Image Comics

Image Comics is an American comic book publisher. It was founded in 1992 by several high-profile illustrators as a venue where creators could publish their material without giving up the copyrights to the characters they created, as creator-owned properties. It was immediately successful, and remains one of the largest comic book publishers in North America. Its output was originally dominated by work from the studios of the Image partners, but now includes work by numerous independent creators. Its best-known series include Spawn, Savage Dragon, Witchblade, The Darkness, Invincible, The Walking Dead, Saga, Chew, Outcast, and Haunt.

History

Founding

In the early 1990s, comics creators Erik Larsen, Rob Liefeld and Jim Valentino were having dinner with Malibu Comics editor-in-chief Dave Olbrich, during which Olbrich expressed interest in publishing comics created by them. Around this time, Larsen, Liefeld, Valentino and several other freelance illustrators doing popular work for Marvel Comics grew frustrated with the company's work for hire policies and practices. Their primary complaint was that the artwork and new characters they created were being merchandised heavily, with the artists receiving only standard page rates for their work and modest royalties on sales of the comics. In December 1991, a group of these illustrators approached Marvel president Terry Stewart and demanded that the company give them ownership and creative control over their work. Accounts vary as to whom this group included, but it is generally accepted that Todd McFarlane and Liefeld were among its leaders. Marvel did not meet their demands.