The Savage Dragon

Savage Dragon
Publication information
PublisherMegaton Comics
Image Comics
First appearance
  • As Paul Dragon:
  • Graphic Fantasy #1 (June 1982)
  • Cameo as the Savage Dragon:
  • Megaton #3 (February 1986)
  • First full appearance as the Savage Dragon:
  • Savage Dragon #1 (July 1992)
  • Malcolm Dragon:
  • Savage Dragon #33 (November 1996)
  • Malcolm's first appearance as the Savage Dragon:
  • Savage Dragon #192 (November 2013)
Created byErik Larsen
In-story information
Alter egoKurr (legal name: Savage Dragon) (Savage Dragon I)
Malcolm Dragon (Savage Dragon II)
Team affiliations
Notable aliasesThe Dragon, Mr. Dragon, Officer Dragon, Dragon
Abilities
  • Superhuman strength, stamina, and durability
  • Accelerated healing factor

The Savage Dragon is a comic book series about three superheroes created by Erik Larsen, published by Image Comics and taking place in the Image Universe. The comic initially follows the adventures of a superheroic police officer named the Dragon. The character first appeared as the Dragon in Graphic Fantasy #1 (June 1982) and first appeared as the "Savage Dragon" in Megaton #3 (February 1986), before starring as the protagonist of The Savage Dragon.

The Dragon is a large, finned, green-skinned humanoid whose powers include super-strength and an advanced healing factor. He is also an amnesiac: his earliest memory is awakening in a burning field in Chicago, Illinois. Thus, for most of the series, the origins of his powers and appearance are a mystery to readers. At the beginning of the series, he becomes a police officer under the legal name "Savage Dragon" and battles the mutant criminal "superfreaks" that terrorize Chicago. Ultimately, the Dragon is revealed to be the amnesiac Kurr, tyrannical emperor of the known universe. After sacrificing himself in the thirty-ninth volume Merging of Multiple Earths, the Dragon is succeeded by his son Malcolm Dragon as the Savage Dragon, who becomes the new protagonist of The Savage Dragon. Paul Dragon is also introduced in a supporting role as a version of the original Dragon who survived his universe's destruction.

Together with Spawn, Savage Dragon is one of two Image Comics titles that debuted during the company's 1992 launch that continues to be published well into the early 2020s. Further, Savage Dragon is the only one of the two that has been written and drawn entirely by its creator for the entirety of its run, for which Larsen has been lauded. Savage Dragon is the longest-running full-color comic book to feature a single artist/writer. The character was also adapted into an animated series, which ran for two seasons (26 episodes) on the USA Network beginning in 1995.

The Savage Dragon was listed by Wizard as the 116th-greatest comic book characters of all time. IGN listed the Savage Dragon as the 95th-greatest comic book hero of all time, stating that he has the trappings of a great comic book hero.

Characters

Villains

  • The Vicious Circle – the primary opponents for the Dragon.
  • The Overlord – the original leader of the Vicious Circle and the original main villain of the series, as well as the Dragon's arch-enemy.
  • Cyberface – one of the leaders of the Vicious Circle and the second main villain of the series.
  • Abner Cavadar – one of the members of the vicious circle.
  • The Horde – a member of the Vicious Circle.
  • Brainape – a member of the Vicious Circle.
  • Damien Darklord – the grandson of SuperPatriot and the third main villain of the series.
  • Alice Summers – the niece of Dart and the second person to take up the mantle and later the leader of the Vicious Circle.
  • Mr. Glum – an evil alien from Dimension X who becomes the fourth main antagonist of the series.
  • The Scourge – a vigilante committed to assassinating costumed criminals.
  • Solar Man – an evil parody of Superman.
  • Universo – A giant alien who consumes planets.
  • The Fiend – An evil demon spirit who possesses people.
  • Thor – the God of Thunder.
  • Mako I – a mutant sharkman
  • Executioner / Mako II – a villain who was a member of The Vicious Circle but was abandoned to die and later becomes the second Mako.
  • Samurai – A villain who became the new leader of the Vicious Circle.
  • Covenant of the Sword – A group that was made by Darklord.

Collected editions

Notes

  1. ↑ The Savage Dragon #13 was written by Brandon Choi, pencilled by Jim Lee, and inked by Monica Bennett, and Joe Chiodo.

References

  1. ↑ Markstein, Don. "Savage Dragon". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  2. ↑ Hennum, Shea (March 12, 2015). "What Spawn Means to the Future of Image". Paste.
  3. ↑ David, Peter (August 23, 2010). "Giving Credit Where Credit is Due, Part 1" peterdavid.net. Reprinted from Comics Buyer's Guide #1033 (September 3, 1993). Krause Publications.
  4. ↑ "Wizard's top 200 characters. External link consists of a forum site summing up the top 200 characters of Wizard Magazine since the real site that contains the list is broken". Wizard. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  5. ↑ "Savage Dragon – #95 Top Comic Book Heroes". IGN. Archived from the original on 2012-03-18. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  6. ↑ McCulloch, Joe. "REVIEWS: SAVAGE DRAGON #233," The Comics Journal (May 7, 2018).
  7. ↑ "Savage Dragon: Kids Are All Right TPB (Preview)". CBR.com. November 22, 2011.
  8. 1 2 "Savage Dragon: The End" Archived 2017-04-26 at the Wayback Machine. Comic Book Roundup. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Savage Dragon: A New Beginning!" Archived 2017-04-26 at the Wayback Machine. Comic Book Roundup. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Savage Dragon: Changes" Archived 2017-04-27 at the Wayback Machine. Comic Book Roundup. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Savage Dragon: Growing Pains" Archived 2017-04-26 at the Wayback Machine. Comic Book Roundup. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Savage Dragon: Legacy TP". Image Comics. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  13. ↑ "IMAGE COMICS June 2017 Solicitations". Newsarama. Archived from the original on March 23, 2017.
  14. ↑ "SAVAGE DRAGON: MERGING OF MULTIPLE EARTHS TP". Image Comics. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  15. ↑ "SAVAGE DRAGON: AS SEEN ON TV TP". Image Comics. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  16. ↑ "SAVAGE DRAGON: A CITY UNDER SIEGE TP". Image Comics. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  17. ↑ "SAVAGE DRAGON: THE SCOURGE STRIKES TP". Image Comics. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  18. ↑ "Image Comics' Full December 2020 Solicitations". Bleeding Cool. 18 September 2020.
  19. ↑ "SAVAGE DRAGON: VICIOUS CIRCLE TRIUMPHANT TP". Image Comics. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  20. ↑ "Savage Dragon Archives, Vol. 7 TP". Image Comics. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Savage Dragon Archives, Vol. 8 TP". Image Comics. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  22. ↑ "SAVAGE DRAGON ARCHIVES, VOL. 9 TP". Image Comics. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  23. ↑ "Image Comics' Full December 2020 Solicitations". Bleeding Cool. 18 September 2020.
  24. ↑ "SAVAGE DRAGON ARCHIVES, VOL. 10 TP". Image Comics.
  25. ↑ "SAVAGE DRAGON ARCHIVES, VOL. 11 TP". Image Comics.
  26. ↑ "SAVAGE DRAGON: THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION, VOLUME 1". !ndigo.
  27. ↑ "SAVAGE DRAGON ULTIMATE COLLECTION HC VOL 02 (MR)". Previews World. Diamond Comic Distributors. Archived from the original on 2023-04-29. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  28. ↑ "Savage Dragon Ultimate Collection Vol. 2 HC". League of Super Geeks. Retrieved 29 April 2023.

Websites