Youngblood (Image Comics, 1992–2013)

“America’s first government-sanctioned super-team.”

Youngblood was the flagship title that launched Image Comics in 1992, created, written, and illustrated by Rob Liefeld. It ushered in the creator-owned comic revolution of the 1990s, breaking from traditional publisher control and giving artists full ownership of their work. The series blended superhero spectacle with celebrity culture and government politics, redefining what a modern team book could look like in the decade of excess.

Series Overview:
Youngblood follows two divisions of a government-sponsored super-team — the Home Team, who operate publicly as media darlings and celebrity heroes, and the Away Team, who handle covert black-ops missions around the globe. Together they form a volatile blend of ego, patriotism, and power.

The roster includes:

• Shaft – a skilled archer and field leader.
• Diehard – an ageless cyborg super-soldier.
• Badrock – a teenage powerhouse trapped in a rock-like body.
• Vogue – an agile, fashion-conscious Russian operative.
• Chapel – a ruthless government assassin (and key figure in Spawn’s backstory).
• Combat, Sentinel, Cougar, and others — rounding out the larger Youngblood program.

The early issues leaned heavily on explosive visuals, stylized designs, and a kinetic energy that helped define the 1990s Image aesthetic. Later runs by writers like Alan Moore and Joe Casey reinterpreted the team with greater depth, focusing on themes of celebrity, morality, and government manipulation.

Major Storylines & Phases:

• Youngblood Vol. 1 (1992–1994) – The original series by Rob Liefeld, introducing the world and characters.
• Youngblood Vol. 2 (1995–1996) – Expanded character arcs and restructured team hierarchy.
• Alan Moore’s Youngblood (1997) – A short-lived but highly regarded reinterpretation that emphasized political realism and complex character motivations.
• Youngblood Vol. 3 (2008) – Relaunch with modernized art and storytelling by Joe Casey and Derec Donovan.
• Youngblood Vol. 4 (2012–2013) – Further explored legacy and generational conflict within the Youngblood program.

Creative Legacy:

• Creator: Rob Liefeld
• Notable Contributors: Alan Moore, Joe Casey, Mark Farmer, Chap Yaep, Derec Donovan, Karl Altstaetter

Publication Details:

• Original Publisher: Image Comics
• Later Imprints: Maximum Press, Awesome Entertainment
• Initial Run: Youngblood #1–10 (Vol. 1, 1992–1994) and multiple relaunches through 2013

Significance:
Youngblood was more than a comic — it was a movement. As Image’s first published title, it symbolized creator freedom and the rise of artist-driven storytelling. While remembered for its flashy 1990s style, the series also laid groundwork for creator-owned independence and remains a defining artifact of comic book history’s most rebellious era.