A1 – Parodies and Meta References

Liefeld-verse Parodies: Both Official and Unauthorized

Parodies of the Liefeld-verse, ranging from full-issue homages to cameo appearances.

Books in RED TEXT do not meet the requirements for this collection but are included for context.

  • 1992 Chicago Comicon Souvenir Book (1992) [Chicago Comicon] 07/1992
    • 2-page parody introduction to Image Comics characters and creators, made by Brandon Choi and Jim Lee
  • Loco Vs. Pulverine (1992) #1 [Eclipse Comics] 07/1992
    • parody team “Youngflood” appears in an art style mimicking Liefeld’s
  • Spoof Comics Presents (1992) #0 [Spoof Comics] 07/1992
    • Book ends with pin-up/ad for “future” spoof books that includes Youngspud.
    • NOTE: Youngspud characters in pinup are presented in the formation of the Youngblood (1992) #1 cover, but the drawing is not exactly the same as the cover of Youngspud (1992) #1. This is a second full rendering of the same image/composition.
  • Youngspud (1992) #1 [Spoof Comics] 1992
  • Oldblood (1992) #1 [Parody Press] 09/1992
    • flip-book
  • Lethargic Comics, Weakly (1991) #11 [Lethargic Comics] 07/1992
    • Youngblood (1992) #1 homage cover
    • Rob Liefeld Fan Club story (Part 1)
  • Lethargic Comics, Weakly (1991) #12 [Alpha Productions] 1993
    • Rob Liefeld Fan Club story (Part 2)
  • Lethargic Comics (1994) #3 [Alpha Productions] 03/1994
    • Guy-With-A-Gun story has a montage of costumes including “the inevitable Liefeld” with shoulder pads
    • an editors note says “*The background of this panel is respectfully dedicated to Rob Liefeld and all the sixteen year old boys at Extreme Studios.” The background is blank.
  • Lethargic Comics (1994) #5 [Alpha Productions] 07/1994
    • final page of the comic is a direct parody of Rob Liefeld’s proposal to Joy Beth Creel from Youngblood (1992) #6
  • Lethargic Comics (1994) #6 [Alpha Productions] 09/1994
    • “The Zit” story contains a parody comic book called “Juvenileplasma #1” and another parody comic called “Profit”.
  • Lethargic Lad (1996) #2 [Crusade Comics] 06/1996
    • Badrock (costume) cameo
  • Lethargic Lad Adventures (1997) #4 [Destination Entertainment] 04/1998
    • “Captain Canadian” becomes the Fighting Canadian in reference to Liefeld’s use of the Fighting American
  • Lethargic Lad Adventures (1997) #5 [Destination Entertainment] 06/1998
    • Fighting Canadian appearance
  • Lethargic Lad Adventures (1997) #6 [Destination Entertainment] 09/1998
    • Fighting Canadian appearance
  • Lethargic Lad Adventures (1997) #7 [Destination Entertainment] 11/1998
    • Fighting Canadian appearance
  • Lethargic Lad Adventures (1997) #8 [Destination Entertainment] 01/1999
    • Fighting Canadian appearance
  • Lethargic Lad Adventures (1997) #9 [Destination Entertainment] 03/1999
    • Fighting Canadian appearance
  • Lethargic Lad Adventures (1997) #10 [Destination Entertainment] 05/1999
    • Fighting Canadian appearance
  • Spittin’ Image (1992) #1 [Eclipse Comics] 10/1992
  • Lobo Convention Special (1993) #1 [DC Comics] 1993
    • Bloodwulf parody cameo appears on page 17 (above a sign reading “POWDER ROOM”)
  • Adventures of Fanboy: ComicFest ’93 Ashcan Edition (1993) #1 [Virtue Publications] 10/1993
    • page 3 includes a comic book rack with the title “Young Bloody Stupid”
    • page 5 has a background poster reading “It’s Rob’s Blood… Blood…Blood…”
  • Married with Children 2099 (1993) #1 [Now] 06/1993
    • parody cameo of 1963’s The Planet (from Mystery Incorporated)
  • Married with Children Bud Bundy Fanboy in Paradise (1994) #1 [Now Comics] 07/1994
    • All Liefeld parody is on one page.
    • “Bobby Leftfield” & “D.U.N.G.BLOOD”
    • “Leftfield’s” mother in a Badrock costume
  • Simpsons Comics (1993) #5 [Bongo Entertainment] 07/1994
    • contains Youngblood parody characters
    • issue is part 2 (of 3) of crossover event “When Bongos Collide”
  • Splitting Image (1993) #1 [Image Comics] 03/1993
    • official parody
  • Splitting Image (1993) #2 [Image Comics] 04/1993
    • official parody
  • normalman-Megaton Man Special (1994) #1 [Image Comics] 08/1994
    • story picks-up from where Splitting Image (1993) #2 ends
    • Splitting Image parody characters appear early in this issue
  • Splitting Image 80-Page Giant (2017) #1 [Image Comics] 04/2017
    • re-colored reprint of Splitting Image (1993) #1-2 & normalman-Megaton Man Special (1994) #1
  • X-Amount of Comics: 1963 (WhenElse?!) Annual (2023) [Fantagraphics Underground] 08/2023
    • Splitting Image parody characters appear in this issue
  • Supremie (1993) #1 [Parody Press] 01/1993
  • Bragade (1993) #1 [Parody Press] 03/1993
  • Dorkier Images (1993) #1 [Parody Press] 03/1993
  • Youngbroads (1993) #1 [Parody Press] 08/1993
    • flip-book
  • Death of Stupidman (1993) #1 [Parody Press] 1993
    • center poster is of parody heroes carrying a coffin, in the back is a giant meant to be Badrock
  • Death of Stupidman Collection (1993) #1 [Parody Press] 1993
    • poster with Badrock parody from previous version is now used as the cover image
  • Dream Weavers in Extreme Homage (1994) #1 (of 1) [Golden Realm Unlimited Inc.] 1994
    • Youngblood parody team called “Extreme Blood”
  • Zen Intergalactic Ninja April Fool’s Special (1994) #1 [Parody Press] 1994
    • flip-book with “RENN Intergalactic Chihuahua”
    • “RENN Intergalactic Chihuahua” is a mash-up of Zen Intergalactic Ninja & Ren (from Ren and Stimpy)
    • on the 4th page of RENN story Renn imagines a group of superheroes called “RENN-MEN” that includes Bedrock from Youngblood (maybe a parody version from another Parody Press book?)
  • SCC Convention Special (1994) [Super Crew Comics] 08/1994
    • On the cover a character has swallowed Liefeld. Liefeld’s pants and sneakers stick out of the charcter’s mouth reading “YOUNGROB”.
    • In-story Liefeld talks to someone he thinks is Todd McFarland, saying: How is that comic of yours going? I still think you should’ve called it “Spawnblood”.
  • Skin 13 (1995) #1/2 [Parody Press] 10/1995
    • fake ads include one for “EXTREME BOOBJOB” with Badrock and Chapel characters in bikinis
  • Extremely Youngblood (1996) #1 [Image Comics] 09/1996
    • official parody
  • Gen 13 (1995 2nd Series) #13B [Image Comics] 11/1996
    • “Image Land” contains an area for each studio
    • references the leaving of Extreme and the issues with Top Cow on page 21
  • Avengeblade (1996) #1 [Maximum Press] 07/1996
    • official parody
  • Avengeblade (1996) #2 [Maximum Press] 08/1996
    • official parody
  • Hyperactives (2006) #0-4 [Alias Enterprises LLC] 12/2005-05/2006
    • character Wereclaw is obviously Cougar but with dog aspects, not cat (character & logo/icon are obvious)
    • premise and art style seems to evoke Youngblood and Extreme Studios
  • Chew: Secret Agent Poyo (2012) #1 [Image Comics] 07/2012
    • Chapel appearance
  • I Hate Image (2017) #1 [Image Comics] 05/2017
    • given away as part of FCBD 2017
    • solicit text: Gertrude has been stuck in Fairyland for decades when she finally hears of a secret passage that may be her way back home. But reaching it is easier said than done as she crosses the border into IMAGE where she’ll have to chop her way through you favorite characters from Saga, The Walking Dead, Savage Dragon, Spawn, Descender, Black Science, Southern Bastards, and any other character I can add to make sure the original art for this issue sends my children to college!
  • I Hate Fairyland: I Hate Image Special Edition (2017) #1 [Image Comics] 10/2017
    • solicit text: The Free Comic Book Day hit is back, with even more pages! Gertrude has been stuck in Fairyland for decades when she finally hears of a secret passage that may be her way back home. But reaching it is easier said than done, as she crosses the border into Image where she’ll have to chop her way through your favorite characters from SAGA, THE WALKING DEAD, SAVAGE DRAGON, SPAWN, DESCENDER, BLACK SCIENCE, SOUTHERN BASTARDS, and many more! This all-new special edition features four additional pages of story as Gert slices and dices her way through even more of your Image favorites, plus a behind the scenes look at Skottie’s script, layouts, and black and white artwork all wrapped in a brand-new cover!
  • Bad Girl Apocalypse (2019) #1 [Counterpoint Entertainment] 2019
    • parodies of many famous female comic book characters including “Avenge-A-Lean”, a parody of Avengelyne
  • Keenspot Spotlight 2019 (2019) #1 [Keenspot Entertainment] 07/2019
    • a Junior High Horrors short story promos X-Liefelds and has a character meant to be Liefeld in it
  • X-Liefelds (2019) #1 [Keenspot Entertainment] 07/2019
    • one-shot parody of Rob Liefeld and his work
    • team of second-rate characters are called “Rejex” (like”Re:Gex”)
    • cover D is often labeled as an homage to Youngblood #1, but I don’t think so, I think it is an homage to X-Force #8, either way it is imperfect
    • solicit says “This parody is so Extreme, it’s Awesome!”
  • Skybound X (2021) #3 [Image Comics] 07/2021
    • main cover includes the text “AWESOME! EXTREME!”
    • Rick Grimes 2000 story includes a version of Andrea that is styled in Liefeld fashion that carries a large Liefeld-style gun. She says “We’ve stolen all kinds of weapons from the aliens during this invasion. This gun, for instance. You ever see something like this on Earth? Nope. It’s awesome… and extreme.”
    • cover “A” by Arthur Adams feels like an homage to Youngblood (1992) #1 (but not enough for me to list it as an homage)
  • Until My Knuckles Bleed (2022) #1 [Behemoth] 02/2022
    • Story of a ’90s superhero dealing with life decades later.
    • Limited 1 for 10 Retailer Incentive Variant Cover is a homage to Youngblood (1992) #1
      • this homage cover exists in-book as the cover to a comic book about the ’90s adventures of the protagonist hero.
    • Book starts with a ’90s flashback (in Frank Miller’s art style) and the text “It was the best of times. It was the most extreme of times.
    • Hero’s ex-wife is “Avengelady”.

Meta references to the Liefeld-verse. Comic books specifically referencing Liefeld-verse properties as comic books.

  • Contemporary Bio-Graphics (1991) #8 [Revolutionary Comics] 06/1992
    • “The Birth of Image Comics”
    • Youngblood referenced; generic Shaft (other Youngblood/Prophet?) on page “17”
    • Liefeld holds a copy of Youngblood #1
  • Wildbrats (1993) #1 [Idjit Comics / Fantagraphics Books] 10/1992
    • a parody, 3rd party telling of the founding of Image Comics
    • Rob Liefeld is “Bob Lief” and he is working on a book called “Bloodlust”
    • issue ends with “Lief” showing his studio-mates how to work like him and a 5-page example story of his work
  • Dinosaurs for Hire (1993) #2 [Malibu Comics] 03/1993
    • flip-book with parody issue “Dinosaurs for Hire 2099”
    • “Dinosaurs for Hire 2099” is a 3-page story about a dino in the future (“Archie“) making his way to a comic book store.
      • At the end of the story:
        • Narrator: Yes, the year is 2099. Some things have changed. And some things remain blissfully the same.
        • Archie/Dino (to Comic Store Employee): So, tell me… is Supreme #4 out yet?
        • Comic Store Employee: Nope. Sorry, Archie.
  • Kill Image (1993) #1 [Boneyard Press] 06/1993
    • “real” artist flips-out over the success of Image creators, who he sees as inferiors.
    • possible Shaft (of Youngblood) cameo on page 7 in a frame behind Rob
    • Badrock and Battlestone (?) on page 8
    • “Rob Leftfield” meets a violent end at jealous hands
  • Adventures of Fanboy: Comicfest ’93 Ashcan Edition (1993) #1 [Virtue Publications] 10/1993
    • page 3 references Liefeld during the Image days
    • page 3 has a comic book in the background called “Young Bloody Stupid” with a possible Diehard cameo
    • page 5 has a background poster that reads “It’s Rob’s BLOOD… BLOOD… BLOOD…”
  • The Good Guys (1993) #1 [Defiant Comics] 11/1993
    • Rob Liefeld has a cameo at a signing event with a Shaft/Youngblood poster
  • Shadow State (1995) #1-5 [Broadway Comics] 12/1995-05/1996
    • superhero shared-universe created by Jim Shooter
    • this new series has a comic-within-a-comic called “BloodS.C.R.E.A.M.” an obvious swipe at Liefeld and the Image boys
    • also includes a storyline called “Image Isn’t Everything”
    • fells like Shooter may have taken the opportunity to take some shots
  • Justice League Quarterly (1990) #16 [DC Comics] 09/1994
    • Introduces the team Wildblood, a parody mash-up of WildC.A.T.s and Youngblood.
  • Evil Ernie vs. the Superheroes (1995) #1 [Chaos! Comics] 08/1995
  • Evil Ernie vs. the Superheroes (1995) #2 [Chaos! Comics] 09/1998
    • while fighting heroes called “The Rip Offs” Evil Ernie crashes into “Assless Comics”, a parody of Awesome Comics
      • “Mr. Leftfield” is in charge of Assless Comics
      • Leftfield’s hat reads, “AH SUM”
      • Leftfield’s shirt reads, “JUNGBLUD”
    • many of The Rip Offs appears to be referencing Liefeld characters such as Fighting American and Supreme (among others)
  • Savage Dragonbert Full Frontal Nerdity (2002) #1 [Image Comics] 10/2002
    • collects the Savage Dragonbert strips that ran as back-up features in Savage Dragon (1993) #57-99
    • critical Liefeld jokes on pages 39, 41, 42, 56-57, and 66
    • page 57 includes a Liefeld comic book called “Mooreblood”
    • Megaton Man appears on page 35
  • Drawing from Life (2007) #2 [Image Comics] 04/2007
    • Jim Valentino telling real stories from his life, including tales of Image founders
  • The Absolute Ultimate Gutters Omnibus Volume 2 [Blind Ferret Entertainment] 2011
    • pages 30-31 are about a single-panel comic featuring early Image characters. Chapel is included in the group shot.
    • pages 86-87 are about a single-panel comic featuring a LEGO version of Image United. Badrock, Omega Spawn, and Rob Liefeld himself all appear
  • Notti & Nyce (2014) #1 [Counterpoint Entertainment] 2014
    • Robert Kirkman stand-in “Kirk Robertman” wears an Image shirt with a Youngblood logo on the front
  • Number One (2014) #1 [Aazurn Printing] Summer 2014
    • page 14 has a blurred Youngblood (1992) #1 cover
    • reprinted by Source Point Press in March 2022: Number One (2022) #1 [Source Point Press] 03/2022
  • Hip Hop Family Tree (2013) #300 [Fantagraphics Books] 11/2014
    • exclusive bonus 24 page comic included with Hip Hop Family Tree (2013) Boxed Set “1975-1983”
    • includes Youngblood, both the team and the book
    • art done in Liefeld style telling the story of early Rob Liefeld with hip hop artists
    • first printing with gold ink, later printings in silver
  • I Hate Fairyland (2015) #1 [Image Comics] 10/2015
    • ends with a letter from Skottie Young describing his love of comics starting with Youngblood #1 and the othe early Image Comics titles
  • World’s Greatest Cartoonists (2016) #1 [Fantagraphics Books] 05/2016
    • Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) 2016
    • pages 50-52 are from Ed Piskor and tell a story of his early inspirations as an artist, page 52 is all about Extreme Studios
    • cover image for “Ed Piskor” is him reading an issue of Youngblood with Brigade called-out on his comic’s back cover
    • story mentions Extreme Studios, their talent search, Chap Yaep, and cross hatching
    • Piskor is shown reading Youngblood (w/ a Brigade ad), drawing Brigade (?), and drawing Youngblood
  • Image Plus (2017) Vol. 2, No. 1 [Image Comics] 09/2017
    • inside cover has first page of “Image of Youth” by Ed Piskor story of his inspiration as a young artist
  • Image Plus (2017) Vol. 2, No. 2 [Image Comics] 10/2017
    • inside cover has second page of “Image of Youth” by Ed Piskor story of his inspiration as a young artist
    • lots of Liefeld/Extreme
  • Image Plus (2017) Vol. 2, No. 3 [Image Comics] 11/2017
    • inside cover has third (final?) page of “Image of Youth” by Ed Piskor story of his inspiration as a young artist
    • lots of Youngblood/Extreme
  • Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of the King of Comics [Ten Speed Press] 2020
    • page 184 mentions the Image founders and shows them as a group with their creations behind them; Shaft appears behind Liefeld
    • page 185 highlights Kirby working with Liefeld to bring Phantom Force to Image
  • The Makers (2020) #1-6 [Paskettiwestern Productions] 2020
    • In 1993, five superstar comic book creators split from their corporate bosses to form their own publisher, only to be driven apart by various personal & professional difficulties. Twenty-five years later, they reunite at a comics convention…only to find themselves abducted by a mysterious force that will take them on an epic journey to the heart of creation itself. A fictionalized history of one of the most exciting & turbulent periods in the comic book medium that doubles as a multiverse-spanning epic, THE MAKERS is a bimonthly six-issue series with story & art by Dave Howlett
    • creator Dave Howlett: “A group of comic creators who were superstars In the 1990s reunite 25 years later for a convention appearance, only to find themselves whisked away on a cosmic adventure. It’s like a fictionalized version of the history of Image Comics, crossed with a reality-bending intergalactic quest.” Interview found here.
    • Paskettiwestern Productions store
  • Solid Blood (2020) #17 [Image Comics] 12/2020
    • Robert Kirkman released this book claiming the floppies were found in a warehouse
    • comic book “from an alternative reality” similar in flavor to “Everyday Chemistry“
    • title logo reminiscent of Youngblood
    • masthead lists Rob Liefeld as “Chief Creative Officer” at Image from this alternate reality
    • other original founders also listed (w/ Eric Stephenson) in masthead, including Silvestri, but IS missing Jim Lee
  • Image! 30th Anniversary Anthology (2022) #1 [Image Comics] 04/2022
    • solicit text starts: Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first Image comic with a year-long parade of all-new stories from some of the biggest and best names in comics!
    • Cover image is of Kyle Higgins’s Radiant Black reading a copy of Youngblood (1992) #1, the first Image comic.
    • This is a meta image because the “Radiant Black” series takes place in the “shared Image Universe” that started in the issue he is reading.
  • The Last ShadowHawk (2022) #1 [Image Comics] 08/2022
    • Cover image is a montage of past ShadowHawk covers including appearances from Chapel, the cast of 1963, Supreme, and Badrock.
    • Montage includes the variant cover, of this same book, that is an homage to Youngblood (1992) #1.
      • This same image appears within the book in a Cover Gallery.
  • Meta Metalinguistic Crimes Division (2022) #1 [Scout Comics] 08/2022
  • I Am Stan: A Graphic Biography of the Legendary Stan Lee HC [Ten Speed Press] 2023
    • page 153 shows Stan Lee creating the character Overkill (aka Overtkill) with Rob Liefeld and Todd McFarlane as part of the video series “The Comic Book Greats”
  • Comics Are Dying: The Comic GN [Zoop Collective] 2024
    • page 71, titled ‘The Original Writer,’ includes a reference to the “1st Exciting Issue!” badge from the cover of Youngblood (1992) #1
    • page 77, titled ‘Lone Wolves,’ pays homage to Liefeld’s Youngblood and the founding of Image Comics

Additional Reading:

Larger story fill-ins and parodies of main Image titles made by groups that also parodied Liefeld-verse titles.

  • Itchy & Scratchy Comics (1993) #3 [Bongo Entertainment] 06/1994
    • Part 1 (of 3) of “When Bongos Collide” crossover with Simpsons Comics #5.
  • Bartman (1993) #3 [Bongo Entertainment] 08/1994
    • Part 3 (of 3) of “When Bongos Collide” crossover with Simpsons Comics #5.
  • Spoof Comics Presents Wildchicks (1992) #1 [Spoof Comics] 1992
    • from the label that gave us Youngspud (1992) #1
  • Spoof Comics Presents (1992) #10 [Spoof Comics] 1993
    • from the label that gave us Youngspud (1992) #1
  • Petworks vs. WildK.A.T.S. (1993) #1 [Parody Press] 01/1993
    • from the label that gave us Oldblood (1992) #1, Youngbroads (1993) #1, Dorkier Images (1993) #1, Supremie (1993) #1, and Bragade (1993) #1
  • The Sewage Dragoon (1992) #1 [Parody Press/ 09-10/1992
    • from the label that gave us Oldblood (1992) #1, Youngbroads (1993) #1, Dorkier Images (1993) #1, Supremie (1993) #1, and Bragade (1993) #1
  • MeadowLark (1992) #1 [Parody Press] 12/1992
    • from the label that gave us Oldblood (1992) #1, Youngbroads (1993) #1, Dorkier Images (1993) #1, Supremie (1993) #1, and Bragade (1993) #1
  • Spoon (1992) #1 [Spoof Comics] 1992
    • from the label that gave us Youngspud (1992) #1
  • Yawn (1992) #1 [Parody Press] 09-10/1992
    • from the label that gave us Oldblood (1992) #1, Youngbroads (1993) #1, Dorkier Images (1993) #1, Supremie (1993) #1, and Bragade (1993) #1
  • Spoof Comics Presents Cyberfemmes (1992) #1 [Spoof Comics] 1992
    • from the label that gave us Youngspud (1992) #1
  • Cyberfarce (1993) #1 [Parody Press] 1993
    • from the label that gave us Oldblood (1992) #1, Youngbroads (1993) #1, Dorkier Images (1993) #1, Supremie (1993) #1, and Bragade (1993) #1
  • Pitts (1993) #1 [Parody Press] 04/1993
    • from the label that gave us Oldblood (1992) #1, Youngbroads (1993) #1, Dorkier Images (1993) #1, Supremie (1993) #1, and Bragade (1993) #1
  • Monkey Business (1993) #1 [Parody Press] 1993
    • includes a short “Pitts” story
  • Taxx #1 [Parody Press] 1992
    • from the label that gave us Oldblood (1992) #1, Youngbroads (1993) #1, Dorkier Images (1993) #1, Supremie (1993) #1, and Bragade (1993) #1
  • Taxx #1/2 [Parody Press] 1994?
    • from the label that gave us Oldblood (1992) #1, Youngbroads (1993) #1, Dorkier Images (1993) #1, Supremie (1993) #1, and Bragade (1993) #1
  • Stupid (1993) #1 [Image Comics] 05/1993
    • This official parody is only focused on Spawn characters.
    • letters page “Hey, Stupid!” ends with tease for a second issue that never materialized. This teaser suggests a Bloodwulf parody called Bloodblister. “NEXT ISSUE: In Full-Color 3-D!! THE SAVAGE DraGOON…plus DORKIER IMAGE featuring MOXX, BLOODBLISTER, and JOEBLOW!!!”
  • Hip Hop Family Tree Two-in-One (2014) #0 [Fantagraphics Books] 05/2014
    • Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) issue
    • mentions Piskor’s admiration of Rob Liefeld
  • Hip Hop Family Tree Three-in-One: Featuring Cosplayers (2015) [Fantagraphics Books] 05/2015
    • Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) issue
    • contains short about Rob Liefeld as a preview of the #300 issue included with the Boxed Set “1975-1983”
  • Comic Book History of Comics Volume 2 (2017) [IDW Publishing] 03/2018
    • Liefeld is shown twice (along with Jim Lee and Todd McFarland) when discussing the early years of Image Comics, but no reference is made to the titles from Image.
  • Kid Slapshot (2022) #1 [Keenspot Entertainment] 07/2022
  • Kid Slapshot Vs. Major Extreme (2022) #1 [Keenspot Entertainment] 10/2022
    • “Kid Slapshot Vs. Major Extreme #1 (aka Kid Slapshot #2)”
    • Major Extreme is a parody of “extreme” ’90s comics
    • from the same publisher as X-Liefelds (2019) #1