Image Celebrates 25 Years
Image Comics has released 11 of the first 15 homage variants planned for the company’s 25th anniversary theme month in February. These tribute covers will commemorate iconic Image covers from the past quarter century.
“One of the great things about celebrating our 25th anniversary is that it creates an opportunity for us to look back at over two decades of history-making comics and showcase some of the wonderful work that made Image what it is today,” said Eric Stephenson, Publisher at Image Comics. “Everyone in the Image family is a fan at heart, and this month’s tribute variants give the participating creators a chance to show their admiration for some of comics’ greatest creator-owned triumphs by putting their own unique spin on classic images from that rich and varied past for a collection of covers as fun as they are stunning.”
Available in stores on Wednesday, February 1st:
- Rick Remender and Wes Craig’s DEADLY CLASS #26 commemorating Marc Silvestri’s CYBER FORCE #1
- Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta’s EAST OF WEST #31 commemorating Rob Liefeld’s TEAM YOUNGBLOOD #19
- Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie’s THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #26 commemorating Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky’s SEX CRIMINALS #1
- Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker’s INVINCIBLE #133 commemorating Rob Liefeld’s YOUNGBLOOD #1
- Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw’s GOD COUNTRY #2 commemorating Erik Larsen’s SAVAGE DRAGON #1
- Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips, and Elizabeth Breitweiser’s KILL OR BE KILLED #6 commemorating Robert Kirkman’s THE WALKING DEAD #1
- Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky’s SEX CRIMINALS #16 commemorating Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie’s THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #1
- Robert Kirkman’s THE WALKING DEAD #164 commemorating Jim Lee’s WILD C.A.T.S. #1
- Charles Soule and Ryan Browne’s CURSE WORDS #2 commemorating Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker’s INVINCIBLE #1
- Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen’s DESCENDER #19 commemorating Dale Keown’s PITT #2
- Tim Seely and Mike Norton’s REVIVAL #47 commemorating Marc Silvestri, Brian Haberlin, Michael Turner, and David Wohl’s WITCHBLADE #1
Humble Bundle Commemorates Image’s Anniversary
In honor of its 25th anniversary year, Image Comics is partnering with Humble Bundle for the Humble Comics Bundle: IMAGE at 25. The bundle is available through February 1st at 11 a.m. Pacific.
There’s something for everyone in the bundle, from the first issues of the hottest new series to classic collected editions.
“We’re so thrilled at the chance to celebrate 25 years of the best creator-owned comics on the market,” said Eric Stephenson, Publisher at Image Comics. “This Humble Bundle is the perfect opportunity to both help support a good cause and allow fans a sampling of some of the best storytelling out there.”
The shining star of the bundle is a gorgeous signed Isola, Island of the Dead Letterpress Print! ISOLA is a brand-new epic fantasy from Brenden Fletcher (Motor Crush, Batgirl) and Karl Kerschl (Gotham Academy). The story follows two women on a quest to enter the underworld, seeking to undo a curse that turned one of them into a tiger. Every Humble-exclusive two-color letterpress print from this bundle will be signed by both Fletcher and Kerschl.
As with all Humble Bundles, customers can choose how their purchase dollars are allocated, between the publisher and charity. The Humble Comics Bundle: IMAGE at 25 supports the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, which works to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer equality.
To find out more, visit: https://www.humblebundle.com/books/image-comics-book-bundle
Walking Dead #163 highest ordered book in nearly 15 years
The Walking Dead has earned another accolade.Robert Kirkman and artist Charlie Adlard’s THE WALKING DEAD #163 is the Direct Market’s highest ordered comic since the early 2000s.
Pre-orders for the issue, which hits store shelves on February 1 – Image’s 25th anniversary – exceeded 730,000 copies—without the aid of subscription box numbers to bolster the overall total. The 25 cent price point, used to attract new readers to the title, proved to be very successful.
Orders for issue #163 surpassed every other high-charting comic in print today, as well as the orders of the Batman: The 10-Cent Adventure one-shot that topped Diamond’s unit sales charts in January 2002.
Image Comics enjoys a close relationship with the Direct Market comics retailers, often incorporating retailer feedback gained through always-open lines of communication, into the company’s overall sales approach. Rather than simply circulate marketing messaging to fans encouraging consumers visit their local comic shop, Image Comics’ 25¢ initiative—which begins with the special 40-page THE WALKING DEAD #163 and continues with INVINCIBLE #133 and OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA #25—is a definitive and quantifiable move to pay it forward to retailers who have long supported growing the creator-owned readership.
“The Direct Market helped make THE WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE, and OUTCAST the successful series they are today, and acknowledging that support is a big part of our agenda as Image turns 25 this year,” explained Kirkman. “Comic book stores have made it easier for us to accomplish everything we’ve done since our last anniversary, so giving back just makes sense, even though it means we’re not making a dime off these books.”
Eric Stephenson, Publisher at Image Comics, added: “When we first began discussing how to celebrate our 25th anniversary, one of the first ideas that came up was offering some of our best titles at 25¢ in an effort to reach as many readers as possible. We knew we’d be selling the books at a loss—no matter how high the orders—but our number one goal is always to get books in front of as many readers as possible, and the best way to do that is by giving comic book stores something they can quite literally put in people’s hands for pocket change.”
Splitting Image reprinted for first time
Splitting Image, a parody of the company’s formation, is being reprinted for the first time this April.
This 80-page title by Don Simpson with with colors by Hilary Jenkins, skewers the Image Comics company formation and pokes fun at the artists who founded it.
“We thought the occasion of our 25th Anniversary was as good a time as any to revisit our past with tongue planted firmly in cheek and sense of humor in tact!” said co-founder and Image Comics partner and Vice-President Jim Valentino. “A piece of history at your fingertips (now go wash your hands!)”
In addition to the main story, Splitting Image will also feature tons of special bonus content that fans won’t want to miss out on, including: the normalman-MEGATON MAN SPECIAL by Simpson, co-founder and Image Comics partner and Vice-President Jim Valentino, Larry Marder, and Bob Burden.
Splitting Image will be in stores April 26.
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