Ravencroft #1 (2020)

Ravencroft: Institute for the Criminally Insane

Leading-up to the limited series! This sounds too much like Ravenloft for my taste, but I never actually got the comic, so who's to say?

© The Weirding, 2020

History of the Marvel Universe #1

History of the Marvel Universe #1

This six-issue limited series starts in July.

© The Weirding, 2019

Valiant Universe Handbook (2019)

Valiant Universe Handbook

© The Weirding, 2019

Incursion #1

Incursion #1

© The Weirding, 2018

Amigo Crossover! #1: Nancy in Hell vs The Apocalypse Girl!

Crossover! #1: Nancy in Hell vs The Apocalypse Girl!

© The Weirding, 2018

Harbinger Wars II #2 - Massafera Variant

Harbinger Wars II #2 - Massafera Variant

© The Weirding, 2018

Marvel Universe vs. Wolverine

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Panelcraft: Robin Knows Spidey's Secret ID

This is great! This one predates even my tired, old ass by a good three-four years, so I would have had no idea about this, and I guess it flew under many experts' radars, because this is the first time I've ever heard anything about it, but the hip cats over to RETROcrush dug-up a panel from a back-up story featuring Robin in Batman #277 (1971) in which The Boy Hostage offers-up one Peter Parker's photography services to a rather unsurly editor.

This was a story which, according to the text, is included in what passes for DC's "continuity," which means that Robin apparently did know Spider-Man's secret identity. However, the most probable theory proffered by the writer is that (#2) Marvel Comics exist as comic books (fiction) in the DC Universe. Why is this the most likely rationale for this? Because they exist as fiction in the Marvel Universe.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Image United: Interlude

23 December 2009 (Berkeley, CA) - This March, the effects of IMAGE UNITED go global with a glimpse of the crossover's impact on INVINCIBLE and many other Image Comics favorites in the one-shot event, IMAGE UNITED: INTERLUDE!

"As the scope of IMAGE UNITED became larger and larger, it was apparent we would really need to touch on what the rest of the Image universe is up to," IMAGE UNITED writer Robert Kirkman said. "The goal behind the mini-series is to create an even tighter Image universe than ever before, so not only do we get to see how this affects Image founder characters like SPAWN, YOUNGBLOOD, and SAVAGE DRAGON, but we're bringing in INVINCIBLE, among many other surprises."

IMAGE UNITED: INTERLUDE picks up immediately after the cataclysmic events of IMAGE UNITED #3 as the entire world reels from the issue's devastation. INVINCIBLE leads the charge with a pantheon of Image's finest, illustrated by Ottley and the many other fan-favorite artists. The complete cast of characters and creators will be announced over the coming weeks.

IMAGE UNITED: INTERLUDE, a 32-page, full-color comic book for $3.99, will be in-stores on March 31^st, 2010

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Image United Pre-Release Sell-Out

21 December 2009 (Berkeley, CA) - IMAGE UNITED, the six-part crossover written by Robert Kirkman and featuring Image Founders Erik Larsen, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Whilce Portacio, Marc Silvestri, and Jim Valentino, makes its second-coming to comic stands this Wednesday with a pre-release, distribution-level sell out!

"Considering the substantial overprint, we're quite pleased by how quickly IMAGE UNITED has sold out," Kirkman said. "The reception to the first issue was immense - with its own sell-out the day of release - but to hear it's happening a second time, two days before, makes everyone involved very happy. This crossover is a major labor of love, so we're very thankful for the support from both our fans and retail partners."

IMAGE UNITED is a six-part crossover encompassing the entire Image superhero universe and features each Image founder illustrating their own characters. Since its announcement, the crossover has garnered headlines from the New York Times, USAToday, and other media outlets clinging desperately to what passes for "life," with its once-in-a-lifetime approach to the superhero crossover. Despite a significant overprint, the second issue completely sold-out at a distribution-level two days before release! A new printing will be released in January with a new cover by Rob Liefeld.

IMAGE UNITED #2 2^nd-Printing, a 32-page, full-color comic book for $3.99, will be in stores January 20^th, 2010.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Image United #1 Sell-Out

Despite a significant overprinting, the first issue of Image United sold-out and is going back to print. While the second-printing won't be available until just before Christmas (December 23^rd), a special, foil edition of Image United #1 will hit stands December 3^rd.

Image United is a bit of a double-entendre: not only is it a crossover event establishing the cornerstones of the Image Universe, it is also the first project on which all of the founding members have worked. Generally speaking, each member will draw his own character(s), though the process hasn't worked-out quite that easily, as Erik Larsen tells Newsarama. Also, the majority of the comics are being drawn "the old-fashioned" way: by hand (as opposed to computer)! Though Larsen admits some computers are involved, by and large, all of the members are actually penciling and inking their characters by hand.

This is obviously a big event, and the mainstream press hasn't overlooked it. While we focus on the enjoyment of comic books, The Rundown would be remiss if we didn't point-out the collectibility of these issues! Still, above and beyond that, Image United is (as noted) the establishment of the Image Universe - who exists where in the same, shared "reality." Up to now, the relationships between characters, situations, and locations has been minimized or completely disregarded; while some characters have mentioned others, and so on, that's about as far as it's gone. Now, readers will know that Savage Dragon and Spawn are aware of one another's existence, for example, and that Spawn's Hell is the same Savage Dragon might one day visit.

And, of course, this is also your chance to see almost all of Comicdom's "rock star superheroes" working together!

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Jim Lee's Return Makes Image United!

Image founder and WILDC.A.Ts creator, Jim Lee, provides all-new cover for November's IMAGE UNITED #1!

4 November 2009 (Berkeley, CA) - Since IMAGE UNITED's announcement, fans have clamored for the one missing Image Comics founder, Jim Lee, to take part in the crossover event. Earlier today, Image and Newsarama revealed Lee will definitely take part with an all-new cover featuring the entire pantheon of Image superheroes at the hands of the resurrected Al Simmons.

"Things just got real," IMAGE UNITED writer, Robert Kirkman, said. "Having all seven founders truly united propels the crossover to a whole new level. That's a commonly used phrase, but it's definitely the case here. This is exactly the moment fans have been hoping for and I'm very happy to say Jim delivered. That said, if you think this is cool, just wait for what happens next!"

IMAGE UNITED is a six-part crossover encompassing the entire Image superhero universe and features each Image founder illustrating his own characters. Since its announcement, the crossover has set headlines with New York Times, USAToday, and other massive media outlets for its once-in-a-lifetime approach to the superhero crossover. Lee's cover is available for order in addition to those by fellow founders Erik Larsen, Rob Liefeld, Jim Valentino, Whilce Portacio, Marc Silvestri, and Todd McFarlane.

IMAGE UNITED #1, a full-color, 32-page comic book for $3.99, will be in stores November 25^th, 2009.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Image United - Where Does Spawn Stand?

© C Harris Lynn, 2009