LOOKING BACK : The People...

Almost a year ago, Rob Liefeld, who drew Marvel Comics’ “X-Force” series, defected from the mainstream publisher to upstart Malibu Graphics. His first post-Marvel creation was “Youngblood,” a book full of hip, young superheroes (View, April 15).

A premiere on Melrose Avenue and advance sales kicked off the first “Youngblood” comic book, which featured ‘90s-style characters such as speech writers, spin doctors and video trainers. Since then, Liefeld says, “Youngblood” T-shirts and jackets have been selling briskly, a line of toys will be out soon, and negotiations for a cartoon show are under way.

The 25-year-old Fullerton resident has also created two series for Malibu Graphics, “Brigade” and “Supreme.” The main character in “Brigade” is an ex-member of the “Youngblood” team with “a hippie mentality who thinks the government is screwy,” Liefeld says.

Now that those comics have helped put Malibu--now Malibu Comics Entertainment--at a “solid” No. 3 in the market, Liefeld and five other colleagues who left Marvel at the same time will leave to start Image Comics. Both Liefeld and Malibu President Scott Rosenberg called the departure, effective in March, “friendly.”

“Basically, we went to Malibu for printing and to learn how to get into publishing. Now we know how, so we are,” Liefeld says, acknowledging that some books have come out late. “We will work on making deadlines and getting organized.”

If that happens, Melchoir Thompson, a Burlingame, Calif.-based consultant to comic book publishers, distributors and retailers, says Image has the potential to succeed. “Liefeld’s comics are striking and they have a unique ‘90s sensibility. But it doesn’t matter how good something is if it keeps missing deadlines.”