Posted in: Comics, IDW, Marvel Comics | Tagged: gi joe, idw, new mutants, rob liefeld

The GI Joe: Snake Eyes: Deadgame Cover Rob Liefeld Declines to Sign

Published Tue, 09 Jun 2020 07:10:50 -0500

Rob Liefeld is returning to comics, writing and drawing the GI Joe: Snake Eyes: Deadgame for IDW Publishing. But, just as before, he is deciding that some versions of his published work are available to be signed by him, and some not. The reasons are not always clear. Take a store variant cover of one of his issues drawn by Mico Suayan, as a homage to his and Todd McFarlane's famous cover for New Mutants #87.

Another Cover Rob Liefeld Declines to Sign - GI Joe: Snake Eyes: Deadgame. — Another Cover Rob Liefeld Declines to Sign – GI Joe: Snake Eyes: Deadgame.

And here's the black-and-white version.

Rob Liefeld posted "So many great Snake Eyes: Deadgame variants celebrating this epic series I'm launching, I won't be signing any of the Big Time Collectibles variants. Don't submit to your witnesses, they'll just get returned. Thanks!"

Liefeld has been reticent in the past to sign items he feels are a betrayal of him. Whether that's an appearance of Major X in Spider-Man/Deadpool or facsimile copies of New Mutants published by Marvel. But the details here aren't clear.

Big Time Collectibles posted "Just a heads up BTC customers. Writer and interior artist Mr. Rob Liefeld announced today that he will not sign our Snake Eyes Deadgame exclusive. We are not sure why but we respect Mr. Rob Liefeld for giving our customers the heads up for those that's wanting his signature. Our cover artist and dear friend, Mico Suayan made sure all homage were labeled with "after McFarlane and or Liefeld" so we're not sure where Mr. Liefeld is not happy about. All respect for Mr. Liefeld here."

Mico Suayan stated "That's… unfortunate" and on Rob Liefeld's post replied "I'm curious myself" with a "Tell Me More" Office gif. Rob has declined to comment further, but has promoted other store exclusives of GI Joe: Snake Eyes: Deadgame and announced he is happy to sign them, without issue. He states "My goal was to restore the powerhouse luster to the G.I. Joe franchise and I huddled with my friends at @idw & @hasbro to do just that. You all have responded with the biggest Joe launch in 2 decades! Our sales are quadruple what the Joe book was doing and get ready for this to sell out when it arrives in July. Think Major X level excitement, except much bigger! Thank you all for the tremendous support! I am so thankful for this amazing opportunity! The new characters and mythos I'm introducing have been a dream come true for the OG Joe fan! My signature series of variants are available at my store, link in my bio!".

This is the New Mutants #87 cover being referenced in the Big Time Collectibles variant cover.

It is one that has been homaged, referenced and swiped many, many times over the years. But it's worth realising that it, itself, was a take on a Gil Kane Avengers cover from many years before that. Not just in design but look at the fingers on the hand holding the gun.