Image Comics "Women History" Variants to support Planned Parenthood

Image Comics is pleased to reveal the first five of 11 variants planned for March’s 25th anniversary theme month—“Women’s History.” The variants will serve to celebrate the careers of women in comics, the strides made throughout comics history made by the women’s movement, and the company’s history of shaking up the status quo. 100% of the proceeds made from these March Women’s History variant covers will be donated to Planned Parenthood.
“Many of Image Comics’ staff—myself included—and an ever-growing catalog of some of the most talented writers and artists in the industry, feel strongly about supporting women’s reproductive rights,” said Corey Murphy, Director of Sales at Image Comics. “Women have come a long way in this country, and the progress that’s been made is in part due to the efforts Planned Parenthood has made in sex education and affordable, preventative healthcare. I’m extremely proud to be a part of a company that’s unafraid to take a stance in supporting a non-profit that’s recently been under fire. This month we celebrate Women’s History, the strides the women have made in the comics industry, and the difference that everyone—male and female—has made by coming together in spreading equality.”
Each month of Image’s 25th year will boast a theme for special anniversary variants, beginning with Wednesday, February 1st—the exact date of Image Comics’ founding in 1992, and the date of this year’s “Image Comics Day.”
Available in stores on Wednesday, March 1st:

RAT QUEENS #1 by Kurtis J. Wiebe & Owen Gieni, variant artwork by Colleen Doran (Diamond Code DEC168662)

ROYAL CITY #1 by Jeff Lemire, variant artwork by Emi Lenox (Diamond Code DEC168665)
Available in stores on Wednesday, March 8th:

THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #27 by Kieron Gillen & Jamie McKelvie, variant artwork by Chynna Clugston-Flores (Diamond Code DEC168658)

MOTOR CRUSH #4 by Brenden Fletcher, Cameron Stewart & Babs Tarr, variant artwork by Leslie Hung (Diamond Code DEC168659)

EAST OF WEST #32 by Jonathan Hickman & Nick Dragotta, variant artwork by Meredith McClaren (Diamond Code DEC168668)
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE FOR REMAINING
LOW #16 by Rick Remender & Greg Tocchini, variant artwork by Vanesa R. Del Rey (Diamond Code DEC168663)
Available in stores on Wednesday, March 15th:
MOONSHINE #6 by Brian Azzarello & Eduardo Risso, variant artwork by Jill Thompson (Diamond Code DEC168660)
Available in stores on Wednesday, March 22nd:
SHE WOLF #7 by Rich Tommaso, variant artwork by Marian Churchland (Diamond Code DEC168661)
MAGDALENA #1 by Tini Howard, Ryan Cady & Christian Dibari, variant artwork by Roberta Ingranata (Diamond Code DEC168666)
Available in stores on Wednesday, March 29th:
MONSTRESS #11 by Marjorie Liu & Sana Takeda, variant artwork by Sanya Anwar (Diamond Code DEC168664)
OLD GUARD #2 by Greg Rucka & Leandro Fernandez, variant artwork by Nicola Scott (Diamond Code DEC168667)
I received this press release a few days back but hadn’t run it. David Bitterbaum and I had a little side chat and as a result am running it. I usually avoid politics, but feel free to discuss.

93 thoughts on “Image Comics "Women History" Variants to support Planned Parenthood”

  1. Couldn’t be more against this ’cause’…PP gets over 500 million a year from the US government and all they are is an abortion mill. Image is way off track with this one. Look up the founder of the modern day PP Margaret Sanger.

    1. Back in the real world, abortion is 3% of what planned parenthood does and ZERO federal dollars go towards abortions.
      Abortions accounted for 3 percent of the nearly 10.6 million total services provided by Planned Parenthood clinics in 2013, according to its annual report.
      Some services it provided in addition to abortions were:
      4.5 million tests and treatment for sexually transmitted infections
      3.6 million contraception related services
      935,573 cancer screenings including breast exams and Pap tests
      1.1 million pregnancy tests and prenatal services

  2. they have my full support, i wish i read more of these titles but i already have monstress and old guard on preorder

      1. Tony is relaying the press release from Image. I don’t see him spilling his views on the subject, just passing along the press release.

          1. Only when you’re awake.. you spilled all the beans while snoozing in NY back in October.. we has all your secret thoughts Tony!

    1. This is kind of a touchy subject and is why I didn’t run it initially. But since this is about a group of books that support planned parenthood I fully want the discussion (pro and con) to happen. Some people will not like them for their own reasons.

      1. Can’t shy away from hot topic issues. This site is not like many others that have trolls all over them… I rarely see trolls on here. I can literally come on here and discuss what pop culture is cool at the moment or when something such as this comes up and I can actually have discussions with those on the other side of the coin without childish nonsense. It’s refreshing compared tot he average, toxic online experience one usually finds all over the net.

    2. Michael, we usually promote freedom of speech here as long as no one is espousing hate.
      We appreciate and respect your opinion though!
      And sight refers to your vision. Site refers to comicsheatingup.net

    3. Well Michael, although I personally am not fond of abortions or organizations, companies and studios going out of their way to push their own political views on the people who purchase from them, this news is still about comics. It is a news story about a well known studio that is doing what far to many other companies are doing these days…alienating potentially half their consumers in favor of the half that sees eye to eye with them…However, it is still a “comic book” article and should be on a site like this. I don’t think Tony is showing personal bias one way or the other.

      1. I don’t think his comment was addressed at me. I think he was commenting to Lonzilla. But thanks to coming to my defense all the same. I talk comics and not politics. You have to talk to my brothers who both ran for offices and both ran their own and others political campaigns for political talk. Unless you want to talk about how the Empire was right. Rebels needed to be crushed. Actually, even on that subject, I am more middle of the road and fall into the bounty hunter category.

    1. Agree… Can’t give into any company that sells to the public and forces its views one way or the other. Saving tons on modern books since the election…Looks like I will be getting more silver, bronze and copper to fill holes in my collections…When comics were actually care free and fun.

  3. Interesting move by Image to take such a stand during such devisive times and risk alienating readers. I’m for it and will pick up at least a couple. I had an ex who didn’t have insurance who used PP for all kinds issues including a cancer screening. Statements like “all they are is an abortion mill” is a distortion of the truth.

    1. I’ve known plenty of women who use PP for all sorts of services and never once went there for an abortion. It’s a great service for those that can’t afford regular doctor visits for every single thing. You’re right taquitopeddler, too many “distortions” from a lot of uninformed people.

    2. People malign decisions like Citizens United for allowing business to get to heavily involved in politics. Of course, Image’s move here is a mere first amendment choice. I think what has been revealed this year (with moves like Uber’s CEO dtepping down from Trump’s board) is that the constituency can respond to business in politics by inserting politics back into those business’ bottom line.
      I don’t make any political stance with any of my business dealings. I think regardless of which way you choose to go, you end up marginalizing half of your demographic. Coca Cola can run an ad with an American anthem in all different global languages because they know the whole planet drinks Coke and they’d rather get every Chinese coke drinker than grovel at some country bumpkin’s bigoted feet.
      Interesting times.

      1. The Citizen’s United decision is maligned because it allows not only corporations, but the extremely wealthy to inflict more influence on our elections.

    3. True, but after what happened a couple of years ago with the illegal selling of fetal tissue, there will be millions who will never look at PP as a legit organization ever again.Not trying to make a statement with that, just an observation.

  4. Fantastic idea, Image really are knocking it out of the park on all levels.
    OK politics, are you sure Tony?! ?
    From a UK perspective I think most of us find it perverse that privileged older white males think they have any right over what choices a woman has with her body. Most not all, but abortion, morning after pills, sex education and contraception are pretty much considered the norm over here. (Northern Island excepted, but guess what, that’s the malign influence of religion up there (can’t have this debate with out including religion in it.))
    Personally, I find abortion distasteful if it’s used because contraception wasn’t, BUT my distaste should have no bearing on a woman’s right to choose. Same as someone’s religious beliefs or misogynistic views should have no bearing.
    So I’ll be buying some of these, Planned Parenthood will need all the money they can get when Gorsuch is appointed, unless he man’s up and comes out in support of Roe v Wade during the nomination process.
    Oh, guess what, I AM a lefty liberal pinko that makes Bernie Sanders look like Trump ???

    1. I share the same view for the most part. As I find it distasteful if a woman uses abortion as their birth control method, as in, if you get an abortion 1-3 times a year or maybe even once a year but for continuous years.. maybe you should think of better ways of preventing such pregnancy (there’s all kinds of ways to prevent pregnancy). But it’s also none of my business either.
      I can only imagine the women who use it as birth control method are outweighed by the women who do it for other medical and health reasons.
      I think Planned Parenthood’s other services do more good deeds than their so called “abortion” services, which is, if you actually read the facts, a very small percentage and none of the money from the Federal Government can be used for such services.
      My only gripe is when someone proclaims themselves as Pro-Life. When asked if they believe in the death penalty or even war, and they say yes, I quickly point out that supporting the death penalty or any type of killing is not “pro-life”.

      1. Poyo basically says it as I would. Planned Parenthood does a multitude of great things and can’t even use any Federal Funds for their services that some people are against–e.g. abortion. I myself would never want an abortion and if my wife and I had a pregnancy that wasn’t planned we would still want to keep it–we have a planned baby on the way in May actually that we are very excited for. That said, I am not going to try to limit anyone else’s right to decide what to do with her body because history has shown we can’t outlaw abortion, you can just outlaw safe abortions and make it a case where only the rich can get it safely and everyone else is reduced to dangerous and unsafe methods.
        Even the terms, “Pro-Choice,” and, “Pro-Life,” are extremely political. That is how heated the debate has gotten, and quite frankly it will never be resolved because regardless of the laws people will be getting angry one way or the other.

        1. I learned long ago to just stop worrying about what other people are doing with their lives and just live life how I want to live it. We have that freedom here in the U.S..
          You’ll find yourself living happier and healthier I think when you stop caring what others are doing, as long as it’s not directly affecting your own life.
          Congrats on the incoming baby, David! May is the best month to have babies, since my birthday falls in May, along with my late father and one of my kids.. all May babies. 🙂

          1. I was actually born in May too, later in the month on the 27th. Our baby is tentatively due May 7th, but I keep saying I hope he is born May 6th because then I can say our son was born on Free Comic Book Day 2017!

        2. Congrats to you and your wife, David!
          I am one of those people that says live and let live, have differing opinions, the world would be dull as shit if we all thought the same. But I can’t stand the thought that one person’s opinion then oppresses another. And in these sort of politics, that is what it is about, stopping someone doing something because you don’t believe in it. Same with anti-LGBT sentiments, telling someone that they don’t have the right to love who they want.

      2. With you on the pro-life statement. Funny how a cluster of cells that has no consciousness, thought process and no assigned sex is deemed more valuable than an adult human being with dreams, family, friends etc.

      3. Poyo – I like a lot of your comic related posts on this site – MY gripe with many Pro-Abortion supporters is that, in trying to discuss the abortion issue, they change the subject to the death penalty and war – they are three separate issues.
        Whichever side of the fence you fall on this issue, I would just encourage everyone to do a little research about Planned Parenthood (its origins, Margaret Sanger, the services it actually provides, etc…) and the abortion process itself – find out the facts and make an INFORMED decision. I can accept a dissenting opinion, but for me, the discussion is serious enough that I just don’t appreciate flippant generalizations about religion and “priviledged older white males” ( that is directed at Barry W., not you Poyo).

        1. Steven, I am in the UK, so I will be the first to admit that I am not the best informed about U.S. politics. But I bet my entire collection that the majority of people in your government who vote against pro-abortion issues or have pro-life views are older privileged white males. It’s called the patriarchy, has been around thousands of years and is made up of those who can’t stand the thought that women want control over their own bodies/lives/thoughts/opinions.
          And I bet that the majority of people who are pro-choice are so because of their religious beliefs. Thousands of years of religious views that permeate all areas of society, despite no evidence that any of the claims included in religious texts (all religious texts, not just Christianity) are in any way true or can be attributed to invisible sky wizards. These should have no bearing on any area of politics, let alone a woman’s choice.
          So my comments are hardly flippant. However, I am conscious that I am leaving comments, not writing a political essay, so I am trying (and failing) to be succinct.
          I don’t even care what the abortion process is or what Sanger has or hasn’t done, choice is choice. And it is a woman’s choice. Again I do not know much about PP, all these services are free on our wonderful NHS, we don’t have to deal with the crap you guys do with insurance and worrying about getting treatment that should be a basic human right. But it does seem that a) they provide vital services for people who can’t afford it themselves, b) abortions are a small percentage of what they do and c) they can’t use federal funding for abortions anyway. They get a thumbs up from me (a la Tony and Terry’s weekly video.)

        2. I only brought up the pro-life stance as I believe it’s usually relevant. A lot of people against abortion tend to claim they are pro-life (at least in my discussions with them and I know a lot of pro-life people), I like to point out that you can’t claim you’re pro-life when you support death in other ways. I’m a guy who loves to point out hypocrisy in others, because it is if your pro-life stops at the womb (and yes, I know plenty of those people too).
          I also learned long ago I’m not going to base my reasoning on an organizations founder or history. I’ve read the facts on Planned Parenthood. In fact, my own wife depended on them for years for the many services they provide women as she was a waitress with no healthcare trying to get through college. Not once she was going there to get abortions but used their many other services that women tend to need.
          I’d just like to take the stance that most people who are against Planned Parenthood (the ones I know or have met for the most part), the only reason is they also “generalize” that it’s just a place to get abortions, disregarding all the other services provided.

        3. I am kind of a funny guy on this. I am not taking sides or promoting or detracting from it. Just running the press release. Like I said feel free to discuss but everyone please be civil.

      4. I’m not even sure I’d like to get into this but I consider myself “pro life”. But I really think of it as more “pro innocent life”. So yeah, I don’t support abortion (and have a problem with Image doing this) but I do support the death penalty. Complicated? Maybe….

        1. So say your “against abortion”, because if you support the death penalty, it just bugs me if you label yourself pro-life in such cases, cause there’s nothing pro-life about supporting the death penalty, at least in my opinion. 😉
          I use to support the death penalty, but I don’t anymore. All it does is cost us tax payers more tax dollars and does not prevent murders or other violent crimes, etc.
          Death is the easy way out as well. If I got sent to jail for life with no possibility of parole, I’d just want to die myself, I’d beg to be killed. Sitting in jail until you die is a harsher punishment (I couldn’t imagine losing my freedom to a 8×10 foot cell for the rest of my life) and it’s cheaper on Joe Tax Payer. Yes, average cost for life in jail is 500k, those on death row with all the appeals processes, trials, etc.. Can go into the millions..

          1. That’s why I like to think of it more as “pro innocent life”. The only thing that has ever given me pause on the death penalty has been the thought that an innocent man could actually be sentenced and killed.

    2. Thanks, Barry! You saved me a lot of typing as I’ll just say, “Ditto!” People should live their lives based upon their own personal values, morals and beliefs. When one’s personal views are then used to tell others how they should live, or what’s right and wrong, that’s where I have an issue.
      Political and religious views aside, I’ll be buying these comics. PP has many good programs beyond that of abortion that I will continue to support.

      1. Barry W and anyone else would say that they don’t care what Sanger said or did should educate themselves on the subject of eugenics. She championed birth control as a way to cut down on the amount of black births, and thanks to PP it’s still working

  5. As I mentioned to Tony, the fact that these may be controversial due to how people hold strong opinions about Planned Parenthood could actually HELP the value. I personally support the non-profit eagerly, but have seen many retailers saying they wont order the books due to their beliefs and some individuals saying the same (with some folk on the site here clearly wanting many copies or no copies). The fact some people may refuse to order copies could result in people being willing to pay extra to get copies they weren’t able to find in their store, for example. Now, these could just as easily sit on the shelf if a retailer orders copies and people purposely don’t buy them due to political feelings, but I’m thinking these will probably be worth a spec due to all controversy about Planned Parenthood (controversy I personally feel they don’t deserve, but again, that’s my opinion and I know the right to choose gets people riled-up).

    1. I must admit I hadn’t thought about how the spec potential would be affected. I reckon most retailers will know their customers and order accordingly, so then with the ones who refuse to order, could cause a rarity situation. I know some people have a problem with others making money off the back of a charity book (Guardian comments about Love is Love proved that!), but PP will obviously get money from the initial sale, so I don’t see that it’s a problem.

      1. Setting the political debate aside, have any of you even looked at the art that is shown here? Awful…..just bloody awful. It looks like junior high art class work to me (who knows, maybe it is). In my opinion, spec is only worth it if I’m OK holding onto the book itself (just in case I’m stuck with them) —-with this first set of covers, I just can’t say that…..

  6. I’m in for these cover. Unfortunately there’s to much mislead information about Planned Parenthoods thanks to corporate media not “The Liberal Media” because it doesn’t exist on national platforms. Just google who owns all these national media channels.
    The money Planned Parenthood receives for m the Gov. is barely over 40% of their total revenue for the year. The overwhelming majority of federal funding to Planned Parenthood comes from Title X & Medicaid 75%. Not all of the public funds Planned Parenthood receives are federal spending. States who receive a 90 percent federal reimbursement on Medicaid family planning spending, so it’s not free money. They need to show where this money is being used for.
    On the Abortion issue, they only provides 3% of that service . Teen pregnancy, STDs and Abortions are down thanks to the services it provides. Planned Parenthood is the only Healthcare provider for low- to middle-income Americans which may be the only doctors they have access to.
    The so called “Pro-Life” movement is more concerned about the womb and not life itself. They have supported many politicians who’s action go against the meaning of “Pro-Life”. Slashing Wellfear programs, Child care, education, supporting wars, death penalty etc… and to end this educational rant. It’s old white males telling women what to do and Not to do with their bodies. Excuse me!? how would you like it if it was reversed? and these are the people that don’t want regulations and government in your business.

      1. As I stated already those funds are part of a reimbursement program. I assume since you work on those programs you know that Title X does not allow federal funds to be used for abortions. Medicaid, however, does allow government money to be spent on them in very restricted cases.

        1. Like I said, I don’t work with those programs , so I don’t know the rules. I did mention I was playing devil’s advocate and am not taking sides. All I said were both of the programs mentioned are government funded.

  7. Pleased to see calm and reasoned debate, but one thing bugs me: We are all men discussing the bodies of women. At the end of the day that’s why I feel I have no right to tell a woman what to do with her own body, because I’m a gent.

    1. That’s exactly my stance as well. Not my body and I’m not a woman. I’ll let her choose what’s best for her, that’s between her and her doctor. That’s not anyone else’s business, it’s not Congress’s business or any other politicians business.. Want small government? Start with telling them what we can and can’t do with our own bodies would be a good start I say. 🙂

      1. With you both there, I am a man, sweet F.A. to do with me what a woman chooses. This is one of those issues where it’s highly unlikely that someone who is entrenched in their views will change their mind (both camps.) I have said my piece now, I shall keep my powder dry for tomorrow’s awesome Wednesday Open Forum!!

        1. So what should his punishment be? Find a really rare comic and tear it up right in front of him to make him cry? 😉

    2. this is what i thought reading through the comments David! You will never see a forum of women discussing what choices men are allowed to have with their bodies. That’s why i try to stay out of the debate – women should be creating the laws around it. (unless men want to create a mandatory vasectomy rule?) 😀

    1. Im all in on this one. PP is a great service provided to people who desperately need it. I’m Canadian so I don’t need to worry about receiving basic human rights. That’s all I gotta say about that.

      1. At this point no political stunt is a good one. Just getting very tired of public corporations or companies that rely on the public for survival throwing their personal political views at everyone… No matter which “side” they are on they are going to alienate and anger one half of potential consumers…Just dumb.

        1. I will say it is ironic that Bleeding Cool ran a story recently telling shops to get politics out of their stores. They mentioned a store that was either listening to a conservative radio show or Fox News or something and it offended a buyer. The buyer stated he would never come back to the store. Yet it is ok for comic company’s to play politics in their stories. My point, is exactly what Steven said, get the politics out of comics. I liked Marvel when they had made up presidents (often different ones in different stories)

  8. Instead of discussing whether image should support planned parenthood, or if abortion is moral or not, perhaps you should discuss WHY a woman would have an abortion.
    Considering this point of view may perhaps allow you to see the issue in a new light.

    1. There are many reasons why women use abortion. My wife’s friend got rapped so she used it. Other close friend of the family used it cuz she was going threw a divorce and disn’t want to keep her ex-husband’s baby. Women should so whatever they pleased. No one tells whether to have a vasectomy or not, we choose to do that. And this is comic books we are talking about. If you don’t like it, don’t buy them simple as that.

  9. Im another UK bod who see’s it as a womens own right to choose what is right for her. Sticky beaks who love to tell women and LGBT’s how to live thier lives really need to think for themselves.
    Im really pleased to see creative women in the comic field being celebrated and showcased.

  10. My plea is for the people in the world to not mix serious nation destroying politics with our escapism… Do you like commercials? sure everybody does. Do you want commercials at the movies? or at Church? or in a hospital waiting room? Can there be some places where we can escape.? If we were at odds over political issues, wouldn’t it be nice if there was some commonly enjoyed neutral ground where we can all laugh together or get excited together as friends and leave the controversy and conflict for a while? I don’t want a safe space I want OUTER SPACE!!! I don’t want (The winner of the Presidential race and our President ) Trump and Clinton. I want Powerman and Ironfist. I don’t want Democrats and Republicans. I want Avengers and X-men. But I guess that must mean I am a racist or anti women, right? And 1 final plea to all. This post is NOT about abortion or a women’s right to choose. Its about escapism. Can we just have 1 place to escape virtue signaling or social justice and to enjoy the POW! BIFF! and WHOOM! of comics.

  11. Even though some of us have diametrically opposing views, I’m glad this hasn’t descended into nastiness and name calling. It was one of the reasons I came off Twitter, the toxicity there was actually affecting me in such a way I was getting like the trolls myself and I didn’t like the way I was reacting to other people.
    A couple of people have mentioned alienating half their customers, I’m not sure why this would be, these are variants, don’t agree with the sentiment, don’t buy the variant. No need to boycott the company, especially if one is a regular buyer and likes the company. And any company surely has the right to align with a cause they support, I can’t imagine they have taken the decision lightly.
    Any way as I always tell my mum, I’m always right… Jokes jokes ???

  12. is there a 1:500 “Baby Parts For Sale” incentive variant? I’ve been buying less and less from Image already as the quality is nowhere near what it was 2-3 years ago, This only ices it

  13. Wow, already a loaded post so I will stay strictly to the comic side of it (for now). Am i the only one who doesn’t see the “women’s history” in any of these variant covers? I don’t see anything in the covers shown that exhibit women in a more uplifting or “historical” view than what they already produce. These variants seem to be exactly what I would expect for the regular covers for these, so I guess I’m a little confused.

  14. Interesting approach by image, everyone can vote with their wallet one way or another. I do like seeing bold moves. I agree with some other comments (non-political): I’m not feeling a women’s history vibe here, and the covers are not that great (hate to judge with my zero artistic talent), but not feeling it

  15. when you leave politics out of escapism everybody wins. that’s why Lady Gaga is a genius. Her sales are up dramatically today. and everybody had a few minutes to see a wonderful performance. same with comics. I want to actually believe a man can fly. I don’t want to care if that man’s writer or artist is against abortion. I want to actually believe a man can fly. I don’t want to care if that man is an illegal alien from krypton.

  16. This comment section is perfect. Exactly why these issues are a good idea by Image. Got people talking and support a good cause. I’ll probably be picking a few up. Thanks!
    (and yeah, all our friend did here was relay the news with no bias, not his fault if you don’t like it)

  17. So generally speaking, I lean right, I almost always vote the right side (no…I didn’t vote Trump). I’m getting sick and tired of politics invading my entertainment. I know most of Hollywood, comics, and musicians don’t agree with me. I learned long ago that I have to separate what these individuals think. I like your band, I like your comic, I like your movie. I don’t like or agree with your politics. I really wish I could be entertained instead of consistently hit over the head with the liberal hammer. Image doing this really frustrates me. I’d like to say I’d boycott all Image comics going forward but they put out some of my favorite books. Why do I even have to think about this stuff?
    I just want to escape from life and read my comic books every once and awhile.

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