Painkiller Jane #0

Painkiller Jane #0 was published in 1997 by Event Comics, serving as the introductory installment for the character created by Jimmy Palmiotti and Joe Quesada. The series emerged during a period of significant growth for independent comic creators in the mid-1990s, focusing on an undercover police officer turned vigilante who gains regenerative healing abilities. The character was designed to blend the gritty, high-stakes atmosphere of urban crime dramas with the heightened elements of superhero fiction.

The art and character development were spearheaded by Quesada, whose distinctive style helped define the aesthetic of the Event Comics imprint. The issue was intended to establish the central hook of Jane Vasko's transformation and the moral ambiguity of her new life. It received attention for its bold visual tone and was subsequently expanded into a long-running franchise that included several miniseries, crossovers, and a television adaptation.