From: Rich Johnston <[r--n--n] at [ea.com]>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc,rec.arts.comics.marvel.universe,rec.arts.comics.marvel.xbooks,alt.comics.image
Subject: Rich's Perspective: Rob Liefeld
Date: 5 Sep 1996 03:16:36 -0700

Rich's Perspective: An occasional column

Rob Liefeld

It was Hawk and Dove that brought Rob Liefled to peoiple's attention.

(NOTE: I claim the origination of the phrase Rob Liefled to describe
his present state- fleeing from Image.)

We have been told that the inker did an awful lot of work, even redrawing scenes.
Nevertheless, this twisted Art Adams style was popular enough for Rob to choose
his X-book, New Mutants over X-Factor. And he transformed it,
bringing a new flavour and new characters directly against the
spirit that Louise Simonson was writing the book it. One of them had to go.

The transformation to x-Force came at the time of the comics boom,
pushing Liefled, Lee, Portacio, Larsen and McFarlane to unprecented fame in
the comics industry. And they left for riches.

If Rob Liefled had just published Youngblood, it would have been a true
success, just like McFarlane stuck with Spawn on and off. But Rob wanted
to grow. Spinoff series given to friends and assistant inkers grew
and outmatched the original series. Rob's ideas grew and grew
spinning off into other companies. But ideas without talent
are hollow. Rob spent money like crazy, on advertising, on promotion
on large animatronic versions of Badrock. He paid very well indeed.

And the money went. Sales fell when the balloon popped. Rumours about 
bankruptcy floated around the industry. He was being vilified across the place.

When Heroes Reborn started, Lee's work, radical that it was, was accepted.
Liefled's has not been. 

But he really has improved. Taking his work now and comparing it to X-Force
work, there is a drastic improvement, tightened art, even evidence of 
storytelling ability.

It's too late now. Todd McFarlane said that he used Rob to cause hell at Marvel,
to do things he would never do. And that's what Rob has been doing at Image.
Marc left because of him. People have fallen out and haven't been paid.

Now it's Valentino's turn. The non-payment issue has struck deep at Image. This
is the last straw as far as bad public image is concerned. And Rob
is out on his arse.

BTW, for the solicitations to be as they are now, the split must have
happened four months ago. This has been a long time coming and must 
have been planned. A calculated coup.

Rob will survive. His Marvel deal, his films, his name will still pull
in money. But anyone working at Extreme must be looking carefully at 
their paypacket.

Rich Johnston <[r--n--n] at [ea.com]>
Twist and Shout Comics
I'm a Firestarter! Twist and Shouted Firestarter!