Robservations with Rob Liefeld

The Summer of 1978, The DC Explosion was coming, until all of the sudden, it wasn’t. In one fell swoop, the plans for an aggressive expansion of the DC Comics line, more story, more pages, was crushed! Re-named The DC Implosion, an unexpected line wide cancellation came from on high, directed by Warner Bros. top management, an epic publication scale back like nothing seen before or after. 17 title...

June 25, 1991, Marvel Comics releases X-Force #1, created by Rob Liefeld, a fresh take on Marvel’s Mighty Mutants, selling a record shattering 5 million copies. 30 years later, Cable, Deadpool and the rest have gone on to become staples of the comics industry, stars of games, movies, cartoons and toys. Rob reflects on the battles to bring X-Force to life as well as the road that led to this moment...

But for a crazy twist of fate, the All-New X-Men almost appeared as DC characters in a DC Comics spin-off with radically different origins! Storm! Nightcrawler! Wolverine! Thunderbird! What almost wasn’t!

Action in comics! Where’d it go? Where’s it been and most importantly, where’s it all headed? We kick off with Hot Topics asking what happened to all the action in comic books?  Once a staple of every comic book, the trend has gone away from action oriented stories and Rob shares with you the inspiration from his personal favorite action comics! 

The Brits have arrived! Alan Moore arrived fresh from English shores with Marvelman, Swamp Thing & Watchmen, each met with thunderous acclaim and comic books were never the same! Grant Morrison soon followed and the Age of The British Writer was here to stay! Rob looks at the rivalries and the impact the British Invasion of the 80’s has on modern day comics and beyond! Also, Hot Topics takes o...

By 1974, Marvel had raced past DC Comics as the most popular and successful brand of comic book entertainment. Seeking to expand awareness and establish a presence in the burgeoning book market, Marvel pacted with prominent publisher, Simon & Schuster, who went on to produce a blockbuster line of Marvel trade collections under their Fireside label. These first of their kind collections feature...

Who is on the Mt. Rushmore of comic books? Rob isn’t shy about sharing who he believes deserves the hollowed honor, the legends that demand recognition above all others. We break it down as All-Time Greats as well as era’s. The Seventies? The Eighties? Is there a modern day candidate? What’s the criteria anyway? Get those fighting hands up as this is bound to get heated! 

It’s the End Of The World as we know it! Audiences have a longstanding love affair with Post-Apocalyptic themes and scenarios. Depictions of Armageddon and the aftermath have been famously explored on screens big & small in Planet Of The Apes, Walking Dead and recently, A Quiet Place. Rob examines the comic book explorations, expansions and exploitations of popular apocalyptic worlds! 

Marvel’s famous Wall-Crawler has had no shortage of amazing artists depict his legendary adventures! Todd McFarlane! Steve Ditko! John Romita Sr! Erik Larsen! Gil Kane! Who defines your Spider Man? Who is your favorite Spidey illustrator? Rob breaks down the distinct influence of each artist and provides his top 5 Spider Man artists of all time! 

Working on legendary and storied franchises provides career opportunities like no other. None bigger than Batman. How long do you stay, when do you parlay the exposure into the next big thing? Rob looks at the art, practice and negotiation of the Signal Boost! 

Rob examines a grueling Batman Tale from the not too distant past that offers a brutal glimpse of another future Gotham struggling without a Batman! From The Pope Of Comic Books himself, Paul Pope, a Bat-Masterpiece!! Also – The Eternals! Fast & Furious 9! Mission Impossible! Star Wars! The Age Of Heroes! Literally, the age of our current & future franchises given careful scrutiny! What co...

Demonslayer! Princess Mononoke! Avatar! Avengers:Endgame! Star Wars! James Cameron! George Lucas! John Byrne! Dave Cockrum! Movies, Anime and Comic Books have long been defined by rivalries that push all involved. Huge talents powering themselves towards the top! Rob looks at some of the best, most memorable rivalries across pop and comic books! 

Two publishers. One great cause. 100 top talents. As Famine Relief became a dilemma that the entire world rallied around, Marvel and DC showed up as only they could, uniting the greatest writers and artists across two unforgettable specials created to raise significant funds to feed the hungry. Rob revisit’s Marvel’s Heroes Against Hope and DC’s Heroes Against Hunger! Also, Warner Bros. sold to Di...

Two Sprawling Heroic Universes, every character presented with tremendous detail, listed alphabetically from A to Z. The story of two competing Universe Handbooks, how they were crafted, produced and sold. The talents that created them and more importantly, the superstars who were left behind. Rob compares and contrasts the brand new omnibus collections of The Marvel Universe Handbook and DC’s Who...

Wolverine’s Claws! Thor’s hammer! Cap’s Shield! King Kong’s Axe Blade! G.I. Joe-Real American Hero! Weapon’s are a staple of myth and lore, from Star Wars to X-Men, they literally make and define the hero, transforming entire franchises! Rob covers the Gear that is near and dear to us all! 

20 years ago the Lord Of The Rings trilogy blew the doors off the fantasy genre, opening the doors for Game Of Thrones and all that followed. Some 50 years back Marvel Comics paved the way for the birth of the Modern Fantasy movement by securing the rights to a pulp fantasy character that became the face of a franchise, inspiring a surge of sword & sorcery warriors from all publishers!

NOSTALGIA! What is it? Why is it? Is your love of that great comic book run because you experienced it as a child or because it was executed at the top of its craft? What about that movie? That cartoon? Those toys? Rob examines what is and is not nostalgia across multiple genres! 

Martial Arts exploded throughout the culture in the 70’s, igniting a wave of comics, movies and tv shows that inspired a generation of fans! Marvel & DC Comics were quick to capitalize on this craze launching a flurry of new titles reflecting the popular Kung Fu dynamic! Bruce Lee! Shang Chi! Iron Fist! Karate Kid! Richard Dragon! The origins of these comics and their lasting influence & s...

Final thoughts as we bring down the curtains on Season 1 of Robservations. 

A call in the middle of the night from a group of foreign artists sets in motion a revelation of terrible mismanagement and talent that is being taken advantage of. A cautionary tale that has to be heard to be believed! 

Remember when Godzilla battled The Avengers? Thor! Black Widow! Iron Man! The Fantastic Four? It was mind-blowing and spectacular and all a result of a Golden Age of Godzilla revival in toys, cartoons and comics that came about from 1977-1979! Marvel & Godzilla were a potent combination of two powerful brands, electrifying fans, as recounted by Rob in today’s exciting installment! 

Every pop movement has a seminal year, a period that is viewed as a seismic shift in how the art was created, distributed, and received. A new book, Rock On The Water, claims that 1974 was such a year in music, tv & film. Rob believes that 1992 is the date for comic books and breaks down why. Also – Falcon! Bucky! Invincible! 

Passion drives those with talent and vision to never cease creating. Is it your passion or is it your pass time? An examination of comic book creatives and the passion that drives them. 

Bucky Barnes made his debut alongside Captain America from legendary creators Joe Simon & Jack Kirby in 1941! Sebastian Stan has portrayed the classic comic book icon since Captain America:The First Avenger, and currently on Marvel’s Falcon & Winter Soldier. Bucky Barnes rich, storied history is given the spotlight it deserves! Plus, the future for  Zack Snyder’s vision of Justice League d...

In 2001, Frank Miller produced his long awaited, much anticipated sequel to Dark Knight Returns, the most acclaimed graphic novel of all time. 20 years later, The Dark Knight Strikes Again is given all the deep cuts in this extensive examination as we discuss the evolution & expansion of Miller’s transformative vision of The Batman! The fearless world building, the stylish art and the mystery...