When Image Comics first started, Dragon quickly became my favorite of that batch, and when I grew out of Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld, and Marc Silvestri (never liked Jim Valentino, still like Whilce Portacio and Todd McFarlane), I stuck by Erik Larsen, who became one of my all-time comic book heroes. Even though I dropped the book around issue 110 or so, it was one of the most painful comic-buying decisions I’ve ever made. I had become so bored and disinterested by the comic, but I still wanted to support Larsen. That aside, I never lost respect for the guy, he was doing what he wanted, and he was doing it his own way. Lately I’ve been picking up random issues of Dragon here and there. It’s still not as good as I remember them being at one time, but I’m not as adverse to it as I was a few years ago. But as long as Erik Larsen and Savage Dragon are around – whether I’m reading it or not – the world of comics is better for it.
The above was a brush pen sketch to see how well the brush pen worked. It worked adequately.
2 comments
Ah Dragon, one of my favorite comic heroes (beside Ben Grimm, Judge Dredd and Jack Staff)
I didn’t start reading Savage Dragon until issue 90 (but I soon went back in filled in the gap). And became a serious fan just as it reached issue 100. I fell in love with the book for its over the top action, and Erik Larsen’s art and writing style.
I will agree that writing wise the book has had a few rocky patches post-issue 100. While I did enjoy Erik’s attempt at doing a Fantastic Four style family adventure (while still retaining Dragon’s typical extreme action angle) it wasn’t the best time for the book. And the even more recent stories where Erik uses his comic to almost exclusively take the piss out of the Republican Party were obnoxious (I’m a Democrat, I don’t need to be bashed over the head with how ‘evil’ the Republicans have acted under Bush. I know. I don’t read Dragon to be preached too about politics.)
But I seriously think with the last few issues, culminating with issue 150 (congrats Erik for reaching another milestone issue) things have turned a corner. Erik’s art is dynamic as ever, the core action elements are back in the book in force, and the book is coming out on time consistently.
Feels like a good time to be a Dragon fan.
Author
I just bought #150 yesterday, but haven’t read it yet. But I enjoyed the previous issue (the origin of Dart), and the one issue from a few months ago where every panel was a day, or something like that. That’s the one that won me over to try to keep checking it out. It was a great experiment for him that combined his obvious love of comics strips and wrapping up some longterm ongoing continuity. Even if I wind up dropping the book again, I don’t think I’ll ever lose respect for Larsen and his contributions.
And you’re absolutely right about politics. Unless I’m reading a comic where it’s essential to the story, I don’t want to read about it in books about muscle men with superpowers who hit other muscle men with superpowers.