The Walking Dead for KIDS??

On April first at Emerald City Comicon, Robert Kirkman and Chris Giarusso revealed a new project: THE WALKING DEAD for Kids. A panel-by-panel recreation of the original issues using Kirkman's scripts, THE WALKING DEAD for Kids would be drawn in an art style with kid appeal by G-MAN creator Giarusso.

The project, of course, was yet another April Fool's Day prank on a day that saw a few "announcements" come out of the convention.But the image is part of a series of special limited edition variant covers that Image Comics will be releasing in the upcoming year.

In commemoration of Image's 20th anniversary, Giarusso will re-create twelve classic first issue covers. First to get the too-cute treatment is YOUNGBLOOD, the very first Image title. The cover will ship in limited quantity as a variant for YOUNGBLOOD #71 (FEB128256), the relaunch of the Rob Liefeld Extreme Studios title written by screenwriter John McLaughlin (The Black Swan, Parker) and drawn by John Malin (AVENGELYNE) and Liefeld. YOUNGBLOOD #71 will be in stores on May 23.

The covers are Giarosso's tribute to his youthful love of Image Comics. "Twenty years ago, I was eagerly anticipating the launch of Image Comics," said the artist. "Maybe it was partially due to my upcoming high school graduation, but it felt like the whole world was changing. I vividly recall the excitement of seeing the Image books on the shelf for the first time.  It was a new era, and these cover images were instantly iconic. The opportunity to pay tribute to these classic Image covers is an honor and a privilege, and I couldn't be more excited about my role and participation in Image's 20th anniversary celebration."

Look for more Giarusso tribute covers in the coming months!

Bloodstrike #26 is Off to Second Printing

The relaunches of Rob Liefeld's Extreme line for Image Comics has continued to be a sure bet for retailers, as the debut issue of the latest title, BLOODSTRIKE #26, has sold out.

The continuation of the story of Cabbot Stone, a black-ops soldier who can survive any injury, thanks to a shadowy military program called Project Born Again, is written by Tim Seeley (HACK/SLASH) with art by Franchesco Gaston, and is in stores today, March 28.

A second printing of BLOODSTRIKE #26 (FEB128069) will be in stores on April 25, the same day as BLOODSTRIKE #27 (FEB120496).

Image Comics and Extreme Studios Prophet #23 and Glory #24 Back to Press

Rob Liefeld's Extreme Studios titles PROPHET and GLORY were two of the mainstays of the nascent Image Comics; now, twenty years later, they're proving their mettle in a new generation with re-imagined relaunches by prominent independent comics creators.

The latest issues — PROPHET #23 and GLORY #24 — have sold out, prompting second printings for both. Both titles have sold out of their issues three months in a row. GLORY #24's second printing will be in stores on April 11 and PROPHET #23's will be out the following week, April 18. PROPHET #23 was in stores today, March 21, and GLORY #24 went on sale on March 14.

Critics have praised both titles' creative teams for their new vision of the Extreme titles, part of a relaunch campaign that also includes YOUNGBLOOD, BLOODSTRIKE, and SUPREME.

Brandon Graham (KING CITY) and Simon Roy place John Prophet in an uncanny landscape of a future Earth, fighting his way through bizarre predators and navigating even more bizarre cultures to awaken the G.O.D. Satellite. In a review at The Comics Journal Charles Hatfield wrote, "Writer Graham, cartoonist Roy, and colorist Ballermann work together to conjure a lurid, gushing world, one that calls for gooseflesh and cold sweat."

Glory becomes a broad-muscled, towering warrior in the hands of Joe Keatinge (HELL YEAH) and Ross Campbell (Wet Moon, Shadoweyes), living once again among humans after a long absence. In a review at Comic Book Resources, Kelly Thompson called the new GLORY "some of the most innovative and ballsy work comics has seen for a long time. This is a re-launch, people."

Both titles are ongoing, full color comic books, available in comic book stores and from multiple digital platforms.