Massive Indie Company Celebrates Reaching Massive Milestone With Unique Exclusives
转载声明：本文转载自 CBR，版权归原作者及原媒体所有。
Most casual comic book fans likely associate the industry with the big two: Marvel and DC. However, they should really be thinking of the big three, which would allow a spot for Image Comics among that pack.
What started as a small, independent company like any other has since grown into one of the most influential brands in the history of comics with iconic titles like Spawn and Invincible , to name a few. Now, on the eve of a momentous milestone in its saga, Image has some big plans for a celebration.
For years, it was a standard practice in the comic book industry for the characters a writer or artist creates to become the official property of the publisher. While this is still very much common for major brands, it is not necessarily the norm anymore, thanks to independent companies like Image Comics.
Image was founded in Feb. 1992 on the idea that a comic book publisher could thrive among the likes of DC or Marvel while allowing writers and artists to retain ownership of their own work. After 35 years, it has become the industry's third-largest company in the United States, but, as Chief Creative Officer and Publisher Eric Stephenson points out, its initiative was seen as a risky move at the time.
"When Image launched in 1992, there was no shortage of detractors and the general consensus was that it wouldn’t last. Three and a half decades later, Image is bigger and better than ever, and it’s all thanks to the company’s ongoing commitment to publishing work owned and controlled by comics’ best talent. We look forward to celebrating that talent—past, present and future—over the course of the next year."
Image Comics was brought to life by a collective of renowned artists, namely Erik Larsen, Rob Liefeld (also known for co-creating Deadpool with Fabian Nicieza) , current DC Comics president Jim Lee, Todd McFarlane, Whilce Portacio, Marc Silvestri (also the CEO of Top Cow), and Jim Valentino. They launched the brand with the debut their own titles, many of which have become esteemed classics, such as Larsen's Savage Dragon , Liefeld's Youngblood , and McFarlane's Spawn .
The company would only continue to grow in influence as its repertoire of creator-owned properties expanded with even more great Image Comics original characters that have also become some of the industry's most esteemed figures. For instance, current COO Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead and Invincible were bred from Image, and the company has also been home to juggernaut franchises like Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles .
In the event of any major milestone in the comic book industry, one can expect a slew of special releases and other festivities in honor of the occasion, such as DC's celebration of the 40th anniversary of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns this year. Image Comics is no exception, and has some epic plans for its 35th anniversary.
Kat Salazar, Vice President of Public Relations & Marketing at Image, commented on what there is in store for the company's festivities.
"As Image heads into this momentous year we’ll be celebrating all the long running, beloved series that first put the company on the map alongside championing the new school of Image talent joining their ranks. We also have an array of new initiative announcements to spring on everyone—a few of which have even been years in the making and in response to many, many fan requests over time. We can’t wait to share more with you in the coming months!"
In other words, there are still plenty of celebratory actions and events that have yet to be announced. As for what has already been confirmed, Image is launching a year-long Team-Up variant campaign in Feb. 2027, which will put the spotlight on various characters from now and yesteryear. It begins with a line of covers celebrating the one-year anniversary of D’orc , the hit comedic fantasy adventure from creator Brett Bean.
The publisher is also putting out a line of commemorative merchandise, including a wall calendar, that is branded with a special redesign of the now iconic Image Comics logo — a large, lowercase "i," which was created by Rob Liefeld — which will appear on comic book releases throughout 2027. Fans and retailers are encouraged to keep an eye out for more special announcements in honor of this 35th anniversary celebration.
Image Comics' 35th Anniversary celebration begins Feb. 2027.