A Quick Word About Image Comics

So I'm gearing up to do my reading for my column sure that I have some winners. I decide to focus on some Image titles this week since they have been putting out some new ones that everyone seems to love. So I pick up some of them. The covers are a little odd, but okay. So I take them home, sit down and open them up. Immediately I am turned off by the art. But I push on, determined to find a good story within. About four pages into Godland #1 I can't read any more. Not only is the art terrible, with many out of proportion and out of perspective shots, but even the lettering has errors, and seeing as how it's done by Comicraft that's just unacceptable. But more than anything is my disappointment for the writing. Joe Casey is usually an okay writer in my book, but this story is for one overdone, and he doesn't even try to do anything new with the concept really. And it feels like a throwback to the Golden Age, but a poorly done derivative that doesn't even meet the standards of those classic stories. So that one's out, because I only cover books I like. But I've got several other Image books, so surely there's something right? Next book I pick up is the acclaimed Fell. Now in all fairness I am NOT a Warren Ellis fan. Hate me for that, I don't care. I personally think he is overrated. Secondly, I get crime noir. I also get deep, satirical, moody type stories. But again, four or five pages into this and I've already lost interest. I try to push on and give it a shot, but every piece of dialogue is so removed from the next. It's just like Mr. Ellis took a bunch of words from the top of his head and tried to string them together in some sort of coherent manner, only he forgot the coherent part. Couple that with what tried to be an artistic creative freedom and ended up looking like the scribbles of a teenager, and this one's out as well.

Next up is Ferro City. Ok, this one isn't so bad. Not really my favorite kind of story, but a little faith is restored. Then it's Iron Ghost. Okay, that one's kind of cool. How about Strange Girl. Loving this art style. And Indigo Vertigo, it's okay for what it is. And finally, Grounded. This is a great story. Now this is retro done right.

So my faith in Image is somewhat restored, but I'm still worried. Why you ask? For two reasons. For one, if they're idea of good stories and art are in books like Fell and Godland then they're on a path I'm not sure I want to follow. I honestly think if anyone really is getting into those books they are doing so only because they are different or because of who's writing them and not because they are actually good. It's a shame books like Small Gods get cancelled while drivel like this makes it to the racks, let alone off Erik Larsen's desk.

Reason number two for my concern is a fear that in a move to be different and stand out that Image is taking any book that has a unique art style or story telling style, while not necessarily determining whether they're good or not. Here's a clue, Image. Just because an art style is different doesn't mean it's good. A while back I had dealings with a so-called Manga artist who swore up and down I didn't know what good manga was when I told him his art wasn't up to par. The fact of the matter is my brother is very into manga, and while I dislike the style of art and story telling manga is, I do recognize good manga art when I see it. His was no better than the awful portraits that hang on many a pre-schooler's refridgerator. And Image seems to have a good sized refridgerator as of late.

I am hoping the new Art Director Image has landed will bring some sense to the publisher, because I have mad respect and love for Image and hope to someday do dealings with them. But I want Image to be better than it is, and putting out books like the aforementioned and many others I wouldn't even consider picking up is not the way to do it.

Granted, there are a few good titles coming out of there, but not enough to sway things in their favor. But you say, sure, but they ARE one of the TOP FOUR companies in the business. True, but that doesn't mean the stuff they put out is necessarily good. It just means a lot of people buy a lot of rubbish like Fell and Godland and pass it off as genius. That and because they also have Top Cow and TMP producing books as well, including some fan favorites like Darkness, Witchblade and Spawn.

So I hope that Image will once again be the alternative for people who are sick of reading Marvel and DC, or just need a break from the Big Two. Image used to be that, then they got sidetracked along the way. Hopefully they will find their way back. Only time will tell.

And as far as which books I will cover in my column? Well, you'll just have to wait and find out tomorrow!