THE RISE OF IMAGE COMICS
In 1992 a group of artists at the peak of their powers walked away from mainstream comic books in America and formed their own company called Image Comics. They walked away so they could publish their own ideas and own the result fully. The group included three of the most successful artists the industry had seen to date.
They were predicted to go broke within a year and head back to Marvel Comics with their tails between their legs.
Thirty four later, Image Comics is not only still going strong, it remains the third most successful comic book company to come into the in the industry since the 1940s.
This is the story of those first furious years of Image Comics. It’s a story that goes back to the very creation of superhero comics in 1938. It’s the story of how the comic book industry in America treated it’s creative talents and always put executives and company first. It’s the story of how pioneers like Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster were bilked out of Superman, how Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and dozens more were overlooked when it came to profiting from their creations. It shows why the comic book industry long believed creators were not as important as the creation.
It explains why Image Comics had to happen and it was always going to happen.
Coming in at over 400 pages, and using contemporary sources, interviews and primary documents, the book shows how Image came together, how the company was formed and the reactions to it. It also shows how a band of brothers ultimately splintered, and how a new Image rose from the ashes.
Read their own words, spoken at the time of the event.
The Legend
The Superstar
The Visionary
The True Believer
The Artist
The Veteran
The Supporter
Todd McFarlane
Jim Lee
Rob Liefeld
Erik Larsen
Marc Silvestri
Jim Valentino
Whilce Portacio
This is their story, told for the first time in exquisite detail.
Daniel Best is the author of the critically acclaimed best seller The World vs Todd McFarlane, described as being ‘Ridiculously well researched’ by Rob Liefeld. He has also authored Andru & Esposito: Partners For Life, Monster: Leonard Lawson: Rapist, Murderer, Comic Book Artist, The Trials Of Superman and books on cinema, stage and more.
Available on March 2, 2026
