ALL SEVEN IMAGE COMICS FOUNDERS REUNITE FOR SDCC PANEL

**MattBrady** · 07-14-2007, 12:43 PM

Press Release

The original seven founding members of Image Comics will appear together at Comicon International: San Diego on Friday, July 27, from 10:30-11:30am in Room 5AB, at the "Image Founders Panel." The panel will be hosted by George Khoury (author of TwoMorrows Publishing's new book "Image Comics: The Road to Independence," available at www.twomorrows.com).

In 1992, seven artists shook the foundation of the comic book industry when they left their top-selling Marvel Comic titles to jointly form a new company named Image Comics. With no certainty of success, they formed a home that would allow themselves and other artists the opportunity to tell their stories without any censorship or editorial restraints. Even more importantly, Image would finally give creators full ownership of their properties. In an industry that began with artists working in sweatshop-like conditions, Image remains a living beacon for any creator that dares to dream.

Appearing at the panel will be Erik Larsen, Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Whilce Portacio, Marc Silvestri, and Jim Valentino. This will be the first time that the original seven founding members of Image Comics have ever appeared on a panel together.

Join the conversation as the Image founders explore the past, present and future of Image and the comics industry. The hall has a maximum seating capacity of 500, so attendees are encouraged to arrive early.

UPDATE: IMAGE FOUNDERS REUNITE IN LARGER SPACE!
Comicon Moves Image Founders Panel To Larger Room

Due to the huge crowd expected for next week's "Image Founders Panel" (moderated by George Khoury), Comicon International: San Diego will be moving it to room 6A. The panel will still be held at the same time (10:30-11:30am, Friday, July 27), just in a much larger room, which will now hold 1,000 people instead of 500. This will be the first time all seven Image partners have ever appeared together on one panel.

Below is the updated blurb from Comicon International: San Diego:

FRIDAY, JULY 27
10:30-11:30 Image Comics: The Founders—Erik Larsen, Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Whilce Portacio, Marc Silvestri, and Jim Valentino reunite for Image's remarkable 15th anniversary. Join the conversation as they explore Image Comics' beginnings, impact, and future in the comics industry. Moderated by George Khoury (author of Image Comics: The Road to Independence from TwoMorrows Publishing). Room 6A

Eddie Young · 07-14-2007, 12:51 PM

That'll be awesome.
Have they all really not been together since they founded?

Tom Daylight · 07-14-2007, 01:09 PM

just like pink floyd, the police, the spice girls etc... they're running out of money.

**MattBrady** · 07-14-2007, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fetsur

just like pink floyd, the police, the spice girls etc... they're running out of money.

how are they making money at a panel? Or from a book published by a third party?

I love snark as much as anyone, but good snark at least has some factual basis to it.

MattB

Tom Daylight · 07-14-2007, 01:16 PM

Pink Floyd didn't get paid for their Live 8 appearance but their album sales skyrocketed the next day...

You'll be covering this panel, right, Matt?

deadjacket · 07-14-2007, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fetsur

just like pink floyd, the police, the spice girls etc... they're running out of money.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fetsur

Pink Floyd didn't get paid for their Live 8 appearance but their album sales skyrocketed the next day...

Pink Floyd gave all that money to charity... (link)

Tom Daylight · 07-14-2007, 02:06 PM

bah, pesky facts...

hlbimage · 07-14-2007, 02:11 PM

For the love of god, Image please make a podcast of this panel so that the rest of us can hear everything going on in there. I love to be a fly in that room.

Hulksmash100 · 07-14-2007, 02:58 PM

Matt you should join the CBLDF b/c you really are the attorney for your own posts! Every time someone gets on here w/ a not so nice opinion regarding breaking news... There you are 3 posts down reasoning, explaining, or just plain telling fools to back off & see the "reality" behind the facts of said post. As much as I agree with your right to defend the creators & their actions in the news... I also think it's just as much the right of critical fans to crap on the creators that they feel may make some poor decisions from time to time.

Why are the 7 image creators hosting a panel together?... Is it to announce how some of them are stalwarts, who fifteen years later remain true to their characters & the company that started them (Erik Larsen)? While others jumped ship at the earliest money filled convenience & who's characters now populate a second rate universe within a universe? (i.e. Wildstorm or I'm sorry DC multiverse 50)... Or to announce that they're all going to give up on the universes they created & begin doing covers for Marvel? *ahem - Top Cow* & When the hell will Todd McFarlane ever work in comics again anyway... & at this point, should we even care?

ahuramazda · 07-14-2007, 03:51 PM

ummm...they are all getting together because its the 15th anniversary of the founding of Image. Seven people defected from the Big Two and started a company that in its heyday had a strong third of the market share, breaking the oligopoly and allowing for creator rights and independent books to be published. They honestly changed the face of how comics were both being done and the old stale business model.

while i don't support much of what has happened since then, and even agree with your points on the lack of company loyalty after the fact, this is a big deal and something worth celebrating for all involved.

RichJohnston · 07-14-2007, 04:21 PM

Does Whilce count as a founding member now? Because for ages, he didn't...

FilterKing · 07-14-2007, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahuramazda

ummm...they are all getting together because its the 15th anniversary of the founding of Image. Seven people defected from the Big Two and started a company that in its heyday had a strong third of the market share, breaking the oligopoly and allowing for creator rights and independent books to be published. They honestly changed the face of how comics were both being done and the old stale business model.

while i don't support much of what has happened since then, and even agree with your points on the lack of company loyalty after the fact, this is a big deal and something worth celebrating for all involved.

Image actually knocked DC out of the #2 spot for some time.

ShinAkuma666 · 07-14-2007, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hulksmash100

Matt you should join the CBLDF b/c you really are the attorney for your own posts! Every time someone gets on here w/ a not so nice opinion regarding breaking news... There you are 3 posts down reasoning, explaining, or just plain telling fools to back off & see the "reality" behind the facts of said post. As much as I agree with your right to defend the creators & their actions in the news... I also think it's just as much the right of critical fans to crap on the creators that they feel may make some poor decisions from time to time.

If one thing, I wish Matt or Mods would step up and suspend/banned more trollish behaviour, not saying it was the case here, but theres already too many of that on the site.
Great job and keep it up guys.

jmcl89 · 07-14-2007, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fetsur

Pink Floyd didn't get paid for their Live 8 appearance but their album sales skyrocketed the next day...

And your point is ?

Everyone who does a panel at SDCC or any other convention does it because they think it will help promote their work.

Robot H Brian · 07-14-2007, 04:42 PM

I never bought any original IMAGE stuff (I was just getting out of college and was far more into Bagge, Clowes, Los Bros Hernandez and all the high-profile indie creators of the time), but I'd be interested in attending this panel if I were going to SDCC. They'll probably tell some great stories.

The best panels I went to at SDCC '04 (my only trip so far) were just talking panels (like Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo Q&A, which was a blast). Last I heard, announcements of new projects at every SDCC panel aren't mandatory.

GeorgeKhoury · 07-14-2007, 04:43 PM

[quote=RichJohnston]Does Whilce count as a founding member now? QUOTE]

Yes, he does. His commitment to start of Image Comics was very important. It showed strength in numbers! It gave a clear message that these seven popular artists were working together in deciding to form the company in 1992.

ShadoJakk · 07-14-2007, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hulksmash100

Matt you should join the CBLDF b/c you really are the attorney for your own posts! Every time someone gets on here w/ a not so nice opinion regarding breaking news... There you are 3 posts down reasoning, explaining, or just plain telling fools to back off & see the "reality" behind the facts of said post. As much as I agree with your right to defend the creators & their actions in the news... I also think it's just as much the right of critical fans to crap on the creators that they feel may make some poor decisions from time to time.

Why are the 7 image creators hosting a panel together?... Is it to announce how some of them are stalwarts, who fifteen years later remain true to their characters & the company that started them (Erik Larsen)? While others jumped ship at the earliest money filled convenience & who's characters now populate a second rate universe within a universe? (i.e. Wildstorm or I'm sorry DC multiverse 50)... Or to announce that they're all going to give up on the universes they created & begin doing covers for Marvel? *ahem - Top Cow* & When the hell will Todd McFarlane ever work in comics again anyway... & at this point, should we even care?

Really valid points. Heck,i would be happy to see McFarlane settle on the Miricleman issue and pay writers and artists monies owed that they are being screwed over on the bankruptcy settlement.

And,give Larson his props: He did what all the others did NOT do.

FilterKing · 07-14-2007, 05:11 PM

This can't end well. Don't half of these guys hate each other?

MickeyScouse · 07-14-2007, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichJohnston

Does Whilce count as a founding member now? Because for ages, he didn't...

I'll think you'll find he was, and always has been regarded as one of the founders Rich.
If memory serves me right, shortly after Image formed, Wizard published an Image Special to celebrate the event, all seven original founders contributing to a wraparound cover, Portacio being one of them.
His book at the time was Wetworks, but because of his problems with schedules the book began to be published irregulary, eventually leading to Whilce relinquishing his 'individuality' for want of a better word, and joining up with Jim Lee in Wildstorm.
I'm working from memory here, so if anyone else can provide assistance and better facts, then please correct me where i'm wrong.

Beheader · 07-14-2007, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FilterKing

This can't end well. Don't half of these guys hate each other?

That's what will probably make this panel the most memorable of the show. Although I can picture the seating arrangement. Todd at the end of one side of the table and Rob all the way on the other side of the table.

IronWolf · 07-14-2007, 06:48 PM

God Image Comics is Awesome! but i wonder given some of these guys History, can this bring anything good or just more fights.

Kolimar · 07-14-2007, 06:53 PM

Hm, interesting opportunity.

Kolimar · 07-14-2007, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddie Young

Have they all really not been together since they founded?

It says "This will be the first time that the original seven founding members of Image Comics have ever appeared on a panel together."

themidnitedr · 07-14-2007, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyScouse

I'll think you'll find he was, and always has been regarded as one of the founders Rich.
If memory serves me right, shortly after Image formed, Wizard published an Image Special to celebrate the event, all seven original founders contributing to a wraparound cover, Portacio being one of them.
His book at the time was Wetworks, but because of his problems with schedules the book began to be published irregulary, eventually leading to Whilce relinquishing his 'individuality' for want of a better word, and joining up with Jim Lee in Wildstorm.
I'm working from memory here, so if anyone else can provide assistance and better facts, then please correct me where i'm wrong.

Someone in Whilce's family grew uber sick right around the time Image launched.Whilce returned home to care for that family member( I can't remember which family member).During that time he joined Wildstorm to take the blunt of the burden of publishing off of himself.Wetworks was released about 2 years late due to all of this.He is still considered one of the founding seven.

Kevin T. Brown · 07-14-2007, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Appearing at the panel will be Erik Larsen, Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Whilce Portacio, Marc Silvestri, and Jim Valentino. This will be the first time that the original seven founding members of Image Comics have ever appeared on a panel together.

Unfortunately, Rob Liefeld's appearance will be delayed until the next weekend.

Ok, seriously, I may not like half of the creators, but this truly is a big deal.