Image Comics celebrated 33 years of creator owned madness with an instore signing at Golden Apple Comics in Los Angeles with the one and only Rob Liefeld. The artist, inker, writer and podcaster who reinvigorated Hawk & Dove and The New Mutants, gave us Deadpool and Cable then launched X-Force and sold 5 million copies. Liefeld launched Image Comics outright with flagship title Youngblood in 1992 under his Extreme Studios banner. Selling over 1 million issues and paving the way for creators to ensure their own success outside of the corporate machine Marvels and DC Comics of the world.
After losing and regaining the Youngblood rights, Liefeld returned to Golden Apple 33 years later to unleash his latest rendition of the government superhero team meets entertainment brand. The issue itself finds the classic team including Shaft, Chapel and Badrock fighting baddies with many an Extreme character popping up. Liefeld’s art remains vibrant and kinetic with a clean and timeless color palette. A fun read that ends on an introductory cliffhanger, I’m looking forward to more action packed adventures.
Before heading out to Golden Apple in West Hollywood, I saw Dolph Lundgren had stopped by the neighboring BevMo to sign some bottles of his new vodka line, Hard Cut. The big swede has been promoting on social media and in person regularly, be on the lookout for a tasting report soon. Maybe I’ll mix some Jean-Claude Van Damme sponsored Old Oak Whiskey with Hard Cut to create a Universal Soldier… of hangover. Signed bottle secured, I headed to Golden Apple which already had a line down the block. Fellow Extreme enthusiasts were ready with comics, Funko pops, statues and tee shirts highlighting Liefeld’s iconic work on The New Mutants, Deadpool and hit podcast Robservations.
Team Liefeld and Golden Apple traversed the line and then neighbor Voodoo Doughnuts came through with complimentary treats to keep the energy levels up. Liefeld greeted the queue with fist bumps to kick off the signing, claiming he only had one red pen to sign with. At a certain point I realized actor, director and art historian Peter Weller (you know, Alex Murphy aka Robocop?!) had exited the building and was chatting with Liefeld’s wife and son, both actors as well. I recently heard Dr. Weller on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast talking art, acting, music and addiction where Weller dropped a quote “You don’t know what you like, you like what you know.” which was inspiring and I told him so. He explained the original quote and how it helped him on his path, taking people by the hand through art to deepen appreciation. His first book, Leon Battista Alberti in Exile: Tracing the Path to the First Modern Book on Painting, will be available in the US at the end of April.
I’ve encountered and experienced The Rob at many signings and convention panels, he’s always high energy, hilarious and thankful for the support. Reading Youngblood and Extreme titles Brigade, Bloodstrike, Supreme and Prophet was awesome as a kid, being on the ground level of a new universe without the decades of backstory and baggage of Marvel or DC. It’s still impressive how many titles Liefeld produced, creating an interwoven universe of colorful characters, story crossovers and of course, action! Liefeld was not expecting Weller to stop by and jokingly blamed him for slowing down the line. Some chit chat and photos later, I had my Youngblood comics old and new signed to cap off quite an Extreme and successful day in Hollywood.
