NYCC '08: IMAGE COMICS PANEL

**MichaelDoran** · 04-23-2008, 01:15 PM

i>Report by Albert Ching

A diverse smattering of Image Comics creators comprised the company’s Saturday afternoon panel at New York Comic Con. Though all official NYCC materials referred to the affair as “Brave New World - Image Comics,” Image’s public relations and marketing coordinator (and panel host) Joe Keatinge called it by the publisher’s much more frequently used name, “The Image Comics Show.” And this time it had some added star power - Claudio Sanchez, the lead singer and guitarist of prog rock band Coheed & Cambria (known for alternative radio hits like “A Favor House Atlantic”).

The panel was designed to represent “three generation of Image creators,” in the form of founders Erik Larsen and Jim Valentino, “established” creator Jay Faerber of Noble Causes and Dynamo 5 fame, and “all-new creators”: the aforementioned Claudio Sanchez, who’s writing Armory Wars, and Hazed and Grounded writer Mark Sable.

After quickly showcasing many current Image Comics projects (like Invincible, The Walking Dead, Perhapanauts, Frank Frazetta titles, and the starting in June War Heroes by Mark Millar and Tony Harris) through slides of upcoming covers, Keatinge asked Larsen, who famously created his signature comic Savage Dragon in elementary school, about his origins in comics.

““I started drawing comics as a little kid, because I didn’t know any better,” said Larsen. “I always enjoyed drawing, I always enjoyed stories, so it just seemed like a natural thing to go in and do that.”

Savage Dragon #138, which features characters from the Image series Godland, was then mentioned.

Fellow Image founder Jim Valentino spoke about the diversity of Image’s lineup, and stressed that he thinks it’s something that’s been an important part of the company since the beginning, despite the reputation early Image has for being full of superhero comics.

“I like stuff that’s off the beaten trail,” said Valentino, mentioning his history with independent and small press comics. “I like super heroes well enough but I think we have enough comics with guys in panties beating on other guys in panties.”

Valentino mentioned titles like Bone and Groo, which Image published early in their run, and the Brian Michael Bendis crime comics like Torso.

“What are your limitations?” Valentino said he was recently asked. “None, whatever I want,” he answered. “The limitations of the law,” Larsen added

This led to discussion of several projects in the works at Valentino’s Shadowline imprint, like The Unearthed Cemetery Blues, which will feature 80 pages of material previously published outside of Image; a kids book called Dear Dracula about a child visited by the famous vampire after writing a letter to him on how to properly dress for Halloween (which, Valentino said, will have a cardboard cover like a Little Golden Book); The Roberts, about two old men at a retirement home (both named Robert, as the title suggests) that happen to be the Boston Strangler and the Zodiac Killer, New World Order (“a conspiracy book that even if you’re not a conspiracy theorist will make you paranoid,” said Valentino); and Savage, by Steve Niles and Mike Mayhew, which Valentino said he couldn’t talk about yet but said you could probably guess what it was like from the cover projected on the screen (a close-up of a gaping, fearsome mouth with sharp teeth).

Also on the way, Ted McKeever finishing Transit (which will then all be collected), more of The Surreal Adventures of Edgar Allan Poo and a collected hardcover of Mark Evanier and Will Meuginots DNAgents. Valentino stressed that at the moment it’s only Evanier and Meuginot’s work, even though Larsen also drew the title early in his career.

“The world will never see that,” said Larsen, grinning.

Keatinge changed gears to Image’s super hero comics, specifically more of Todd Nauck’s Wildguard on the way, and Jay Faerber’s Noble Causes and Dynamo 5. Keatinge asked Faerber’s about his history of breaking in with work-for-hire books for Marvel and DC.

“I broke in at Marvel and DC, and was living a dream for a couple years, writing characters I grew up reading,” said Faerber. “I met some of the Image guys by chance at a convention in Chicago, and talked to them about doing their own characters, their own stuff. That weekend, I came up with Noble Causes.”

Mark Sable discussed his experiences working with Image, saying that he started getting seriously interested in the company after reading Powers and Invincible.

“A lot of companies say they’re creator-owned,” said Sable. “Creator-owned can have so many definitions. Image truly represents creator-owned.”

Sable discussed his recently released sorority-set original graphic novel Hazed, saying, in reference to Valentino’s earlier comment, “It’s girls in panties hitting other girls in panties. How’s that for a sales pitch?”

“It’s hard to imagine going to any other publisher,” Sable added.

Keatinge turned to Claudio Sanchez, asking about how he got interested in creating comics. “When I was younger, I was certainly a fan of the medium,” the lead singer and guitarist said. He said that even though he enjoys drawing, he realized he could never be a “sequential artist,” so that’s why he’s writing Armory Wars.

The panel proper ended with Keatinge showing a slide that teased two Image founders coming to Spawn. “You can probably guess who one of them is,” Keatinge said, but the other is someone who hasn’t done any work for Image in a long time. He was not, however, at liberty to reveal any more than that at this time.

A short Q&A wrapped the panel, dominated by Coheed & Cambria fans. A prospective creator asked Larsen about submissions, with the Savage Dragon creator advising to send him an email reminder if someone hasn’t heard back one way or another about their submission.

“Our first priority is getting books out the door,” he said. “Usually if it’s terrible you’ll hear back pretty quick.”

When asked about a new Battle Pope comic, Keatinge said it’s still on the horizon. A lapsed Spawn fan asked about the upcoming changes to the title, with Valentino saying #185 will be “like Spawn crisis,” and Keatinge saying that it’ll be the perfect comic for someone who hasn’t read the title in a while.

**MichaelDoran** · 04-23-2008, 02:03 PM

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JSS · 04-23-2008, 02:18 PM

related or not goddamnit i love that wolfman book so much.

Sean Walsh · 04-23-2008, 02:18 PM

Those pencils certainly look like Erik Larsen.

Could the other be....McFarlane himself???

Giorgio · 04-23-2008, 02:28 PM

Jim Lee is going to draw Spawn for a couple of (late) issues:
"I' m the goddamn Spawn, and I call my goddamn car the goddamn Spawnmobile!".

antillestk · 04-23-2008, 02:30 PM

It"s Rob Liefeld!!!!

He's coming back to image!!!!!

Sorry guys! Couldn't resist.

zolondek · 04-23-2008, 02:30 PM

Larsen and Liefeld????

OptimusGeo · 04-23-2008, 02:31 PM

Man... that looks more like Jim Lee...

zolondek · 04-23-2008, 02:32 PM

Rob is back at image and larsen was at the panel so who knows, it may get me to look at spawn again.

Edi · 04-23-2008, 02:42 PM

I'm bettin' Whilce Portacio, check the arm and brush stroke.

shady878 · 04-23-2008, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edi

I'm bettin' Whilce Portacio, check the arm and brush stroke.

Since Portacio is the only one without anything on his plate at the moment (Jim Lee on ASBAR & Rob Liefeld on that Biblical translation comic), Whilce seems like the most obvious choice.

Bob LeFevre · 04-23-2008, 02:54 PM

It's been wonderful working with Jim and I'm proud to be a part of the Shadowline family. I really wish I could've made it to the NYCC this year, sounds like everyone had a blast. In the spirit of this article I figured I'd give ya sneek peak at a page from issue two of Aletheia.
If you dig what you see, here are the order codes

ALETHEIA #1 (OF 3) MAR082065
ALETHEIA #2 (OF 3) APR082192

Derek Ruiz · 04-23-2008, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Walsh

Those pencils certainly look like Erik Larsen.

Could the other be....McFarlane himself???

I'm thinking it is Todd writing with Whilce drawing.

The CBR article said he wanted to bring the book in house again. So maybe that's what he really meant.

Bob LeFevre · 04-23-2008, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek Ruiz

I'm thinking it is Todd writing with Whilce drawing.

The CBR article said he wanted to bring the book in house again. So maybe that's what he really meant.

I agree with you. That would be my guess.

artjunkie · 04-23-2008, 02:58 PM

My prediction:

Whilce Portacio on art (if his exclusive with DC has expired).
Erik Larsen on story. Although he has the duties of publisher and writer/artist of Dragon, I think he could squezze scripting Spawn into his schedule, especially if he's getting plotting assist from Portacio, and editorial imput from McFarlane. Whilce is a great draftsman with his own unique style and design sense (and love his page layout!). Erik is a great idea man and storyteller who could really guide a long-running, mythos-laden title like Spawn.

Marc Silvestri would be a great pick as well, but no way he's free enough to endeavor that considering. And he's admitted that monthly comics is just not something he can commit to.

So, yeah, I hope it's Portacio...bring him home, finally. His massive talent is so wasted at DC and I won't even mention the Wetworks/WildStorm debacle. And Larsen is a no-brainer.

artjunkie · 04-23-2008, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek Ruiz

I'm thinking it is Todd writing with Whilce drawing.

The CBR article said he wanted to bring the book in house again. So maybe that's what he really meant.

What I gathered from that CBR article is that Brian Haberlin will not be on the book as the story and editorial leader, and that McFarlane will take more editorial control now that the book will be ran directly out of his office. He'll always be defacto editor no matter who has the title, so that's an easy job for him. I don't see Todd wanting to get into a regular monthly grind, even if it's just writing (although with plotting assit from Portacio, it could be done).

Admittedly, McFarlane/Portacio is the "sexier" lineup.

But I think creatively, as I stated in my previous post, Larsen/Portacio would be the best creative lineup (excluding Lee & Silvestri). McFarlane would not be bringing a fresh, outside perspective. Larsen would be.

It will not be Valentino. Nor Liefeld (you kidding me?). Lee & Silvestri are highly unlikely. Well, Lee is impossible, considering his DC contract, I would think.

That's my take.

Bucky_Barnes · 04-23-2008, 03:10 PM

go here and compare

http://whilceart.blogspot.com/

I must add - I don't think Whilce is that good of an idea. He always seems late. I would hate for this to be another book to get excited about just to be months late and I forget all about it.

BrikHed21 · 04-23-2008, 03:15 PM

Haberlin is gone in all capacities at the end of this current run. Todd said he will be the EIC of the book with some inside help. It does make you wonder if he will write and edit or if somebody else is the writer. I think we all agree it will be Portacio on the art though.... sigghhh, late books

artjunkie · 04-23-2008, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bucky_Barnes

go here and compare

http://whilceart.blogspot.com/

No comparison needed. Anyone who knows comics art, especially stylistic art that totally transcends the page, will know that Whilce Portacio is an immortal god among mere mortals and is the perfect artist for this assignment.

As for the late books snides, what artist as good and as detailed as Portacio will turn out 12 monthly books a year? Please give me an example of someone in the same artistic class who can do that in the Modern Era of Comics. None of his peers--Cassaday, Lee, Silvestri, Finch, McFarlane, just to name a few--are going to deliver 12 monthly issues in a calendar year, for various individual reasons, but primarily due to the detail of their work and the fact that along with that they have families and full lives outside of the work (as most adults do). Me, I'll take 6 bi-monthly issues of great art over 12 monthly issues of rushed blandness the likes of the comics of old.

BrikHed21 · 04-23-2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artjunkie

No comparison needed. Anyone who knows comics art, especially stylistic art that totally transcends the page, will know that Whilce Portacio is an immortal god among mere mortals and is the perfect artist for this assignment.

As for the late books snides, what artist as good and as detailed as Portacio will turn out 12 monthly books a year? Please give me an example of someone in the same artistic class who can do that in the Modern Era of Comics. None of his peers--Cassaday, Lee, Silvestri, Finch, McFarlane, just to name a few--are going to deliver 12 monthly issues in a calendar year, for various individual reasons, but primarily due to the detail of their work and the fact that along with that they have families and full lives outside of the work (as most adults do). Me, I'll take 6 bi-monthly issues of great art over 12 monthly issues of rushed blandness the likes of the comics of old.

...to that I would say then don't solicit the book at a monthly - tell me when to expect it and be on time. Capullo found a way to get the book out monthly just as a point of reference (rank him however you want, but I love his art).

POWRSURG · 04-23-2008, 04:04 PM

I hope David Hine isn't off of Spawn.

Bucky_Barnes · 04-23-2008, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artjunkie

As for the late books snides

But it will be late...

Cray_ws · 04-23-2008, 04:57 PM

Its Amory Wars not Armory Wars.

The_Adventurer · 04-23-2008, 04:57 PM

Mmmm Sommerset Stone.

Jack Staff. Best book there is.

Absalom · 04-23-2008, 05:01 PM

Quote:

You can probably guess who one of them is,” Keatinge said, but the other is someone who hasn’t done any work for Image in a long time. He was not, however, at liberty to reveal any more than that at this time

so, I guess the first one is McFarlane, that would be quite normal.

as for the second :

if the other image founder hasn't worked for Image in a long time, it can't be larsen as he works on savage dragon since years.
it can't be silvestri as his top cow is still an imprint of Image.
it can't be Valentino, for the same reason, he's been around since years.

so that would leave 3 persons :
• liefeld
• portaccio
• lee

the small pic seen on the teaser can't be from rob, and he's working on Armaggedon Now and Killraven.
so, portaccio or lee ?
my guess is portaccio, as jim lee is already working for DC and I honestly think he has enough work to do with that.

so, Portaccio.
and the sketch hand looks like portacio's art.