How was Image Comics founded?

Image Comics was founded as a result of dissatisfaction among top artists at Marvel and DC Comics. The founders, including Todd McFarlane, Rob Liefeld, Jim Valentino, Jim Lee, and others, decided to leave their respective companies simultaneously rather than one by one, which created a significant impact. The name "Image" was inspired by an Andre Agassi camera commercial with the tagline "Image is everything" 1 2.

When they decided to form their own company, they aimed to create an environment where they retained the rights to their own creations. This move was motivated by the frustration over the lack of creative control and ownership in the traditional comic book industry at that time 3. After forming Image Comics, the founders went to New York to inform Marvel that they were quitting, which shook the industry and even caused Marvel's stock to drop the next day 4.

Image Comics was officially founded in 1992, and quickly rose to prominence by becoming the third-largest comic book publisher in North America, offering creators more freedom and ownership over their work. This new approach provided a significant alternative to the traditional Marvel and DC model 5 6.