Robservations with Rob Liefeld

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles turned the comic book world on its ear and upended the entire  industry with its unprecedented, breakout success. Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird inspired a generation of young artists to launch their own creator owned franchises. Rob Liefeld followed on this path and recalls his own Hollywood adventures alongside entertainment giants, Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg. 

Extreme Studios launched in 1992 and quickly became home to the most exciting artists of an age! The young talent developed at Extreme Studios would go on to contribute to the biggest, brightest and most successful pillars of today’s Pop Culture, including the biggest movie of all time! The Batman! Ben 10! Fantastic Four! Black Panther! Avengers:Endgame! Hear why Extreme Studios was a launch pad like no other! 

With only 8 comics, Image Comics shocks the comic book world when it becomes the #2 publisher in the summer of 1992! DC Comics regroups from being knocked from their precarious perch, creating an event that electrifies not only the company, but the entire world! The Death Of Superman!! How it all went down! 

A rousing discussion examining the stand out talents of the age! McFarlane, Lee, Silvestri, Larsen, Valentino, Portacio! Rob goes on a deep dive with guest host Jimmy Jay Exploring the methods, systems and approach that created the success of his peer group and the impact it carries today.

April 15, 1992, the day that launched Image Comic books!! What was supposed to be a routine comic book launch, turned into much, much more. Come for the helicopters! NWA! EAZY-E! DENNIS MILLER SHOW! YOUNG INDIANA JONES! A Golden Apple signing for the ages! One single comic book launched a revolution, putting the comics industry on its heels. Rob relives all the highlights of the craziest day of his professional career.

It’s the spring of 1992, and the table is set for the Image Comics Revolution. But, what exactly is Image Comics in the first place? What did Image Comics mean to the founding members of the company? Who named the company? Who designed the logo? Was Image Comics a label? A movement? Or an opportunity for change! Image Comics Founding Father Rob Liefeld lays it all out as the Image Explosion prepares to strike!

The Secret Origin of Image Comics continues! In winter of 1992, the Top 3 Creators in comics struggle to find the next path for their talents. Todd McFarlane, fresh off the disappointment of his failed sports venture, aims to do Batman for DC Comics. Jim Lee and Rob Liefeld engage in talks with Marvel’s top rival, giving DC a chance to change the game forever! Will they? Also, a tribute to Rock n Roll Guitar God, Eddie Van Halen.

As theaters close and big blockbuster movies disappear from the schedule, Rob discusses the history of recent comic book films and their impact on cinema. Has “The Fever” broken, can it be re-captured? Where does the model go from here, will the lost momentum ever return? Also, back in 1992, as comic books big creators look to make big changes, DC Comics looks to tip the scales.

Things go SIDEWAYS as The Summer Of X concludes with a momentous cross-over event teaming two of Marvel’s hottest creators with their biggest franchises! Spider Man! Cable! Deadpool! Juggernaut! Liefeld & McFarlane! Rob gives a first person account of the non-traditional way this crossover came together with two of comic books most maniacal creators breaking all the rules and pushing all the buttons! Revisit the excitement of SABOTAGE! 

1991 ushered in a revolution for the X-Men titles as Marvel launched the Mutant Genesis event! The result was 2 record setting titles and over 12 million sales between X-Force #1 and X-Men #1. The work of re-shaping the already top selling X-Men line into an even more powerful blockbuster family of comics was no small feat. Rob recalls the daring moves and bold initiatives that saw Marvel’s most popular comics reach historic new heights.

She-Hulk, streaming soon on Disney Plus, first landed in 1979, Rob discusses the secret origin behind the creation of a female Hulk! Praise for the legendary Dan Jurgens and his Hall Of Fame career. Finally, Rob recaps the road to and experience of filming the Levi’s “Button Your Fly” campaign and being directed by Spike Lee! 

VENOM! BISHOP! DEADPOOL! DARKHAWK! A new age of comic book anti-hero arrived in the 1990’s! The West Coast Mafia Of Creators! The West Coast “Style” of drawing comics! Rob Liefeld & Jimmy Jay break down all the trends, tropes and triumphs of a break through era in comic books!  

As Cable’s popularity skyrockets, Rob tracks the trajectory of his dynamic new creation. As everyone at Marvel tries to get in on the action and capitalize on the momentum, Rob recalls the necessary gambles he took to ensure that his vision for the character would endure, a practice he’d continue all the way towards Cable’s debut on silver screen! 

The 90’s Storm of New Talent and Characters strikes the industry with a bang! A mysterious new figure emerges to shake things up in the X-Men Universe, the brainchild of young wunderkind Rob Liefeld, CABLE!  Rob recounts the swirl of activity and negotiations that brought Cable to life in the pages of New Mutants! 

The Decade of Dominance arrives! Sales shattering comic books and characters arrive on the scene! Bold new creators hit it big and change the comic book landscape forever! The decade of Venom, Cable, Deadpool & Harley Quinn continues to resonate powerfully in pop culture today. It all starts with the Batman movie and the summer of 1989!

With Marvel’s frivolous lawsuit to prevent publication of the all new Fighting American defeated, Rob releases a new comic series to much acclaim. The best and biggest names in comic books contribute to an epic run of all-new Fighting American adventures. To further honor the legacy of Joe Simon & Jack Kirby, Fighting American toys are released! 

In the immediate aftermath of Heroes Reborn, Rob Liefeld pacts with Joe Simon & Roz Kirby, the widow of Jack Kirby, to bring back the legendary patriotic icon, FIGHTING AMERICAN! But Marvel Comics has other ideas and does not want Rob to portray another patriotic hero so soon after leaving Captain America. Marvel seeks to thwart this alliance from seeing print, even filing a lawsuit! The comic book craziness continues in tales that have to be heard to he believed. 

All things Heroes Reborn related are parsed and dissected as Rob and Jimmy discuss the thrills, chills and behind the scenes turmoil surrounding this seminal event in the history of Marvel Comics! Bonus – Rob answers your Heroes Reborn questions posted on social media! 

With the team of Rob Liefeld and Jim Lee broken apart, the Heroes Reborn event limps to a disappointing conclusion, hampering Lee’s attempt to merge Marvel and Wildstorm. Marvel Entertainment regains complete creative control of their characters even as they spiral through a bankruptcy that hampers production of their titles. Which title does Rob favor the most out of the entire saga? The answer will surprise you.

The much anticipated Heroes Reborn titles arrive, Avengers #1 becomes the top selling book in that title’s history, but is it enough to stave off Marvel’s pending bankruptcy? Chaos erupts as Jim Lee works behind the scenes to take over Marvel and run it from his La Jolla studio! Rob Liefeld relives his first hand account of Marvel’s most dramatic period! 

In 1996 Marvel turned to their two best-selling creators, Rob Liefeld & Jim Lee, making them an offer they could not refuse! These two creators were given a chance at history, charged with turning around the fortunes and sagging sales of Marvel’s former Icons, Captain America, Avengers & Fantastic Four. The publisher outsourced all creative control to Liefeld & Lee. Rob examines the behind the scenes drama and details surrounding this historic decision and the subsequent excitement it generated.

The X-Men franchise becomes an absolute cash cow for Marvel, spin-offs and bi-weekly schedules shift power in the industry enriching publisher, retailers and creators alike. Rob details the bold moves by Marvel that paved the way for everything that would follow! 

A surge of new talent ascends on the comics industry. Young, hungry voices looking to find the platforms to boost their artistic signals scramble to get regular assignments. A comic no one wants to draw, Hawk & Dove, becomes the vehicle for one young creator to blast off into the stars. Rob charts his own path creating the New Dove, contributing to DC Comics cannon, the behind the scenes conflicts that defined his first work and the long term impact it gave his career.

The winds of change were shifting in the comics industry, the old guard was fading and a new class was ready to take the industry by storm. Rob details a chance encounter with Todd McFarlane in 1988 during San Diego Comic-Con that was the beginning of a formidable alliance, one that would challenge, change and alter the comic book landscape forever.  

The Original JLA/Avengers with George Pérez! Neal Adams X-Men Graphic Novel! Kirkman & Liefeld’s Killraven! This week Rob examines the deep cuts behind comic books most infamous unpublished projects! The feuds, ego’s & agenda’s that kept us from instant classics in any age are discussed at length. The 2nd X-Men/Titans crossover that was lost in the process! The Untold Tales of Untold Tales of Comic Books will enlighten and entertain! 

BLACK COSTUME SPIDER GIRL! U.S. AGENT! GREY HULK! As the Bronze Era of comics begins to fade, and the talent flees to DC Comics, Marvel throws a Hail Mary with new costumes and identities for their familiar icons to stoke sales and renew interest. Rob is joined by Jimmy Jay as they discuss the decisions and corporate influences that marked an end of an era. 

The single most dominant force in the history of comic books! No one has had greater impact than JACK “THE KING” KIRBY, the architect of the Marvel Universe, his influence continues to shape pop culture to this day. Wether introducing the world to CAPTAIN AMERICA in World War 2 or imagining the birth of the Marvel Universe, Jack never stopped amazing comic readers young and old! He roared back to prominence at Marvel in the late 1970’s with titles such as The Eternals, Devil Dinosaur & Machine Man. Rob takes you through his resurgence and shares his personal memories, experiences and adventures with the most important figure in the history of comic books!

“THE ACTION COMES ALIVE AS YOU READ” a slogan on each and every POWER RECORD, featuring the biggest super hero & sci-fi franchises of an era! Spider Man! Fantastic Four! Hulk! Captain America! Star Trek! Planet Of The Apes! Rob Liefeld takes you back to the birth of comic book merchandising where Power Records and their read along action took off alongside Marvel Slurpee Cups, Marvel Mego Dolls and Marvel Trading Cards stormed the shelves for comic hungry kids of the 70’s! 

The breakout star of the best selling X-Men franchise is awarded his own showcase, with Frank Miller and Chris Claremont, two of comic books biggest super stars, at the helm. Rob Liefeld examines the origins of this innovative mash up of East meets West that defined the groundbreaking Wolverine mini-series which owes a debt to the influence and impact of James Clavell’s epic SHOGUN, setting the stage for an eventual blockbuster film adaptation by Hugh Jackman and James Mangold. 

In 1986, DC Comics, seeking a total reinvention of Superman, recruited John Byrne, Marvel’s brightest star, to relaunch their storied franchise and make him accessible to a younger generation. Byrne accepted, making drastic alterations to Superman’s origins as well as relations with key characters like Lex Luthor and Batman. Rob walks you through Byrne’s long standing affection for the character and revisits the biggest comic book reboot ever attempted! 

The Kirby Clones! The Adams Effect! The movers and shakers of comic book influences, the styles that launched an army of imitators! Barry Windsor Smith! Jim Steranko! Stephen Platt! Rob and Jimmy delve deep into the source of so many Legendary styles and influences that shaped a generation of comic book images! 

Mini-series and Cross Over events arrived in the 80’s, signaling a huge shift in dynamics between publishers, retailers and fans. It changed comic books forevermore! Was it all just a happy accident? Rob examines the origins behind the Rise of Corporate Events and the toy company arms race that fueled the most successful Marvel comic book of a decade! 

Career connections are the result of extended runs that create crucial bonds between readers and creators! Rob shares the most important career advice he ever received from the one and only Todd McFarlane. One run may be all any title needs to launch a lifetime of impact and influence. Rob covers the inevitable but unlikely rise of Arthur Adams and the success of Legion of Super Heroes under Kieth Giffen. 

Rob Liefeld is joined by guest host Jimmy Jay as they take a deep dive into Dark Knight Returns and Watchmen, the two most acclaimed comic book publications in the history of the genre. Frank Miller and Alan Moore, along with Dave Gibbons, impacted the culture in a manner not seen before or since! Both released in 1986, they were transformational works that altered every aspect of comic books! We dissect the details behind their creations, the subtle changes made along the way and the manner with which they influenced the comic book business and each other! 

Gwen Stacy! Elektra! Captain Marvel! Flash! Phoenix! Tragic and unexpected deaths ushered in a new era of mature comics that challenged fans and readers. Rob revisits the stories that shocked him and broke his heart, showing the emotional power of graphic storytelling across a dynamic age that transformed comic books! 

What happens when the two biggest players in the business finally get ready to rumble? How did Marvel & DC create The Battle Of The Century! How does Watergate connect to this most seminal of events? Who are the uncredited superstars that worked behind the scenes to make this the biggest moment of an era? Rob walks you through the creative decisions that elevated this monumental achievement! 

THANOS! INFINITY GAUNTLET! LEGION OF SUPER HEROES! JOKER! DEATH METAL! Rob examines today’s comic book marketplace  through the lens of yesteryear. Jimmy Jay, CEO of Amazing Comic Con and Jay Company Comics joins Rob to discuss current shifts and trends and how they stack up to milestones of the past.

Following the tremendous success of Marvel’s STAR WARS adaptation, the dam broke wide open and the company became the premier outlet for the best and most popular licensed material! Toys, movies, tv shows filled Marvel’s publishing schedule and Marvel rose to meet the moment by assigning the TOP TALENTS within their stable to produce what would be a formidable roster of best selling titles! STAR TREK! BATTLESTAR GALACTICA! ROM! MICRONAUTS! G.I. JOE! TRANSFORMERS! LOGANS RUN! GODZILLA! INDIANA JONES! 

John Byrne & George Pérez, the dynamic darlings of the Bronze Age of Comic Books! X-Men, Avengers, Fantastic Four, New Teen Titans, Justice League! The art and storytelling of two masters of graphic comic books pushed comics to new heights and rejuvenated an industry! Competitors that rivaled the Lakers & Celtics, Coke, and Pepsi!   

Cosmic Marvels! Kevin Feige! The MCU! THE ETERNALS! STAR WARS! How Stan Lee nearly tanked the comic book that would save Marvel Comics!

As Marvel prepares to give you their biggest blockbuster since Avengers: Endgame, The Eternals, Rob examines the roots of Marvel’s cosmic saga that features Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, and Kit Harrington. 

Star Wars And Stan Lee. How the Mighty Marvel Maven nearly lost the license to the comic book adaptation that saved Marvel comics from going out of business.

The 1970’s was a generation of visionaries in both film and comic books. We examine the rise of the new generation of superstar creators that came of age and saved the X-Men, Daredevil and Avengers. The talent and vision of Frank Miller, John Byrne, Jim Starlin, the Scorsese, Spielberg and Lucas of comics, are put under the microscope as we discuss the stories and characters they created as they shaped and continue to impact the culture of pop. 

Robservations is the new podcast by Comic Book Legend Rob Liefeld which exists to explore and celebrate comic books as an art form and their tremendous impact on the culture.

In this inaugural episode Rob discusses:

• His life long passion for comic books and the way they shaped his career.
• 1975 run of The Avengers #141 (Squadron Supreme)
• Giant Size X-Men #1
• George Perez’s early work
• The Snyder Cut of The Justice League