As someone whose put out the majority of their work through Image, I’m embarrassed to say that, for the most part, I missed out on Image’s golden era.  Probably because it corresponded with the time I discovered girls (although not necessarily when they discovered me).

Image is relaunching Rob Liefeld’s Extreme universe with Brandon Graham on PROPHET, Tim Seeley on Bloodstrike, and now my friend Joe Keatinge and Ross Campbell on GLORY.

Because I missed these books, I carry neither fond nostalgia for them nor any of the baggage that Liefeld has, fairly or unfairly been saddled with over the years.  But I just picked up a copy of GLORY #23 today and I’m here to tell you that none of that matters. 

It’s a smart, fun book that achieves something very rare in comics these days - allowing a reader to come in without any knowledge of the character, history or continuity.

Story-wise…it reminds me of the early issues of Alan Moore’s Promethea…before it went from adventure book to a treatise on magic (albeit an interesting and visually compelling one).  I wasn’t familiar with Ross Campbell’s work before this, but he’s an inspired choice.

Joe’s got what looks to be a big year with HELL YEAH with Andre Szymanowicz (someone I’m kicking myself for not asking to work with him before Joe snatched him up) and BRUTAL with some guy named Frank Cho.  The success I’m sure he’ll have is well deserved…as a behind-the-scenes guy at Image he couldn’t have been more helpful and patient with an up and coming creator such as myself.

Along with Sam Humphries’ SACRIFICE #3, GLORY is a book I highly recommend you pick up at your local retailer today.

joekeatinge:

TODAY’S THE DAY!

GLORY #23 is finally a real, printed comic book you can buy in your local comic book shop! Be sure to stop by your local funnybook emporium and scoop a copy up.

I thought it would be fun to take a peek at GLORY #23 in the wild, so here’s a smattering of stores with copies…