Popverse's top stories

• Magic: The Gathering just realized Edge of Eternities has a broken card, and wants you to change the rules on it yourself
• The hottest character to draw in superhero comics is Absolute Batman - because he’s huge! Just ask Nick Dragotta and Daniel Warren Johnson
• Deadpool was created because Marvel's Spider-Man wasn't funny anymore thanks to Todd McFarlane, says Rob Liefeld

In the comics world, there are a lot of tall tales about a guy like Rob Liefeld. And some of them are even true. But there are those couple that Liefeld would like to clear the air about, one of which came up at the panel he hosted for San Diego Comic Com 2025.

So if you’re a Liefeld fan (or even if you just appreciate the record being set straight in comics history), let us - or rather, the man himself - tell you about the time Rob Liefeld almost got banned from San Diego Comic Con.

"I was called out by some people who ran Comic-Con who are no longer with us," Liefeld explains, "they have since passed. They were very kind to me in that they did not follow through with the lifetime ban that I was threatened with in the hallway of Hall B."

Yes, apparently in 1992, a much younger Rob Liefeld had security called on him at SDCC, and had to speak with the folks that ran the convention.

"They said," he continued, "‘Security told us that you were standing on a table.’ And I did. But then there are myths that I was throwing comics. I wasn't! That's reckless; that's ridiculous. But between these two security guards, I was escorted out. Jim Valentino was there. and three weeks ago Jim Valentino posted on his Facebook page that, ‘30 years ago I saved Rob Liefeld from a life time ban.’"

(Thanks Jim, if you're reading this.)

"But right there," says the legendary Cable artist, "I'm surrounded by security guards, and there's a gentleman who says, ‘You know, we're not happy with you. We're looking at, A.) kicking you out of the building and 2.) giving you a lifetime ban. I said A and 2, no, I meant 1 and B, I need more coffee."

That last bit had nothing to do with the story - Rob just needed more coffee.

"The thing is," he concludes, "That was the beginning of Image Comics and the craziness we navigated and [back then] I said [to security] ‘Look guys, the tensions were down and had eased.’ And obviously I didn't have a lifetime ban, because here I am, OK? I didn't do a Face Off."

We're so glad of the fact, Rob. We're so glad of the fact.

Get ready for what's next with our guide to upcoming comics, how to buy comics at a comic shop, and our guide to Free Comic Book Day 2025.