Robert Kirkman is known as the mind behind some of the most impactful comic book properties this century, from The Walking Dead to Invincible. But the prolific writer and comic book mogul has talents with the pencils as well.
Kirkman is behind a variant cover for Youngblood No. 100, which The Hollywood Reporter can debut.
The comic is a milestone issue for the Rob Liefeld-created title, one that comes 34 years after Liefeld launched the book. Liefeld asked a number of artists contribute covers, including a several of Liefeld’s Image Comics co-founders, with whom he launched the company in 1992.
“I rarely ask anybody for anything. I hate getting turned down. I’m as sheepish as anyone else,” Liefeld tells THR of asking artists to contribute. But after learning Liefeld had asked his Image founders to participate, “Robert is like, ‘What about me?’” recalls Liefeld.
Youngblood launched in 1992 from Image and was the first title outside of Marvel or DC to bow at No. 1 and sell more than 1 million copies. Liefeld returned to the character after a lengthy hiatus in 2025, and is planning on continuing his run.
Also contributing covers for the June 10 issue are Todd McFarlane, Erik Larsen, Jim Valentino, Whilce Portacio, and Image CEO Marc Silvestri (below), which Liefeld said was so good that he felt he should retire from drawing Youngblood.
Recalls Liefeld: “I texted mark immediately, ‘I can not draw these characters. This is humiliating.’”
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