It was always risky business, putting words and pictures together and expecting an audience. When this first began, comics entwined itself with daily newspapers. But soon, the medium would find commercial expression for itself, as comicbooks. This summer, beginning by remembering the importance of the founding of Image Comics 18 years ago, PopMatters takes a hard, non-jaundiced look at comics culture. What were the risks inherent in making these books, both creative, and commercial? And who were the industry leaders? Who were the creators who blended together the commercial and the creative to produce the titles and the characters we still read today? RiskTakers, please RT.