They say you can’t go home again. But Rob Liefeld is puffing out his chest and pulling out all the pouches to return to Youngblood, the comic book that helped Image Comics as a player in the industry nearly 33 years ago, with a new series, merchandise, and more.
“It’s so great that I can run into the comfort of characters that I created, that launched a movement,” Liefeld said via a press release provided to Comic Book Club. “They carry such history. I love Youngblood so much. These characters are my absolute passion.”
Despite creating the characters back in 1987, Liefeld revealed in 2019 that he hasn’t had the rights to Youngblood for years — hence part of the reason he stepped away from the property seven years ago. But now he’s back and reunited with Scott Mitchell Rosenberg who first teamed up with Liefeld way back when Image Comics was first formed in 1992. Rosenberg is now the CEO fo Platnium Studios Inc., who manages Youngblood for the owner of the property, Rip Media Inc.
“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,” Rosenberg added. “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.”
While details are light on what the Youngblood revival means at the moment, there will be a new title written and illustrated by Liefeld that will launch from Image Comics in 2025. In addition, the Youngblood Vault Edition will include high-resolution scans of original art from the first Youngblood series. And a Facsimile Edition of Youngblood #1 will be released in April 2025 to mark the property’s 33rd anniversary, a regular anniversary that we all celebrate.
“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!”
Check out some new Youngblood art from Liefeld below, and see if he’s still got it.
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