[1][2][3] Image was announced in 1992 as a cooperative publisher with seven partners – Erik Larsen, Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Whilce Portacio, Marc Silvestri, and Jim Valentino – who each created and controlled their own superhero characters.
The plan was to feature Youngblood, Spawn, Savage Dragon, Shadowhawk, Witchblade, Cyberforce, Invincible, and the Darkness, with each creator drawing his own characters.
Unsure of where to assist first, they conclude that all these incidents arising at the same time can be no coincidence and there must be a larger force at work.
At that point Velocity runs in and informs them of big mess in downtown New York City, and they decide to go there first.
Fortress, tired of standing by, joins the fray, just in time for Diehard's current body to be destroyed by Overt-Kill.
He uploads himself into a new body, and as he departs Youngblood HQ, Troll informs him that a new recruit is waiting before he runs out.
Dragon punches him down unsure of what Fortress is talking about, Shaft steps in and says that Youngblood will take him into custody.
Back at Youngblood HQ, Shadowhawk has apparently passed all evaluations with flying colors and Troll tells him that he's as good as in.
Cougar runs by and tells Troll that Girth, Quantum and Crypt are all active in different locations and that Youngblood is splitting into three teams to assist.
In New York City, Jim Downing is sitting in a room when a voice tells him to rise, and that he is a piece of a plan that has already been set into motion.
Jim refuses and engages Omega Spawn in a battle, where Al easily gains the upper hand.
Vogue appears to be sleeping or passed out, and as Diehard attempts to tell her how he feels about her, the hospital is attacked.
In New York Sara Pezzini sees Youngblood and Shadowhawk engaged in a fight with more villains, and rushes in to assist with the Witchblade.
Orlando, Detroit and Los Angeles, showing The Darkness amongst others engaged in battle with multiple villains who all appear to be getting the upper hand.
At that moment, Youngblood arrives to pick up Diehard, who takes Dragon and Spawn with him for any help and information they can provide.
[16] It was initially released as a four-part back-up ran in Savage Dragon, Invincible, Witchblade, and Spawn.
[17] It was meant to act as a prelude to the series and was collected in a single issue (with a bonus parody story, Image United by G-Man creator Chris Giarrusso) in February.
The second book was to be called Image United Interlude, also written by Kirkman, featuring art by Ryan Ottley.
Solicitations for the book focused on the effects of the story on other characters within the Image Universe, including Invincible.
As the "de facto middleman and editor" of the book, Larsen explained that other commitments prevented the creators involved from finishing their work on time, but stated that McFarlane took responsibility for the nine-month delay between the second and third issues.