In the winter of 1991, several of Marvel Comics' top cartoonists came forward to defend their rights against Marvel, offering Marvel a request that they had no hope of getting consent to: the author would enjoy 75 percent of the profits.

Marvel rejected without question!

In February 1992, seven cartoonists held a press conference at their home in West Westley to announce to the media the birth of a new era: Image Comics was founded! The seven cartoonists are Todd? McFarlane, Jim? Lee, Eric? Larson, Rob? Lefeld, Mark? West Westley, Wyles? Portasio, and Jim? Valentino.

This company established two major principles that subverted the comic book company at that time: 1. The company itself never appropriated the rights and interests of the creators; 2. The company will never interfere in the creation of content or economy! IMAGE comics are like shell companies: they don't own people, they don't own works, they don't own characters, the only thing they have is the letter "i" that represents it!

BUT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF IMAGE CAUSED AN UPROAR AT THE TIME, JUST AS THE NASCENT AMERICAN TAOBAO WEBSITE USED A "FREE GIMMICK" TO FIGHT THE LONG-ESTABLISHED EBAY, AND IT SPARKED A LONG-STANDING DISCUSSION: IS IT THE GOOD AUTHOR OR THE WONDERFUL CHARACTER THAT ATTRACTS READERS?

At that time, the seven rebels who dared to say no to tradition were admired like never before, and they themselves were ready to go on a big fight, but there was always a distance between beautiful dreams and reality, and the honeymoon always came to an end.

When Image's "revolutionary" aura gradually faded, several cartoonists also lost their original unity, and the reason is simple: although they share a common love for comics, as cartoonists who debuted almost at the same time, became famous at the same time, and drew different series at Marvel, they were originally friends and secretly rivals with each other.

Between these geniuses, no one is convinced. Their goals and goals were different from the start: Lefeld dreamed of making it to Hollywood, McFarlane focused on the toy industry, and Valentino was probably the only one who wasn't keen on superheroes...... Disadvantages of Image: began to be exposed one by one.

After the establishment of IMAGE Comics, the manga publishing industry was a mess for a few years.

With their enthusiasm, Image's cartoonists gradually began to lose focus on the comics themselves, and they were artists, not businessmen. They painted at their preferred pace without thinking too much about publication and distribution.

Soon they found that once they did not have the pressure of assembly line work, they could not complete their work before the deadline, and problems such as missing deadlines and bouncing tickets followed.

Several of the founders had to rely on others to write to catch up, and many cartoonists targeted the vacuum created by their departure. Turning to Marvel, Image himself struggled to recruit good assistants.

The problem grew, and soon their own comics became the occasional embellishment interspersed with comics made up by others. What is even more widely criticized is that a group of authors who lack professional training have hurriedly joined the industry, and the shoddy comics of the time have filled the market, causing dissatisfaction among readers!

In 1996, with the personnel changes of Image, Lefeld was expelled from the company, and its internal conflicts finally erupted. The second year. West Westley bought Lefeld's TopCow comics to continue operating.

In 1998, Jim? Lee with his own Storm Studios and Alain? Moore's [later joined] ABC Company went to DC, a move that McFarland derided as "going back to the plantation."

……

Despite this, the co-founder of IMAGE Comics has vowed to defeat Marvel Comics. In fact, they both maintain a disconnected relationship with Marvel Comics, Rob? Lefeld has repeatedly stated that if "IMAGE Comics fails, he will return to Marvel to continue working". The other founders apparently shared the same opinion.

As the two giants of the comic industry, Marvel Comics and DC Comics are both team assembly line operations. The reason why Stewart rejected McFarlane's "unreasonable demands" was that he refused. It's also because Marvel Entertainment doesn't have a shortage of comic book artists who write the main writers, and they only need to promote those talented people from the creative team to be up to the job!

From this point of view, it's not so much that the comic book company needs Todd? McFarlane is a talented cartoonist, and it is better to be a cartoonist who needs a comic book company to free them from non-interest-related matters!

Now in 2002, although IMAGE Comics has experienced business chaos, personnel turmoil and other twists and turns, as a banner independent company representing the interests of cartoonists, it still has a market share of 7%-10% in the U.S. market, and Dark Horse and other independent comic companies, tearing apart the comic market under the monopoly of Marvel and DC!

In this context, the founders of IMAGE Comics received a letter from the president of Chenxing Culture Group, Ike ? Perlmut's invitation! Considering that Song Chen, the big boss behind the scenes, is still in New York, Todd? McFarlane immediately realized that Song Chen wanted to see them!

In McFarlane's office, the founders of IMAGE comics gathered to discuss whether to accept Perlmut's invitation.

Mark, whose representative works include "X-Men" and "Wolverine"? West Westley asked, "Would you like to meet this guy who is called 'the illegitimate son of God'?" Although I haven't met, I think this guy is a terrible person! ”

"Let me guess, after DC Comics, he's going to recruit us to work under him!" Wiles? Portasio shrugged his shoulders and teased, "This guy must have a great cause to unify American comics!" ”

Jim? Valentino muttered, "Not to mention whether he will make such a request, if he does, Macfarlane, how are you going to answer?" Back to Marvel Comics? ”

Todd? McFarlane said slowly: "If there is no intention to acquire, Perlmut does not need to see us at all, and in ten years, I think we have nothing in common except for 'compromise'!" The question is, will Marvel compromise? Will we? We've had a good time all these years, and we need to go back to Marvel to see the faces of those editors? ”

Stepmother? Valentino smiled: "Perlmut may not compromise, but Song Chen maybe!" ”

Wiles? Portasio stared directly at Todd? McFarlane said: "Maybe we can wait and see, if Song Chen is willing to come up with a sufficiently attractive price, it will be nothing to return to Marvel!" Maybe IMAGE can save zài alone! ”

"If it is really acquired by Song Chen, IMAGE can only give up!" West Westley smiled bitterly, "This company is something that no strong boss can tolerate!" ”

Eric? Larson frowned slightly and said, "Even if the other party is waving dollars and checks, is it necessary for us to be acquired?" ”

McFarlane said slowly: "There is really no need! However, if we want to operate film and television rights, we need a lot of financial support! Otherwise, you will have to sell the adaptation rights to Hollywood Pictures! What's more...... His god-like eyes that 'penetrate time and space' symbolize great wealth and profit, and I don't think anyone would refuse to accept his advice! ”

West Westley said categorically: "In that case, let's meet first!" ”

……

To their surprise, their meeting place was not at Marvel headquarters or at a high-end restaurant, but at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, where a huge venue of thousands of square meters was carefully prepared to entertain all the employees of Marvel Entertainment, from the president to the interns, in the form of a buffet.

Not to mention those middle and high-level executives of Marvel Entertainment, let's just say that those dick-like grassroots, under Song Chen's generosity, enjoy high-society gatherings at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, which is known for its luxury, and even bring their own families or couples, not to mention how happy they are!

One can imagine how enthusiastic the atmosphere was, with more than 100 employees dancing under the performance of more than a dozen symphony bands, turning the elegant and exquisite party of the upper class into a Christmas ball.

So, when the five founders of IMAGE appeared at the gate, the originally exciting and lively dance party suddenly turned into an atmospheric and elegant concert hall - only the music echoed in the space, and perhaps a little inhalation; And Todd? McFarlane and his entourage were equally embarrassed to see their former bosses, editors, and assistants......

"What's the point of meeting in a place like this? We haven't agreed to join yet! "Wiles? Portasio couldn't help but grumble under his breath.

Jim? Valentino whispered to a middle-aged man named Nunu, who was shaking his salute with champagne, "Look! Rob? Lefeld, Jim? Lee: They're there too! ”

Eric? Larson muttered, "I'm not surprised to see Lefeld, but Lee is there, so it's intriguing!" ”

Just as they were hesitating to go in, they suddenly heard Ike? Perlmut pretended to cough into the microphone, and then smiled with a smile on his face: "Everyone, let's welcome our old friend Todd?" McFarland, Eric? Larson, Mark? West Westley, Wyles? Portasio, and Jim? Valentino...... Although we have had a lot of unpleasantness in the past, they have made great contributions to Marvel Comics, and we will not forget these great deeds! Welcome! ”

With a small round of applause, Todd? McFarland's tense expression eased, and a faint smile appeared on his face. A waiter in a white shirt and jacket came over with a fine wine, and McFarlane took a sip of his glass and said to the others, "Now that you're here, let me relax!" (To be continued......)