Thirty-five years after a group of artists decided they wanted to own what they created, Image Comics is making 2027 an anniversary year. The publisher’s 35th anniversary celebration begins in February, with a special logo treatment, support for comic shops and a year-long Team-Up variant campaign. There are more announcements to come, but the opening plans already put creators and the characters they own at the center of the party.
Image was established in February 1992 by Erik Larsen, Rob Liefeld, Jim Lee, Todd McFarlane, Whilce Portacio, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. Their decision to build a publishing company where creators retained ownership and control of their work helped make an independent path visible on a massive scale. For anybody who cares about the people making the comics getting to own their ideas, that history is a reason to pay attention.
The publisher says it has grown into America’s third-largest comics and graphic novel publisher while keeping that creator-owned mission. Its books have reached across horror, fantasy, crime, science fiction, romance and plenty more, giving very different kinds of creators a place in the catalog. The anniversary plans are meant to celebrate both the long-running series that helped establish Image and the newer talent shaping what comes next.
The familiar Image “i” logo, originally designed by Liefeld, will appear with a special 35th anniversary treatment on comics and company branding throughout 2027. Comic-shop retailers will also receive anniversary-branded promotional items, including a wall calendar designed to stay up all year. The supplied images below show the anniversary mark and examples of its use on upcoming covers.
The monthly Team-Up variant campaign runs throughout the year, bringing together Image characters from different generations of the publisher’s history. It kicks off in February with a line-wide D’orc Team-Up cover takeover, celebrating the first anniversary of Brett Bean’s breakout character. Fans will be seeing that character turn up across the line as Image gets the campaign moving.
Eric Stephenson, Image’s Chief Creative Officer and Publisher, reflected on the doubts that surrounded the company at launch and credited its continuing strength to publishing work owned and controlled by its talent. His focus for the anniversary is celebrating creators from the company’s past, present and future. After three and a half decades, the reason the company started is still the reason being put forward for its next year.
Kat Salazar, VP of PR and Marketing, says the celebration will recognize the beloved long-running series alongside the new school of Image talent. She also teased further initiatives, including announcements that have been years in the making and respond to repeated fan requests. No details on those yet, so we will be watching for the actual reveals as they arrive.
The official examples include Radioactive Revolution #1 Cover A with Gary Frank artwork and The Myth of 8-Opus #1 Cover B by Erik Larsen, both forthcoming in February 2027 with the anniversary branding. The publisher is also advising fans and retailers to expect additional anniversary news, events and celebrations as the year approaches.
Keep up with Image Comics as the remaining plans roll out, and check with your local shop about the February Team-Up variants. Crusaders, there are a lot of books and creators wrapped up in 35 years of Image. I’m looking forward to seeing which corners of that history get a spotlight alongside the newer characters joining the shelves.
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