Underrated Image Comics – The Extra Hidden Gems

While this company always has and will contain some of the most innovative series; there are still some series that go without notice. Savage Dragon, Spawn, The Walking Dead, and Saga are all great. However they tend to hog the limelight for the Underrated Image Comics. This page will serve as the last of the major comic publisher lists. Like the Dark Horse page there are some rules to follow in comparison to the Big Two. The list is also subject to more change with time.

Underrated Image Comics Qualification Rules

No series spanning more than five years
- This includes spin-offs of those series
No award nominations or winners
- Lack of wide-scale availability may nullify the above rule
Series with adaptations for other media are not eligible
- This includes TV, video games, or movies
No comics available from Free Comic Book Day
Cannot appear on most popular lists
Unless the move is permanent, series that originally come from other publishers are not on the list
Cannot appear in news stories outside of comic news platforms
No reprints including anything with deluxe editions or omnibuses
Cannot appear on sales as part of the primary features like in Comixology; extensions of sales are fine.
Series or trades get 8 or above in Critic and/or User Reviews on Comic Book Round Up
- Alternatively a 3.63 or above on Goodreads.com
Cut short and indefinite hiatus series who follow the above rules are viable
All imprints are welcome
For all of the above rules, there will be some exceptions.

The Underrated Image Comics Series

General

An Alan Moore story with a lot of backdoor drama. 1963 sees stories that reference some of the best of the Silver Age Marvel comics. Unfortunately due to creative differences as well as artists overbooking or selling out, Moore refused to complete it. What remains are still entertaining depictions of famous Marvel pastiches.
TV and Superhero team-ups dominate Wildguard. Todd Nauck has superheroes trying out to be part of a team for a reality show. Unlike Joe Casey and Derec Donovan’s Youngblood reboot, this series has all the fun of superheroes with character driven looks at show business.
Tales From The Bully Pulpit is where comic weirdness gets too fun to ignore. I mean Teddy Roosevelt and the ghost of Thomas Edison are flung into the future and try to save Mars. How did this become Underrated Image Comics?
The Wicked West is an Image series so obscure, I could only find it through its followup. In this Weird Western, a cowboy tries to drown out his past by becoming a monster hunter.
I had to find out about The Black Forest from the same writer, because it’s just as obscure. I mean while horrifying Frankenstein-like ape experiments can win awards, it doesn’t mean much when it’s so hard to find.
Lions, Tigers and Bears is Mike Bullock’s story of childhood imagination and odyssey. Joey Price finds himself in the Stuffed Animal Kingdom where a war between them and the monsters in the closest haunt the night. While this series has moved publishers for its finale, Image is where the journey begins for any collector.
Cemetery Blues is a humorous depiction of monster hunters. With a strong sense of British humor decorating the black and white pages, someone is going to get a laugh out of it.
The Creech is a cult classic from Batman artist Greg Capullo channeling the horror series of the 90s. This series plays like a schlocky monster movie with how absurd each issue can get.
Shark-Man is originally an indie comic that gets a fresh start in Image comics, while it lasted. Tom Gaskill, son of a utopia’s architect is falsely convicted of his father’s murder. From the bowels of Styx Prison, Tom battles the organized crime gangs through a submarine. All the while the legacy of Tom’s father, Shark-Man is out for revenge. While this series did not last long, the artwork by Steve Pugh makes this a classic.
Whether you call it cancelled or on hiatus, you can’t deny the appeal of Gutsville. This steampunk Lovecraftian series features the titular town and its culture. The world building feels genuinely horrifying thanks to the artwork by Frazer Irving.
Victory follows a fantasy TTRPG party and the all-powerful NPC character accompanying them. This titles combines the fun and games of TTRPGs and the creativity of One-Punch Man. What’s the point of being the most powerful game character when you can’t enjoy yourself?
Bad Dog is Joe Kelly taking the dark comedy humor of Deadpool on a surreal cross country road trip. Two dysfunctional bounty hunters including a misanthropic werewolf you can’t help laughing with and at as they fail to do their jobs.
Coyote is the series of creators Steve Englehart and Marshall Rogers making a twenty year comeback. Following an alt-super anti-hero, the mythic nature of this character shines in surreal artwork.
Superstar goes into the codependent nature between superheroes and show business. What happens when celebrity is the source of a hero’s powers and when the hope they bring becomes a service?
Death Jr. is a tie-in and adaptation of a video game that gets mixed reviews. The comic with art by Ted Naifeh showcases the quirky, humorous, and absurd adventures of the Grim Reaper’s son. With a genuinely likable cast dealing with pre-adolescence in the most surreal way possible, this series is more valuable than the game.
Realm of the Claw by Mutant Earth‘s Stan Winston takes the fantastical elements of that toy line in a new direction. Two zookeepers must now survive in a world full of humanoid animals.
Noble Causes is a part of Image Comics history that nobody seems to remember. Fantastic Four meets The Royal Tenenbaums, what’s not to love?
Duncan Rouleu expresses some creative anxieties in The Great Unknown. When a down-on-his-luck man’s ideas get put out without his consent, he has to discover why these ideas leave his mind. Unfortunately, life imitates art as Rouleu seems to lose the rest of the series after only a few issues with delays.
Sky Pirates of Neo Terra began life as a webcomic before making the jump to Image. While the real attention grabber comes from Camilla d’Errico’s amazing artwork, it evokes unforgettable sensations. So much so, a video game for the DS and Wii releases in reaction.
Dawn is a Sirius character who got a new start in Image, only to fall back into obscurity. Which is a shame as this goddess of birth brings life to the pages showing a post-apocalypse hope after much helplessness. Besides, she’s popular enough to crossover with Vampirella.
Empty Zone is another Sirius immigrant, focusing on self-reconciliation. Just because you live in a dystopia, that doesn’t have to mean you keep yourself down.
Jersey Gods is about a couple stepping out of their boundaries and trying to meet in between. With the epic nature of Jack Kirby’s Fourth World colliding with a relationship story, this can make or break a reader. But try it out anyway!
James Stokoe never ceases to impress with his art style that depicts lively monsters. The orc mobs of Orc Stain are no exception. The unique cultures of the orcs steals every minute and makes you want to experience it firsthand.
Paul Grist plays with a lot of characters and genres. While Kane is his take on crime drama, Jack Staff brings the surreal humor of superheroes. The negative space Grist employs allows for anticipating action sequences, back-and-forth movement, and a number of fourth wall breaks. Everything you recall about the UK invasion of American comics comes full circle here.
Even Rob Zombie gets a chance to express himself in Whatever Happened to Baron Von Shock? In it a man lives the life of a horror anthology host like a rock star. Unfortunately the life of celebrity causes him to crash badly when the persona finds someone new.
Okay technically cheating since this is an Eisner nomination. But with barely any knowledge surrounding this, it’s time to get back in the limelight. Marineman might be an Aquaman pastiche but there’s a genuine love and passion behind this series. With the stunning characters and details of ocean life, Ian Churchill deserves a place on this list.
Vescell is where James Bond meets Altered Carbon. When virtual reality technology gets to the point of transferring a consciousness to a different body, things get wild. To make sure things don’t get too out of control, Agent Mauricio Barrino comes in to fix things. Oh and there’s magic here too; why not?
The Li’l Depressed Boy is a series about how people go about their lives in loneliness. The title character is essentially every other fella’s stand-in when it comes to living an empty life. When you feel lonesome, it takes meeting someone special and going through life to bear it. Along the way will be disappointments, but hey that’s life.
Nonplayer is yet another cut short series set apart by years of release dates. Dana Stevens lives an unfulfilling life as a delivery girl and her only means of coping is an online game. But she gets more than she bargains for when Dana’s chance for niche fame unleashes the game into the real world.
Ron Marz is a creator with notable series at his credit including Witchblade. But when working with talented artists like Lee Moder he can create memorable and underrated comics. Shinku is where you mix Blade, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and samurai cinema. This action-packed series features fluid movements in evocative art.
If you think comic books can’t get any campier, you haven’t seen Reed Gunther. This bear riding cowboy embraces the concept of the weird west, all while treating it as normal as possible.
Ken Garing brings controversy with Gogor but Planetoid shows people his talent. One of the few creators who serve as writer and artist, Garing world builds a great setting people want to get lost in. The entire world tells a story other than the one being told, something all the more lively with its cast.
Storm Dogs is another David Hine piece featuring a crime in space. Better when looking at the series all at once, there is a fascinating world to capture readers imaginations as they solve the mystery with the crew.
Todd the Ugliest Kid on Earth is an absurdist contrast humor story about an optimistic boy who hides his hideous face under a paper bag. While the rest of the world is dark and cruel, it takes a good boy who faces the worst of it to make life bearable.
Jimmy Palmiotti has a lot of series featuring developed women, Trigger Girl 6 is actually what comes out of an anthology series. While there is quite a lot of exposition, there’s no denying the mystery behind the title character is enticing; Phil Noto’s artwork sees to that.
Straczynski sure had some ideas for superheroes. Everything he couldn’t put in DC or Marvel he puts in series like Protectors Inc. Satirizing the superhero genre capitalization, the murder of a superhero in a world without villains has a police detective try to solve the case. One that could turn the world upside down.
Before Steve Orlando reintroduces Midnighter and Apollo, Undertow is his take on how Atlantis would be. While the artwork by Artyom Trakhanov can chase some people away, especially with the action scenes, there is a an idea to take away.
The Mercenary Sea is another cut short series about a crew taking whatever job necessary to find a legendary island. A comic that tributes pulp fiction, Matthew Reynolds’ artwork brings the action to fun levels.
The Field is a step away from most of Ed Brisson’s more cynical work. Featuring more surrealism than his other work, it follows an amnesiac man as he repeats the same day of non-stop action.
Madame Frankenstein is a twist on the classic story that also stays true to it. A scientist creates what he envisions to be the perfect woman, but over time tension builds to see what kind of relationship is really between them.
Copperhead is yet another series cut short, staring a sheriff trying to adjust her life with her son. Combining the best Westerns with a sci-fi drama about family and forgiveness, the setting helps set the mood. The first pic’s for trades, the second’s issues.
Masterplasty might be a one-shot but it’s a masterfully illustrated tale of how making an outer change can get people’s attention. But it takes more than surface level detail to succeed.
Punks: The Comic is nothing but weird, it’s a pure collage of random things as if friends were just having a good time. For fans of surreal comedy and the abstract art of Jack Kirby, someone is bound to enjoy this.
The Humans is about a biker gang of chimpanzees harkening to the era of exploitation film. With wild action scenes aplenty, it’s a series great for fans of Quentin Tarantino.
Arclight is the only story from Brandon Graham’s 8house anthology that reaches completion. Having the same amount of surrealism as his other notable works like King City, the series follows the concept of queer identity. With some people able to switch bodies on a whim, it becomes a challenge on what it means to be queer. Because there’s a big difference between being queer and just accessorizing.
Renato Jones is a vigilante commentary series on how corporations are beginning to run the United States. With no legal means to combat them, it would take something so absurd as the over-the-top action taking place to combat them. Kaare Kyle Andrews certainly shows off his talents in all of their glory.
Lake of Fire is more of a proof-of-concept but one with so much potential, it’s a crime not to include. Focusing on medieval France during an alien invasion, the characters enter a genre-mixing battle people are a little quick to forget.
Pix is a series that embraces the weirdness of superheroes. A number of older people consider this too kid friendly despite being advertised for young adults. Only to shame those critics with the second volume. It just goes to show that just because something has a young adult label, that doesn’t need to mean moody teen drama. Sometimes being young and enjoying whimsy is enough.
Sun Bakery with its story and art style is definitely not for everyone. As a return to experimental anthologies, there will be things like and don’t like as much. The psychedelic artwork does show how surreal many of these settings can be. Whether you like how Dream Skills shows off sword fights or Bat Rider’s supernatural skate tricks, there’s something to find.
Paklis is an anthology series by Dustin Weaver about taking chances at life. Because sometimes you never know when the next opportunity comes by.
Winnebago Graveyard is divisive; critics praise a simple story for its bizarre artwork, while some audiences just can’t get into it. As an American family goes on vacation they find themselves lost in a sinister small town. While the comparisons to Texas Chainsaw Massacre are common, that just means there’s good influence.
Sacred Creatures is what fans call a surefire B-Movie from Pablo Raimondi with a memorable cast. As a college grad and expectant father finds himself in a supernatural world, he’s going to have to navigate Raimondi’s grisly artwork in order to survive.
The Last Siege is pretty much as advertised, Game of Thrones meets Spaghetti Westerns. With little depth, we find solace in the simplicity of trying to find a good end.
Habitat is one of the few titles to come out of the anthology Island Magazine, with its sci-fi Barbarian story making quite an impression. But didn’t get enough love to continue on.
Like many strange series on this list, Proxima Centauri possesses great artwork. All of which accent the bizarre storytelling that many people try to grasp.
From the writer of Chew comes Leviathan, a comedic take on summoning monsters and the absurdity around it. Readers leave this series in the dust after going on hiatus/cancellation. But they miss out on the fun times that come out of this.
Joe Casey never stops with the absurdity, MCMLXXV is just what he does with Ian Macewan. Focusing on a cab driver with a magic tire iron, there’s enough to fun to last these 80 pages.
Man I’m not sure what cause some of these good series to burn out like Gerry Duggan’s Dead Rabbit. But at least he got a trade for his troubles. It sure did give fans an interesting story of a stick-up man trying to help his wife. For all the fun, Duggan also says that the second issue brought up something that actually happened in his real life; but who knows how that affects him.
Keith Giffen returns to comics with the surreal Auntie Agatha’s Home for Wayward Rabbits. With a likable cast of funny characters, they fill a comedic niche missing in many comics. The ones with jokes so hysterical, you’d think this would be a favorite animated comedy like Ed, Edd, n Eddy.
Gunning For Hits is an odd series that advertises itself as edgy. But in reality, it’s a black comedy about the functions of the music industry. All through a former hitman turned music agent. With an accompanying playlist on Spotify, people can feel what Jeff Rougye, Moritat, and Casey Silver add to the mix.
The Further Adventures of Nick Wilson captures the essence of a comic fan going through a quarter-life crisis. Amid all of the absurdities, it’s a shame that a relatable title character doesn’t get recognition.
Fairlady is a fantasy noir series about an epic battle veteran in her job as an investigator. In this vast post-epic battle world, it would be a waste to not give this series a try.
In a love letter to the comics medium, Olympia is a story about how a fan sees the clashing of his world and his favorite superhero’s. With Alex Diotto and Dee Cunniffe providing some surreal art clashes, it’s an enjoyable tribute to classic art styles.
Lost Soldiers goes into the lives of three Vietnam War veterans and how the war affects them in visual spectacle.
Seven Sons is a supernatural mystery thriller that will make readers skin crawl with anticipation. When the second coming looks like it’s upon everyone, one of the seven candidates must challenge the status quo.
Golden Rage lets a unique concept run wild where old ladies who have been shunned make their own societies. All of the characters have nuance especially in how they interact with one another. Shame it ends so suddenly.
The Deadliest Bouquet features three sisters trying to solve their mother’s murder. All the while trying reconciling with their loved ones.
The Dead Lucky is the black sheep of the Massive-Verse. Radiant Black and Rogue Sun are about gaining superpowers and dealing with modern issues like debt and inheritance. But in this dystopian sci-fi, it’s about an army veteran dealing with survivors guilt. What good are superpowers against a privatized police state if they come with the consciousness of a dead platoon?
Above Snakes is a colorfully surreal look at the Wild West scenario about revenge. Following a gunslinger amid a club of avengers, readers experience just how dead they are inside. How? By colorful, hallucinatory birds that seem to feed on their grief.
20th Century Men isn’t a sequel to 20th Century Boys… that’s a manga. But it does have a similar premise: everything that people were entertained by collide as the new millennium is on the horizon. Your favorite comics just makes history easier to digest.
Flawed is about the thrills of psychological warfare as a vigilante psychiatrist finds her job challenged. When a serial killer seems to be your equal, the anticipation for something drastic sticks with readers.
Gospel details why we love stories but also why the best ones are usually about not chasing after success.
Voyagis offers a readers a spectacle that leaves them thinking. If one of the Voyager probes finds an alien world near the end of its life, how will people react? Will they treat this disaster like a documentary? Will it inspire something back on Earth? Or will it bring trouble to Earth?
Plush is a campy schlock-fest evoking B-Movie splatterpunk with a human core.
Hell To Pay is an occulted satire of society, especially in debt collecting. When a couple are at the end of their rope, they make a deal with a cult. Now they hunt down people who committed Hell’s tax evasion, where they have everything to lose.
Art Brut takes the colorful experimental visuals from the 60s to capture the feeling of getting lost in an art gallery.

Shadowline

normalman is the superhero parody from Jim Valentino. Because a regular human in a world full of superheroes is just so enjoyable to watch.
Musicians are in no small shortage in Image Comics with Jane Wiedlin’s Lady Robotika standing as a testament. This former Go-Go star lives the fantasy of a music video by becoming a cyborg who inspires the masses; too bad it’s a short tour.
The Ted McKeever Library is a series about things looking bleak to the point of needing a Don Quixote. Because if things out of this world like angels and demons are wreaking havoc and nobody cares, a weirdo is the best hope.
When you think you’ve seen fairy tale anthologies, Fractured Fables is ready to double on the subversions. From comedy, reexaminations, to works of inspiration, a number of creatives just love to work with the material.
When Nick Spencer’s Morning Glories brought the idea for him, he decides to pursue it in a different direction. Infinite Vacation is where the concept of parallel universes is used to commodify the choices people make in life. Where with just a simple purchase, you can live as yourself somewhere else. But would you still be you?
Drumhellar is a series of hits and misses for audiences. They like the world but have to deal with the disorienting surrealism. Coming from the writer of Cowboy Ninja Viking, this trippy series will get on somebody’s list.
Before Kurtis J. Wiebe develops his magnum opus of Rat Queens, Green Wake is where he makes his stand. Evoking the feelings of loss and confusion, this series is a favorite to some but underrated and forgotten with time.

Top Cow

Spirit of the Tao is a series from the 90s that was in the shadow of Witchblade. Managing to publish 15 issues over the usual six; the series revolves around teenagers Jasmine and Lance, the newest incarnations of a force of nature to bring balance back to Earth. Unfortunately that means targeting humanity for all the damage they have done. This coming-of-age tale is about duality, how opposing forces must coexist to realize their full potential.
Madame Mirage is a capepunk story when supervillains win by taking advantage of legal loopholes. With no superheroes left, the elusive vigilante is out for payback against one of the most powerful corporations. Written by Batman scribe Paul Dini, every twist and turn allows for a great alignment in this hidden gem.
Common Grounds is an obscure series where superheroes and villains tell their stories. Because who wouldn’t want to just have a talk with a superhero over coffee?
Fan-favorite creator Ron Marz has many titles to his name. Dragon Prince stars a shapeshifting dragon boy where magic and martial arts battles clash with wizards. This series however gets overlooked by the spiritually similar Firebreather which it has a crossover with.
Tracker is a piece between Top Cow and a Heroes & Villains Entertainment. In it readers follow an FBI agent getting himself in a situation involving a serial killer and a werewolf. Now Agent O’Roark has to pull out all of the stops less he loses everything.
Twilight Guardian is a pilot season winner that faded into obscurity. Which is a shame because looking for meaning in life, even a dangerous one is a universal feeling.
Top Cow’s metamorphosis from brooding bombshells to bone-chilling thrillers has no better indicator than A Voice in the Dark. Zoey is trying to find herself in college after accidentally killing someone and not feeling bad about it. So she uses her radio show to take out people’s sources of grief. But what happens when she deals with a serial killer?
- Following this is an incomplete sequel that deals with the fallout of the first series. A detective takes the case of Zoey’s last murder victim. Unfortunately for Zoey this threatens her growing romance who could get her out of this life.
Sunset is a neo-noir crime drama featuring a burned-out ex-mob enforcer ready to go out in a blaze of glory. After a life of running from his past, Nick Bellamy is ready to give closure in a blood-soaked shoot-out.
Romulus is one of those titles that are far from groundbreaking. In fact, the audience has to guess the plot of a secret society turncoat. But the artwork by Nelson Blake II makes this a necessity for comic art students.
Bushido is a chanbara taking place before the Bakumatsu era; a foreigner must help his Japanese family fend off vampire attacks. With stunning visuals and action by Jessada Sutthi, this series pulls readers into tense battle that may well rage on.
Mechanism is a sci-fi war comics where humanity relies on androids to fight invading aliens. However rather than focusing on the battles, the series builds on the world around them; it features twists that can make or break fans.
September Mourning is on this list because its release schedule gets so shaky. A hybrid human/grim reaper takes the souls of the wicked and makes friends to fulfill a prophecy.
St. Mercy is a Weird West title that makes itself memorable with its lovable characters. Not to mention a strong contrast with a passionate look at Incan civilization.

Skybound

Continuing off from Robert Kirkman’s original concept, Tech Jacket has Joe Keating give the titular character some time in the limelight. When most superhero series becoming generic action movies, Tech Jacket reminds readers of the fun and worldbuilding that comes with the genre.
Sea Bear & Grizzly Shark captures a B-movie’s shlockfest!
- So absurdly popular, Grizzly Shark gets a follow-up mini-series.
Evolution is a story about when humanity reaches a point where they become something new. Unlike what the X-Men will tell you, the fact that you’re among the first is terrifying. It becomes isolating thanks to the colors and artwork by Jordan Boyd and Joe Infurnari. With different points of view, the world begins to build anew as the characters develop.
Kill the Minotaur is an alternate take on both history and mythology. Critics were not exactly fans on this twist of a classic. For those that remain however, they get an action-packed epic.
Slots is Dan Panosian throwing jabs at Las Vegas. A former boxer is out for redemption while going down swinging. With all of the shady things in the City of Sin, he might just get something.

12-Gauge

Loose Ends is a piece describing long waits and anticipations. With Chris Brunner and Rico Renzi providing stellar artwork, Jason Latour does a southern crime romance. One that has great psychedelics as per the main character’s job as a drug runner.
Matador is a crime drama focusing on a cop chasing the elusive title serial killer. But nothing is as it seems, as larger-than-life characters embroil in the setting.
Vinyl is a campy mini-series with one of the most bizarre premises. When an FBI agent gets taken prisoner by a cult, it’s up to his his “best friend” to save him. But Walter is a serial killer and has to gather other ones to do so. The mayhem on display is something to behold.