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Impossible? Well, believe it or not, Rob Liefeld’s founding Image Comics title Youngblood is coming back in 2025.
Blood’s still plenty young
If you remember, and we realize that would be completely depending on your age, Youngblood was one of the big initial comics of the now-legendary Image. The title launched a whole new set of characters for creator Rob Liefeld, who’d previously made a massive name for himself at Marvel with the likes of Deadpool, Cable, and X-Force.
Youngblood would enjoy a lengthy run with Image, becoming a multi-million seller, before entering a bit of a tumultuous publishing period where new issues were few and far between. All of that though, is well in the past, as the superhero comic will once again find itself back on the stands, and in its former home, for 2025.
The rebirth will come by way of not only Liefeld, but also Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, CEO of Platinum Studios Inc.. Rosenberg is no stranger to the brand or Liefeld, having teamed with him in Image’s early days. He now serves as the manager of Youngblood, for Rip Media Inc. (the current owner).
Some quotes from the headlining parties:
For his part, Liefeld is eager to embrace the legacy of the comic, characters and company: “It’s so great that I can run into the comfort of characters that I created, that launched a movement. They carry such history. I love Youngblood so much. These characters are my absolute passion.”
Rosenberg added: “Rob and I are a fantastic team, and I’m as excited now for Youngblood’s relaunch as I was in 1992 for its initial launch. The team’s awesome characters have not only been in their own Youngblood comics, but also appeared in more than 100 million comic publications worldwide, including crossovers with Marvel and other Image comics. I’m excited to bring them to audiences old and new with their original creator, Rob Liefeld.”
Rosenberg and Liefeld are combining to create new Youngblood media and merchandise, kicking off with a brand-new title written and illustrated by Liefeld himself, set to launch from Image Comics in 2025.
“As our company’s very first comic, Youngblood set the course not just for Image Comics, but for creator-owned comics, so we couldn’t be more thrilled that Rob is returning to his signature creation,” said Image Comics Publisher and Chief Creative Officer Eric Stephenson. “Rob’s vision for these characters and this concept is what originally attracted me to Image Comics way back in the 1990s, so it’s especially exciting that the series that started it all is finally coming home!”
Image Comics press release
Bright future
According to Image Comics, this isn’t just a one-off return for Youngblood. Instead, it’s seeming like it might be a grand re-debut for the 90s powerhouse. Image says that the new deal will cover both “new media and merch in 2025”, so there’s potentially a lot of Youngblood excitement inbound.
The first shots of that return will come in the form of the Youngblood Vault Edition. That’s exactly what you might think it is, and will include “high resolution scans of the original art from the first Youngblood series in a deluxe oversized hardcover”, according to the press release.
Comics fans likely know the “Vault Edition” form factor, as we’ve seen some examples from a few different companies over the years. Typically, they’re impressive tomes, though we’ve yet to see what the Youngblood edition will offer.
Aside from that, there’s also a Facsimile Edition of Youngblood #1 to look forward to. That reprint of the book’s very first issue will mark the property’s 33rd anniversary, and will land in stores this coming April. As mentioned though, it definitely sounds like Image has some big plans for Youngblood, so stay tuned.
