Preview #1 : Jul 9 2009
IMAGE COMICS Crossover Series
Preview of the upcoming series “Image United” featuring the writing of Robert Kirkman and art of the original Image Comics founders: Todd McFarlane, Erik Larsen, Marc Silvestri, Whilce Portacio, Rob Liefeld & Jim Valentino.
2009年11月から始まる「IMAGE UNITED」に先んじて7月に開催されたSan Diego Comic conにてこの「Preview版」が会場で発売された。また、10月に開催されたBaltimore Comic Conでは青いロゴのバージョンが発売された。
The heroes of the Image Universe are united in order to fight the greatest threat the world as ever faced! You can’t miss this historic event as the original Image Founders draw all the characters they made history with. Each page is an amazing jam piece – it’s a story told in a way never before attempted in comics!
| WRITER | Robert Kirkman |
| PENCILS | Marc Silvestri, Todd McFarlane, Whilce Portacio, Erilk Larsen, Rob Liefeld, Jim Valentino |
| INKS | Marc Silvestri, Todd McFarlane, Whilce Portacio, Erilk Larsen, Rob Liefeld, Jim Valentino |
| COVER | Marc Silvestri, Todd McFarlane, Whilce Portacio, Erilk Larsen, Rob Liefeld, Jim Valentino |
#1 : Nov 23 2009
IMAGE COMICS Crossover Series
Todd McFarlane
| WRITER | Robert Kirkman |
| ART | Erilk Larsen, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Whilce Portacio, Marc Silvestri, Jim Valentino |
| LAYOUTS | Rob Liefeld |
| COLORS | Nikos Koutsis, Mike Topis |
| COVER COLORS | Matt Yackey |
| LETTERING | TOM Orzechowski |
| Alternate Cover | Jim Lee, Scott Williams, Alex Sinclair |
| Special thanks to : Eddy Choi |
Rob Liefeld
Jim Valentino
Erik Larsen
While Portacio
Marc Silvestri
Jim Lee
Blank ver.
cover G B & W
cover C B & W
Gold Foil
2nd Print
Todd McFarlane
#1Mについては、Larry’s Wonderful World of Comics Limited Edition variant cover by Rob Liefeld
#2 : Dec 23 2009
IMAGE COMICS Crossover Series
THE CROSSOVER EVENT OF THE CENTURY IS HERE! The greatest threat the Image Universe has ever faced makes his first move toward world domination! You can’t miss this historic event as the original Image Founders draw all the characters they made history with. Each page is an amazing jam piece – it’s a story told in a way never before attempted in comics.
Todd McFarlane
| WRITER | Robert Kirkman |
| ART | Erilk Larsen, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Whilce Portacio, Marc Silvestri, Jim Valentino |
| LAYOUTS | Erik Larsen |
| ADDITIONAL INKS | Eric Basaldua, Rick Basaldua, Sheldon Mitchell, Joe Weems, Chance Wolf |
| COLORS | Nikos Koutsis, Mike Topis, Brett Evans, FCO PLASCENCIA, Matt Yackey |
| COVER COLORS | Matt Yackey |
| LETTERING | TOM Orzechowski |
| Variant Cover | Greg Capullo, Donald Skinner |
While Portacio
Marc Silvestri
Rob Liefeld
Jim Valentino
Erik Larsen
cover A B & W
Greg Capullo
Rob Liefeld
coverH B & W
Limlited 1 in 50
#0 : Feb 24 2010
IMAGE COMICS Crossover Series
PRELUDE TO THE CROSSOVER EVENT OF THE CENTURY! Meet FORTRESS, the exciting new character created by WHILCE PORTACIO for IMAGE UNITED! He’s trapped in a suit that gives him seemingly limitless power that he can barely control, which leads to a confrontation with the Image Universe’s favorite cop: Savage Dragon!
Collects stories originally printed in Savage dragon #153, Witchblade #131, Invincible #67 and Spawn #195.
| WRITER | Robert Kirkman |
| ART | Erilk Larsen, Whilce Portacio, Ryan Ottley |
| LAYOUTS | Erik Larsen |
| COLORS | Nikos Koutsis, Mike Topis |
| COVER | Erik Larsen, Whilce Portacio, Nikos Koutsis |
| LETTERING | TOM Orzechowski |
| “IMAGE UNITED” Story & Art: Chris Giarrusso | |
#3 : Aug 18 2010
IMAGE COMICS Crossover Series
The stage has been set, the pieces are in place – the battle for the entire planet begins here. The villains of the Image Universe are united against the world, but who’s pulling their strings?! You can’t miss this historic event as the original Image Founders draw all the characters they made history with. Each page is an amazing jam piece – it’s a story told in a way never before attempted in comics.
Todd McFarlane
| WRITER | Robert Kirkman |
| ART | Erilk Larsen, Whilce Portacio, Ryan Ottley |
| LAYOUTS | Erik Larsen |
| COLORS | Nikos Koutsis, Mike Topis |
| COVER | Erik Larsen, Whilce Portacio, Nikos Koutsis |
| LETTERING | TOM Orzechowski |
| “IMAGE UNITED” Story & Art: Chris Giarrusso | |
Erik Larsen
While Portacio
Marc Silvestri
Jim Lee
Rob Liefeld
Dale Keown
coverC B & W
Limited 1 in 50
coverG B & W
Limited 1 in 100
日本の漫画がいろいろなタイトルを一緒に掲載した雑誌(マガジン)形式であるため、それぞれのタイトルの人気が持ちつ持たれつで、その雑誌自体の売り上げ数を支えている。物語の深みを与えるために敢えて読み手が好まないような話を描くことで次の話が面白くなることを可能としている。それに対して単独のコミックスで出版されるアメリカン・コミックスは著者の力量がそのまま売り上げに反映できるとはいえ、売り上げ数の推移を見てしまい、読み手が好む話に帰るなど日和ったり、もしくは続刊の中止が簡単に行われる。
「IMAGE UNITED」も全６巻と言われていたが、３巻目をもって発売を中止した。実際のところ、最終のボスが10年以上も前に「SPAWN/Wild C.A.T.s」で登場したOMEGA SPAWNであったことに読み手側が「嘘だろ?!」と思ったのも事実。Todd McFarlaneが他のアーティストに忖度して自分のキャラクターを悪者にしたのだとしても、アル・シモンズの未来を潰してしまうようなキャラクター作りはどうしても読み手が頷けなかった展開と言える。
なお、未完のため、各巻ごとに内容を説明するのは控えます。
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