Get ready. Brace yourself. Maybe even sit down. The Summer of Youngblood is coming, and we all need to be prepared.
According to Rob Liefeld, the “Summer of Youngblood” will celebrate his creation that helped launch Image Comics into the stratosphere, starting with the release of Youngblood #100 on June 10th. And he’s bringing some friends:the issue will have variant covers by ALL the Image Comics Partners and Founders including Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri (his first time drawing Youngbood), Erik Larsen, Jim Valentino, Whilce Portacio, and Robert Kirkman.
The variants provide many firsts. “Marc’s cover is special; it’s an absolute stunner. I’ve literally waited 34 years for this,” said Liefeld in a statement. “Silvestri has never illustrated these characters, which makes it a real event for the fans as well as me. I told him that I have to retire now. I’ll never, ever do better than this. It’s one in a million. Marc is my favorite artist, and this cover is monumental.”
It is also Robert Kirkman’s first ever Youngblood cover – who knew he could his the drawing board?
“Having Robert Kirkman join the Youngblood #100 cover party? I had high hopes, and he just blew me away.” Liefeld continues. “I can’t stop smiling. Each of these covers, crafted by these comic book legends, is just so humbling. It shows that the energy surrounding Youngblood is surging. This isn’t just a milestone, it’s a powerful union that celebrates a Golden Age that launched the company 34 years back.”
Kirkman, a longtime Liefeld enthusiast, shared that feeling. “YOUNGBLOOD is one of the most important independent comics ever published. It started the Image revolution and paved the way for everything that followed. As a corporate superteam that uses media manipulation and treats its heroes as celebrities, you can find its DNA in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, THE BOYS, INVINCIBLE, and dozens of other modern superhero takes. The influence of Rob Liefeld’s creation reaches far and wide into all aspects of the entertainment industry. I was honored that Rob allowed me to be some small part of his epic and historic 100th issue celebration.”
You can find the other covers debuting around the internet, but The Beat is exclusively revealing the cover by Jim Valentino here!
And the Summer of Youngblood continues with Badrock #1 in July. The granite skinned hero will have his own foundation-shaking adventure.
The new series explores the heavy burden Badrock carries into his personal life as his family is compromised as a result of his high profile. Liefeld is joined by a bold new artist, Seth Damoose. “I’ve been following Seth’s work for years; he was the only artist I envisioned for a Badrock series. He’s an incredible storyteller and illustrator. Fans are in for a huge treat.”
“Badrock is the heart of Youngblood,” Liefeld continued. “Giving him his own title allows us to go deeper into his character, his humor, and his sheer power. If you’re a fan of high-stakes, high-octane action that is loaded with laughs, this is the book you’ve been waiting for.”
What other shocks and surprises will The Summer of Youngblood hold? We’ll keep monitoring our Liefeld signal to bring you further developments!
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