KIRKMAN & LIEFELD ON THE RETURN OF YOUNGBLOOD

[MattBrady]

Rub your eyes, yes, it is 2004, but a look at comics could lead you to think that it’s 1994, with the return of many characters and series from the era when comics were huge. Come September, the ‘90s as now gets one more – the start of an ongoing Youngblood series by Robert Kirkman and Marat Michaels. We caught up with Kirkman and Youngblood creator, Rob Liefeld for more.

But first – yes, Liefeld is the first to admit that there still is some unfinished Youngblood business, namely, the conclusion to Youngblood: Bloodsport, written by Mark Millar; and Youngblood: Genesis’ final two issues.

“Youngblood Genesis vol. 1 is over,” Liefeld said. “The two issues that Kurt Busiek wrote have been available for one year and four months, respectively. While I have the original issues #3 and #4 that Kurt wrote, they can't be produced as is simply from the standpoint that they heavily feature prominent supporting cast members from Spawn and Wildcats, as well as Lynch from Gen13 and Team 7. The series focuses heavily on the politics of Youngblood's rise against the agendas of Spawn’s Jason Wynn and Lynch and obviously, that’s impossible to incorporate now. A new Youngblood: Genesis series, vol. 2 will begin shortly, but the two Busiek issues read as a completed volume, telling a complete first chapter in the Youngblood saga. Bloodsport is one issue away from completion – the second issue will ship this summer.”

Which brings us to the present…and Robert Kirkman.

“I really wanted to produce a Youngblood monthly title and when Robert Kirkman agreed last year to do it, it was a no-brainer,” Liefeld said. “I want a regular Youngblood title on the stands and assembled a team that could deliver it. Simple as that.”

Kirkman and Liefeld met online last year, before con season, and the series had been in the works pretty much since then.

“It may seem that I’m jumping on the bandwagon with bringing Robert on, but the truth is that I hired him last summer and he's been writing Youngblood since December,” Liefeld said. “It all started when we went out to dinner at Wizard World Chicago last year where we talked about him writing a new Supreme series.

”He wrote a great Supreme issue for me setting up the new Supreme arc that will end up being released sooner than later as one-shot special most likely, but ultimately I asked him to write a new Youngblood series, based on the strength of what he did with Supreme.

“Robert has a great feel for the Extreme/Awesome Universe as was evidenced in the Supreme story and was really on display in the first two Youngblood issues he handed in. Youngblood fans are going to be well served with his stories, as is the larger Extreme fan base as both Bloodstrike and the Allies are prominently featured, but the book never seems crowded even though there is plenty of characters walking through it.”

Part of the draw of Kirkman for Liefeld has its roots in what every Image founder has already experienced to some degree. “Robert is the first real embodiment of a prophecy that Todd McFarlane and Jim Lee used to speak of in the early ‘90s,” Liefeld said. “They mentioned that the kids that were reading our Image comics and buying them in such rabid succession would grow up feeling the same familiarity, fondness and for them that we Image owners had for X-Men, Daredevil and Batman. They predicted that many in that era would grow up ands work on these characters. Robert has that relationship with that era because he was a kid. He sent me an illustrated submission named Siege for the ‘Create your own Youngblood Character’ contest back in 1995 when he was 12 or 13. Man, I hope he incorporates Siege into the book somehow. But it underscores that he was a kid that was buying tons of Image comics as so many people did and it shows in his knowledge of the characters and the history of the books.

“For me, Robert’s Invincible as well as his first Brit comic really screamed out at me as being great comics that demanded my attention. I wanted to work with him right away and his work on Invincible clearly shows how effortlessly he handles really powerful, god-level characters with flaws. If all the kids submitting to Image were all as talented as Robert, Image comics would tear up the charts again.”

All men have their offers they can’t refuse, and for Kirkman, working on Youngblood happened to be one. “I've been a huge fan of Rob's stuff since I was a wee lad,” the writer said. “I bought Youngblood and all the Extreme titles from the beginning. I liked the supposed ‘bad’ issues of Supreme early in the run. I loved it all. I'm a huge fan of Image comics on the whole - I was there in 1992 buying all the books... and even some of the variant covers. I grew up on this stuff. Youngblood was the first Image book, and it's just kind of neat for the 13-year old inside me to be working on the first Image comic. Then take into consideration how innovative and ahead of its time the stuff that Eric Stephenson and Rob were doing back then... and the long line of writers involved with Youngblood like Millar, Busiek, and Alan Moore... it's something really cool that I'm having a lot of fun with.”

Liefeld gave Kirkman a bare bones outline for a different version of the world, which could either be before or after Bloodsport, which Liefeld views as Youngblood’s Dark Knight Returns. Regardless – it fits in with the team as it was originally created – a corporate/government sponsored superteam.

It’s just that now, the government is a hell of a lot bigger. As is greater America, as its new flag has 65 stars.

“The book focuses on the United States of America expanding its borders to include neighboring countries in an effort to eventually form one planetary government,” Kirkman said. “The rest of the world isn't too keen on this, so they’re getting some pretty strong opposition. Youngblood is brought in as a globe spanning police force with thousands of members. It's a very large scale story and all the main points were brought to the table by Rob. I'm just coming in, shaping it, and doing something with the initial concept. And don't expect this to be political in any way shape or form... I've gotta leave room for all the explosions.”

Liefeld downplayed his role in the final story though, adding, “Other than giving Robert an outline of the governmental structure of the world and contributing a couple characters in the first arc, Robert has constructed all of this maxi-series. What I had in mind was essentially a four issue arc. He turned it into an epic, 3 arc, 12 issue maxi series. Arcs two and three were without my input entirely. This is Kirkman's show."

The action of the US government explains the title, obviously, or as Kirkman explained it, the series is called Imperial because: “Youngblood: Bloodsport was taken, Youngblood: Blood Drive didn't have a nice ring to it, and Rob wouldn't let me use Youngblood: Blood Blood. We settled on Imperial to touch on the Imperialistic nature of the U.S. government in the book.”

As Liefeld said the series will essentially feature all of the characters who’ve ever graced the pages of one of Liefeld’s books. “I'm doing is basically pulling the entire Extreme Universe into one book,” Kirkman said. “Newmen, Bloodstrike, Brigade, Supreme... everything will be touched on in these 12 issues, and just about all the Youngblood members seen in this book will be characters that long time extreme fans will recognize. But I have to say - this is not a restart.

“Rob told me that Bloodsport is essentially the ‘last’ Youngblood story, so this series will take place before that one. I'm keeping things fairly continuity heavy in that I'm not contradicting anything that's come before. This will be completely accessible to new readers but old readers will really get a kick out of all the old stuff I'm using. So far I haven't even had to reference anything... I have way too much info on this stuff catalogued away in my brain... it's really kind of embarrassing, actually.”

The 12 issues that Kirkman has planned out are broken down into three four-issue arcs, with the first arc focusing on Shaft’s team. “Each member of the core team, Shaft, Die-Hard, Cougar, Combat, Photon, etc. are all leaders of different teams within the Youngblood organization. Shaft's team consists of some characters from the Bloodpool book: Psilence, Task, Rubble, and some characters from Alan Moore's Youngblood team: Doc Rocket, and Johnny Panic. The main threat in the first arc is ‘The Crown,’ a team of new villains Rob's made up who have taken over the United Kingdom and are trying their damnedest to stop America's expansion. Clearly... they're bad guys.

“This will be an intense action book with a cast of hundreds. In-between the insane fight sequences and high-end ultra violence I'm going to be doing a lot of character development with the team members... really getting into their heads. Something I don't think has been done with Rob's characters since Eric Stephenson was doing New Men with Todd Nauck.”

As Kirkman’s readers know, his “Intense action” is just that, with no punches pulled. “This will be some pretty ultra-violent stuff... but it won't have the graphic sex stuff that Bloodsport had. It'll be a different kind of ‘R.’ I really want to play up how violent super-heroics really would be, it's something I've been doing to a certain extent in my Brit one-shots. It's gratuitous violence to be sure... but it makes sense.”

Handling the graphic, gratuitous violence will be Marat Michaels, a familiar name to Liefield fans. “Marat started out as my assistant, spotting black areas on my pages, ruling borders, blowing up my sketches on the copier, etc,” Liefeld said. “He drew Brigade back in the early ‘90s when he was 19 years old. He recently completed a Shatterstar mini-series for Marvel that should come out during my X-Force run and Youngblood seemed a natural next step. He jumped when I told him Robert Kirkman was writing it.”

Bringing it full circle, Liefeld is acutely aware that he’s, once again, announcing that he’ll have two books (Imperial and Supreme) of his own out – this time, in addition to his X-Force for Marvel. He’ll deliver, he said.

“Supreme is just a one shot. All the money is on Youngblood and has been for several years. That's remained the focus. Youngblood sold a gajillion copies back in the day and has the largest fan base of anything in my catalogue, plus it's my favorite book and again is the sole focal point.

”All the late stuff will be a thing of the past soon enough. Talk to me in December after five X-Force issues have shipped on time and Youngblood is shipping regularly.”

[saiyanspider]

Is that Wolverine, Captain America and Thor, on one of the pages? Is this an Awesome book or some relaunch for Marvel? I'm a bit confused here.

[Darth Wahu]

Sounds like the same old bullshit Liefeld has been shoveling for years. Youngblood is a thinly disguised version of the Avengers but with a Dark Knight Returns edge to it.

C'mon people!!! Rob hasn't had an original idea in about ten years!!!!!

Stop buying this shit and force this putz to look for another line of work maybe designing video games with Joe Mad!?

[Barry]

Will anyone actually be buying this crap?

Probably.

[James Seals]

And the wave of nostalgia continues, rolling into something that I think we did not need. Does anyone else miss originality?

[deadjacket]

Originally posted by Barry
Will anyone actually be buying this crap?

If Kirkman does half as good a job as he does on Invincible, The Walking Dead, Brit, Cloudfall etc... then Yes I'll be buying this crap

[IvCNuB4]

crappy art + bad characters + gratuitous violence and blood =

[Derek Ruiz]

I was going to say a whole bit about how you guys are hatin before you even read the material but we all know if you Hate Liefeld you're not even going to give this book a try so why bother startin something that been going on for years.


Anyway, great looking stuff there from Marat and I know Kirkmans stuff will be gold. I'm assuming that Stars and stripes character is actuall the new design for Agent: America. And It also seems like Shaft was leading BloodPool as the new Youngblood when the Allies lead by Agent America Showed up...Good stuff there guys.

[majorjoe23]

I'm so torn. I love Kirman's writing, but I would bet that all 12 issues will never come out. And did he say that Bloodsport is one issue away form conclusion? Wasn't it originally four issues?

[DrDoom]

Originally posted by saiyanspider
Is that Wolverine, Captain America and Thor, on one of the pages? Is this an Awesome book or some relaunch for Marvel? I'm a bit confused here.

lookalikes !!

[El Argentino]

Lots of blood........what a ...concept!

[amazingdavidman]

Invinsible and Walking Dead are two of my favorite titles but... barf. Anybody read Lying in the Gutters this week? Something doesn't add up.

I love Rob Kirkman's stuff, but this, this I cannot abide by. I'm not sure what paralel universe Kirkman's old issues of Youngblood came from but I have enough issues in my collection to tell you there's not too much innovative or ahead of its time about it.

I have a feeling this will all be pretty tongue in cheek, aware that it's bad, but I still can't sign on for it. At a glance I see Captain America, Wolverine, Wonder Woman, Iron Man, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, and (possibly the worst offender) Thor. Y'know, the Ultimates already exist, and the Authority already exists, and hell, Supreme Power already exists...

But I guess read it, then judge. It might be a good book, but it certainly doesn't seem to be something the industry needs more of.

[DerekSykes]

Originally posted by Barry
Will anyone actually be buying this crap?

Probably.

I will certainly have a look at this "crap". While I am no big fan of the previous youngblood comics, Robert Kirkman has never disappointed me. With him writing this series, it sounds well worth an opportunity.

These days, I follow creators more than characters. Do you think Invincible or Walking Dead are crap? If you do, you would be in the minority. If not, why do you think Kirkman's Youngblood will be worse than his previous efforts?

Derek

[Mrsupertight]

So by buying thid title we could see what kirkman would do if he was the writer of Avengers

[Pupasweet]

Youngblood Genesis vol. 1 is over,” Liefeld said. “The two issues that Kurt Busiek wrote have been available for one year and four months, respectively. While I have the original issues #3 and #4 that Kurt wrote, they can't be produced as is simply from the standpoint that they heavily feature prominent supporting cast members from Spawn and Wildcats, as well as Lynch from Gen13 and Team 7. The series focuses heavily on the politics of Youngblood's rise against the agendas of Spawn’s Jason Wynn and Lynch and obviously, that’s impossible to incorporate now. A new Youngblood: Genesis series, vol. 2 will begin shortly, but the two Busiek issues read as a completed volume, telling a complete first chapter in the Youngblood saga. Bloodsport is one issue away from completion – the second issue will ship this summer.”

I am one of the eternal optimists (read sucker) who bought the first issue of this Genesis series, but am quickly realizing what a waste it was. First off, when was the second issue ever produced? If it was it is still not on the arcade-comics website where you can order the first issue and its numerous overpriced variants.

Secondarily, why why why do you promote something as one thing and then walk away from it knowing it could not be done in the first place. If issues 3 and 4 were done soooooooo long ago why was this ever solicited as a 4 issue mini when it was decided to finally release the thing? I mean the series was announced after Rob's split from Image so didn't he know that issues 3 and 4 were not going to be able to be produced?

It is soooooo sad that is almost funny. Rob should be willing to take back the books that he sold and offer refunds to his few overly loyal fans. Seriously!

[El Argentino]

Ah....so, the USA wants other countrys to this "Empire" ...and send Youngblood to kick in the brain people to join????

.....very smart..........republicans, anyone?

THIS SUCKS!!!!!!......and Busiek will hate see his name in this report.

[SRBuell]

Originally posted by DerekSykes

These days, I follow creators more than characters. Do you think Invincible or Walking Dead are crap? If you do, you would be in the minority. If not, why do you think Kirkman's Youngblood will be worse than his previous efforts?

I think it's something to do with Youngblood. Or Liefeld. Look at Bloodsport. I bought it at Comic-con last year, out of nostalgia's sake. Then, after reading it, I remembered what a stupid kid I was back in the 90's. I love Mark Millar's writing; Wanted is one of my favorite titles these days, but good christ this thing was bad.

Just out of curiosity, has there ever been a Youngblood series that reached 12 issues? Does anyone know how long that very first series ran? Can we start a pool and bet on that last comment about having 5 issues of this and 5 issues of that out by December?

[jasinmartin]

Originally posted by amazingdavidman
Anybody read Lying in the Gutters this week? Something doesn't add up.

That's what I was thinking as I read these posts, that and the fact that these sample pages aren't from the book titled "Bloodsport", yet they certainly could be... 8)

[Endocrine]

That name Rob Liefeld sounds vaugely familiar.... isn't he the one who put breasteses on Captain America way back during "Heroes Reborn"?

Most people could care less about Rob Liefeld. He was and could still be a great artist, but his work ethics and indifference towards his supporters leave a lot to be desired. I can't even remember the last comic book story he actually did that was even published.

If and when his new Youngblood (or by now, is it Oldblood?) series actually does come out, I'll probably pick up a copy, more out of curiousity than anything else. Maybe I can have one of my grandchildren pick it up for me as soon as I have kids old enough to procreate...

Dave

[SHABBAZZ]

Originally posted by Darth Wahu
Sounds like the same old bullshit Liefeld has been shoveling for years. Youngblood is a thinly disguised version of the Avengers but with a Dark Knight Returns edge to it.

C'mon people!!! Rob hasn't had an original idea in about ten years!!!!!

Stop buying this shit and force this putz to look for another line of work maybe designing video games with Joe Mad!?

INDEED

I can't believe anybody would be willing to buy anything associated with Liefeld. He is the embodiment of everything that was wrong with the comic book queif of the early 90's. Kids bought his books and he spun that inexplicable enthusiasm, into an empire built on horrifyingly derivative characters and figures drawn with 2 left hands. Now in a wave of "I don't care if it's crap, it's crap from my childhood" nostalgia this guy is back again. He is the herpes of the comic book industry.

Kirkman is taking the money and running. Alan Moore did it with Supreme, Steve Skroce did it with Youngblood, now Millar is giulty as well. Liefeld must pay top dollar to get these guys to commit to schlocking his nonsense.

At the same time as an illustrator I have turned down jobs from magazines run by Conde Nast because of the company's horrible track record and it's negative impact on freelancers. Occassionally you need to say I'll pass on this job because I'm just feeding the machine that's shredding my industry. I wish Kirkman had told Liefeld to piss off.

I will not buy anything associated with the Awesome Universe (do you get to call a couple dozen books, most of which never made it past issue 12, a 'universe'?). These are the only comics in history where the total number of variant covers for issue 1 of series was more than the total number of issues in the entire series.

[Reloaded]

Ugh. I love Kirkman, love Walking Dead and Brit. I will buy Captain America as soon as he's writing it, but I wouldn't touch this for anything. Marat Michaels just isn't my cup of tea. Ever since the original Brigad mini, I've been at a loss to what Liefeld ever saw in him. Still, hey, good luck to these guys. I'm just not buying it.

And as someone had been pointing out all the analogues, did anyone catch the Thing-like character on the first page? Remember him, all the hate that character stirred up last year? "He's not the Thing, the Thing doesn't wear gloves!" Geck. Will someone do us all a favor and steer Liefeld into a different career?

[protonik]

Originally posted by majorjoe23
I'm so torn. I love Kirman's writing, but I would bet that all 12 issues will never come out. And did he say that Bloodsport is one issue away form conclusion? Wasn't it originally four issues?

yes it was but about a year ago Rob announced it would only be three issues because of X-Force (though he didn't say X-Force at the time, but strongly implied it). I have faith all 12 issues will be out myself because this looks VERY strong and better than the Teen Titans rip off that Alan Moore was shoveling out, a great Teen Titans rip off, but a rip off nonetheless...

Anyway, I am very looking forward to this personally because I am a HUGE Youngblood fan. Kirkman is a writer I have been wanting to try out for Aeons but haven't had the chance and Marat is quickly becoming one of those pencillers to watch. This stuff doesn't look like the cluttered 90s material and way better than his over-steroid mid 80s look. It seems to have some of that George Perez aesthetic that Marat used on Glory for Avatar with Marat's amazing flair for action sequences.

I wonder what Rob is doing after X-Force?

Jason

[Simon-Hartford]

Looks like Rob has managed to not only clone other characters from Marvel and DC - but, hey, isn't that a hint of com.x's Cla$$WAR in there?

Woo hoo - another rip-off comic.

Rob, this just won't do!!!

Simon

[The_Adventurer]

Damit Kirkman, you're throwing your integraty away! I'm sorry but I will not be buying this, not even the power of Kirkman can make me.

[protonik]

Originally posted by amazingdavidman
Y'know, the Ultimates already exist, and the Authority already exists, and hell, Supreme Power already exists...

And Youngblood existed before them, featuring the same style of stories BEFORE them. Youngblood was ahead of its time but looks dated now. It was all about over the top movie action and less than admirable heroes. It was the flawed characters of watchmen and the intense action of Kirby with the flair of Rob Liefeld but those very influences are what makes it dated today. I think that maybe, MAYBE, Baptism of Fire still stands up today on an artistic and story level but Youngblood was the first super-team in comic books that I know of to depose a third world dictator like the Authority would and regularly fought interdimensional threats like the Authority. Most people don't see it but yeah, its there, in Youngblood.

The heroes as celebrity angle also originated in Youngblood, sort of. It was in early Fantastic Four but kind of forgotten about or set aside. It was Youngblood's high concept and now it is in X-Statix. Liefeld and Stephenson really brought that angle out in vol. 2 of Youngblood and Moore cast it all aside in a thinly veiled Teen Titans... though that IS what Youngblood started out as:

Shaft was actually Speedy/Arsenal
Bedrock/Badrock was a member
Vogue
Chapel
Diehard
Photon

The first story in Youngblood with these character WAS a presentation to DC from what I understand and was presented to them before the Image founders formed Image. That is why the FOur look like a thinly veiled Fearsome Five in Youngblood no. 1.

Jason