First, let's start with the acknowledgement. This post is a copy from a 1994 post by Marc Singer, see his copy at the newsgroups enjolrasworld.com where besides Image, he goes into researching on Marvel. What I did is that I scanned and added in the images plus some comments in italics. I also leave out those comments not related to Image Universe.
Introduction
RADIOACTIVE MAN is a six-part limited series published in 1994. However, the comic RADIOACTIVE MAN, which was first introduced on the TV show "The Simpsons," has supposedly been printed continuously since the 1950s. The current series is maintaining that facade, by printing the issues as if they were written over a forty-year span. By issue #1000, they've caught up to the present day, and they provide a frighteningly accurate satire on modern comics. In these annotations, I use the fictional numbering of the issues themselves. The second issue is called #88, the third is called #216, the fourth #412, and the fifth #679. RADIOACTIVE MAN #1000, "Jan. 1995".
Steve Vance: Story and layouts
Bill Morrison: Inks
Cindy Vance: Colors
Mike Sakamoto: Vancoptics
Matt Groening: Wasted a half-hour on Conan O'Brien hawking his new books
AND HERE WE GO...
Cover: Radioactive Man is tripping over his own cape, which is drawn super-long in the style of Image artist Todd McFarlane.
Inside front cover: Rather than putting its credits on the opening or splash pages, Image puts them on the inside front cover, often with layouts similar to this one. The title of this issue "in his own IMAGE" is an obvious reference to Image Comics, the financially-successful 90s comics group whose style and formation are skewered in this issue.
Page 5, panel 1: I have a feeling these two are parodies of somebody, but I haven't the slightest idea who. Some Image character's supporting cast? Anyone? Residents of Spawndom knew only too well its Sam & Twitch - david -.
Page 6: "Prawn" is an obvious poke at SPAWN, Todd McFarlane's Image character (who also lives in an alley with a bunch of homeless people). However, he's obviously an overly-mutated Dr. Crab, Radioactive Man's archenemy who we last saw in issue #412. Additionally, some of the word balloons have unconventional shapes or lettering. This is a pretty modern trend, and one Image uses a lot.
Page 8 : Apparently, these two guys are police department liasons. If I had to make a guess, I'd say they parody two cop characters from Spawn (just because it's mostly Spawn and McFarlane who take it on the chin this issue). Again, Sam and Twtich - david -
Page 8 panel 4: "that fake-eyelash magnate": A reference to Revlon's purchase of Marvel Comics. Marvel has recently become more interested in making profits rather than quality products (if you think that's just my subjective opinion, try reading EXCALIBUR... if you dare!), and similarly the new boss wants to make money off RM and the Superior Squad. And at the bottom "your *image*', another unsubtle allusion to Image Comics.
Page 8 panel 5: Most new heroes, including Image ones, aren't "nice guys" like RM. They fall more into the "mean and nasty" school.
Page 9: McFarlane likes to draw huge capes for his characters. Also, check out the way RM can't fit his big McFarlane cape inside his suit.
Page 10, panel 3: Proof that the backwards-cap thing really does make people look like idiots. (Okay, so Claude was an idiot before.)
Notice the cap says "treme"; the whole word is probably "Extreme," the name of Image founder Rob Liefeld's studio.
Page 11, panel 2: RM notices the speed lines that are omnipresent in the works of all the Image artists and imitators. Another joke about super-hero conventions, "the abandoned warehouse district" seems to be where every super-battle takes place. A side note: unless RM's into film noir (doubtful), I'd be willing to bet that the Fred McMurray movie he wants to see is one of the "Flubber" movies.
Page 11 panel 3: The "McFar Lanes" bowling alley is a reference to Todd McFarlane. But we've seen it before! It was called "Finger's House of Giant Props" in issue #1, and "Kirbyco Giant Equipment Rental" in #88. Now it's changed once again, showing the shift from DC to Marvel to Image. And RM and Dr. Crab had their very first battle here, back in RM #1.
Page 12, panel 1: The new RM is done "Image style," with bulging muscles, bad attitude, spiky costume, the works. He's even got an extra spike on top of his lightning bolt!
panel 2: Bleeding Heart's and the others' departure from the Superior Squad to form a "Hero-Owned Super-Team" mimics the original Image founders' departure from Marvel to form a creator-owned comics company. BH's name change to Bloody Heart refers to the "Extreme" violence of most Image titles.
Page 14: The growing "doom Doom DOOM" sound effects were used in the first story arc of the adjectiveless SPIDER-MAN comic, which was done by, you guessed it, Todd McFarlane. That's the drum beat accompanying The Lizard. It is quite a feature in the first issue of Spider-Man. To see exactly how many, check out Doom Doom Doom in the Addendum page.
