Re-imagining Image: In this week's "Waiting For Tommy," Rich Johnston talks with Image Comics Publisher Erik Larsen about the company's future, and its impact on the comics industry -- but not about the departure of Powers and Kabuki, which he refused to discuss:

"We've made a huge impact on a LOT of levels. Other companies scrambled to keep up with us and coloring, printing and production values HAD to go up in order for these guys to compete. Page rates went through the roof. Many creators got huge raises because of Image. Creators rights have been helped a LOT over the last twelve years--creators have more options than ever. And things will continue to grow and change. Creators come, creators go--it's just the way things are. We've had hit books in the past--we'll have hit books in the future."

On the possibility of changing the "Image model":

"Image is really about giving creators a chance to do things for themselves -- if a creator bring us an uncommercial book and it fares poorly -- are WE to be blamed? I think the creator needs to take some responsibility for their own success. We take a small flat fee off all of our titles. A person who sells a million copies puts as much money into Image as the guy who sells 5000. You're not punished because of your success. We do the same work for both books -- why should we get more money from the more successful creator?

"On that same front -- IF we start fronting money -- it would not be unreasonable to expect something MORE in return. If I'm risking thousands of dollars on a book I'm going to want a piece of the action. I think, ultimately, that the standard Image deal is a better deal--but a second deal is not impossible in the future. I know that there are folks here that would like to make that happen."