Image Comics began when a group of comic book artists decided they wanted to own the characters they created, so they started their own company. While Image has launched many original and fantastic characters, some have noticeable similarities to well-known heroes from Marvel and DC, though with enough unique twists to stand apart. One example is a character created by Dale Keown, an artist famous for his work on The Incredible Hulk. For Image Comics, Keown designed a truly terrifying take on the Hulk concept.
Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the creation of Pitt by Dale Keown. Though Pitt shares visual similarities and immense strength with the Hulk, he established himself as a distinct and successful character.
Pitt Brought Hulk to the Extreme
Todd MacFarlane was a founder of Image Comics, along with artists like Jim Lee and Rob Liefeld. When Image was established, MacFarlane asked Dale Keown to contribute a character of his own. Keown, a longtime fan of powerful, muscular heroes like the Hulk – and known for his excellent work on that very character – decided to create Pitt for Image. Pitt clearly drew inspiration from the Hulk’s design and physique.
Pitt stood out as a unique character, avoiding comparisons to others. He was created by combining the genes of an alien named Zoyvod with a human egg. After escaping from the tank he was grown in, Pitt was recaptured and forced to work as an assassin. Like the Hulk, he was incredibly strong and healed quickly, but Pitt also possessed razor-sharp claws capable of cutting through nearly any material, and he had the ability to read minds.
The Image Comics series cleverly combined monster action with heartfelt family relationships. When Pitt came to Earth, he immediately formed a bond with his brother – created from the same human egg – and dedicated himself to protecting and getting to know him.
I really enjoyed following Pitt back when it was published! It ran for 20 issues, though the last 11 came out through Dale Keown’s Full Bleed Studios instead of Image Comics. What was cool was that, unlike a lot of Image heroes, Pitt got to team up with The Hulk in a special one-shot issue Marvel put out in 1996. It was a big deal because it brought Peter David and Dale Keown back together – their collaboration was sparked by this kid who had strange powers and accidentally caused some trouble.
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2026-01-15 22:11