CGC Census
Only 3 Graded Copies
Original Art
Liefeld Remarque + Sig
Label
Custom Liefeld CGC Label
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 Title Darker Image Special Ashcan Edition
- tag Issue #1
- storefront Publisher Image Comics
- verified Grade CGC 9.8 (NM/MT) Signature Series
- draw Signed By Rob Liefeld — witnessed
- info Remarque Liefeld original sketch
- info Label Custom Rob Liefeld CGC label
- info CGC Census 3 graded copies
Why It Matters
- star 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.
- star 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.
- star 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.
- star 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.
- star 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.
- star 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
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.
What's a remarque, and how is it different from a signature?
A remarque is an original hand-drawn sketch added to the cover or interior of a comic by the artist. Unlike a signature — which is essentially a name written multiple times across many books — a remarque is unique original art. CGC authenticates the remarque under Signature Series witness chain-of-custody and notes it on the label. This means the artwork on this specific slab is unique to this copy.
What is a "custom Liefeld CGC label"?
CGC offers select creators custom-designed labels — the same authenticated yellow-label tier, but with bespoke artwork and branding for the signing creator. Custom-label slabs are a smaller share of the wider Signature Series population and are sought after as standalone collectibles by signature collectors.
What is the Darker Image Special Ashcan Edition?
An ashcan is a small-run, often smaller-format promotional or preview printing produced separately to the standard release. Ashcans tied to high-profile Image Comics launches were produced in very limited numbers. This particular ashcan sits in the Darker Image #1 family — the 1993 Image anthology that introduced The Maxx, Deathblow and Bloodwulf — and CGC's census shows only three graded copies in any grade.
Is this the same as the regular Darker Image #1?
No. The standard Darker Image #1 (March 1993) is the regular newsstand/direct release that introduced The Maxx, Deathblow and Bloodwulf. This Special Ashcan Edition is a separate, much smaller printing tied to the same release. They are complementary in a serious Image-founding-era collection — the ashcan typically sitting at the top tier.
How do I verify the signature and remarque are authentic?
CGC's Signature Series chain-of-custody handles authentication. A CGC representative is present at the signing/remarquing, takes the book under custody, and ships it to CGC for grading and encapsulation. The yellow Signature Series label — in this case a custom Liefeld variant — is CGC's standing certification. The slab is not opened on resale; the case itself carries the authentication.
How do you ship a high-value slab safely?
Slab-specific inner foam, double-boxed outer protection, fully insured tracked courier with signed-for delivery. Grail-tier acquisitions are dispatched personally — Canterbury, Kent — and we'll confirm tracking and packing detail before the courier collection.
Can I return a CGC graded comic?
Unopened CGC slabs can be returned within our standard window provided the case is untampered. Full policy on our returns page.
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