as manning their own tables in the Washington State Convention center.

A panel schedule, signing schedule, and full list of Image creators attending ECCC follow. If you are interested in scheduling an interview with any of the Image creators regarding their Image titles, please contact Jennifer de Guzman at jenniferdeguzman@imagecomics.com.

Please click the title of this post for the complete panel listings, signing schedules, and Image Comics creator guest list.

In 1992, Spawn, a new kind of superhero, stepped onto the comics stage under the banner of the newly formed Image Comics. Twenty years later, Todd McFarlane’s creation has become an iconic character in the  superhero world, spawning into spin-offs, toys, an animated series, and a blockbuster movie…But the SPAWN comic book series has always been the center of that empire.

In celebration of SPAWN’s 20th anniversary, McFarlane will return this June as cover artist on his flagship title for the remainder of 2012. McFarlane will also take lead writing for this commemorative issue, SPAWN #220.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Image Comics, the first of these nine covers by McFarlane, SPAWN #220, depicts “Savage Spawn,” referencing the first issue of SAVAGE DRAGON by Erik Larsen. (Cover B - APR120410)

SPAWN #220 will also have a variant cover paying tribute to Rob Liefeld's YOUNGBLOOD #1 (Cover C - APR120411), as well as an original cover from McFarlane himself (Cover A -
APR120409). A black-and-white variant of each of the covers will be available as an incentive for retailers.

In addition, current SPAWN artist Szymon Kudranski has created a cover based on the original SPAWN #1 cover by McFarlane for the SPAWN: 20th Anniversary Collector's Special (APR120418). This special edition of SPAWN #220 publishes Kudranski's interior art in black-and-white along with additional content featuring a look back at a sampling of TODD McFARLANE's inked pages from SPAWN #1. It is limited to 2500 copies.

McFarlane has embarked on this seven-month tribute not just to celebrate SPAWN's and Image Comics’ 20th anniversary, but also to honor the rich history of all comic books.

“Early in my career one of the things I looked forward to after I finished the interiors on a book, was to sit back and try and come up with a single image that would catch the fan’s attention,” said McFarlane. “I had a pretty decent run with some of the Hulk, Spider-Man, and Spawn covers, and I’m going to come back and see if I can draw a few covers that will intrigue everybody.” 

SPAWN #220 will be available for order in the April issue of Previews and in stores on June 6th.

Rob Liefeld's Extreme Studios titles PROPHET and GLORY were two of the mainstays of the nascent Image Comics; now, twenty years later, they're proving their mettle in a new generation with re-imagined relaunches by prominent independent comics creators.

The latest issues — PROPHET #23 and GLORY #24 — have sold out, prompting second printings for both. Both titles have sold out of their issues three months in a row. GLORY #24's second printing will be in stores on April 11 and PROPHET #23's will be out the following week, April 18. PROPHET #23 was in stores today, March 21, and GLORY #24 went on sale on March 14.

Critics have praised both titles' creative teams for their new vision of the Extreme titles, part of a relaunch campaign that also includes YOUNGBLOOD, BLOODSTRIKE, and SUPREME.

Brandon Graham (KING CITY) and Simon Roy place John Prophet in an uncanny landscape of a future Earth, fighting his way through bizarre predators and navigating even more bizarre cultures to awaken the G.O.D. Satellite. In a review at The Comics Journal's Charles Hatfield wrote, "Writer Graham, cartoonist Roy, and colorist Ballermann work together to conjure a lurid, gushing world, one that calls for gooseflesh and cold sweat."

Glory becomes a broad-muscled, towering warrior in the hands of Joe Keatinge (HELL YEAH) and Ross Campbell (Wet Moon, Shadoweyes), living once again among humans after a long absence. In a review at Comic Book Resources, Kelly Thompson called the new GLORY "some of the most innovative and ballsy work comics has seen for a long time. This is a re-launch, people."

Both titles are ongoing, full color comic books, available in comic book stores and from multiple digital platforms.

The demand for the debut issues of two of Image Comics' newest comic book series, SAGA and THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS, has been so strong that the publisher has already ordered third printings for both titles.

SAGA #1, the first issue of the new Image Comics series by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples, sold out a week before its March 14 in-store date. It got near-universal rave reviews. And yet even Image was caught by surprise when the orders for the issue's second printing were double the print run. The issue has immediately gone back to press once again, and the third printing (FEB128166) will be in stores on April 25.

The reprint print run for SAGA #1 was more than twice the usual quantity for second printings, but orders from retailers eager to get the critically-acclaimed first issue in the hands of customers kept rolling in, making a third printing necessary before the second printing is even in stores.

"Saga is the kind of comic that you get when truly talented superstar creators are given the freedom to produce their dream comic," wrote Entertainment Weekly's Jeff Jensen in his review of the issue.

SAGA tells the story of a young family, caught between two sides in a galactic war, striving to find safety for their newborn daughter. It is a monthly full-color comic book.

The second printing of SAGA #1 will be in stores on the same day as #2, April 11, and the third printing will be on sale on April 25.

THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS the newest Image Comics series by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra also has a first issue that is receiving a third printing after orders for its second printing surpassed the print run. A story in the print and online versions of USA Today and rave reviews accompanied the series debut on March 7.

"The Manhattan Projects is off to a tremendous start, one of the big concept author’s strongest, most inventive opening chapters," wrote Paul Montgomery in his review at iFanboy.

THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS creates an alternate reality where the real-life project to develop the atomic bomb is just a front to hide far more bizarre government programs. The creative team of Hickman and Pitarra previously collaborated on THE RED WING, also published by Image Comics.

THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #1's second printing will be on sale on April 4, with the third printing (FEB128156) following on April 18. THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #2 will be in stores on April 11.

Hine takes the reins from long-time writer Phil Hester (Green Hornet, Wonder Woman), who has written the series since 2007, when the series relaunched following the events of FIRST BORN and the release of THE DARKNESS video game. Hine has previously written Jackie Estacado in 2010’s limited series THE DARKNESS: FOUR HORSEMEN, which garnered rave reviews. Hester concluded his run on the series with the over-sized landmark issue #100, released hot on the heels of The Darkness II video game from 2K Games and Digital Extremes.

“The Darkness is one of Image's longest running books and Jackie Estacado is one of the few truly classic characters in independent comics. That makes it a genuine honor to be entrusted with taking the book into its next phase,” explained Hine. “Issue 101 is the start of a roller coaster ride into some dark and scary places. Our intention is to mess with your heads. You have been warned..."

“It isn't often that you are invited to really put your stamp on a character," Haun added. "Top Cow has really given David and me the chance to let go and tell the next chapter of Jackie Estacado's life. We're staying true to everything that's come before in the 100-issue span of the book and adding a new twisted layer to things. I'm having the time of my life drawing each page of twisted madness. The Darkness is something we're really proud of.“

The team of Hine and Haun picks up the story of Jackie Estacado after the events of ARTIFACTS #13 and in the wake of Top Cow’s REBIRTH initiative. Joining the already-announced teams of Tim Seeley (HACK/SLASH) and Diego Bernard (The Man With No Name) on WITCHBLADE and Ron Marz (MAGDALENA, Voodoo) and Stjepan Sejic (WITCHBLADE) on the ARTIFACTS ongoing series, the two will help guide one of Top Cow’s flagship franchises into a new era perfect for long-time, lapsed, and new readers alike.

On the surface, Jackie Estacado has everything he ever wanted — control of the Darkness, a successful career, wealth and, most importantly, a happy family life. However, his desire to make his life truly perfect will be his undoing. What happens when all of it begins to slip through the cracks?

The debut issue will feature covers by Jeremy Haun and THE DARKNESS co-creator MARC SILVESTRI (Incredible Hulk).

THE DARKNESS #101 "THE CRACK IN EVERYTHING", PART 1, a 32-page full-color comic book for $2.99, will be on sale in stores and digital platforms, including THE DARKNESS app, March 21st, 2012.