Youngblood is back, and ready to reclaim its throne as king of the modern superhero universe. The Youngblood franchise has a deep history in comics, arriving at a transformative moment in the industry. In turn, Youngblood would influence a generation of creators. Youngblood’s importance to the comics’ industry cannot be overstated.

By the early 1990s, a number of Marvel artists grew disillusioned with the then-current state of affairs in the industry. Among other grievances, these artists wished to retain creative control over their characters and stories, something Marvel and DC did not offer. These artists included Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane and Jim Lee, among others, and together they formed Image Comics. Initially an imprint of the now-defunct Malibu Comics, Image would become its own company. Thanks to its “ahead of the curve” approach to creator rights, Image would become a powerhouse in the industry.

And the “Image Revolution” kicked off with 1992’s Youngblood #1. A sales juggernaut, Youngblood introduced the idea of fame-obsessed superheroes to the mainstream, and took creator Rob Liefeld’s already extraordinary career to a whole other level. Youngblood was followed by a succession of other Image books, such as Spawn, WildCats, Savage Dragon, Shadowhawk, and Wetworks. Youngblood had a seismic effect on the industry, and now Liefeld is pulling out all the stops, including a cover by Image co-founder Todd McFarlane. ScreenRant is pleased to offer a first look.

Image Comics Announces the “Summer of Youngblood”

The Youngblood Franchise is Expanding in the Best Possible Ways

Today, Rob Liefeld announced the “Summer of Youngblood,” a season-long event celebrating the book’s influence on the comics’ industry. Liefeld and Image are going full-tilt on the Summer of Youngblood. First, the publisher will give Youngblood stalwart Badrock his own series, written by Liefeld and drawn by Seth Damoose. Of the book, Liefeld said:

Badrock is the heart of Youngblood…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.

Likewise, Liefeld said of his new artistic collaborator:

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 #1 promises to “shake the foundations of the Extreme Universe,” according to Image.

The crown jewel of the Summer of Youngblood is the special Youngblood #100. While Liefeld and Image are keeping the book’s plot under wraps for now, ScreenRant can reveal an exclusive first look at two of Youngblood #100’s covers. One, by Image co-founder Todd McFarlane, riffs on Liefeld’s infamous cover for New Mutants #87, the first appearance of Cable, a character that Liefeld co-created. The second cover, by Erik Larsen, another Image co-founder, shows the team in action. Other artists contributing include Robert Kirkman and Marc Silvestri, who will draw the team for the first time ever.

Liefeld made his pleasure with the variant covers for Youngblood #100 known. Liefeld praised the covers, saying:

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.

In addition, Image co-founders Jim Valentino and Whilce Portacio will provide variants for Youngblood #100. The participation of a lion’s share of Image’s co-founders makes this not only a celebration of Youngblood, but the company as a whole.

Youngblood Is One of the Most Influential Comics in History