“A Perfect Pivot From Saying Goodbye To Marvel”: Rob Liefeld Explains His Decision To Focus On Indie Comics

Rob Liefeld is saying goodbye to Marvel with one final Deadpool story – and according to Liefeld himself, this was “the perfect pivot” to the next phase of his career, in which he plans to focus exclusively on his Extreme catalog of creator-owned characters, starting with the freshly announced revival of his Image Comics series Youngblood.

In an interview with Screen Rant, Liefeld spoke openly about crafting the final act of his legacy, which has spanned over three decades in the comic book industry, and included the creation of multiple fan-favorite Marvel characters, as well as his pioneering stint at Image Comics.

During his 30+ year career, Liefeld has conjured up an impressive roster of characters, known as his Extreme catalogue, and according to the artist, turning his full attention to them is the perfect way to say goodbye to Marvel Comics for good.

Rob Liefeld Says Focusing On “Youngblood” & Other “Extreme” Characters Is The Right Send-Off For His Marvel Career

Liefeld Called His Time With Marvel “Great”

Next year’s Yougblood revival will allow Rob Liefeld the opportunity to write a definitive final chapter – at least, for his tenure on the superhero team title – in a saga he started over thirty years ago. With his final Deadpool miniseries, he is doing the same for his career at Marvel, which Liefeld spoke of with great gratitude. As he said in his interview with Screen Rant, of his decision to no longer work with Marvel, in favor of focusing on his own characters:

It’s a perfect pivot from saying goodbye to Marvel. It’s the perfect way of saying goodbye. Marvel was great. I had a great time. Couldn’t have had a better experience. But if I have what I believe is five years left doing the work that I’m doing the work at a level I’m satisfied with, then I need to pour it into my Extreme catalog.

As Liefeld noted, his intention is to make the absolute most of the rest of his career.

Whether he has “five years left,” or ten, or more, as a comic book creator, Rob Liefeld remains as ambitious as he did at the very start of his career – a trait that has undergirded his success in the industry throughout the years. While he could certainly continue to contribute at Marvel Comics, especially as a cover artist, that is no longer where his passion lies as a creator. From his plans for Youngblood, to what lies beyond that, Liefeld is still clearly as passionate about comics as ever.

Rob Liefeld’s Marvel Career Is Officially In The History Books – What Will His Legacy Be?

Complicated, But Essential

Rob Liefeld’s work for Marvel Comics isn’t without its critics, and was not controversy-free – but this is precisely what made him an impactful creator. Liefeld pioneered the “over-the-top,” hyperbolic style that came to dominate superhero comics in the 1990s; whatever readers might have felt about this style at the time, or might now feel in retrospect, the fact that it caught on at the time is telling enough. As an artist, Liefeld produced evocative work on the page, and he proved to be an outspoken individual within the comic industry.

All told, this makes him one of the medium’s most fascinating figures in his own right, and understanding his tenure at Marvel is an essential part of learning the history of comics from the late 1980s onward. Now, as he officially proclaims his Marvel Comics career to be complete, readers can truly begin an official audit of his legacy with the publisher. Further, this next step of his career will forever be considered in the context of the fact that he prioritized it over the safer option of continuing to work for Marvel.

There Is No Limit To What Liefeld Can Do In The Final Act Of His Career

Total Creative Autonomy

As Rob Liefeld writes the next – and perhaps, the greatest – chapter in the history of Youngblood, readers should also anticipate returns for more of his creations, including Prophet and Bloodstrike, among the numerous slate of characters and titles he has to draw from. More than any one single character, though, what should excite readers about Liefeld’s commitment to his Extreme characters is the absolute creative freedom this allows him. At this point in his career, as an author and an artist, he seems poised to produce his most daring, and perhaps even shocking work yet.

Given the opportunity, Liefeld will do whatever he can to create memorable characters, and a story that grabs hold of readers and won’t let go. Some fans might mourn the loss of the Cable series he turned down at Marvel, but in the end, the prospect of a restrained Rob Liefeld is not in the best interests of comic book fans. As he reaches the nadir of his career, the legendary creator has officially said goodbye to Marvel, and opened the door to an ambitious final career stretch with his roster of Extreme characters.