From: David Crowe <[j--tm--n] at [primenet.com]>
Subject: [NEWS] Liefeld cancels "evil" books
Date: Mon, 02 Dec 96 02:19:52 GMT
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.info

This is from the 11/27/96 Diamond Dateline.

EXTREME ANNOUNCES NEW PHILOSOPHY FOR 1997.

Extreme Studios-whose books will now be published under the Maximum Press
banner-has announced that its 1997 publishing plans will embrace a new
philosophy designed to reduce the amount of graphic violence, language,
and adult/mature situations that have characterized several of its titles.

"For the past two years," said Extreme Studios President Rob Liefeld, "I
have watched our titles and the subject matter they contain grow darker and
darker...I feel that we've gotten way too close to the edge and it's time
to pull back."

Liefeld continued by citing the bold, bright books that influenced him as
a young comics reader, such as The Legion of Super-Heroes, The Teen Titans,
The Avengers, and X-Men.  "When I look at our current slate of titles," he
said, "I don't see the same attributes that attracted me as a fan."

Liefeld assumed responsibility for creating so many books which glorified
the dark side of human nature, such as Priest, Prophet and Avengelyne.  "While
we realize there is a segment of fandom that craves the dark side," he said,
"we feel that shifting our focus towards a lighter, less menacing tone is the
right move for our company."

To that end, Priest, Darkchylde, and Celestine-Extreme books that, in
Liefeld's view, "explore and promote evil"-have been canceled.
Avengelyne, which Liefeld defined as a character fighting for good, will
be toned down and made more accessible for younger readers.

Other Extreme titles-such as Youngblood, Glory, Prophet and NewMen-will
become more prominent in the company's line-up, starting with the release
of Extreme  Genesis #0, which will introduce readers to these books and
explain how they exist outside the Image Comics Universe. (Previously
scheduled for a January, 1997 release Extreme Genesis has been rescheduled
for February.)

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--
David "No Nickname" Crowe			No generalization is true
						-not even this one.