“The Image Revolution,” Produced by Andy Schmidt, Now Available on DVD!

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Seqarts’ 2014 documentary The Image Revolution is now available on DVD thanks to a distribution deal with Shout! Factory. Comics Experience founder and CEO Andy Schmidt served as a co-producer!

The documentary spans the history of Image Comics, founded in 1992 by Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Jim Valentino, Marc Silvestri, Erik Larsen, and Whilce Portacio following their exodus from Marvel. These artists wanted to establish an innovative environment where creators owned the rights to their own properties. Twenty-four years later, Image remains the premier publisher of independent comics, with sensations like Saga, Chew, Rat Queens, Morning Glories, Bitch Planet, and – of course – the unstoppable pop culture juggernaut of The Walking Dead.

“It’s an important part of comics history,” Andy says of the documentary. “Beyond that, and the reason fans should check it out is that it also happens to be a controversial and frenetic and ultimately fascinating part of comics history.”

“And I don’t know that the documentary makes an argument that the ‘Image Revolution’ did this or that or is responsible for this or that, but it lays out what was going on from so many different perspectives, that it leaves it up to the viewer to figure out what he or she believes,” he continues. It’s definitely an important time in American comics though, and it’s definitely a fascinating documentary.”

Critics agree. Bleeding Cool declares that the story of The Image Revolution “will stay with you,” while Comic Book Resources calls it, “Impressive. Well shot. Memorable and honest.” The Examiner considers the documentary, “A must-have… for anyone [who] is a fan of comics.” And The Latino Review praises it as “tell[ing] the definitive story.”

This isn’t Andy’s first time producing documentaries for Sequarts, either. He also contributed to Comics in Focus: Chris Claremont’s X-Men as an associate producer, and Diagram for Delinquents as co-producer. We’re all grateful for his hard work in making sure comics creators and fans know the rich history behind their favorite medium!

Posted by Meredith Nudo