Tag Archives: savage dragon

Savage Dragon gets an eye-popping Vault Edition Hardcover

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The forthcoming Savage Dragon Vault Edition will collect the early creative origins of one of Image Comics’ titular, best-loved characters and longest-running titles. This highly anticipated edition will reproduce Erik Larsen’s iconic, original Savage Dragon miniseries artwork from the ‘90s, plus additional pages from the expanded Dragon miniseries that was released in 1996. It is set to hit shelves this October from Image Comics.

This limited print run Savage Dragon Vault Edition oversized (12×17) hardcover will treat fans with special, archival quality reproductions of the art boards for every image that was used for the Savage Dragon #1-3, The Dragon #1-5, and the first Savage Dragon trade paperback, including all covers and pin-ups. It collects Savage Dragon #1-3, plus additional material from The Dragon #1-5, and makes for the perfect addition to any longtime Savage Dragon fan’s library collection.

Larsen’s Savage Dragon is the longest-running, full-color comic book series to feature a single artist/writer and first launched, alongside the company’s founding, in 1992. It continues to release in trade paperback and hardcover collected editions and regularly releases new single issues. It is swiftly approaching its next milestone issue, #300.

Savage Dragon Vault Edition hardcover (ISBN: 9781534329591, Lunar Code 0624IM270) will be available at local comic book shops on Wednesday, October 23 and independent bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Indigo, and Waterstones on Tuesday, November 5.

Savage Dragon makes a guest appearance in Blood Squad Seven #2

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The iconic Savage Dragon—from the long running series of the same name by Image Comics co-founder and partner Erik Larsen—will make an appearance in the upcoming, action-packed Blood Squad Seven #2 by Joe Casey and Paul Fry. This highly collectible issue will hit shelves on June 26 from Image Comics.

A 1:20 copy incentive variant by Jim Rugg will feature the Savage Dragon character prominently as well.

Rebuilding a brand—even one as ubiquitous as Blood Squad Seven—has its challenges. For one thing, even superheroes aren’t perfect. What happens when that imperfection slips through the cracks? What sacrifices is this new team willing to make? Readers will find out when they read Blood Squad Seven #2 next month.

Spinning out of the recent Dutch miniseries, Blood Squad Seven explores ’90s superteam dynamics through a contemporary lens and feature surprise cameo appearances from some recognizable fan-favorite Image characters.

Thirty years ago, Blood Squad Seven was America’s most popular superhero team. Its members were seen on television, on magazine covers, scoring million-dollar endorsement deals…. They were celebrities and they were everywhere.

But that was then… this is now. And so, a new generation of modern-day heroes takes up the mantle—or perhaps, the poisoned chalice—fulfilling a promise made decades ago: to be the heroes that a fractured America needs.

While deconstructions of superhero nostalgia typically center around the classic characters of the Silver Age, Blood Squad Seven will delve deep into ’90s comic book themes with this reimagining of what would happen if heroes from that decade returned to action after a 30-year absence.

Blood Squad Seven #2

Blood Squad Seven #2 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, June 26:

  • Cover A by Fry – Lunar Code 0424IM255
  • Cover B Chris Cross – Lunar Code 0424IM256
  • Cover C (1:10 copy incentive) by Elizabeth Torque – Lunar Code 0424IM257
  • Cover D (1:20 copy incentive) by Rugg – Lunar Code 0424IM258

Around the Tubes

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Cobra Commander #1

It was new comic book day yesterday! What’d you all get? What’d you like? Dislike? Sound off in the comments below! While you think about that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web to start the day.

CBLDF – Victory in Texas: Appeals Court Upholds Book Ratings Injunction – This is a good thing. Congrats to those fighting the good fight.

The Guardian – Rare copy of The Amazing Spider-Man No 1 sells for more than £1m – Wow.

The Beat – Beckett announces controversial new grading service for manga – Well ok then.

Reviews

Comicbook – Avengers: Twilight #1
Comicbook – Cobra Commander #1
The Beat – Enfield Gang Massacre #6
Comicbook – Savage Dragon #267
The Beat – We Can’t Do Plain Love

Spawn, Savage Dragon, and Blacula are all coming to Killadelphia

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The Eisner Award nominated ongoing series Killadelphia from writer Rodney Barnes and Jason Shawn Alexander have more surprises in store for fans with a fleet of iconic characters ready to join in on the action. The new story arc begins with issue #31 in November from Image Comics.

The Killadelphia series follows a small-town beat cop who returns home to bury his murdered father, revered Philadelphia detective James Sangster Sr. What he doesn’t anticipate is digging up a mystery that will lead him down a path of horrors and shake his beliefs to their core. The city that was once the symbol of liberty and freedom has fallen prey to corruption, poverty, unemployment, brutality… and vampires. Now, it’s up to Jimmy and an unexpected companion to stop long-thought-dead president of the United States John Adams from building an undead army and staging a bloody new American revolution.

The forces of Heaven and Hell clash on the battleground that is Philly and weave into the tapestry of a larger universe when Todd McFarlane’s greatest creation crosses over into the pages of Killadelphia! All the power SeeSaw has gained and all the magic he’s learned will be put to the test when he faces off against comics’ greatest anti-hero! Anything can happen in this bold jumping-on point for new readers that will redefine the Killadelphia universe as we know it. The sold-out, Eisner Award-nominated series continues in a landmark story arc that will also feature canon surprise appearances by recognizable characters from outside Philadelphia’s city limits.

This next arc also contains a backup stories featuring Hell’s Baddest Badass: Johnny Gatlin.

Killadelphia #31 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, November 15:

  • Cover A by Alexander – Lunar Code 0923IM415
  • Cover B by Francesco Mattina – Lunar Code 0923IM416
  • Cover C by Jae Lee – Lunar Code 0923IM417
  • Cover D by Alexander B&W noir edition – Lunar Code 0923IM418

From Savage FINcast to Super Freaks

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Celebrate a decade of the Savage FINcast podcast with an official fan tribute to everyone’s favorite Fin-Head in the upcoming Super Freaks. This special, off-the-wall one-shot story will hit shelves this June from Image Comics. 

Savage Dragon fans unite to produce one of the wildest comics ever created! In 2021, hosts of the Savage FINcast—a podcast that celebrates Savage Dragon and the work of creator and Image Comics co-founder, Erik Larsen—began planning a way to celebrate their ten-year anniversary. After brainstorming and gauging the interests of their friends, the hosts decided to attempt a self-published Savage Dragon Fanzine featuring the talents of their fellow Savage Dragon enthusiasts. With approval from Larsen himself, the hosts began work on the fanzine with the goal of producing something that could be awarded as a prize to their podcast listeners. The project—now titled Super Freaks—brought in the talents of twenty Savage Dragon super-fans, contributing four-to-five-page stories, one-page gag strips, pinups, and more. 

As the project finished up in late 2021, a digital copy of the comic was submitted to Larsen, and he was so taken by it that he insisted it be released to the world as an official publication through Image Comics.

This one-shot comic is a fan love letter to 30 years of Savage Dragon and includes stories covering many characters and various eras of the Savage Dragon series. In fact, the title Super Freaks is a nod to the term established in the Savage Dragon comic for super-powered beings, many of which are showcased in the one-shots stories and pin-ups.  

This 56-page extravaganza delivers action-packed superhero romps including: a multiverse of Dragons, a tie-in to the 1990s Savage Dragon cartoon, features focusing on Dragon’s son Malcolm and his wife Maxine, and stories spotlighting other fan-favorite characters.

The mix of indie creators and relative newcomers that contributed to the book are sure to create new fans of their work. Some of the more established contributors include Mark Welser, Rich Woodall, Raven Perez, Connor Tierney, Scott James, and Nick Justus.

Additionally, Super Freaks sports a dynamic brand-new cover by Erik Larsen and Mark Welser. Whether you are a long-time fan, someone who is curious about the Savage Dragon universe, or just enjoy fun comic anthologies with great art and stories—Super Freaks has something for everyone.

It’s crude! It’s rude! It’s hilarious! It’s one of the most offbeat comic books ever committed to paper!

Super Freaks one-shot (Diamond Code APR220123) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, June 1.

Super Freaks

Review: Savage Dragon #258

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Savage Dragon #258

Savage Dragon #258 takes readers on “A Walk On The Wildside”. Amy Dragon sneaks off on an adventure with Walter, the talking tiger. Sadly, dinnertime is not the time for such actions and they find themselves in trouble (and snow) moment after moment.

To be honest, Savage Dragon #258 was a bit of a snoozer. Amy and Walter’s little adventure wasn’t that exciting. The most exciting part was the beginning where Malcolm was battling the God of Thunder. After that, it delved into something a lot more chill and peaceful which didn’t really resonate with me. Partly, I don’t get to read every issue of Savage Dragon that comes out. I do want to say that while the story wasn’t my cup ‘o tea, I think that it’s an impressive feat that series creator Erik Larsen can keep Savage Dragon in some oddball adventures like this one, which helps it be unique.

While I wasn’t blown away by the story, Larsen’s art is still something to behold and this issue had quite a few moments where I liked what I was seeing. The opening page was full-on Kirby (in a good way) and what followed was a very energetic two-page splash. Nikos Koutsis is a fantastic colorist for Larsen’s work and I thought that this issue showed that. I do feel like Larsen has gotten a bit loose with his pencils, as compared to how I think his older issues of Savage Dragon look but I do still think there are quality visuals in this issue. It’s good to know that I can still appreciate the art on a book like this, even if the story doesn’t click with me.

Story: Erik Larsen Art: Erik Larsen
Letterer: Ferran Delgado Colorist: Nikos Koutsis Flats: Mike Toris
Story: 5.0 Art: 7.0 Overall: 6.0

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Kindle – Zeus Comics – TFAW

Get Ready for North Force with Savage Dragon!

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In response to popular Savage Dragon fandom demand, Image Comics partner Erik Larsen will rework and reformat Savage Dragon #259 for release this May as North Force #0. 

North Force #0 is a new presentation of the highly collectible issue in the long-running series and will shine a spotlight on an all-new Canadian super team. Letters pages and funnies have been replaced with bios for team members. The Canadian super-team North Force is looking to recruit a new member to their team: Malcolm Dragon.

North Force #0 (Diamond Code MAR210085) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, May 5. 

North Force #0

Savage Dragon Returns to TV with the Classic Cartoon on Peacock

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Image Comics fans can now finally rewatch the cartoon adaptation of Image’s partner and CFO, Erik Larsen’s, long-running, iconic Savage Dragon series—now on Peacock TV. The new, free streaming service will bring USA Network’s interpretation of Malcolm to their screens once more and the show is available in its entirety now for fans to binge watch at their leisure.

The Savage Dragon TV show debuted in 1995 and ran for 26 episodes over two seasons. The series’ appearance on Peacock this Summer marked its first official release for home entertainment from NBC Universal—25 years after its pilot’s initial airdate.

The best way to experience Savage Dragon remains to read the original comic book series, which is one of the longest running and bestselling independent comic book series to date. It is available in single issue and trade paperback edition print formats and in digital editions.

Savage Dragon #254

Congrats President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris, Sincerely Savage Dragon

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Image Comics partner and CFO Erik Larsen is celebrating the Biden/Harris win by sending the hit issue Savage Dragon #253 back to print with a congratulatory cover for the President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

The Savage Dragon #253 first printing featured a variant cover in which the character endorsed the two during their run. It quickly sold out in stores and across the world. This post-Election second printing cover celebrates the People’s choice with a congratulatory message from the title’s star, Malcolm Dragon.

Larsen has previously done covers featuring cameos of politicians including his recent first printing Biden/Harris endorsement cover, which sold out at the distributor level, and his cover endorsing Barack Obama sold out and went back to press four times. 

Savage Dragon has had a long tradition of president and candidate covers dating back to George W. Bush, and covers featuring past presidents have become highly collectible items. 

Savage Dragon #253 second printing (Diamond Code OCT208042) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, December 9. 

Savage Dragon #253 second printing

Savage Dragon #254-256 Will Feature Retro Style Variants

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Image Comics partner and CFO Erik Larsen’s Savage Dragon series will feature three 70s style retro variants for the upcoming issues #254-256 hitting shelves in November, December, and January respectively. 

In Savage Dragon #254, Malcolm Dragon is overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the newly assembled and fully operational Vicious Circle, and a dark cloud falls over the city of Toronto. Meanwhile, Paul Dragon tries to put together the pieces of his shattered past. Comes with our highest possible recommendation.

Savage Dragon #254 Cover A by Larsen (Diamond Code SEP200222) and Savage Dragon #254 Cover B retro 70s trade dress (Diamond Code SEP208500) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, November 18. 

Savage Dragon #255 Cover A by Larsen (Diamond Code OCT200219) and Savage Dragon #255 Cover B retro 70s trade dress (Diamond Code SEP208501) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, December 16. 

Savage Dragon #256 Cover A by Larsen (Diamond Code NOV200164) and Savage Dragon #256 Cover B retro 70s trade dress (Diamond Code SEP208502) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, January 13. 

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