The year has begun. Optimism is at an all time high, comics are in a relatively good place after a major boom last year and we’re all generally enthused to continue exploring and creating in this wonderful medium.
As such, Image — who has become pretty much the premiere name in creator-owned mainstream comics — held their third Image Expo in sunny San Francisco, California, far away from the polar vortex. And as always, they began the event with Eric Stephenson’s keynote.
The keynote began with Image Publisher Eric Stephenson discussing the increased market share and moved units, a banner year for the company with increases across the board. Image was home to the best selling comic of the year with “The Walking Dead” (seven of the top ten trades in sales, with issue #115 the best selling single issue) and “Saga’s” first volume taking the spot of the best selling trade.
“Image Comics has operated under one principle: the creator owns 100% of their work,” Stephenson remarked, reiterating what it was that had brought everyone to the convention hall that day. “There’s still a lot of work to do. Not for Image, but for the entire industry.” Stephenson in particular points to trends present at other companies, including “cash grabs” and general reboots that appear more desperate now than ever in an “attempt to recapture past glories.”
“Image Comics has changed the marketplace forever. And as you’ll see today, we’re not done yet. Our plans for 2014 are our most ambitious yet.”
(Which, by the way, is a fairly incredible statement considering that in 2013 Image published 50 new series alone.)
At this point, Robert Kirkman joined Eric Stephenson onstage. However, despite the success of “The Walking Dead” in recent years, Kirkman was instead here to talk about his other creator-owned title, “Invincible.” Discussing the upcoming issue #111 — described humorously as “three number ones in one issues” — will feature not only a huge betrayal on par with Omniman, but will also be Ryan Ottley’s 100th issue! Kirkman also notes that there will be so much “horror and misery” in the book that its like a new writer has come on — “The Walking Dead’s” Robert Kirkman.
Kirkman was then joined by Paul Azaceta to discuss their creator-owned series “Outcast.” The first issue of “Outcast” will go on sale this June, and will be 40 pages for just $2.99. “I’m trying to make the book as creepy and cool and dark as possible,” Azaceta remarked, before joking with Kirkman about how it’s “exactly like “The Walking Dead” so please make sure you buy just as much as it as “The Walking Dead.””
Image via Aaron Meyers
Then Kirkman let out a sneaky surprise as the first new announcement came of the day: Tech Jacket is returning in his own book again, written by Joe Keatinge! It’s a 3-part digital-first series illustrated by Khary Randolph and is currently live on Image’s website.
Keatinge then announced a brand new series from him and Leila Del Luca entitled “Shutter,” coming from Image in April, and teased it as a new fantasy adventure series. The book stars a young girl named Kate Christopher, who comes from a “long line of adventurers,” and will take place an extensive and imaginative fantasy/sci-fi world. (I’ve actually seen a little snippet of the book from Joe, and I can guarantee you this one is great. Look for more on Multiversity soon.)
Keatinge was followed by writer/artist Brandon Graham of Image’s fantastic “Propet” and “Multiple Warheads.” Graham announced a new shared fantasy-universe series called “8House,” by him and “a ton of people.” The book will follow eight magical houses that control the universe, surrounded by magical wars and “the bodies of Cthulhu monsters in space.” Some of the contributors to the series will include Marian Churchland and Emma Rios, which is infinitely exciting.
Graham was followed on stage by Josh Williamson, who announced a new book entitled “Nailbiter.” The book Illustrated by Mike Henderson, the book takes place in a small town in Oregon as police investigate the serial killers surrounding it and featuring a serial killer who eats his victim’s nails.
Continued belowWilliamson was followed by Shadowline founder Jim Valentino, who announced a new book by Ted McKeever, “The Superannuated Man.” Humorously enough, Valentino can not explain to the crowd anything about the book or the rhino on the cover.
Image via Aaron Meyers
Rick Remender then took the stage to discuss a new book entitled “Low.” Illustrated by Greg Tocchini and aiming for a July release, Remender describes it as an “aquatic sci-fi fantasy.” Featuring a planned 60-issues and 3.5 years in the making, the book is described by Eric Stephenson as “your new favorite comic.”
Remender was followed by Matt Fraction, who referred to his fans as perverts and brought up some news about “ODY-C,” which was announced at last year’s Image Expo, and showing the cover to the first issue and some preview art. Fraction then dropped an absolute bombshell and announced that his creator-owned series “Casanova” will be returning to Image Comics this year for its fourth volume, “Acedia.” As previously announced, the main series will be illustrated by Fabio Moon, and there will be a back-up written by Michael Chabon and illustrated by Gabriel Ba. Image will also be printing all new hardcovers of the previous volumes.
Fraction was in turn followed by Kelly Sue DeConnick. Kelly announced her new book “Bitch Planet,” illustrated by Valentine DeLandro, which is a riff on exploitation films set on a prison planet — and we have the exclusive cover reveal for you right here as well as an exclusive concept image by DeLandro! Exclusive exclusive exclusive! We’ll have more on the site with Kelly about the book soon.
Image via Aaron Meyers
Nick Spencer then took the stage (you know, of that “Morning Glories” book we like so much around here) to announce not just one book, but three. First up is “The Grey Beyond” with Morgan Jeske, in the vein of Spencer’s previous work “the Infinite Vacation” about a place where your status after death is dependent on your bank account during life. Second is “Paradigms” with Butch Guice, a story of clans a la Game of Thrones, but set in a modern day spy thriller. Last but not least, Spencer announced “Cerulean” with Frazer Irving about the last survivors of humanity. Geez, Nick, slow down! You trying to write everyone else at the Expo out of jobs?? (We kid because we love.)
Nick also noted that he has now been writing comics for five years, so he wanted to do work that reflected where he thinks comics is going.
Spencer was followed up by James Robinson. Discussing “Saviors,” which was originally a 5-part series, the book will now be expanded upon with new characters and a new storyline for an ongoing. Robinson also announced “Airboy,” described as “an irreverent Golden Age revival” and illustrated by Greg Hinkle. “If you like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Adaptation, rousing Golden Age aviation comics and full-frontal nudity,” said Robinson. “This is the comic you’ve been waiting for.”
Nick Dragotta comes to the stage, as he takes his DIY educational kids comic – Howtoons – from online to Image ongoing. Writer Fred Van Lente will be involved (which is fantastic), and Image said Howtoons is “what happens when a comic artist, a toy designed, and a scientist create a comic.” We’re in for that, especially now that we know artist Tom Fowler and colorist Jordie Bellaire will also be involved.
After Dragotta, surprise guest Kyle D. Higgins took the stage to talk about his new book “C.O.W.L.” This title, which stands for “Chicago Organized Workers League”, finds the “Nightwing” writer spreading his wings into creator-owned comics and will be illustrated by Rod Reis. Co-written with Alec Siegel and based on a short film they made called The League its about a 1960s superhero labor union in Chicago, and we’ll watch them as they take down “the last of the great villains” the attacked Chicago. The book will focus on what happens next, and is scheduled for May.
At this point, young avengers Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie came on stage to announce “The Wicked and the Devine,” which is confusing because this is not how you spell “Phonogram 3.” Dealing with gods that reincarnate in human beings and depicting the current generation of the reincarnated gods, the book will feature McKelvie on alternating arcs, and the second arc will be illustrated by a different artist so McKelvie can finish “Phonogram 3.” All is well! Gillen also called the book “pop stars as gods,” so I suppose we can be excited about this too. Ok. Fine. We’re excited.
Continued belowThe duo were followed by Chris Burnham to do a new creator-owned book with his “Batman Incorporated” writer, up-and-coming unknown writer Grant Morrison (did I spell that right?). Entitled “Nameless,” it is described as the ultimate horror, balls to the wall book. “I think it’s going to be awesome and terrible, and hopefully some 11-year-old kids will steal it, and it’ll ruin their lives forever,” says Burnham, which is pretty much the best description ever.
Burnham is in turn followed by Bill Willingham to announce a new book with Barry Kitson called “Restoration.” This title is taking a look at gods on earth. It’s still in early stages according to Willingham, but will once again find him in the realm of magic. Willingham tells readers to think about “a great big old god sitting on the crushed ruins of a modern city.” Yeah, that sounds like a book we’d read.
But now, the main event. SCOTT SNYDER TAKES THE STAGE! He’s teaming up with artist Jock for a title focusing on witches. In fact, it’s called “Wytches” and Snyder promises that it will “scare the shit out of” the reader. ” “I want this book to be the blackest, most twisted horror that I’ve ever done,” Snyder said. “I want it to be the book I feel terrible about at my kids’ soccer game. I want this book to be like, you read it and say, “They let this guy write Superman?”” This is a huge move, as the book sounds amazing, and it finds Image really taking big names from DC for the first time.
To close things out, Ed Brubaker takes the stage. He announces that he and Sean Phillips have signed an exclusive deal with Image for 5 years. SHOTS FIRED! SHOTS FIRED! That is a huge move that is going to have ramifications everywhere. Let the exclusive wars begin! On top of that, “Fatale” is set to end with issue #24, to be followed by new series “The Fade Out” and is based on Brubaker’s uncle, who was a screenwriter in Hollywood in the 1940’s.
With that, Eric Stephenson thanked the audience, invited all the creators back onto the stage, the bombs stopped dropping, the dust cleared and we all caught our breaths.
To close, Jim Viscardi, previously of Marvel, said this on Twitter.
Welcome to the era of the Big 3. #imageEXPO
— James Viscardi (@JimViscardi) January 9, 2014
We will be live-blogging the keynote address at Image Expo, so keep refreshing and checking back for more as we get it!
