Darker Image Special Ashcan Edition #1 CGC 9.8 Signed/Remarqued Rob Liefeld

Darker Image Special Ashcan Edition #1 — CGC 9.8 SS, Signed & Remarqued by Rob Liefeld An exceptionally rare, high-end Image Comics ashcan and a true grail for Image, Liefeld and indie key collectors. The slab combines four scarcity factors on a single book: a special ashcan edition, an original Liefeld remarque (hand-drawn sketch — not just a signature), the 9.8 CGC grade, and a custom Rob Liefeld CGC label. CGC's census records only three graded copies of this ashcan in any grade. Combined with a unique hand-drawn remarque on the page, this specific copy is materially one-of-one — the remarque cannot be replicated, even on the other census copies. The slab sits in the broader Darker Image #1 family — the 1993 Image Comics anthology that introduced The Maxx, Deathblow and Bloodwulf. The standard Darker Image #1 already trades as a 1st-appearance key; this ashcan sits a tier above as the rarest physical artefact tied to that release. Key Details Title: Darker Image Special Ashcan Edition Issue: #1 Publisher: Image Comics Grade: CGC 9.8 (NM/MT) Signature Series Signed By: Rob Liefeld — witnessed Remarque: Liefeld original sketch Label: Custom Rob Liefeld CGC label CGC Census: 3 graded copies Why It Matters CGC Census of 3. The entire graded population — across every grade — is three copies. Most variant collectors never see one of these come to market. Original Liefeld remarque. A remarque is a hand-drawn original sketch added to the cover or interior — not a duplicate signature. CGC encapsulates and authenticates the remarque, making this specific copy materially one-of-one even within the census. Custom Liefeld CGC label. A non-standard CGC label customised for the artist. Signature Series remarqued slabs with custom labels are a small subset of an already-narrow market. Image Comics founding era. Sits in the same 1993 stretch that produced Spawn #1, WildC.A.T.s #1, Youngblood #1 and Brigade #1 — the launch period that reshaped creator-owned comics for a generation. First-appearance halo. The standard Darker Image #1 is the debut book for The Maxx, Deathblow and Bloodwulf. This ashcan sits in the same publishing family — collectors of those debut keys treat ashcans and remarqued copies as the apex of the run. 9.8 NM/MT. Top of the regularly issued grading scale on a small-print ashcan that pre-dates the dominant collector-handling era for Image books. Creators Signed By: Rob Liefeld Remarque: Rob Liefeld (hand-drawn) Rob Liefeld is one of Image Comics' seven founders and the creator behind Youngblood, Bloodstrike, Brigade and (for Marvel) the introduction of Cable, Deadpool and Domino in The New Mutants #98 and X-Force #1. His Image-era output sits at the centre of the 1990s creator-owned movement, and his remarqued books are highly collected as direct creator-touched artefacts. Collector Notes Three layers stack on this slab. First, the ashcan edition itself — these promotional/preview-format printings of Image's early-90s anthologies were produced in tiny runs and rarely surfaced into long-term collections. Second, the CGC census of 3 — confirmed scarce on paper, not just talked-about scarce. Third, the remarque — the cover carries an original Liefeld drawing, making the artwork on this slab unique to this copy. Sits alongside the standard Darker Image #1 (1993) 1st-appearance key for The Maxx, Deathblow and Bloodwulf. Collectors building a Maxx- or Deathblow-anchored Image-founding-era set use ashcans like this one as the upper-tier centrepiece of the collection. For clarity: a remarque is original art, not a duplicate signature. Each one is unique. This particular slab cannot be replaced even by the other census copies, regardless of grade. Shipping Your CGC slab is carefully packaged using slab-specific inner protection and a rigid outer box, then shipped insured to keep the case intact in transit. Dispatched daily from Canterbury, Kent. Grail-tier slabs are double-boxed by default and signed-for delivery is included. UK Dispatch: Within 24 hours International: Tracked + signed Insurance: Full declared value

Darker Image Special Ashcan Edition #1 CGC 9.8 Signed/Remarqued Rob Liefeld

Darker Image Special Ashcan Edition #1 — CGC 9.8 SS, Signed & Remarqued by Rob Liefeld

An exceptionally rare, high-end Image Comics ashcan and a true grail for Image, Liefeld and indie key collectors. The slab combines four scarcity factors on a single book: a special ashcan edition, an original Liefeld remarque (hand-drawn sketch — not just a signature), the 9.8 CGC grade, and a custom Rob Liefeld CGC label.

CGC's census records only three graded copies of this ashcan in any grade. Combined with a unique hand-drawn remarque on the page, this specific copy is materially one-of-one — the remarque cannot be replicated, even on the other census copies.

The slab sits in the broader Darker Image #1 family — the 1993 Image Comics anthology that introduced The Maxx, Deathblow and Bloodwulf. The standard Darker Image #1 already trades as a 1st-appearance key; this ashcan sits a tier above as the rarest physical artefact tied to that release.

Key Details

Title: Darker Image Special Ashcan Edition
Issue: #1
Publisher: Image Comics
Grade: CGC 9.8 (NM/MT) Signature Series
Signed By: Rob Liefeld — witnessed
Remarque: Liefeld original sketch
Label: Custom Rob Liefeld CGC label
CGC Census: 3 graded copies

Why It Matters

CGC Census of 3. The entire graded population — across every grade — is three copies. Most variant collectors never see one of these come to market.
Original Liefeld remarque. A remarque is a hand-drawn original sketch added to the cover or interior — not a duplicate signature. CGC encapsulates and authenticates the remarque, making this specific copy materially one-of-one even within the census.
Custom Liefeld CGC label. A non-standard CGC label customised for the artist. Signature Series remarqued slabs with custom labels are a small subset of an already-narrow market.
Image Comics founding era. Sits in the same 1993 stretch that produced Spawn #1, WildC.A.T.s #1, Youngblood #1 and Brigade #1 — the launch period that reshaped creator-owned comics for a generation.
First-appearance halo. The standard Darker Image #1 is the debut book for The Maxx, Deathblow and Bloodwulf. This ashcan sits in the same publishing family — collectors of those debut keys treat ashcans and remarqued copies as the apex of the run.
9.8 NM/MT. Top of the regularly issued grading scale on a small-print ashcan that pre-dates the dominant collector-handling era for Image books.

Creators

Signed By: Rob Liefeld
Remarque: Rob Liefeld (hand-drawn)

Rob Liefeld is one of Image Comics' seven founders and the creator behind Youngblood, Bloodstrike, Brigade and (for Marvel) the introduction of Cable, Deadpool and Domino in The New Mutants #98 and X-Force #1. His Image-era output sits at the centre of the 1990s creator-owned movement, and his remarqued books are highly collected as direct creator-touched artefacts.

Collector Notes

Three layers stack on this slab. First, the ashcan edition itself — these promotional/preview-format printings of Image's early-90s anthologies were produced in tiny runs and rarely surfaced into long-term collections. Second, the CGC census of 3 — confirmed scarce on paper, not just talked-about scarce. Third, the remarque — the cover carries an original Liefeld drawing, making the artwork on this slab unique to this copy.

Sits alongside the standard Darker Image #1 (1993) 1st-appearance key for The Maxx, Deathblow and Bloodwulf. Collectors building a Maxx- or Deathblow-anchored Image-founding-era set use ashcans like this one as the upper-tier centrepiece of the collection.

For clarity: a remarque is original art, not a duplicate signature. Each one is unique. This particular slab cannot be replaced even by the other census copies, regardless of grade.

Shipping

Your CGC slab is carefully packaged using slab-specific inner protection and a rigid outer box, then shipped insured to keep the case intact in transit. Dispatched daily from Canterbury, Kent. Grail-tier slabs are double-boxed by default and signed-for delivery is included.

UK Dispatch: Within 24 hours
International: Tracked + signed
Insurance: Full declared value