Everyone knows the titans of comic book publishing, Marvel and DC. However, not everyone knows about the doughty contender, Image Comics. Image began its life as an alternative publishing platform for comic book creators. Created in 1992, Image Comics soon became the home of several comic book series.
It housed mighty characters that, while less well-known than Superman or Spider-Man, were just as powerful and delightful. It would be a darned shame if these characters became relegated into the dusty halls of the past. So tuck in your capes and prepare for a leap into the world of Image Comics. Read on if you want to learn about the most powerful characters Image showcased in the 90s.
10 Pitt (Youngblood/Pitt)
For those of you who don't remember or know Pitt, all you really need to know about him is that he's a gritty mix of Superman, Hulk, and Wolverine. Sound like your cup of tea? The character of Pitt first appeared in Youngblood. He got his own series within the year.
Pitt is a mix between an alien and a human, with the nose of Voldemort and the claws of Lady Deathstrike. Strength, durability, and berserker rages are not the only powers in his arsenal. He also has mind powers. Mind powers. Pitt combines both mental and physical superhuman abilities.
9 Spartan (WildC.A.T.S.)
Spartan is the leader of the WildC.A.T.S., and it is obvious that he was chosen for a reason. He possesses typical superhuman fare, like super strength, super speed, flight, and durability. However, since his body is part android, Spartan has phenomenal regenerative abilities. His body can be blown to smithereens (more or less), and he can come back from it.
It's not every day that we see heroes recover from being torn apart, but Spartan was the rare exception. His cybernetic systems also provide him with literal upgrades to his capabilities.
8 Jackson Dane (Wetworks)
Symbiotes are the best of buddies—unless you're Spider-Man and you're dealing with Venom. In the Image series Wetworks, comic book readers got to see what it would be like if symbiotes were not vicious piles of black goo.
Jackson Dane was the leader of a covert team of symbiote-wearing agents. He had his very own symbiote, too. Dane's symbiote turned into golden armor that protected him from nearly any kind of harm. It also allowed him to communicate with his other team members using his mind. He could also do some telekinesis on the side.
7 The Maxx (The Maxx)
The Maxx was a weird comic book series. It involved the intermixing of a dream world called the Outback and the real world. The Maxx was a hero created by an accidental blending of these two worlds. He became this larger-than-life, fantastical character with a whole set of insane abilities. He's strong and fast, and he also behaves in an animalistic fashion.
While The Maxx does not look like the kind of creature you would want saving you, he's still a good guy. In real life, he is a homeless man. In the Outback, he is The Maxx.
6 Sentinel (Youngblood)
On his own, Marcus Langston isn't the most powerful hero. Technically speaking, the only reason Langston became the "hero" Sentinel is because he rewrote his future. Seriously, he literally rewrote his future. Young Marcus found a magic book that contained his whole life's story.
Displeased with his ending, Marcus changed the script. He made himself a genius and a superhero. Now that's what we call proactive. Of course, when his superhero team found out about this, they were none too pleased. Sentinel basically turned to the dark side after that.
5 Caitlin Fairchild (Gen¹³)
Teen super teams are all the rage, and Gen¹³ was one of Image Comics' attempts to follow that trend. In the series, the government performs clandestine experiments on teenagers who have Gen-Active abilities. The most powerful of the lot was Caitlin Fairchild.
One of the first to experience her new superhuman abilities, she can turn into an incredibly strong and powerful woman. She transforms from the slim teenager she usually is into a tall, athletic super-woman. In this state, she could probably hold her own against Wonder Woman.
4 The Dragon (Savage Dragon)
Unlike most superheroes who operate outside the law, the Dragon works with the police. As a matter of fact, he is one of them. The Dragon woke up in a field one day with no memory of his past. Luckily for him, a friendly officer happened to be nearby. The officer figured the large, green-scaled behemoth in front of him could be a boon in law enforcement's war on crime.
In the world of Savage Dragon, criminals are a mix of superhumans and mutants. So having the Dragon on the side of the police definitely evened the odds.
3 Samaritan (Astro City)
Over time, Superman has become the foundation for all other strong superhero types. Looking at Astro City's Samaritan, it's easy to see where the resemblances lie. They're both super strong, they're both super fast, and they can both fly.
However, Samaritan definitely has one advantage over Superman. Samaritan has the ability to travel to different dimensions. He's like Rick from Rick and Morty, minus the mental issues Rick deals with on a daily basis. Samaritan is more than a little weary of the world, but that does not change his epic superhuman abilities.
2 Sara Pezzini (Witchblade)
Sara Pezzini started out life intending to be a good detective in the Big Apple. Instead, her life took a turn for the supernatural when she came into contact with the Witchblade. This mystical gauntlet attached itself to her and sucked her into a war between good and evil she was not prepared for.
Sara learned to deal, though. Using the Witchblade in the fight against the Darkness, Sara could manifest armor and weapons over her body. With sentience of its own, the Witchblade is not entirely under Sara's control. However, Sara uses it to beat baddies whenever she wants.
1 Al Simmons (Spawn)
Perhaps more than any other Image Comics hero, Spawn is the most well-known. Originally, Al Simmons was a secret agent with more take-downs to his name than Boba Fett. After a mission went south and Al met his end, he was sent to Hell due to his murderous former life.
Once there, he made a deal with the devil in order to return to Earth. Al then becomes Spawn, a superhuman, hellish creature with plenty of powers under his belt. He is practically immortal, super strong, and has a firm grasp on necroplasmic energy. It's hard to send Spawn down for good when he can just resurrect himself and come back.