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Post by G on Oct 7, 2007 12:03:58 GMT -5
Ive heard a lot of good things in recent years about Image comics but the hype that surrounds them seems to be a heck of a lot less than it did years ago.
Me personally, I felt originally Image was bad for comics. Bunch of hype with no insight covers month after month. Famed artists with little in way of stories. There were some exceptions. But generally, there wasnt much to an Image book when it originally came out out except a poster cover followed by the hot artist of the month drawing a bunch of coming at you "Avengers Assemble" like battle cry shots.
But, I think things have changed. The longer they have been around the more I seem them maturing and becoming more into creating a quality product. I feel I am more likely to give them a shot these days than I would have 10 years ago.
Do you feel they are a legit good company today?
Do you feel they got a raw deal or their...Image....back in the beginning and was actually a lot better than people like me remember?
Do you feel they sucked then and still suck now?
Do you feel like they have always been awesome?
Or, do you feel like they were awesome when they originally came out and suck now?
Im curious. When you cut away the artistic hype....what is the Real Image?
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Post by Brother J on Oct 8, 2007 19:13:18 GMT -5
Ive heard a lot of good things in recent years about Image comics but the hype that surrounds them seems to be a heck of a lot less than it did years ago. Me personally, I felt originally Image was bad for comics. Bunch of hype with no insight covers month after month. Famed artists with little in way of stories. There were some exceptions. But generally, there wasnt much to an Image book when it originally came out out except a poster cover followed by the hot artist of the month drawing a bunch of coming at you "Avengers Assemble" like battle cry shots. But, I think things have changed. The longer they have been around the more I seem them maturing and becoming more into creating a quality product. I feel I am more likely to give them a shot these days than I would have 10 years ago. Do you feel they are a legit good company today? Do you feel they got a raw deal or their...Image....back in the beginning and was actually a lot better than people like me remember? Do you feel they sucked then and still suck now? Do you feel like they have always been awesome? Or, do you feel like they were awesome when they originally came out and suck now? Im curious. When you cut away the artistic hype....what is the Real Image? I think you hit it pretty much right on the head. When Image first came out, it was by a bunch of "superstar" comic creators with big talent and even bigger egos. Most of them couldn't make a deadline to save their life. I remember one of the books was so late (Wetworks) that I think the early Image craze was over by the time it actually came out. They also pretty much made Deathmate a turd, most of the VALIANT created stuff was decent. As for the current Image, it doesn't even seem like it's the same company. Most of the early garbage titles are long gone, and they produce a lot of good books and take more chances on unique books than the big two do. When I was collecting new books, several of them were Image titles, such as the Walking Dead, Small Gods and a few more.
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Post by G on Oct 8, 2007 22:49:43 GMT -5
Me personally...I started out wanting to give them a chance. The hype was huge. I mean, these guys were already successful with my favorite characters and was kicking butt with those and all of a sudden they were like "we dont need the big 2 anymore, we can do it better". Well...I was willing to try them out.
When Image 1st hit. I bought just about everything they made. I was caught up in the crazy sky high print runs and gimmick covers. But soon I began to notice covers looking the same (poses and head shots or group poster type shots). Yes, the lateness was legendary. This is when I remember comics and late being used in the same breath for the 1st time. Before this, you pretty much could count on your comics being there when they were supposed to be. And, with a few exceptions....I wasnt digging the stories.
I actually wished they would go back to the comics I already loved. But I knew that wasnt happening. Eventually it got so bad that I despised their comics and almost stopped buying altogether. Generally I bought if a book was making money or if the hype was better than usual. But otherwise, I was staying away.
Im not sure I would recognize Image today. I havent really picked up anything new. But I have heard pretty good things about them lately and I feel like I may be willing to pick an ish or 2 of their stuff up. Im glad they matured and got their stuff where it should be.
I now look at them as more of a legit company. Where as before it just seemed to be too much hype and not enough substance.
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Post by cfs on Nov 17, 2007 13:46:04 GMT -5
I didn't buy much image. The first image book I liked-- Union- didn't survive. I bought a newstand copy of Spawn #1 to be different. I picked up a later set of #3 - #30 for 50 cents a piece or less. I regret buying them. I have no interest in most of the image books I own. I'd be glad to sell tham all if it was worth my time. The best thing that ever happened for Image was their artists inability to meet a deadline. It kept the comic shop talk active. Some of those early sales numbers were because the buzz was so great. The books flat out suck. They eventually collapsed and you have them scurrying to put out whatever will sell. The company didn't get better. The fans just got pickier and only bought things that they felt were worth reading.
cfs
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Post by G on Nov 17, 2007 20:41:19 GMT -5
The best thing that ever happened for Image was their artists inability to meet a deadline. It kept the comic shop talk active. Some of those early sales numbers were because the buzz was so great. The books flat out suck. Other than a few exceptions, I pretty much agree. I know some will argue to no end that they had some great comics, I didnt see it. I thought they were a lot of hype and flashy art that just plain got very unoriginal after awhile. I had gotten to the point I loathed the company and it's books and stopped buying them altogether. I dont have very many fond memories of their early books. But I do have a few. However, it was never enough to make me like the company. I'm far more willing to give them another chance now than back then. I think I spent way too much money on them for such small enjoyment.
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Post by azbatx on Jan 24, 2008 22:51:16 GMT -5
I actually liked, and still like, the early Image stuff. And I might be the only one but I thought their part of Deathmate had the better stories and art.
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Post by leonmallett on Jun 5, 2008 6:20:32 GMT -5
Whilst ackowledging Image's birthing pains, it seems they have found a niche as a publisher of 'alternative (non-superhero)' and 'alternative superhero' books in a way that Dark Horse seem to have left behind.
Thanks to Image I get to enjoy Wildguard (sporadically) and especially Jack Staff. I love the latter immensely and can't recommend it enough, even if it won't be every one's cup of tea.
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Post by cfs on Jun 5, 2008 11:19:47 GMT -5
Whilst ackowledging Image's birthing pains, it seems they have found a niche as a publisher of 'alternative (non-superhero)' and 'alternative superhero' books in a way that Dark Horse seem to have left behind. Thanks to Image I get to enjoy Wildguard (sporadically) and especially Jack Staff. I love the latter immensely and can't recommend it enough, even if it won't be every one's cup of tea. I haven't seen those titles, but I have too many titles from them where I thought "hey this isn't bad"... something like "Brass"... and then it just died. I don't want thousands of mini series and dead end series. I want something that intends upon building a legacy. If I want my entertainment dollar to be worth almost nothing two years after I spend it, I'd do better just to rent more movies or go to more in the theaters. The advantage of buying comics is that they can retain value and be sold for more later.
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Post by G on Jun 5, 2008 11:46:06 GMT -5
Whilst ackowledging Image's birthing pains, it seems they have found a niche as a publisher of 'alternative (non-superhero)' and 'alternative superhero' books in a way that Dark Horse seem to have left behind. Thanks to Image I get to enjoy Wildguard (sporadically) and especially Jack Staff. I love the latter immensely and can't recommend it enough, even if it won't be every one's cup of tea. I haven't seen those titles, but I have too many titles from them where I thought "hey this isn't bad"... something like "Brass"... and then it just died. I don't want thousands of mini series and dead end series. I want something that intends upon building a legacy. If I want my entertainment dollar to be worth almost nothing two years after I spend it, I'd do better just to rent more movies or go to more in the theaters. The advantage of buying comics is that they can retain value and be sold for more later. Thats is actually a very awesome post in my opinion because it is true in what makes a comic company highly desirable to me. It isnt good stories or art that makes me really love a company, its the Universe and how they intertwine together. Marvel, DC and Valiant did this extremely well. They have universes that interact from one title to the next. With other company's, I get the feeling I am buying 1 title which has no connection to the rest of their universe. Sure, the big 2 has those as well, but those are normally side quests for them. The majority of their library is a part of their bigger picture. They dont always do it well, but one title can affect another. I think Image has come an extremely long ways from when I was picking them up when they launched. I see books by them I want to try now. I actually have ordered a few. Im a lot more open to them than I ever was. But, I think they lack a Solid Universe. And so does most of the other competition. I think that is why I continue to go back to Marvel and DC when all others dont interest me. Because I end up wanting to see how this storyline affects the Universe I am so familar with.
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Post by cyberstrike on Jul 11, 2008 14:51:48 GMT -5
The founders tried to create an Image Universe but it didn't work because what happened in Liefeld's corner didn't affect Jim Lee's corner and that didn't affect Larsen's corner. I mean hell with the exceptions of Jim Valentino and Erik Larsen most of the Image Universe didn't know or care about the others' titles.
I mean Erik Larsen did a crossover with Topps Comics called Mars Attacks the Image Universe outside of U.S. Male (one Valentino's characters) getting killed and the Martians raping and impregnating SuperPatriot's daughter, Liberty (a Larsen character) the rest of it had little or no affect on the rest of the line.
When they did finally get around to doing a big and official Image Universe crossover series called Shattered Image, the series was cursed or damned with Liefeld's less than happy departure and added to that was Silvestri's four month departure and his return after Liefeld's departure damned the series because of the in-fighting, departures, and returns.
They tried it again with books like Noble Causes and Invincible and others but these two seem to the only two have made it the rest were canned due to poor sales.
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