i love that invincible sort of became the self-contained image universe. sure other series continued like spawn, the nobles and savage dragon. but the over-arching story was contained to invincible because it appealed to the most people. so while it didn't save the image universe, it definitely ressussitated it.
McFarlane actually made a good point: Something I've noticed particularly with Batman comics is that even though they take place in the larger DC setting they tend to behave as if they're set in their own little independent universe. Seriously, stuff goes down in Gotham that should absolutely get the other heroes involved, with alarming frequency. You can't tell me guys like Superman or Flash wouldn't intervene if an insane clown turned an entire major city into a lawless war zone ruled over by gangsters and super villains, with just a handful of non-powered vigilantes there to do anything about it. That basically requires them to allow innocents to suffer just for the sake of staying off Batman's turf. But they _have_ to leave Gotham to Batman and his supporting heroes because that's the whole point of Batman comics.
That's just DC doing a bad job maintaining a believable shared universe. It's not some flaw intrinsic to shared universes. Besides, I'm pretty sure the headcanon for that kind of stuff is always that the other heroes are 'too busy elsewhere' in those moments-presumably with the stuff that is going on in their own comic issue from that month.
reminds me of that one comic where he couldnt save a little girl from drowning and im like "bro just call superman wtf" but you know in the end its just to make it more dramatic since all his comics would be solved if he teamed up with superman all the time
Amazing video!👍👏 I just began my comic book collection and found Toon Haven. They have an incredible range of digital comics for every genre, including the hard to find ones. Lifetime updates too!😁
4 years before I was born I was born in 1996 company was founded in 1992 I get a lot of company was founded though but that's also part of the reason why characters enter and leave this universe left and right hell the TMNT used to be part of it
Damn i read all Chaos Comics stuff These even made sense when Lady Death appears in evil Ernie, hellwitch, purgatory..... top cow was also good in These like Angela making a Single Comic after appear as a Villain in the Darkness These where designed to fit together also witchblade. And all was gone after a huge funny Banger that really was funny🤣🙈overkill! witchblade, the darkness vs Alien and Predator. This actually where even my last Comics, even today i sometimes retrieve them out of the deep Storage and read them carefully.
Erik Larsen continues to be the only Image founder that writes, pencils, inks and consistently publishes his titular character, Savage Dragon. His ideas and artwork may not be everyone's cup of tea, but you have to respect that level of hard work and commitment to his creation.
I never read a Savage Dragon comic, but I did watch the animated series that aired on USA back in the 90s as a child. I definitely respect his commitment to his character.
I honestly think if the creators would have come back, tie up lose ends, and keep going, they would have rival DC and marvel comics and even make movies. After seeing invincible on Amazon, I strongly believe image can make a combat. Just imagine Marvel, DC, and image going at it. History would be made
@@KingWolf101 the wrong ones, lol. It's subjective. And my favorite 3 are Spawn, Pitt, and Cyber Force. I didn't even care that much for Savage Dragon or the MAXX. Wild C.A.T.s and Strike Force were cool to a lesser extent, as was BadRock and the YoungBloods. But, those first 30 issues of Spawn are some of my favorite comics ever.
To me, seeing Youngblood & Spawn, Medieval Spawn & Witchblade and The Darkness& Witchblade crossovers always excited me as much as Marvel/ DC ones! Love the artwork, the action and fun they offered! It'll be an era I'll never tire from!❤
Also the problem that exists with creator owned is that they lack editors to push artists and writers to put out work on time, image had infinite issues with keeping things together, they needed a Jim shooter to kick them into gear
I completely agree. "Total creative freedom" sounds good on paper, but the truth is that most writers and artists need a solid editor to keep their storytelling tight and concise, and to keep them producing on schedule. Most of those early Image titles were a disaster in terms of storytelling, readability, and meeting deadlines. I'm a fan of all those first Image creators; I look back on the excitement of that era with a lot of nostalgia. But the fact is, Image Comics also helped usher in the mid 90's comic market crash.
Yep..100% agree. Jim Shooter was the greatest EIC imo. He kept marvel continuty on a tight ship. One thing I would have told the creators in the beginning: We arent launching a book unless you have 12 issues in the can completed: story, art, inks, cover..etc..etc..ready to go. That would have kept that first year of chaos somewhat undercontraol from an issue release stand point. Id also DEMANDED it remains a shared universe. Shared univers just gives you more story ideas to mess with.
I noticed when a purchased a haul of Image comics four years ago, it was clear to me (after reading the books) that the Image universe was disjointed. Todd was doing his own thing and Spawn seemed way different to Youngblood and Wildcats as far as trying to maintain that overall universe common look. Savage Dragon also seemed like another universe altogether as well. The art was slick and storyline was interesting but all titles seemed to be in its own bubble.
With Radiant Black expanding into its own universe, part of me wonders if the creators plan on crossing over with any other Image heroes, and I’m honestly conflicted on if I want that or not.
Savage Dragon's son made a background cameo on a TV but that's probably a inuniverse show or movie and the rest of image are like an MCU type inuniverse movie universe
Personally a Radiant Black/Invincible one-shot would be really cool. Not as anything completely canon but seeing them interact or fight would be potentially awesome.
Discovered this channel from this video. So good to see such a fine well produced content and also have such a cute presenter for said content too. Great work, Josh! Also, wink wink.
Great videos man! Every one too! I'm a 90's kid and its everything I want in a TH-cam video, great topics, great editing, and an awesome host. Thanks man!
Spawn was the first comic I read way back in the early mid 90s. My parents never managed or cared to get them in order so I'd have issue 5 issue 10 and a bunch of other random issues and I never knew what was going on. Then the marvel x men cartoon came out and I traded all my spawn, and poggs for the x men trading cards, and loved pulling a card out whenever that character was on screen. Pre Internet was a wild time for comics. There was no online, my town didn't even have a comic shop
My introduction to Image was when i was 13 and I picked up the first issue of each Brigade/Bloodstrike crossover that kicked off the first, I think 10 books for each team. It was brutal and beautiful. I was also a huge Savage Dragon fan.
Great work as always Josh, the way invinsible tackled the share-universe in image was really cool, even tho didnt last that long or was very relevant in the story
Nice work Josh. Great video. Since you love to cover 90's comics, would you mind cover the history of Valiant Comics (from its inception, the Unity crossover, Jim Shooter's exit and everything after Acclaim bought the company). It could take 2 or many videos to cover the whole story. Anyway, I will be waiting for your next video.
I loved this video. I've never read any of the 90s image comics. My only knowledge of Image is a bit of The Walking Dead that I've read and the first couple of trades from Invincible. I just bought the first Spawn Compendium for a great price because of this video! Also, quick question. Would you ever make a video going over your comic shelf in the background? I'd love to see what you have in that collection!
I read a lot of them for a decade. Still collect Savage Dragon (2 long boxes, spin offs included), and went out of my way to reacquire stuff like Pitt, Wildstar, Trencher and Cyber Force. I lament my lost Spawn and Maxx collections, and the early issues of Invincible I had simply by extension of being a Savage Dragon reader. I remember digging Wetworks, Grifter, Gen-13, Weapon Zero and Prophet for awhile too.
One of my first Image Comics publications was Brandon Graham and Simon Roy's Prophet run, and OH MY GOD is the Imageverse important to that series. I missed out on so many references and character backgrounds/mentions due to my unfamiliarity with the shared universe. It was still a phenomenal read, and I cant wait to revisit it once I have my bearings.
As someone who bought "IMAGE UNITED" (the shared Image universe crossover event featuring Spawn, Youngblood, Savage Dragon, Shadowhawk, etc, with ALL the major artists contributing) and bought issues # 0, 1, 2 and 3 of Image United, I was VERY confused as to why issues # 4, 5, and 6 were so late (Spoiler: issues # 4, 5, and 6 NEVER came out). I was pretty angry when I found out that issues 4, 5 and 6 were never coming out because of a bunch of behind the scenes bullcrap drama.
I do vaguely remember that from interview with Comic Tropes, Robert Kirkman said that Erik Larsen likes it when crossover has not much rhyme or reason and it just, happens because creators wanted to make it happen lol (it's about Battle Pope and Savage Dragon cameo, I think?). but if that's the case, I guess it's harder to manifest Image Universe as exited in 90s because probably no creators feel that close or get along anymore, or something. also they're in completely different place in the industry.
no wonder ive always been such an image fanboy. it was all new. it never felt like i was missing out. theyre still some of my all-time favorite characters/books.
*You asked how important a shared universe is to us. My answer is that it totally doesn't matter at all to me. Cheers!* *PS: I like Erik Larsen's explanation of the cross-overs.*
My favourite Image super heroes at the beginning were Spawn, Cyblade, Ripclaw and Grifter (later sold to DC). Now Spawn, Cyblade and Ripclaw are still there, but there are also Wolfman, Atom Eve and Invincible.
I feel like in order for a shared universe of comics to work is for all creators who want to be involved to sign a contract to ensure the shared universe is in effect. Once the contract is up or about to expire, you can either renew or write comic writing other characters from outside one's comic out of the picture. While crossing over with others, one writer should have the writer of who they're crossing over as a consultant to ensure the story is good and up to both sides' standards. I think there should be a fine print where every crossover they do even ones with another series having an important role should remain canon with both ends. So any film adaptation or TV show should have everything the comics did. Basically to prevent continuity issues and confusion like in the Spawn movie. This is how I believe a shared universe of independent comics could work.
Sick breakdown of image! That whole era of 90s independent comics has always been a black hole in my brain. And all the shoulder spikes and super grittiness isn’t my thing but I enjoyed hearing about the creation of and ideals of image
The fact that these were ex Marvel comics writers is still insane to me. What's even crazier is they crossed over with Marvel when Wolverine married Witchblade, pretty cool, shame more Marvel/Image crossovers never happened, guess it was still bad blood between the two. DC and Image crossed over with Batman and Spawn which is so cool. Image and Dark Horse crossing over was cool as well. Image and Valiant crossing over was interesting as well. Finally that Image united crossover seemed pretty cool and I wish they still did crossovers like that.
Wait, Topcow has an interconnected universe of Magdalena, Necromancer, Witchblade, The Darkness and Angelus. They even were connected to Michael Turner's Fathom and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider when they liscenced/owned the books.
There was a lot of great comics in Image Comics. I have so many of them. Funny thing is Spawn is still going strong. Even if Todd Mcfarlane doesn't draw. But it's well over 300+ Issues.
Larsen said after Liefeld's leaving that regardless the characters had shown up in Dragon's comics. Also - you forgot Maes Attacks the Image Universe (and Savage Deagon) which tried to clean up the mess of Liefeld leaving by having Youngblood become a casualty of that attack. Also: where the vid about Larsen being the longest running writer-artist in western comics? (Gerhard already joined Sim on #65 of Cerebus.)
Are you going to do a video on Malibu comics second attempt at a new superhero universe, except taping the top artist, they tapped the upcoming writers known as The Ultraverse?
I'd love to see a shared or Multiverse crossover of Image properties (Invincible, Spawn, Savage Dragon, The Walking Dead, The Darkness, Radiant Black, The Old Guard, exc.).
Very informative with almost everything in a nutshell video. My personal opinion is that their egos also played a big part of their demise of that particular universe.
I like the idea of more movies, shows, and animated projects centered around the 90s image characters; and under a studio banner similar to Marvel or DC Studios, but they dont have to connect. I just want more.
Will you do one on the Life and Death of the Valiant Universe? The company was also huge in the 90s. Then the bubble popped and many tried to sell off their Valiant comics.
I was all in on Image comics when they started, and collected almost every book from 1992 to about 1997 when life just overtook me and I had to stop comic collecting (I luckily restarted around 2012). To this day I still remember how amazing it was while it lasted, just amazing stuff, so much better than what Marvel and DC were doing at the time.
Awesome work mate wish your videos were much longer but hey can't be picky! Image as a company that functions so left field compared to Marvel and DC that after 30 years and still going strong just proves why those amazing artists left the big two firms in the first place. I don't think we will ever get that kind of hype in comics like it did in the 90s, it may of been over the top but it sure produced some amazing art and style that even today artists are trying to replicate it. Can't wait for the next video looking forward to it!
As someone who loved Image, the late issues and varying quality of writing, art and even the pages themselves, you knew when you’re favorite issue would be delivered, worst of these was Wetworks, an amazing writer BRANDON Choi, the paper was high quality, but you stop caring about all that when you haven’t seen an issue in four months. Savage Dragon and Spawn were the only regular shippers, so that’s the ones I read the most
I always felt it was cool to see other big names pop up in the books i collected but never felt like i HAD to follow every story. If Fairchild from GEN13 popped up in witchblade, cool. But i didnt have to suddenly go buy both titles to catch up.
It's sounds and seems to me, in my personally opinion, that the way the "Image" group constructed their partnership from its inception that it was doomed from the beginning 🤷.
I'd prefer they don't cross over. I'm a completionist so if I'm reading Spawn and all of a sudden Bedrock is just there helping out all of a sudden to return a favour that took place in a comic I never read that apparently took place since the last issue, I find that incredibly irritating rather than exciting.
I don't know if you would call it the final nail in the coffin or the dirt it's buried under, but considering that some of characters have been folded into the greater DC and/or Marvel universe even if they ever wanted to take another crack at it, it be impossible to do so.
I think they could at least take the ones that they still have or can get permission to use/be tied to the Image brand and try again. That's kinda what Marvel Studios did at first, for the big screen, mind you, but same principle.
I like shared continuity to a degree such as team ups and a few shared villains and those crossovers being acknowledged by the heroes and villains but you don't need to base all the characters stories around a shared world like Batman fights crime in Gotham city and the Flash in Central city they can have stand alone stories in their own cities but then they could have stories where one of them goes to the other ones city to help with a villian or the villains of both cities team up and try to take down one or both of the heroes but then after the problem is delt with everyone goes back to their original locations and while the team up events may get referenced in future stories they don't have huge ramifications on the individual characters stories all the time
In trying to gain the rights to their own characters and be able to do whatever they wanted with said characters in a shared universe, they kind of proved why companies like Marvel and DC have to own the rights to every character in their shared universe.
NGL, this is my first video that I’ve seen from you, and it did not disappoint. You have earned yourself a new subscriber.
Ah, thanks so much. Welcome to the party!
i love that invincible sort of became the self-contained image universe. sure other series continued like spawn, the nobles and savage dragon. but the over-arching story was contained to invincible because it appealed to the most people. so while it didn't save the image universe, it definitely ressussitated it.
The Massive-Verse is doing something similar, what with Medieval Spawn appearing briefly in Supermassive #2.
Bro, walking dead really held image around
@@ea4878 yeah, financially. I'm talking about their shared-superhero universe bro.
McFarlane actually made a good point: Something I've noticed particularly with Batman comics is that even though they take place in the larger DC setting they tend to behave as if they're set in their own little independent universe. Seriously, stuff goes down in Gotham that should absolutely get the other heroes involved, with alarming frequency. You can't tell me guys like Superman or Flash wouldn't intervene if an insane clown turned an entire major city into a lawless war zone ruled over by gangsters and super villains, with just a handful of non-powered vigilantes there to do anything about it. That basically requires them to allow innocents to suffer just for the sake of staying off Batman's turf. But they _have_ to leave Gotham to Batman and his supporting heroes because that's the whole point of Batman comics.
That's just DC doing a bad job maintaining a believable shared universe. It's not some flaw intrinsic to shared universes.
Besides, I'm pretty sure the headcanon for that kind of stuff is always that the other heroes are 'too busy elsewhere' in those moments-presumably with the stuff that is going on in their own comic issue from that month.
reminds me of that one comic where he couldnt save a little girl from drowning and im like "bro just call superman wtf"
but you know in the end its just to make it more dramatic since all his comics would be solved if he teamed up with superman all the time
Oh, like _The Brave & The Bold_ ?
Amazing video!👍👏 I just began my comic book collection and found Toon Haven. They have an incredible range of digital comics for every genre, including the hard to find ones. Lifetime updates too!😁
I was 12 years old when Image hit and I was all in on the Image Universe. I loved that era.
You, my good sir, are a veteran.
4 years before I was born I was born in 1996 company was founded in 1992 I get a lot of company was founded though but that's also part of the reason why characters enter and leave this universe left and right hell the TMNT used to be part of it
Damn i read all Chaos Comics stuff These even made sense when Lady Death appears in evil Ernie, hellwitch, purgatory..... top cow was also good in These like Angela making a Single Comic after appear as a Villain in the Darkness These where designed to fit together also witchblade. And all was gone after a huge funny Banger that really was funny🤣🙈overkill! witchblade, the darkness vs Alien and Predator. This actually where even my last Comics, even today i sometimes retrieve them out of the deep Storage and read them carefully.
Erik Larsen continues to be the only Image founder that writes, pencils, inks and consistently publishes his titular character, Savage Dragon. His ideas and artwork may not be everyone's cup of tea, but you have to respect that level of hard work and commitment to his creation.
His run on Spider-Man was exquisite. I liked him even more than Todd. However, his work on Savage Dragon started getting sloppy.
I never read a Savage Dragon comic, but I did watch the animated series that aired on USA back in the 90s as a child. I definitely respect his commitment to his character.
Savage dragon is incredible, but he NEEDS to release a compendium. Trying to find the original comics is a nightmare.
@@mr.doctorcaptain1124 😁They're in my closet, in a shoe box.
He's lazy and one note is all
I honestly think if the creators would have come back, tie up lose ends, and keep going, they would have rival DC and marvel comics and even make movies. After seeing invincible on Amazon, I strongly believe image can make a combat. Just imagine Marvel, DC, and image going at it. History would be made
Bro, a movie about Pitt or Ripclaw would be bad to the azz......
@@iceonthesun8880 dudde there's more characters than them😂😂. Spawn, supreme, glory, savage dragon etc. I mean you forgot about them
@@KingWolf101 I didn't feel like listing them all. I loved Spawn until it went off the deep end.
@@iceonthesun8880 well you listed the wrong ones first time
@@KingWolf101 the wrong ones, lol. It's subjective. And my favorite 3 are Spawn, Pitt, and Cyber Force. I didn't even care that much for Savage Dragon or the MAXX. Wild C.A.T.s and Strike Force were cool to a lesser extent, as was BadRock and the YoungBloods. But, those first 30 issues of Spawn are some of my favorite comics ever.
To me, seeing Youngblood & Spawn, Medieval Spawn & Witchblade and The Darkness& Witchblade crossovers always excited me as much as Marvel/ DC ones! Love the artwork, the action and fun they offered! It'll be an era I'll never tire from!❤
Also the problem that exists with creator owned is that they lack editors to push artists and writers to put out work on time, image had infinite issues with keeping things together, they needed a Jim shooter to kick them into gear
I completely agree. "Total creative freedom" sounds good on paper, but the truth is that most writers and artists need a solid editor to keep their storytelling tight and concise, and to keep them producing on schedule. Most of those early Image titles were a disaster in terms of storytelling, readability, and meeting deadlines. I'm a fan of all those first Image creators; I look back on the excitement of that era with a lot of nostalgia. But the fact is, Image Comics also helped usher in the mid 90's comic market crash.
Yep..100% agree. Jim Shooter was the greatest EIC imo. He kept marvel continuty on a tight ship. One thing I would have told the creators in the beginning: We arent launching a book unless you have 12 issues in the can completed: story, art, inks, cover..etc..etc..ready to go. That would have kept that first year of chaos somewhat undercontraol from an issue release stand point. Id also DEMANDED it remains a shared universe. Shared univers just gives you more story ideas to mess with.
I noticed when a purchased a haul of Image comics four years ago, it was clear to me (after reading the books) that the Image universe was disjointed. Todd was doing his own thing and Spawn seemed way different to Youngblood and Wildcats as far as trying to maintain that overall universe common look. Savage Dragon also seemed like another universe altogether as well. The art was slick and storyline was interesting but all titles seemed to be in its own bubble.
Well of course it is. Image literally prides itself on creator owned comics , meaning the creator owns all rights to their character(s).
With Radiant Black expanding into its own universe, part of me wonders if the creators plan on crossing over with any other Image heroes, and I’m honestly conflicted on if I want that or not.
Savage Dragon's son made a background cameo on a TV but that's probably a inuniverse show or movie and the rest of image are like an MCU type inuniverse movie universe
Personally a Radiant Black/Invincible one-shot would be really cool. Not as anything completely canon but seeing them interact or fight would be potentially awesome.
Another excellent upload. Can't wait to see the rest if this years Image-based content!
Thanks!
Discovered this channel from this video. So good to see such a fine well produced content and also have such a cute presenter for said content too. Great work, Josh! Also, wink wink.
Gen 13 is probably my favourite thing to come out of the Image Universe.
Great videos man! Every one too! I'm a 90's kid and its everything I want in a TH-cam video, great topics, great editing, and an awesome host. Thanks man!
Absolutely loved this video, dude. This is a really complex and strange story, told so well by you. And that shirt. Unbelieveable!
Spawn was the first comic I read way back in the early mid 90s. My parents never managed or cared to get them in order so I'd have issue 5 issue 10 and a bunch of other random issues and I never knew what was going on. Then the marvel x men cartoon came out and I traded all my spawn, and poggs for the x men trading cards, and loved pulling a card out whenever that character was on screen. Pre Internet was a wild time for comics. There was no online, my town didn't even have a comic shop
I've always liked the idea of taking the founding core characters from Image Spawn etc and doing an Ultimates style reboot.
My introduction to Image was when i was 13 and I picked up the first issue of each Brigade/Bloodstrike crossover that kicked off the first, I think 10 books for each team. It was brutal and beautiful. I was also a huge Savage Dragon fan.
That seamless book spinning shot is just... chefs kiss! Love the topics you always cover on here
Thanks Nick! Getting the timing right on that spinning shot was a huge pain in the butt.
Awesome work, Josh. I only wish this was longer!
Thanks. Don’t tempt me. 😩
That what she said
Great work as always Josh, the way invinsible tackled the share-universe in image was really cool, even tho didnt last that long or was very relevant in the story
Nice work Josh. Great video. Since you love to cover 90's comics, would you mind cover the history of Valiant Comics (from its inception, the Unity crossover, Jim Shooter's exit and everything after Acclaim bought the company). It could take 2 or many videos to cover the whole story. Anyway, I will be waiting for your next video.
I loved this video. I've never read any of the 90s image comics. My only knowledge of Image is a bit of The Walking Dead that I've read and the first couple of trades from Invincible. I just bought the first Spawn Compendium for a great price because of this video! Also, quick question. Would you ever make a video going over your comic shelf in the background? I'd love to see what you have in that collection!
Nice! Those Spawn compendiums are the best deal in comics, IMO. So much bang for your buck. Shelf tour is a good idea, I’ll see what I can do. Thanks!
I read a lot of them for a decade. Still collect Savage Dragon (2 long boxes, spin offs included), and went out of my way to reacquire stuff like Pitt, Wildstar, Trencher and Cyber Force. I lament my lost Spawn and Maxx collections, and the early issues of Invincible I had simply by extension of being a Savage Dragon reader. I remember digging Wetworks, Grifter, Gen-13, Weapon Zero and Prophet for awhile too.
One of my first Image Comics publications was Brandon Graham and Simon Roy's Prophet run, and OH MY GOD is the Imageverse important to that series. I missed out on so many references and character backgrounds/mentions due to my unfamiliarity with the shared universe. It was still a phenomenal read, and I cant wait to revisit it once I have my bearings.
Loved Image, bought the first Spawn, Savage Dragon, Pitt etc.
I also really liked Wetworks, Pitt and the Maxx.
As someone who bought "IMAGE UNITED" (the shared Image universe crossover event featuring Spawn, Youngblood, Savage Dragon, Shadowhawk, etc, with ALL the major artists contributing) and bought issues # 0, 1, 2 and 3 of Image United, I was VERY confused as to why issues # 4, 5, and 6 were so late (Spoiler: issues # 4, 5, and 6 NEVER came out). I was pretty angry when I found out that issues 4, 5 and 6 were never coming out because of a bunch of behind the scenes bullcrap drama.
I do vaguely remember that from interview with Comic Tropes, Robert Kirkman said that Erik Larsen likes it when crossover has not much rhyme or reason and it just, happens because creators wanted to make it happen lol (it's about Battle Pope and Savage Dragon cameo, I think?). but if that's the case, I guess it's harder to manifest Image Universe as exited in 90s because probably no creators feel that close or get along anymore, or something. also they're in completely different place in the industry.
My favorite Image books were Pitt,Darkness,Weapon Zero.
no wonder ive always been such an image fanboy. it was all new. it never felt like i was missing out. theyre still some of my all-time favorite characters/books.
just watched this video now and I back every word on it. Spot on.
I was working in a comic book shop during the Spawn comics height of popularity..it was dope.
*You asked how important a shared universe is to us. My answer is that it totally doesn't matter at all to me. Cheers!*
*PS: I like Erik Larsen's explanation of the cross-overs.*
I didn't know Rex Salazar was image comics
Thank you for sharing, keep doing what you do!!!
The seven studios should have made independent universes at the very start with an annual collabs/crossovers.
Good video. Now we need one for the Valiant comics universe
Wildstar!!! This video helped me remember that old school Image book. Man, I loved Image comics.
Great video as always, keep up the great work
I got all the early Pitt and Gen 13 stuff, i really liked some of image's stuff
I was 11 when Image formed, now at 43 and still my favorite comics. Asked them a question at Comic-con once and there response was funny
I loved image comics and still do, they had some of the best characters.
the ending was great! The Tombstone and then you dropping down the flowers! Lol!
10:50 You forgot my favorite one DISCO SPAWN
My favourite Image super heroes at the beginning were Spawn, Cyblade, Ripclaw and Grifter (later sold to DC).
Now Spawn, Cyblade and Ripclaw are still there, but there are also Wolfman, Atom Eve and Invincible.
I feel like in order for a shared universe of comics to work is for all creators who want to be involved to sign a contract to ensure the shared universe is in effect. Once the contract is up or about to expire, you can either renew or write comic writing other characters from outside one's comic out of the picture. While crossing over with others, one writer should have the writer of who they're crossing over as a consultant to ensure the story is good and up to both sides' standards. I think there should be a fine print where every crossover they do even ones with another series having an important role should remain canon with both ends. So any film adaptation or TV show should have everything the comics did. Basically to prevent continuity issues and confusion like in the Spawn movie.
This is how I believe a shared universe of independent comics could work.
*Sees "Life" in relation to the Image Universe*: Oh no.
*Sees "Death" in relation to the Image Universe*: Oh yay!
Also a 90's Image Superfan (particularly, Jim Lee). Appreciated this video, well done!
Sick breakdown of image! That whole era of 90s independent comics has always been a black hole in my brain. And all the shoulder spikes and super grittiness isn’t my thing but I enjoyed hearing about the creation of and ideals of image
Idk how they thought they could call this a connected universe when Erik Larson was the only one really writing a story that had any meat on the bone.
The fact that these were ex Marvel comics writers is still insane to me. What's even crazier is they crossed over with Marvel when Wolverine married Witchblade, pretty cool, shame more Marvel/Image crossovers never happened, guess it was still bad blood between the two. DC and Image crossed over with Batman and Spawn which is so cool. Image and Dark Horse crossing over was cool as well. Image and Valiant crossing over was interesting as well. Finally that Image united crossover seemed pretty cool and I wish they still did crossovers like that.
Wait, Topcow has an interconnected universe of Magdalena, Necromancer, Witchblade, The Darkness and Angelus. They even were connected to Michael Turner's Fathom and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider when they liscenced/owned the books.
There was a lot of great comics in Image Comics. I have so many of them. Funny thing is Spawn is still going strong. Even if Todd Mcfarlane doesn't draw. But it's well over 300+ Issues.
Hearing Matt Draper narrate was awesome. One of my favorite TH-camrs speaking for McFarlane was pretty sweet
Haha, I always get MD to do McFarlane quotes because I know how much he hates Spawn. 😈
@@PanelstoPixels that's pretty hilarious actually. Shows how cool he is to go along with a joke like that
“It is what it is” is a good quote for this situation.
Hmm... Image slipped passed me in the 90's - Think I'll check them out.
Many thanks, Josh.
Stay well, my Dude. :)
Great content bruh keep it up just earned yourself a subscriber!
Cool series! Keep them coming
This was a great and informative video. I love your channel. Keep up the great work here.
Thanks so much!
Imagine comics needs an animated cinematic universe
How would that work when every character is creator owned
I was there at the beginning. That Art was busy next level awesome. But after a while, i wanted better writing. So that was that.
I loved image comics, in the beginning. One thing I didn't know. That top cow was with them, learned a lot. 👍👾
Larsen said after Liefeld's leaving that regardless the characters had shown up in Dragon's comics.
Also - you forgot Maes Attacks the Image Universe (and Savage Deagon) which tried to clean up the mess of Liefeld leaving by having Youngblood become a casualty of that attack.
Also: where the vid about Larsen being the longest running writer-artist in western comics? (Gerhard already joined Sim on #65 of Cerebus.)
Are you going to do a video on Malibu comics second attempt at a new superhero universe, except taping the top artist, they tapped the upcoming writers known as The Ultraverse?
Wow. Mind blown! Did not know that. Great vid! I’m a 90s kid too.
I'd love to see a shared or Multiverse crossover of Image properties (Invincible, Spawn, Savage Dragon, The Walking Dead, The Darkness, Radiant Black, The Old Guard, exc.).
Awesome, thanks Josh. I'd still like to read Prophet and Cable, but it's a want not a need.
Love the music in this.
Very informative with almost everything in a nutshell video. My personal opinion is that their egos also played a big part of their demise of that particular universe.
Great stuff. Thanks for sharing
I like the idea of more movies, shows, and animated projects centered around the 90s image characters; and under a studio banner similar to Marvel or DC Studios, but they dont have to connect. I just want more.
Great video. Image rocks.
And this is exactly why the DC and Marvel universes have lasted for nearly a century, while the Image and Ultimate universes imploded on themselves.
I think (IMAGE Comics) company deserves to have a shot at having their stories made into cartoon shows, and have their own network to show them on.
Well spawn did get a cartoon show. And witch made I think got a movie and an anime. The movie sucked
Image TV
Will you do one on the Life and Death of the Valiant Universe?
The company was also huge in the 90s. Then the bubble popped and many tried to sell off their Valiant comics.
This channel is so very good!!
If MCU means Marvel Cinematic Universe... Then Image Cinematic Universe means ICU 😂
Well done video, dude👍
The Gaiman verses McFarlane fight over Spawn characters was Epic!! 😜🤘🏻🤣
remember the time they switched up creators and characters? me neither, except for jim lee's take on savage dragon, which looked amazing!
McFarlane and Silvestri trading places on Spawn/Cyber Force was the highlight for me. I'd recommend those issues.
I was all in on Image comics when they started, and collected almost every book from 1992 to about 1997 when life just overtook me and I had to stop comic collecting (I luckily restarted around 2012). To this day I still remember how amazing it was while it lasted, just amazing stuff, so much better than what Marvel and DC were doing at the time.
That’s fantastic, thanks for sharing
Awesome work mate wish your videos were much longer but hey can't be picky! Image as a company that functions so left field compared to Marvel and DC that after 30 years and still going strong just proves why those amazing artists left the big two firms in the first place. I don't think we will ever get that kind of hype in comics like it did in the 90s, it may of been over the top but it sure produced some amazing art and style that even today artists are trying to replicate it. Can't wait for the next video looking forward to it!
Great video essay!! Can't wait to see the Milestone video! 😊
wow, great video. thanks so much
I wish they could resume Firebreather
I was today's years old when I found out that Image Comics was supposed to be a shared universe.
I think the shared continuity is vital, without it you don't really have a universe just crossovers.
As someone who loved Image, the late issues and varying quality of writing, art and even the pages themselves, you knew when you’re favorite issue would be delivered, worst of these was Wetworks, an amazing writer BRANDON Choi, the paper was high quality, but you stop caring about all that when you haven’t seen an issue in four months. Savage Dragon and Spawn were the only regular shippers, so that’s the ones I read the most
I always felt it was cool to see other big names pop up in the books i collected but never felt like i HAD to follow every story. If Fairchild from GEN13 popped up in witchblade, cool. But i didnt have to suddenly go buy both titles to catch up.
A great detailed watch as usual.
Thanks
It's sounds and seems to me, in my personally opinion, that the way the "Image" group constructed their partnership from its inception that it was doomed from the beginning 🤷.
I'd prefer they don't cross over.
I'm a completionist so if I'm reading Spawn and all of a sudden Bedrock is just there helping out all of a sudden to return a favour that took place in a comic I never read that apparently took place since the last issue, I find that incredibly irritating rather than exciting.
Jokes on you
I don't know if you would call it the final nail in the coffin or the dirt it's buried under, but considering that some of characters have been folded into the greater DC and/or Marvel universe even if they ever wanted to take another crack at it, it be impossible to do so.
I think they could at least take the ones that they still have or can get permission to use/be tied to the Image brand and try again. That's kinda what Marvel Studios did at first, for the big screen, mind you, but same principle.
Great analysis man on image comics especially the rise and fall of this once potential comic universe.
I like shared continuity to a degree such as team ups and a few shared villains and those crossovers being acknowledged by the heroes and villains but you don't need to base all the characters stories around a shared world like Batman fights crime in Gotham city and the Flash in Central city they can have stand alone stories in their own cities but then they could have stories where one of them goes to the other ones city to help with a villian or the villains of both cities team up and try to take down one or both of the heroes but then after the problem is delt with everyone goes back to their original locations and while the team up events may get referenced in future stories they don't have huge ramifications on the individual characters stories all the time
good video. i understand the community post now
In trying to gain the rights to their own characters and be able to do whatever they wanted with said characters in a shared universe, they kind of proved why companies like Marvel and DC have to own the rights to every character in their shared universe.