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{{short description|American comic book creator}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox comics creator | image = 10.11.13RobLiefeldByLuigiNovi1.jpg | imagesize = | caption = Liefeld at the 2013 ] | birth_name = Robert Liefeld | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|10|3}} | birth_place = ] | death_place = | nationality = American | cartoonist = | write = y | art = | pencil = y | ink = y | edit = y | publish = y | letter = | color = | alias = | notable works = {{Plain list | * '']'' * '']'' * '']'' * '']'' }} | influences = ]<ref name=CBGreats/><br>]<ref name=CBGreats/><br>]<ref name=CBGreats/> | awards = ] (2012)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comic-con.org/awards/inkpot|title=Inkpot Award|publisher=]|access-date=September 13, 2020|archive-date=December 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216080157/https://www.comic-con.org/awards/inkpot}}</ref> | website = {{official website|http://robliefeldcreations.com/}} | sortkey = Liefeld, Rob | subcat = American }} '''Robert Liefeld''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|aɪ|f|əl|d}}; born October 3, 1967) is an American ]. A prominent writer and artist in the 1990s, he is known for co-creating the character ] with writer ] and the character ] with writer ]. In the early 1990s, Liefeld gained popularity due to his work on Marvel Comics' '']'' and later '']''. In 1992, he and several other popular Marvel illustrators left the company to found ], which started a wave of comic books owned by their creators rather than by publishers. The first book published by Image Comics was Liefeld's '']'' #1. Liefeld has been called one of the most controversial figures in the comic industry<ref name=NYTimes2.5.16>{{cite web|author=Golianopoulos, Thomas|date=February 5, 2016|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/07/movies/deadpool-movie-rob-liefeld.html?_r=0|title=Deadpool: Meet the Prime Mover Behind the Mercenary|newspaper=]|access-date=June 12, 2019|archive-date=October 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024193952/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/07/movies/deadpool-movie-rob-liefeld.html?_r=0}}</ref> for his drawing skills,<ref name=CBR7.3.13>{{cite web|author=Ginocchio, Mark|url=http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2013/07/03/gimmick-or-good-youngblood-1/|title=Gimmick or Good? – Youngblood #1|publisher=]|date=July 3, 2013}}</ref><ref name=CBR.com1.7.17>Hollan, Michael (January 7, 2017). . CBR.com.</ref><ref name=GiveCredit1>]. . peterdavid.net. August 20, 2010. Reprinted from '']'' #1033 (September 3, 1993)</ref> business practices,<ref name=GiveCredit1/><ref name=ComicsAlliance>Sims, Chris (October 26, 2009). {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824112220/http://www.comicsalliance.com/2009/10/26/comicsalliance-video-vault-the-comic-book-greats-rob-liefeld/ |date=August 24, 2012}} ].</ref><ref name=Newsarama>McLelland, Ryan. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706023257/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=5852 |date=July 6, 2009}} Newsarama. September 24, 2003. Archived at . Retrieved August 21, 2013.</ref> and controversial comments.<ref name=CBR.com>{{cite web|author=Adams, Tim|date=June 11, 2019|url=https://www.cbr.com/rob-liefeld-dc-comics-drive-off-cliff-tweets/|title=DC Comics Is 'Gonna Drive Off A Cliff,' Rob Liefeld Declares|publisher=CBR.com|access-date=June 12, 2019}}</ref><ref name=BleedingCool2.7.16>{{cite web|author=Johnston, Rich|date=February 7, 2016|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/02/07/fanboy-rampage-what-if-a-janitor-created-deadpool/|title=Fanboy Rampage: What If A Janitor Created Deadpool?|publisher=Bleeding Cool|access-date=June 12, 2019|archive-date=December 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225025519/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/02/07/fanboy-rampage-what-if-a-janitor-created-deadpool/}}</ref> ==Early life== Rob Liefeld was born October 3, 1967,<ref>] (October 3, 2011). ].</ref> the youngest child of a Baptist minister and a part-time secretary.<ref name=NYTimes2.5.16/> He and his sister, seven years his senior,<ref>. ]. January 10, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2011.</ref> grew up in ].<ref name=NYTimes2.5.16/><ref name=OfficialAnaheim>Liefeld, Rob. . Rob Liefeld Creations. May 2, 2010. Note: Although the source does not explicitly give the year, 2011 is given because Liefeld mentions that ]'s first convention in Anaheim took place the previous year, which was in 2010.</ref> Liefeld's love of comics began as a child, which led early on to his decision to be a professional artist, a practice that began with his tracing artwork from comic books. As a high-school student, he took basic fundamental art courses,<ref name=CBGreats>''The Comic Book Greats'' Episode 2: Rob Liefeld. 1991. Starbur Home Video.</ref> and attended comic book conventions at the nearby ], where he met creators such as ], ], ], ], ] and ].<ref name=OfficialAnaheim/> Liefeld cites Pérez, along with ] and ], as major influences.<ref name=CBGreats/> He has also noted how the influence of ] is visible in his art.<ref name=ComicsBeat>{{cite web|url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/rob-liefeld-isnt-silent-about-snake-eyes-deadgame/?fbclid=IwAR1OQU0ZNCaAiK6tLXukO8Q_eEAhfypSlRZjZxSddayb7owiVCEFYW234e4|author=Henehan, Billy|publisher=]|title=INTERVIEW: Rob Liefeld Isn't Silent About SNAKE EYES: DEADGAME|date=July 17, 2020|access-date=July 20, 2020|archive-date=July 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720200406/https://www.comicsbeat.com/rob-liefeld-isnt-silent-about-snake-eyes-deadgame/}}</ref> ==Career== ===Early career=== After graduating from high school, Liefeld took ] classes at a local ], working odd jobs for about a ], including as a ] man and construction worker, while practicing his artwork, samples of which he sent to small comics publishers, as he was too intimidated to send them to the "Big Two" companies of ] and ].<ref name=CBGreats/><ref name=DCVisualChronicle>{{cite book|last1=Manning|first1= Matthew K.|last2=Dolan|first2=Hannah, ed.|chapter= 1980s|title = DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=] |year=2010 |isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9 |page= 234 |quote = Written by Barbara and Karl Kesel and drawn by future superstar Rob Liefeld, this five-issue miniseries reestablished the famous pair for a new generation.}}</ref> ], in ''Megaton Comics Explosion'' #1 (June 1987).]] Among the editors he sent art samples to c. 1985 was ] of ]. Carlson was working on ''Megaton'' #4, and was looking for replacements for artists who had moved on to bigger projects. Liefeld's submission packet consisted mostly of pinups of ] characters like the ] and ], as well as some sketches of Megaton characters. Some of these earlier pinups are visible on Liefeld's website.<ref name=BigBangComics>] (September 4, 2013). . Big Bang Comics.</ref><ref>Liefeld, Rob. . Liefeld Creations. Retrieved May 1, 2017.</ref> Although Carlson thought Liefeld's depictions of his characters was not sufficiently accurate, and exhibited what Carlson characterized as "some goofy anatomy", he found Liefeld's storytelling to be clear, and his rendering style evocative of the influence of artist ]. Although Carlson liked Liefeld's work overall, he felt the young artist was not ready for professional work. Weeks later he received another set of samples that were an improvement, and later still, a four-page Berserker story (not to be confused with the ] or ] characters of the same name), along with pinups of the Megaton characters Ultragirl and Ultraman. Carlson used one of the pinups as the inside front cover to ''Megaton'' #5,<ref name=BigBangComics/> and Liefeld's Ultragirl pinup in the company's ]-type reference book ''Megaton Explosion'' #1 (June 1987).<ref name=BigBangComics/><ref name=MegatonExplosion>Various (w), Liefeld, Rob (p). (June 1987). Megaton. p. 12</ref> The book also featured an entry for Liefeld's own creation, a team of superheroes called ], the very first appearance of that team in print.<ref name=MegatonExplosion/><ref>. Megaton Comics. Retrieved May 1, 2017.</ref> Carlson and his colleague Chris Ecker later met with the teenaged Liefeld, who at that point had not yet obtained his driver's license, at the Ramada O'Hare Hotel, which was then the location of the ]. Impressed with the artist's enthusiasm and the new art samples he showed them, Carlson gave Liefeld a test script in order to judge his ability to draw a page-to-page comics story. Although Carlson was impressed with Liefeld's layouts, the story was eventually drawn by Gary Thomas by the time it saw print in ''Megaton'' #7.<ref name=BigBangComics/> Two months later Liefeld drew the team in an advertisement in ''Megaton'' #8 (August 1987)<ref name=FirstComicsNews>] (May 29, 1992). . ].</ref><ref>. ]. Retrieved May 1, 2017.</ref> that indicated that it would next appear in ''Megaton Special'' #1, by Liefeld and writer ], with a cover by artist ]. However, Megaton Comics went out of business before that comic was printed.<ref name=FirstComicsNews/><ref>. Megaton Comics. Retrieved May 1, 2017.</ref> ===Success with DC Comics and Marvel Comics=== Learning from a friend of a comic book convention in San Francisco where a large number of editors would be in attendance, Liefeld and his friend drove several hours to San Francisco, where they stayed with his aunt and uncle. At the convention, he showed editors his samples and offered a package, which consisted of 10 pages of sequential art featuring his own characters. Editor ], to whom Liefeld showed his samples at the DC booth, requested that Liefeld send him more samples. Although Liefeld was apprehensive about approaching the Marvel booth, he did so at his friend's urging, and as a result, editor ] offered Liefeld a job illustrating an eight-page '']'' backup story featuring the ], much to the 19-year-old artist's surprise. Though the published story was ultimately illustrated by another artist, Liefeld was later given character design work by the publisher. His first published story, was a ] insert in '']'' #131 (September 1988). Editor ] recalled that Liefeld "was discovered by my office-mate, Jonathan Peterson, who was scrambling to find something for him to do. I had the ''Warlord'' Bonus Book slot coming up, so to keep Rob from finding work at our rival, I tapped him for that."<ref>{{cite journal |last=Greenberger|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Greenberger|title=New Talent and Bonus Babies|journal=]|issue=71|page=72 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing|date=April 2014|location=Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref> Next came the five-issue miniseries '']'' for DC Comics, the first issue of which was published with an October 1988 cover date.<ref name=CBGreats/><ref name=DCVisualChronicle/> It was this work that first garnered Liefeld visibility among readers of mainstream comics.<ref name=CBR.com7.30.01>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/to-the-extreme-a-conversation-with-rob-liefeld/|author=Thomas, Michael|title= To the Extreme: A conversation with Rob Liefeld|publisher=]|date=July 30, 2001|archive-date=September 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917204440/https://www.cbr.com/to-the-extreme-a-conversation-with-rob-liefeld/}}</ref> That same year, Liefeld drew '']'' #28.<ref name=DCVisualChronicle/> Liefeld's layouts for ''Hawk and Dove'' #5, which took place in a chaos dimension, were oriented sideways so that a reader would have to turn the comic book at a right angle to read them. Because this was done without prior editorial approval, editor ] cut and pasted the panels into the proper order, and ] ]ed them onto DC comics paper to ink them. The letters column of ''Hawk and Dove'' #5 mentions that Liefeld "showed something new to an editor who thought he'd seen everything." Liefeld explained this was how the dimension had been portrayed the only other time it had been shown. Kesel disputed this, asserting that this was the first time that dimension had been shown, but a 2007 article in ] pointed out that artist ] had indeed portrayed that realm in this manner in '']'' #14, which had been published three months prior.<ref name=CBGUrbanLegends>{{cite web|url= http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2006/02/02/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-36/|title= Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #36!|author=Cronin, Brian|date=February 2, 2006|publisher=].}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=January 19, 2007|title=Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #86|url=https://www.cbr.com/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-86/|access-date=September 13, 2020|publisher=]|language=en-US|archive-date=January 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016001816/http://www.cbr.com/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-86/}}</ref> Shortly thereafter, Liefeld began doing work for Marvel Comics as well, his first assignment for them being '']'' #23.<ref name=CBGreats/> In 1989, Liefeld became the penciller for the Marvel series '']'', starting with issue #86. He is generally credited for turning this lowest-selling title of the ''X-Men'' franchise into a financial success,<ref name=TheImageStory2>Dean, Michael. (May 2000). "The Image Story: Part Two: The Honeymoon". '']''. pp. 3 – 6.</ref> which underlined the increased popularity and clout that his stint on the title had earned him.<ref name=CBR.com7.30.01/> With ''The New Mutants'' #98, Liefeld assumed full creative control over the series, penciling, inking, and plotting, with ] writing dialog. The ''New Mutants'' series ended with issue 100, and was replaced with a revamped version of the team called '']'', whose 1991 debut issue sold four million copies, setting an industry-wide record later broken by ] and ]'s ''X-Men'' (vol. 2) #1. The sales numbers were propelled by 1990s direct market sales strategies: ] trading cards were ]ged with ''X-Force'' #1 to encourage sales of multiple copies to single collectors, while ''X-Men'' #1 was sold with five variant covers. As of 2013, ''X-Force'' #1 remains the second highest-selling comic book in history.<ref name=CBR7.3.13/> In mid-1990, ] began producing a series of TV commercials directed by ] for their 501 button fly jeans,<ref>Elliott, Stuart (July 22, 1991). . '']''.</ref> which included an onscreen 800 number that viewers who worked in unique jobs could call in order to appear in the company's commercials. After calling the number and leaving a message describing himself and his career, Liefeld appeared in one of the commercials, in which Lee interviews Liefeld about his career and his creation, ''X-Force''.<ref name=CBGreats/><ref name=ComicsAlliance/> Liefeld was subsequently interviewed by ] in the second episode of the 1991 documentary series '']'', in which he discussed how he broke into the industry, demonstrated his drawing technique, and talked about his Levi's commercial.<ref name=ComicsAlliance/> ===Leaving Marvel Comics, co-founding Image Comics=== Liefeld's relationship with Marvel began to break down in 1991 when he announced plans in a black-and-white advertisement in the '']'' to publish an original title with competitor ]. The exact title is unknown, but according to journalist Michael Dean, it was something to the effect of ''The X-Cutioners'', a title whose similarity to Marvel's X-Men family of titles evoked the ire of Marvel editor ], who threatened to fire Liefeld if he used that title.<ref>Dean, Michael. , (Part 1 of 4) ''The Comics Journal'', October 25, 2000</ref> ] share a laugh as they sketch at the ] in Manhattan, October 2, 2010]] Liefeld and several other popular young artists including Jim Lee, ], ], ], ] and ] left Marvel in 1992 to form ]. Each co-founder formed his own studio under the Image banner, such as Liefeld's ]. Liefeld's superhero team series '']'', which is partially a derivative of a 1991 '']'' series Liefeld had proposed to DC Comics, was the first comic Image published.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.newsarama.com/DC/liefeld/LiefeldTitans2.htm |title= Liefeld Talks Titans |access-date= July 14, 2006 |date=April 28, 2005 |publisher= ] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060618085202/http://www.newsarama.com/DC/liefeld/LiefeldTitans2.htm |archive-date = June 18, 2006 }}</ref> He appeared on an episode of '']'' to promote the book.<ref>Nadel, Nick (November 4, 2009). {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106053121/http://comicsalliance.com/liefeld-meets-dennis-miller-in-a-perfect-storm-of-90s-cliches/ |date=2014-11-06}}. Comics Alliance.</ref><ref>. YouTube. April 15, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2014.</ref> The series' first issue met with negative reception from fans and critics<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401130455/http://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/image-comics/youngblood |date=2017-04-01 }}. Comic Book Roundup. Retrieved May 1, 2017.</ref> for the unclear storytelling effected not only by Liefeld's art, but by the book's flip format, which some readers found confusing, as well as the book's poor anatomy; incorrect perspective; non-existent backgrounds; poor dialogue and the late shipping of the book, a problem that continued with subsequent issues. In an interview in ''Hero Illustrated'' #4 (October 1993), Liefeld conceded disappointment with the first four issues of ''Youngblood'', calling the first issue a "disaster". Liefeld explained that production problems, as well as sub-par scripting by his friend and collaborator ], whose employment Liefeld later terminated, resulted in work that was lower in quality than that which Liefeld produced when ] scripted his plots on ''X-Force'', and that reprints of those four issues would be re-scripted. Writer and '']'' columnist ] pointed to Liefeld's scapegoating of Kanalz as an example of Liefeld's failure to take responsibility for his project, and evidence that genuine collaboration with good writers like Louise Simonson and Fabian Nicieza, which some of the Image founders did not appreciate, had previously reflected better on Liefeld's art.<ref name=CBR7.3.13/><ref name=CBR.com1.7.17/><ref name=GiveCredit1/> Other titles produced by Liefeld's Extreme Studios during the 1990s included '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''.<ref>Dietsch, T.J. (January 30, 2013). . CBR.com.</ref> In 1996, Liefeld's and Lee's studios signed with Marvel to re-envision several of the company's core series, an event called "]." Liefeld was contracted to write twelve issues of '']'', co-written with ], and was to pencil twelve issues of ''].'' Due to disappointing sales, Marvel terminated the agreement after six issues, and reassigned the two series to Lee's studio,<ref name="Wiz72news">McLauchlin, J. (August 1997). "Lee Extends 'Reborn' Run," '']'' no.72 p.18. Excerpt: "Marvel...... take over the two former Liefeld-helmed books after six months; Marvel cited low sales as the reason for ending Liefeld's contract early."</ref> one of the most controversial episodes in Liefeld's career.<ref name=CBR.com1.7.17/> ===Departure from Image=== In June 1996, Marc Silvestri temporarily left Image with his '']'' imprint over issues with Liefeld, with Image Comics executive director ] saying Liefeld "was making an increasing number of business decisions that were counterproductive to being a business partner".<ref name=TheImageStory3>Dean, Michael. (July 2000). "The Image Story: Part Three: What Went Wrong". ''The Comics Journal''. pp. 7 – 11.</ref> In early September, Liefeld issued a press release stating he was resigning his position at Image and leaving the group. Nearly simultaneously, the Image partners issued a press release stating that they had fired Liefeld.<ref>"Chapter Three: Image Litigation, Cont.", ''The Comics Journal'' #192 (December 1996), pp. 17–19.</ref> His resignation came only minutes before the second meeting that would have forced him out.<ref name=TheImageStory3/> Liefeld moved all his publishing ventures into a new company, ]. This new enterprise, announced in April 1997 as a partnership between Liefeld and ] founding partner ], concentrated its efforts on newer properties. ===Awesome Comics=== After leaving '']'', Liefeld attempted to buy the rights to ], a similarly patriotically themed 1954 character from Captain America's creators, ] and ]. The still-living Simon and Kirby's widow agreed to a figure Liefeld felt was too high, and he created a new similar character, Agent America. Simon threatened to sue, and the parties renegotiated a deal acceptable to all. ] then sued Liefeld, who was allowed to use the character but not have him throw his shield weapon, a distinctive action of Captain America.<ref name=CBR.com1.7.17/><ref name=ocweekly>{{cite news | url = http://www.ocweekly.com/2007-10-11/features/youngblood-at-heart/full/ | title=Youngblood at Heart| first= Luke Y. | last= Thompson | work = ] | date= October 11, 2007|access-date= July 19, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140220132331/http://www.ocweekly.com/2007-10-11/features/youngblood-at-heart/full/ | archive-date= February 20, 2014 | url-status=live}}</ref> Liefeld also hired comic book writer ] to revive many of Liefeld's creations. Moore wrote a few issues of ''Youngblood'' and ''],'' but his most lauded work for Liefeld was on '']'', for which Moore won the 1997 ] for Best Writer.<ref>. Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Retrieved March 2, 2013.</ref> Awesome's initial releases included new properties like ''Kaboom!'', created by ]. Awesome ceased operation in 2000 due to the departure of its primary investor.<ref>Thompson, Luke Y. (October 11, 2007) . ''OC Weekly''.</ref><ref>Brice, Jason . "All the Rage". ]. Retrieved March 2, 2013.</ref><ref>]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109192113/http://www.comicsbulletin.com/sites/default/files/rage/100375659675845.htm |date=2014-11-09 }}. "All the Rage". Comics Bulletin. Retrieved March 2, 2013.</ref><ref>Amacker, Kurt (2012). . seraphemera.org. Retrieved March 2, 2013.</ref><ref>McCulloch, Joe (April 3, 2012). . ''The Comics Journal''.</ref> ===2000s work=== ]]] In the 2000s, Liefeld returned to his former characters in the ] franchise, providing pencils for the occasional cover and/or interior of '']'' and '']'' until the early 2000s, when both were canceled. In 2004, he reunited with Fabian Nicieza for an ''X-Force'' ] and illustrated the early covers for Nicieza's '']''. In that same year, Liefeld formed ] and once again announced plans to revive ''Youngblood''. These involved reprinting older material<ref>{{cite web|url=http://classic.newsarama.com/Arcade/liefeld/maxrob.html |title=Maximum Rob – Liefeld Talks 'Old' & New Projects|publisher=Newsarama|date= July 11, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201091250/http://classic.newsarama.com/Arcade/liefeld/maxrob.html|archive-date=February 1, 2009}}</ref> and providing the art for two new series<ref>{{cite web|author=Ong Pang Kean, Benjamin|url=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?threadid=4366 |title=Youngblood-A-Trois I: Rob Liefeld|publisher=Newsarama|date= July 2, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060525001159/http://www.newsarama.com/pages/Other_Publishers/Younglodd_Liefeld.htm|archive-date=May 25, 2006}}</ref> ''Youngblood: Bloodsport'' with ]<ref>{{cite web|author=Ong Pang Kean, Benjamin|url=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?threadid=4389 |title=Youngblood-A-Trois II: Mark Millar|publisher=Newsarama|date= July 3, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201090022/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?threadid=4389|archive-date=February 1, 2009}}</ref> and ''Youngblood: Genesis'' with ].<ref>{{cite web|author=Ong Pang Kean, Benjamin|url=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?threadid=4400 |title=Youngblood-A-Trois III: Brandon Thomas|publisher=Newsarama|date= July 4, 2003| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201090047/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?threadid=4400|archive-date=February 1, 2009}}</ref> Although the former only published one issue, Liefeld expressed hopes to finish the series.<ref>Furey, Emmett (June 19, 2008). . CBR.com.</ref> Liefeld and writer ] returned to the Heroes Reborn Universe with '']'', a five-issue limited series that premiered in November 2006.<ref>{{cite web|last=Taylor|first= Robert|url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=8426 |title=Reflections: Talking With Jeph Loeb| publisher= CBR.com|date= October 25, 2006}}</ref> It met with poor reviews.<ref name=CBR.com1.7.17/><ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401151838/http://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/marvel-comics/onslaught-reborn |date=2017-04-01 }}. Comic Book Roundup. Retrieved May 1, 2017.</ref> In 2007, Liefeld and writer ] collaborated on a revival of '']''. Although five issues of the series were finished, the project was cancelled without any of them being printed.<ref>MacDonald, Heidi (November 11, 2011). . ].</ref> In July 2007, it was announced that Rob Liefeld and Youngblood would be returning to Image Comics after years of self-publication.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://classic.newsarama.com/ImageComics/youngblood/Liefeld.html |title=Rob Liefeld Talks Youngblood's Return to Image|publisher=Newsarama|date= August 1, 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201161211/http://classic.newsarama.com/ImageComics/youngblood/Liefeld.html| archive-date=February 1, 2009}}</ref> This new partnership marks the first time in a decade that Liefeld and Image would collaborate on a project. This ''Youngblood'' series was written by ]<ref>{{cite web|last=Furey|first= Emmett|url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=12105 |title=New Blood: Joe Casey talks Youngblood|publisher= CBR.com.|date= December 6, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201093021/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=12105|archive-date=February 1, 2009}}</ref> with art by ] and ], and covers by Liefeld. It debuted in January 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=120437 |title= Liefeld/Image Reunite For ''Youngblood'' HC/New Series|publisher=Newsarama|date= July 7, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027112612/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=120437| archive-date=October 27, 2007}}</ref> Liefeld took over writing and art duties with issue #9,<ref>Wigler, Josh. . CBR.com. July 1, 2009</ref> though that would be the series' final issue. To commemorate the event, and the 15th anniversary of Image Comics, the 2007 ] was headlined by the Image Founders panel, where all seven of the original Image Comics founders appeared on stage simultaneously.<ref>Morrow, John (July 20, 2007). . ].</ref> ===2010s work=== ] in a copy of the ''Deadpool'' Volume 1 hardcover three days before the release of the 2016 '']'' film. To his right is a figurine of the character.]] 2010 saw Liefeld return to the Deadpool character, first by penciling issue #1 of the ''Prelude to Deadpool Corps'' series, the issue focusing on Lady Deadpool. Liefeld became the regular artist on '']'', providing the interior art for the first nine issues.<ref>Johnston, Rich (January 18, 2009). . Bleeding Cool.</ref><ref>Joel, Bryan (March 3, 2010). . ].</ref> In March 2011, Liefeld was announced as the artist on ''The Infinite'', a mini-series written by Robert Kirkman.<ref>Truitt, Brian (March 7, 2011). . '']''.</ref><ref>Ching, Albert. . Newsarama. March 7, 2011</ref> In January 2012, this project was canceled by Liefeld after Kirkman's studio, Skybound, disagreed on the work of a new inker Liefeld hired to draw 14 of the pages in issue #5, which Liefeld re-inked as a result.<ref>Johnston, Rich (January 21, 2012). . Bleeding Cool.</ref> In June 2011, he was announced as the artist on a new '']'' series, with writer ], as part of ], DC Comics' relaunch of their entire superhero line, returning Liefeld to the characters that helped establish him in the industry.<ref>Hyde, David. . ]. June 8, 2011</ref> With '']'' canceled as of issue #8, Liefeld was hired to take over three other titles: '']'', '']'' and '']'', plotting all three, while also writing and drawing ''Deathstroke''.<ref>Johnston, Rich (March 23, 2012). . Bleeding Cool.</ref> Though he indicated in July 2012 that he would stay on the titles for a run that would end in 2013,<ref>McMillan, Graeme (July 26, 2012). {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729040959/http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/07/26/following-morrison-liefeld-also-announces-imminent-departure-fr |date=2012-07-29 }}. Comics Alliance.</ref> he abruptly quit DC Comics in late August 2012, announcing that the #0 issues to be published in September would be his last. Though he characterized his experience on The New 52 as an overall positive one, he did not disguise his animosity toward editor Brian Smith, with whom his clashes were among his reasons for leaving the company.<ref>Ching, Albert (August 22, 2012). {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828091354/http://blog.newsarama.com/2012/08/22/rob-liefeld-quits-dc-the-0s-are-my-last-issues/ |date=2012-08-28 }}. Newsarama.</ref><ref name=ComAlliance8.23.12>McMillan, Graeme (August 23, 2012). {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826015600/http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/08/23/rob-liefeld-quits-dc-on-twitter-names-names-and-points-fingers/ |date=2012-08-26 }} Comics Alliance.</ref> Other reasons he cited were frequent rewrites of his material, and the overall corporate culture that was more prevalent now that both DC and Marvel were owned by large media conglomerates. Liefeld also referred to Scott Clark's artwork on ''Grifter'' as "crap".<ref name=Aug2012BleedingCool-1>Johnston, Rich (August 25, 2012). Bleeding Cool.</ref> Liefeld indicated that he would return to focusing on his creator-owned properties at Image, including '']'', '']'', as well as other projects yet to be specified.<ref name=ComAlliance8.23.12/> In response to these events, artist ] defended DC editorial, stating that the restrictions placed on creators was the result of a plan they had for all 52 of their titles that required them to be consistent with one another.<ref>Johnston, Rich (August 25, 2012) . Bleeding Cool.</ref> Editor ] and writer ] defended Brian Smith, disputing Liefeld's characterization of him, leading to a heated exchange on ] between Liefeld and Brevoort,<ref name=Aug2012BleedingCool-1/><ref name=GammaSquad>Smiff, Will (August 27, 2012). . Gamma Squad.</ref> and eventually head ''Batman'' writer ] as well.<ref name=GammaSquad/><ref name=Aug2012BleedingCool-2>Johnston, Rich (August 25, 2012). . Bleeding Cool.</ref><ref>Fishman, Marc Alan (September 1, 2012). . ComicMix.</ref> In 2011–2012 Liefeld returned to his earlier creator-owned characters, with new books written and illustrated by other writers and artists. These included a new '']'' ongoing series debut at ] under the creative team of Mark Poulton and Owen Gieni, a ''Bloodstrike'' series written by ], a '']'' series written by ] and illustrated by ], and a '']'' series written by ]<ref>Weigel, David (January 21, 2013). . '']''.</ref> that garnered critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite web| last=Cederlund| first=Scott| url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/best-shots-advance-reviews-120117.html| title=Best Shots Advance Reviews: 'Prophet' #21, 'Wasteland' #33| publisher=Newsarama| date=January 17, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last=Hatfield| first=Charles| url=http://www.tcj.com/reviews/prophet-21-22/| title=Reviews: 'Prophet' #21-#22|newspaper=The Comics Journal| date=March 16, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| last=Sava| first=Oliver| url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-latest-issue-of-prophet-illustrates-the-value,81930/| title=The latest issue of Prophet illustrates the value of letting creators do their own thing|publisher=]| date=June 29, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Melrose| first=Kevin| url=http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2012/11/amazon-names-best-comics-and-graphic-novels-of-2012/| title=Amazon names best comics and graphic novels of 2012| publisher=CBR.com.| date=November 13, 2012}}</ref> He also published revivals of ''Youngblood'' with writer John McLaughlin with artist Jon Malin and ''Supreme'' by ] in 2012. In August 2012 Liefeld generated controversy by posting a tweet in which he said of his creation, Deadpool, and the creators who worked on the character:<ref name=BloodyDigusting>{{cite web|author=Nadler, Lonnie|date=August 2, 2012|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3157391/rob-liefelds-ego-just-got-bigger/|title=Rob Liefeld's Ego Just Got Bigger|publisher=]|access-date=June 12, 2019}}</ref><ref name=BleedingCool8.2.19>{{cite web|author=Johnston, Rich|date=August 2, 2012|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/08/02/joining-the-deadpool-d-list/|title=Joining The Deadpool D-List|publisher=Bleeding Cool|access-date=June 12, 2019|archive-date=August 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120803211953/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/08/02/joining-the-deadpool-d-list/}}</ref> <blockquote>"Testament to Deadpool's appeal and durability is that he thrives regardless of being regulated to D-list talent. Marvel A-list never touches"<ref name=BleedingCool8.2.19/><ref>{{cite web|author=Liefeld, Rob|date=August 2, 2012|url=https://twitter.com/robertliefeld/status/231083266214608897|title=(Untitled)|publisher=]|access-date=June 12, 2019|archive-date=July 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728233016/https://twitter.com/robertliefeld/status/231083266214608897}}</ref></blockquote> The comment was met with criticism by industry professionals who pointed to the esteemed creators who had worked on the character that Liefeld was apparently calling "D-list" creators. Rich Johnston of Bleeding Cool took issue with Liefeld's assessment, pointing to the work of esteemed creators who had worked on the character, including ], ], ], ], ] and ].<ref name=BleedingCool8.2.19/> Artist Dave Johnson, who had also worked on the character, referenced a video Liefeld posted on the Web a year earlier of him inking a comics page while driving,<ref>{{cite web|author=Johnston, Rich|publisher=Bleeding Cool|date=June 18, 2011|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/06/18/and-finally-rob-liefeld-on-the-dangers-of-inking-and-driving/|title=And Finally… Rob Liefeld On The Dangers Of Inking And Drivingl|access-date=June 12, 2019|archive-date=June 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110620004611/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/06/18/and-finally-rob-liefeld-on-the-dangers-of-inking-and-driving//}}</ref> by saying, "Yes!!! I've been elevated to the "D list" of talent. Thanks Rob. Now if I can only learn how to ink while driving a car." Then-Marvel Editor-in-Chief ] also referenced other creators who had worked on Deadpool, including ], ], and ], saying, "Welcome to the D-list, @GerryDuggan @thebrianposehn @tonymoore! ] just put your name on the list."<ref name=BleedingCool8.2.19/><ref name=DigitalSpy>{{cite web|author=Armitage, Hugh|date=August 3, 2012|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/comics/a397171/rob-liefeld-apologises-for-deadpool-d-list-comments/|title=Rob Liefeld apologises for Deadpool 'D-list' comments|publisher=]|access-date=June 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=]|date=August 2, 2012|url=https://twitter.com/axelalonsomarv/status/231146818413674496|title=(Untitled)|publisher=Twitter|access-date=June 12, 2019}}</ref> Writer ], another veteran of books featuring Deadpool, stated, "Lot of talented people you just called out as D-list. Might be a better way to congratulate yourself?"<ref name=BleedingCool8.2.19/><ref name=DigitalSpy/> Liefeld defended his statement in subsequent tweets posted that day, tweeting, "Truth hurts. Did I miss the ] Deadpool arc? The ] Deadpool arc? The ] Deadpool arc. Get over yourself. The flip of my statement is that Marvel doesn't feature their prize talent on Dpool and the character does well-Mostly newbies, hence D-list".<ref name=BloodyDigusting/><ref name=BleedingCool8.2.19/><ref>{{cite web|author=Liefeld, Rob|date=August 2, 2012|url=https://twitter.com/robertliefeld/status/231155457044135936|title=(Untitled)|publisher=Twitter|access-date=June 12, 2019}}</ref> Liefeld stated that his point was that "heavy contract players" at Marvel such as ], ], ], and ] did not produce regular monthly books featuring the character.<ref>{{cite web|author=Liefeld, Rob|date=August 2, 2012|url=https://twitter.com/robertliefeld/status/231210764550160384|title=(Untitled)|publisher=Twitter|access-date=June 12, 2019|archive-date=July 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728233016/https://twitter.com/robertliefeld/status/231083266214608897}}</ref> On March 3, Liefeld apologized for his comments, saying, "As a parent I tell my kids it costs nothing to apologise, so here goes: I apologise and am truly sorry to everyone I insulted with my D-list comments. I said it and can't take it back." Liefeld stated that his original complaint was that Marvel tended to rely on new and unproven talent on Deadpool, and not to attack creators such as the then-new team of Brian Posehn, Duggan and Moore.<ref name=DigitalSpy/> Liefeld made a ] in the 2016 film based on his most famous creation, '']'', which was released in February 2016.<ref>Davis, Erik (July 12, 2015). . ].</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=McMillan|first1=Graeme|title=Why the 'Deadpool' Trailer Was the Best Received at Comic-Con|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/comic-con-deadpool-trailer-was-80819|work=]|date=July 11, 2015}}</ref> In an interview that month, Liefeld stated that he was working on the graphic novel ''Deadpool: Bad Blood'', which was set for release later that year.<ref name=NYTimes2.5.16/> In 2017, it was reported by Deadline that Liefeld was working with ] and ] on a seven-figure movie deal for his Extreme Universe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/deadpool-rob-liefeld-extreme-universe-movie-deal-fundamental-films-graham-king-akiva-goldsman-1201877766/|title='Deadpool's Rob Liefeld In Extreme Universe Pic Pact With Graham King, Fundamental Films, Akiva Goldsman|publisher=Deadline|last=Fleming, Jr|first=Mike|date=January 3, 2017}}</ref> In June 2019, Liefeld reacted to the sweeping editorial changes that occurred at DC Comics in the aftermath of a controversial printing error on '']'' #1 with a set of two tweets in which he stated, "DC Comics gonna drive off a cliff here real soon…..gotta get my popcorn...I ain't never seen a company in as much disarray as DC Comics. Thank God they have Batman to act as their Tylenol, Asprin, laughing gas… 'more Batman will fix it!'"<ref name=CBR.com/><ref name=BleedingCool6.10.19>{{cite web|author=Terror, Jude|date=June 10, 2019|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/06/10/rob-liefeld-predicts-the-collapse-of-dc-comics-soon/|title=Rob Liefeld Predicts the Collapse of DC Comics Soon|publisher=Bleeding Cool|access-date=June 12, 2019|archive-date=June 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610223739/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/06/10/rob-liefeld-predicts-the-collapse-of-dc-comics-soon/}}</ref> When writer ] expressed skepticism of this prediction, pointing to DC's strong lineup,<ref>{{cite web|author=Millar, Mark|date=June 11, 2019|url=https://twitter.com/mrmarkmillar/status/1138134775963820032|title=(Untitled)|publisher=Twitter|access-date=June 12, 2019}}</ref> Liefeld replied that Millar's assessment was a dated one that had not been true since the 1980s. Liefeld further tweeted, "I understand my DC honesty will cost me a potential opportunity but who cares! C'mon… they should fire everybody in management and refresh. Batman will still be there for the next group...And Jim Lee could finally draw the X-Men for you again!!! Wins all around!!"<ref name=CBR.com/><ref name=BleedingCool6.10.19/> Liefeld eventually deleted the initial two tweets, but they nonetheless prompted a series of arguments between Liefeld and users who criticized him for his remarks. This was followed by Liefeld's concession that neither Marvel nor DC were in any danger of shutting down, and his announcement that he was ending his Twitter account, and would be using ].<ref>{{cite web|author=Terror, Jude|date=June 11, 2019|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/06/11/rob-liefeld-quits-twitter-following-dc-tweet-controversy/|title=Rob Liefeld Quits Twitter Following DC Tweet Controversy|publisher=Bleeding Cool|access-date=June 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Liefeld, Rob|date=June 11, 2019|url=https://twitter.com/robertliefeld/status/1138451733569581058|title=(Untitled)|publisher=]|access-date=June 12, 2019}}</ref> In July 2020 ] released the first issue of '']'', a ]-related series, co-written by Liefeld and Chad Bowers, and penciled by Liefeld, Adelso Corona, and Neil Vyetake. Around that same time, Liefeld began a podcast on ], ] and Podbean called ''Robservations'', in which he talks about different topics pertaining to the comics industry.<ref name=ComicsBeat/> ==Criticism and praise== ] speaking with Liefeld at the ] in Manhattan, October 2, 2010]] Liefeld's name has become something of a lightning rod in the industry.<ref name=BloodyDigusting/><ref name=ComicsAlliance/><ref>Diaz, Eric (September 6, 2013). . ].</ref> In an interview, ] described the polarization of opinion on Liefeld: "There is a great dichotomy...There's either some great and generous story about or you will hear some unbelievable thing like, 'How is he not in jail if he did that?' There is no middle ground."<ref name="LiefeldBendis">]. . '']''. 2006. Retrieved April 20, 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060714193744/http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/000853542.cfm |date=July 14, 2006 }}</ref> In interviews, Liefeld has compared himself to other popular artists who experienced meteoric success and acclaim early in their careers but near-pariah status afterwards, such as ] or ],<ref name=NYTimes2.5.16/> who "became vapid in pop music, and perhaps I was nothing more than a vapid comic book artist." He seems to credit his success to tapping into the ]: "I'll be the first to tell you that we were never the best artists. We were never the best at anything, but just like a song or a band or whatever, we caught on and we toured rigorously."<ref name="LiefeldBendis"/> Liefeld is not without supporters in the industry. '']'' says of Liefeld's critics, "Rob Liefeld is the punching bag of choice for many discerning comics fans. But he's also the man who defined what the 1990s looked like in superhero books, so he's crying all the way to the bank. For every detractor who thinks he's the worst thing to happen to comic books since ], there are a dozen ravenous fanboys ready to snatch up whatever he does next."<ref name=AVClub>{{cite web|author1=Adams, Sam |author2=Murray, Noel |author3=Phipps, Keith |author4=Pierce, Leonard | title = Reinventing the pencil: 21 artists who changed mainstream comics (for better or worse)|publisher = The A.V. Club|date = July 20, 2009 | url = http://www.avclub.com/articles/reinventing-the-pencil-21-artists-who-changed-main,30528/}}</ref> Writer ], with whom Liefeld collaborated, and writer ] are reported to be admirers of his work.<ref name="LiefeldBendis"/> Millar in particular wrote the foreword to the 2008 '']'' collection published by Image Comics, in which he defended that series as an entry in the celebrity superhero subgenre that predated '']'' and '']''. Millar also compared critics of Liefeld's layouts and figure work to those who would have criticized ] for exhibiting a cartoony style rather than photorealism, and asserted that his own children are avid fans of Liefeld's work in general, and ''Youngblood'' in particular.<ref>] (2008). '']'' collected edition. ]. p. 3</ref> Comics writer ] credited the Image creators with "rescuing" American comics, explaining that they responded to children's tastes of the time, and brought comics back to their basic superhero roots following the ] in comics and the popularization of titles typified by ], of which Morrison himself was a part. Morrison stated that he is an admirer of Liefeld's work in particular, explaining that while Liefeld's art was regarded as "total crap" in the 1990s, many comic book artists today see it as an ] abstraction of reality that is as bizarre and individual as ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Fat Man on Batman #044: More with Morrison |publisher=] |date=August 14, 2013 |url=http://smodcast.com/episodes/more-with-morrison/ |access-date=August 21, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819161318/http://smodcast.com/episodes/more-with-morrison/ |archive-date=August 19, 2013 }}</ref> In 2012, Rich Johnston of ] said of DC Comics' decision to assign Liefeld the co-scripting and drawing duties on three of their flagging ] titles, "Rob does have a habit, of course, of pulling out sales and attention like a rabbit out of a hat."<ref>Johnston, Rich (March 2012). . Bleeding Cool.</ref> In 2013, he was named on ]'s list of "The Best Tweeters in Comics" for both his industry insight and his bluntness.<ref>{{cite web|last=Yehl|first=Joshua|title=The Best Tweeters in Comics|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/02/20/the-best-tweeters-in-comics|access-date=April 22, 2014}}</ref> ===Art style=== Liefeld has been criticized for his drawing skill.<ref name=CBR7.3.13/><ref name=CBR.com1.7.17/><ref name=GiveCredit1/> In a 1996 interview, writer/illustrator ] criticized the depth of work by the popular artists of the 1990s like Liefeld and ], and those whom they had influenced (whom he referred to as "the Liefelds and the Lees"), stating "I don't think it has even crossed their minds that comic books can be a medium for intimate self-expression." Speaking of Liefeld in particular, Windsor-Smith said:<ref name=WindsorSmith>] (September 1996). . ''The Comics Journal'' #190. Retrieved July 28, 2013.</ref> {{quote|Rob Liefeld has nothing to offer. It's as plain as bacon on your plate. He has nothing to offer. He cannot draw. He can't write. He is a young boy almost, I would expect, whose culture is bubble gum wrappers, Saturday morning cartoons, Marvel Comics; that's his culture... I see nothing in his work that allows me to even guess that there's any depth involved in that person that might come to the fore given time.<ref name=WindsorSmith/>}} ] Liefeld has also been criticized for designing characters with an improbable profusion of ]s, accessories, and pouches. This style has been subject to parody.<ref name=AVClub/> For example, during Grant Morrison's run on DC Comics' '']'' in the early 1990s, Morrison collaborated with ], ], and ] to produce ''Doom Force Special'' #1 (July 1992), which "vicious" mocked Liefeld's work on ''X-Force''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sims |first1=Chris |title=The Most Insane Moments of 'Doom Patrol' |url=https://comicsalliance.com/the-most-insane-moments-of-doom-patrol/ |website=] |access-date=February 9, 2021 |date=August 3, 2009}}</ref> Artist ] drew upon his dislike of the design of Liefeld's creation ] when designing the character ] for the 1996 miniseries '']''. Following writer ]'s instructions that the character's appearance be based on aspects of superhero design trends of the time that they disliked, Ross said of Cable, "That's a character that Mark Waid invented that was really just put to me like come up with the most God awful, Rob Liefeld sort of design that you can. What I was stealing from was—really only two key designs of Rob's—the design of Cable. I hated it. I felt like it looked like they just threw up everything on the character—the scars, the thing going on with his eye, the arm, and what's with all the guns?"<ref>Brick, Scott (March 2007). "Alex Ross". '']''. p. 95.</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Jonah |last=Weiland |url=http://www.cbr.com/rob-liefeld-controversial-comics-titles/|title=Ten Years Later: Reflecting on 'Kingdom Come' with Alex Ross |publisher=CBR.com|date=May 10, 2006}}</ref> Liefeld has also been criticized for drawing figures with exaggerated ] ],<ref name=NYTimes2.5.16/><ref name="GiveCredit1"/> such as long legs and tiny feet,<ref name=AVClub/> and "bizarre" anatomy on female characters that some critics felt served to objectify women,<ref name=CBR.com1.7.17/> with critical articles such as "The 40 Worst Rob Liefeld Drawings", "A Gallery of Rob Liefeld's Anatomical Abominations" and "Worst Rob Liefeld Covers" among the top mentions of Liefeld's on ].<ref name=NYTimes2.5.16/> These stylistic devices were seen as the impetus for his initial success, when such affectations were unusual in comics, and helped lend such characters to successfully merchandised products.<ref name=TheImageStory2/><ref>{{cite news | last = Cunningham | first= Brian | date = August 1993 | title = Catapult to Stardom | work = Wizard: X-Men Turn Thirty| pages = 82–83}}</ref> Nonetheless, the approach later became a ] and led to a widespread hostility towards the style.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-new-dc-52-week-1-flashpoint-5-and-justice-leag,61267/|title=The New DC 52, Week 1 (Flashpoint #5 and Justice League) |author1=Keith Phipps |author2=Oliver Sava |name-list-style=amp |publisher=The A.V. Club|date=September 2, 2011}}</ref> Liefeld agrees for the most part with this estimation of his early work, saying, "In the mid-90s we '']''{{'}}ed everything. I'm as guilty as anyone..."<ref name=ComicsBulletin>Saunders, Steven G. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114220920/http://www.comicsbulletin.com/features/116883849126986.htm |date=2009-01-14 }}. Comics Bulletin. Retrieved April 20, 2007.</ref> Liefeld's friend, Image Comics partner, and '']'' creator, ], defends Liefeld, saying, "Every figure that Rob draws has a certain energy to it, a certain excitement. Every character Rob drew had seven knives and six guns and shoulder pads and pouches and belts and straps and ammunition. It was an aesthetic that as a kid absolutely blew me away. I idolized the guy...Everything he draws is interesting, whether it's accurate or not. A lot of people look at the way Rob draws the human body and they say, 'That's wrong in my eyes.' I would say that these people have no joy in their souls. It's not like Rob doesn't know what a human body looks like, I think Rob looks at a human body and goes: 'That's boring. I can do better.'"<ref name=NYTimes2.5.16/> In addition to his depiction of human anatomy, Liefeld's art has also been criticized in more general terms for use of ] in lieu of multi-panel pages depicting more story,<ref name=NYTimes2.5.16/> and poor design and continuity in elements such as clothing, props, and proper proportions between characters and their environments,<ref>{{cite comic|writer=David, Peter|story=Mystery Sandman Theater: Captain America|title=Comics Buyer's Guide|publisher=]|issue=1193|date=September 27, 1996}}</ref> with industry columnist ] responding to Liefeld's 1996 work on the "]" '']'' by proclaiming Liefeld the "] of comics".<ref name=NYTimes2.5.16/><ref>David, Peter. . peterdavid.net. February 13, 2012. Reprinted from ''Comics Buyer's Guide'' #1195 (October 11, 1996)</ref> Kesel relates: {{quote|Mike Carlin once said of Rob: "He has it. He just doesn't have it yet." And I couldn't agree more. Rob is one of the most energetic and charming people I've ever met—you can't help but like him—and at the time of ]''] his work showed great potential. But success came far too quickly and easily to him, and he never felt the need to develop that potential. Which is really too bad, because if he did I'm certain he would have left a very different mark on the industry. Not that things worked out that badly for him...<ref name=CBGUrbanLegends/>}} Liefeld has stated that such criticism has not bothered him, in part because, at the height of his popularity, he had things outside of his work to focus on, such as the death of his father from cancer in 1999.<ref name=NYTimes2.5.16/> By the 2010s, he was known to reference this perception of his work in a lighthearted manner: Following the April 2012 release of DC Comics' solicitations for that July, which included Liefeld's covers for '']'' #11, '']'' #11, and '']'' #11—all of which showed characters' feet—Liefeld, who had been criticized for avoiding drawing characters' feet, commented, "The ] don't know what to do when I draw feet. It confuses them."<ref>{{cite web|author=Melrose, Kevin|date=April 10, 2012|url=http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2012/04/quote-of-the-day-rob-liefeld-1-hipsters-0/|title=Quote of the day {{!}} Rob Liefeld 1; Hipsters 0|publisher=CBR.com}}</ref> In '']'', the character Domino's luck-based powers are disparaged by Deadpool: "Luck? What coked-out, glass pipe-sucking freakshow comic book artist came up with that little chestnut? Probably a guy who can't draw feet!", a reference acknowledged by Liefeld,<ref>Thompson, Luke Y. (May 17, 2018). . '']''</ref> who has pointed out that many fan favorite artists used mounds of debris or shadows to avoid drawing feet.<ref>Terror, Jude (December 9, 2015). . The Outhousers. Retrieved September 17, 2019.</ref><ref>Terror, Jude (September 14, 2019). . Bleeding Cool. Retrieved September 17, 2019.</ref> ===Creator credit=== At the beginning of Liefeld's run on the '']'', the heavily muscled, heavily armed ] character Cable was created for the team, and became a popular ], although there is dispute over Cable's origin, with conflicting accounts of credit given to Liefeld, ], and ] for aspects of the character's concept and origin.<ref name=GiveCredit1/><ref name=ComicsBulletin/><ref>Johnston, Rich (May 22, 2006). . CBR.com.</ref><ref>''Wizard'' magazine, issue #10.</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Johnston, Rich|url=https://www.cbr.com/281997-2/|title=LYING IN THE GUTTERS VOLUME 2 COLUMN 53|publisher=CBR.com|access-date=June 12, 2019|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060610/http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?article=2467}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=]|date=November 20, 2015|url=https://www.facebook.com/notes/10153041734456503/|title=Regarding the creation of Cable...|publisher=]|access-date=June 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Terror, Jude|date=November 21, 2015|url=http://www.theouthousers.com/index.php/news/133854-walt-simonson-reprints-25-year-old-letter-regarding-origin-of-cable.html|publisher=The Outhousers|title=WALT SIMONSON REPRINTS 25 YEAR OLD LETTER REGARDING ORIGIN OF CABLE|access-date=June 12, 2019|archive-date=February 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160211031605/http://www.theouthousers.com/index.php/news/133854-walt-simonson-reprints-25-year-old-letter-regarding-origin-of-cable.html}}</ref> For a time, Marvel credited only Liefeld and Simonson as Cable's creators within the '']'' series. He also was credited as the sole creator of ''Youngblood'', when documentation suggests that Liefeld's longtime friend and collaborator Hank Kanalz co-developed that team with him.<ref name=GiveCredit2>David, Peter. . peterdavid.net. August 23, 2010. Reprinted from ''Comics Buyer's Guide'' #1040 (October 22, 1993)</ref> Liefeld has also contested sharing creator credit with writer ] for the character Deadpool. In a 2016 '']'' interview, Liefeld said that he did "all the heavy lifting" in writing and drawing the issue in which that character first appeared, while Nicieza wrote its script, saying, "If a janitor scripted New Mutants 98, he'd be the co-creator — that's how it works, buddy. Deadpool does not exist in any way, shape or form without me. I wrote the stories. Like Jim Lee and others, I worked with a scripter who helped facilitate. I chose Fabian, and he got the benefit of the Rob Liefeld lottery ticket. Those are good coattails to ride."<ref name=NYTimes2.5.16/> These remarks drew criticism from writers ], ], and ], and artist ], who felt that Liefeld was diminishing Nicieza's contributions to the character. Busiek in particular referenced Nicieza's work on Deadpool's signature trait, saying, "Because the success of the Merc With A Mouth clearly has nothing to do with the guy who supplied the mouth." Liefeld later said that he hated the ''Times'' article, calling it "a hit piece."<ref name=BleedingCool2.7.16/> Liefeld has also been accused of ], or copying, art from other artists.<ref name=CBR.com1.7.17/><ref name=GiveCredit1/><ref>]. , ComicMix, December 3, 2007</ref> Liefeld responded to this accusation by stating that in these instances, which he said were limited to ten, he was offering tribute to the artists of the original pieces in question, rather than ], and compared this to the work of filmmaker ], who explicitly used the techniques of ]. Peter David responded to this rationale by stating that DePalma himself was criticized harshly by film critics for employing Hitchcock's techniques, and that Liefeld, who has identified himself as a "stickler" for credit, did not credit artists whose work he copied, instances of which exceeded the ten upon which Liefeld insisted. David also stated that some of these artists, such as ] and ], did not react to this practice on Liefeld's part as a "tribute", and expressed displeasure at the degree to which Liefeld relied on their work.<ref name=GiveCredit2/> ===Production and business problems=== Liefeld has also gained a reputation for producing late books, primarily his creator-owned ones,<ref name=GiveCredit1/><ref name=Newsarama/> though somewhat less so when doing ].<ref name=CBGUrbanLegends/> Some issues of his series '']'' shipped as much as nine months late. Liefeld has attributed this to the greater incentive a freelancer feels when doing work-for-hire assignments for a company, as opposed to working on one's self-owned work.<ref name="LiefeldBendis"/> Creator ], who says he had to fly to Los Angeles and literally sit on Liefeld's doorstep until Liefeld finished penciling his portion of the '']'' miniseries, which was an intercompany crossover published by Image Comics and ], and who had to ink the artwork himself in an Anaheim hotel room, stated, "There I was, with my own company to manage, and I was in California, managing someone else's people." Layton cites ''Deathmate'', and Image's inability to produce their half of that series in a timely manner, as the first disaster that heralded the end of the ], and the eventual demise of Valiant Comics.<ref name=Newsarama/> Liefeld has been criticized for not returning to ] the original artwork that Veitch had produced for Liefeld's Awesome Comics series, '']''.<ref name=ComicsAlliance/> Liefeld compared his conflicts with contemporaries McFarlane and Jim Lee to the intra-band conflicts of the ],<ref name=NYTimes2.5.16/> and in 2007, he stated that his feud with the Image partners was in the past, saying, "The divorce was ugly, but to me it didn't linger....I realized you just need to let it go."<ref>Morse, Ben. (2007). "In Step With: Rob Liefeld". ''Wizard''. November, 2007. p. 108</ref> ==Selected bibliography== ===Artwork=== * '']'' #40, #52 (cover only), #54 (cover only) * '']'' #245 * '']'' #85 (cover only), #86–91, #92 (cover only), #93–96, #97 (cover only), #98–100 * '']'' Annual #5–6 * '']'' #1–9 (plot & pencils), #10 (plot), #11 (plot & cover), #12–13 (plot) * '']'' vol. 2, #154, 155 * '']'' #52–53, 85–86 * '']'' vol. 2 #1–6 * '']'' #71, 73, 75, 77 * '']'' and ''Youngblood: Bloodsport'' * '']'' * ''Armageddon Now'' * ''Smash'' * '']'' * ''Doom's IV'' * '']'' 27–28 * ''X-Force'' vol. 2, #1–6 * '']'' #1–5 * '']'' vol. 2, #7 * '']'' #900 * ''Prelude to ]'' #1 (written by ], five-issue limited series, Marvel Comics, May 2010, 120 pages, premiere hardcover, July 2010, {{ISBN|0-7851-4752-7}}) * ''Deadpool Corps'' #1–9 * ''The Infinite'' #1–6 (August 2011 – January 2012) * ''Grifter'' #9–12, 0 (cover art) * ''Hawk and Dove'' #1–5 (1988) * ''Hawk and Dove Annual'' #1 (1990) (cover art) * ''Hawk and Dove'' #1–8 (2011–2012) * ''Deathstroke'' vol. 2, #9–12, #0 (2012–2013) (artist and cover art) * ''The Savage Hawkman'' #9–12 (cover art) * '']'' #1-6 (artist and cover art) * '']'' #1–3 (2009–2010) ===Writing=== * ''Deathstroke'' vol. 2, #9–12, 0 (writer); 13–14 (plot) * ''Grifter'' #9–12, 0, 13–14 (plot/co-writer) * ''Avengers'' vol. 2 #1–7 (plot) * ''Captain America'' vol. 2 #1–6 (plot) * ''New Mutants'' #98–100 * '']'' #52, 53, 99 * ''Prophet/Cable'' #1–2 * ''The Savage Hawkman'' #9–12, 0, 13–15 (plot/co-writer) * '']'' #1-6 (plot/co-writer) * ''Wolverine'' vol. 2, #154–157 * ''X-Force'' #1–12 * ''X-Force: ]'' #1–4 ==References== {{Reflist}} ==Further reading== * ''Wizard'' #10, interview about ''Executioners'' and ''Berserkers'' (June 1992) ==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{official website}} * {{gcdb|type=credit|search=Rob+Liefeld|title=Rob Liefeld}} * at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators * {{Comicbookdb|type=creator|id=60|title=Rob Liefeld}} * {{IMDb name|509580}} {{s-start}} {{succession box | title='']'' writer| before=]| after=]|years=2000}} {{s-end}} {{Rob Liefeld}} {{Extreme Studios}} {{Deadpool}} {{Inkpot Award 2010s}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Liefeld, Rob}} ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]