5 Things We Don't Miss About '90s Comics (And 5 We Do)

That being said, the impact and legacy of Image Comics cannot be understated considering what it brought to the medium as far as protecting the rights of its workers. The primary tenant of Image Comics was that the creators who would make properties would keep them. McFarlane created and continues to own Spawn. Liefeld retained the rights to Youngblood. This was an offer that was extremely tempting for creators across all platforms.

This platform attracted top-tier talent like Alex Ross, Alan Moore, Kurt Busiek and others to work on their own projects, in which they could retain rights. Without Image, critically acclaimed books like WildCATS, Astro City, and Witchblade would have never come to fruition. Image forced a third major publisher into the market, which was unheard of at the time.

Some books flat out didn't work - Youngblood never had a strong story and Shadowhawk went largely under the radar. However, heavyweights like Spawn and WildCATS created amazing new stories and characters. Savage Dragon by Erik Larsen was popular and consistent, becoming an anchor for the entire company. Regrettably, the titles have either settled into a lower-tier compared to larger competition or are no longer in print entirely.

The biggest thrill may not have been the books themselves as opposed to the pure potential the company possessed. Fans and insiders alike believed Image could rock the entire industry. Make no mistake: for a time, it did. It just never reached the lofty heights so many had hoped.