The Savage Dragon is the name of two 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 ongoing comic book series 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 : 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 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,Hennum, Shea (March 12, 2015). "What Spawn Means to the Future of Image". Paste. and the only one of the two that all of its run, has been written and drawn entirely by its creator, for which Larsen has been lauded.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. 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.
Much later, a greatly redesigned Savage Dragon was featured in two issues of Graphic Fantasy, a self-published title with a small print run, published by Larsen and two friends. In this incarnation, the Dragon was a widower and a retired member of a government-sponsored superhero team. Subsequently, the Dragon made another appearance in the third issue of Gary Carlson's Megaton Comics anthology Megaton—in its Vanguard strip, which Larsen had been drawing. In these appearances, the character of the Dragon remained basically the same as it had been in Graphic Fantasy, with a few details modified (such as the inclusion of his wife, who was dead in his previous incarnation). Both the Graphic Fantasy and Megaton issues containing the Dragon have since been reprinted in high-quality editions.
In 1992, when Larsen left Marvel Comics to co-found Image Comics, he reworked the character for the new publication venture. This time, the Dragon was a massively green amnesiac, who joined the Chicago police department after being discovered in a burning field. Initially debuting in a three-issue miniseries (with the first issue cover-dated July 1992), the Savage Dragon comic book met with enough success to justify a monthly series, launched in June 1993. To this day, Larsen continues to write and illustrate the series entirely by himself, and has maintained a reasonably consistent monthly schedule (save for occasional lapses) in comparison with the other original Image Comics titles.
According to Larsen, the series is aimed at "older Marvel readers who are about ready to throw in the towel on comics altogether. It's the missing link between Marvel and Vertigo Comics. More mature than Marvel; less pretentious than Vertigo. The kind of comics he to read. The book is really self-indulgent."
As the series has progressed, it has become a 'Mature Readers' title with occasional nudity and strong language.
Later, the Dragon gains a girlfriend, Debbie Harris, Savage Dragon limited series #2 (Oct. 1992). only to see her shot dead in his apartment by her jealous ex-boyfriend Arnold Dimple. The Dragon falls into a deep depression as a result. Savage Dragon limited series #3 (Dec. 1992). Dimple returns to plague the Dragon on several occasions as the Fiend, who makes a deal with the devil to gain supernatural powers. Savage Dragon #3 (August 1993).
Though Captain Darling's Freak Force program fails, the Dragon carries on a lasting relationship with one of its former members: Rapture, a former prostitute with electrical powers, who later has his child. Meanwhile, the Overlord's second-in-command Cyberface breaks away from the Vicious Circle to form a rival organization. Cyberface is later arrested but, like Hardware before him, he is killed before being able to testify. Ultimately, Cyberface is resurrected and later leads the Vicious Circle under the control of the Horde, another recurring villain.
Later, the Dragon makes his first attempt to arrest the Overlord, who easily defeats him and leaves him impaled upon a church spire. The Dragon is believed to be dead, but regenerates from his wounds afterwards. This is not the only time the Dragon is missing and presumed dead; it becomes both a recurring theme and running joke in the series. During his recovery, the Dragon is attacked by a person under the mental control of a strange worm. Under the domination of this creature, the Dragon goes on a rampage during which many innocent bystanders are injured or killed. He is finally stopped by the vigilante Mace, and the worms are traced to the Horde. The rampage results in a massive negative backlash against the Chicago Police Department, and the Dragon's biggest naysayer, R. Richard Richards, takes this opportunity to attack the Dragon with a robotic weapon dubbed the "Dragon Slayer". Later, the Dragon encounters the She-Dragon, a young superpowered woman who models herself after him. Savage Dragon #12 (August 1994).
Following an attack on the police station and the murder of Cyberface, the Dragon leads a SWAT team to finally take down the Overlord. The battle is harsh, and every member of the SWAT team perishes except for the Dragon, who is skinned alive. Even in his weakened state, the Dragon finally unmasks the Overlord as Mafia boss Antonio Seghetti, who subsequently falls to his death.
After aiding the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for a second time, the Dragon narrowly survives another attack by the Fiend, which leaves him nearly crippled after his bones heal incorrectly. Savage Dragon #22 (September 1995). To make matters worse, Chicago is in the midst of a brutal gang war that arises as a result of the Overlord's death. The Vicious Circle, once kept tightly organized by the Overlord, separate into several factions that battle for criminal supremacy. The Dragon is found by a friendly cabbie and Mighty Man, who uses his super-strength to re-set the Dragon's bones. After recuperating from this ordeal, the Dragon fights another prison break, this time in a maximum-security facility torn open by a newly resurrected Cyberface. This battle marks the end of the gang war, and Cyberface assumes command of the Vicious Circle.
This victory is followed by difficult times for the Dragon. After a number of crossovers with other Image Comics characters including WildStar Wildstar: Sky Zero #3 (September 1993). and The Maxx, The Maxx #6 (October 1993). the Dragon encounters Spawn and ultimately is sent to Hell by the Fiend. Savage Dragon #30 (August 1996). The Fiend can possess living bodies, and his powers are fueled by the capacity for hate of those possessed. His last victim is Debbie Harris' mother, who is unaware that the demon possessing her is the spirit of her daughter's murderer. While in Hell, a fist-fight occurs between God and the devil. God ends up being victorious. Just as the amnesiac Dragon begins to ask about his origins, God returns him to Earth. Savage Dragon #31 (September 1996).
Afterward, things grow steadily worse for the Dragon. He is unable to save ill fellow officer Phil Dirt with a blood transfusion. Meanwhile, Rapture (pregnant with the Dragon's child) suffers internal damage when the baby kicks—the unborn child having inherited its father's strength—and Rapture enters premature labour. The Dragon is not able to reach the hospital in time, and the baby appears to have died. However, in truth, the infant is taken by the Covenant of the Sword, a shadowy organization bent on world takeover. Savage Dragon #33 (November 1996).
After a crossover with Hellboy, Savage Dragon #34 (December 1996). the Dragon is caught up in the Mars Attacks and Mars Attacks/Savage Dragon event, Mars Attacks The Savage Dragon #1–4 (Topps Comics, Dec. 1996–Mar. 1997). in which he is responsible for destroying the ' bases on Mars using a Martian growth ray. This results in their retreat and possible extinction. While he is gone, the Vicious Circle takes control of the city. Returning home to a devastated Chicago, the Dragon is captured and publicly crucified by the Circle. The Dragon survives and defeats most of the villains, but his new superior, Captain Mendoza, suspends him for having been missing for so long. During his suspension, the Dragon spends a few months as a bounty hunter and helps rebuild the city after the Martian invasion.
Later, on a dying parallel Earth, a murderous despot named Damian Darklord begins to swap parts of his Earth with parts from the Dragon's. Savage Dragon #42 (Oct. 1997). The Dragon leads a team of S.O.S. members, including Jennifer Murphy and his former girlfriend Rapture, to this world to stop Darklord. Rapture is killed by Darklord, Savage Dragon #43 (Nov. 1997). and the Dragon and Jennifer are separated from the rest of the team. While the remaining members of S.O.S. manage to stop the transfer and escape back to their own Earth, the Dragon and Jennifer are forced to find their own way off of the dying planet. While they make their escape, Dragon attempts to find this Earth's Rapture, only to find that world's Debbie Harris instead. Savage Dragon #44 (Dec. 1997).
The threesome is lost in space for some months, and the Dragon is once again presumed dead, eventually landing on Godworld, where Debbie dies but is revived as an angel. The Dragon and Jennifer are caught in a battle between Thor and Hercules, and then sent back to Earth by All-God; Debbie does not return with them. Savage Dragon #45–46 (Jan.–Feb. 1998). Following this, the Dragon fights a Doctor Doom-like armored dictator before returning to Chicago on leave and striking up a casual sexual relationship with his former partner Alex Wilde. Savage Dragon #48 (April 1998).
In the giant-sized issue #50, many of the series subplots are resolved, and in a climactic battle among most of the series cast, the Dragon is killed by the mystic Abner Cadaver; however, the wizard is murdered midway through this by William Jonson, and the Dragon is bonded with him. Savage Dragon #50 (June 1998).
Abner Cadaver returns—made up of parts of dead God Squad characters, Darklord, and the Dragon's arm—and engages in battle with Fon~Ti, the mystical being who was once the Horde. After Fon~Ti's victory, he separates the Dragon from Jonson and returns the Dragon to his normal body. Having admitted their love, Jennifer and the Dragon begin to date. After a fight with Impostor, posing as Rapture, the Dragon proposes to Jennifer, and their wedding follows in the next issue, in which Jennifer is apparently killed by the new Overlord. In truth, she was replaced with Impostor beforehand by the Covenant of the Sword. Though he had only been semi-active before, the Dragon officially resigns from the S.O.S. and became the legal guardian of Jennifer's daughter Angel. Savage Dragon #54 (October 1998). In the following issue, the Overlord subplot is tied up after the Dragon defeats his new team. The Dragon kills the Overlord, and he is revealed as supporting character Vic Nixon, who had worn the armor to spy on Rita; the armor then corrupted him. Savage Dragon #55 (Nov. 1998). After this, the Overlord armor is destroyed. Savage Dragon #57 (Jan. 1999).
After losing custody of Angel and Ann's murder, the Dragon and Mighty Man (now former Freak Force member Dart) began searching for the missing SuperPatriot. This led them to the Covenant of the Sword, which had in its possession the SuperPatriot, Jennifer, and the Dragon's child. The Dragon and Mighty Man are captured, but eventually rescued in a large battle similar to the one in issue #50 in which a number of characters are killed.
It was revealed that the Covenant was formed by Damian Darklord, a time traveler who was the enemy of a vigilante named Super-Tough. This man became Darklord and started life as Damian, the son of Liberty, SuperPatriot's daughter who was raped during the Mars Attacks event. Damian also built and detonated the "Nega Bomb" made up of super-powered individuals that de-powered every non-natural "freak" in the world. The Dragon then kills him.
The Dragon then finds his old world had survived as well as the Savage World. His counterpart from Darkworld, this Dragon, was defeated, but the Dragon's old Earth was destroyed by a world-devouring Galactus-like being named Universo, despite the best efforts of the Dragon and his son, Malcolm, who are left floating in space after its destruction. The Dragon is able to save Alex Wilde from that world. After this, the Dragon marries Jennifer Savage Dragon #104 (October 2002). and lives with her, Angel, and Angel's new "pet", Mr. Glum, who is secretly plotting to kill the Dragon. Savage Dragon #106 (December 2002).
To coincide with the 2004 U.S. presidential election, Larsen created a corrupt politician Ronald Winston Urass, Savage Dragon #116 (August 2004). who engineers a successful write-in campaign to elect the Dragon President of the United States. Savage Dragon #120–121 (November 2004–Jan. 2005). However, once his criminal intents and relationship to the criminal Dread Knight are exposed, the Supreme Court disallows these votes. This leads a vengeful Urass to attack the Dragon using the armor of his father, the Dread Knight, who was an old foe of the SuperPatriot's. Savage Dragon #121 (Jan. 2005).
Behind the scenes, Erik Larsen was made publisher of Image Comics, causing a nearly year-long publishing gap between issues #121 and #122 of the series. The title resumed regular publication in January 2006, with the first story involving a vengeful scientist from Iraq sending an almost unstoppable robot to kill the President. Savage Dragon #122 (Jan. 2006).
Mr. Glum's plans for world domination were realized using the power of the God Gun (a weapon able to grant three wishes to its user). Glum fires the gun and asserts his control of the planet while the Dragon is incapacitated in a hospital, having lost his rapid healing abilities. Glum was, at the time, on the run with the Dragon's stepdaughter Angel after he caused her to grow to more than 100 feet tall, and she accidentally destroyed her house and crippled her mother. The two become partners and Angel adopts a murderous, merciless personality, while Glum set the people of Earth to work with the impossible task of making the planet look like his face (as his old world did). Savage Dragon #126–127 (May–June 2006).
The Dragon is revived with his healing abilities restored and is able to defy Glum's control because of a loophole in his wish that means he cannot control extraterrestrials. The Dragon is unable to get close enough to Glum due to the various robots and villains Glum has under his control. However, the intervention of a number of characters from the comic series Wanted (the Killer and the Fraternity), who had come to steal the God Gun, allows the Dragon to destroy the weapon, negating Glum's wish. Savage Dragon #129 (October 2006).
During the story, Vanguard's spaceship is destroyed, freeing Universo who was imprisoned on it. He begins to suck the energy from Earth once more. Universo and its herald are killed by Solar Man, a Superman-like hero who became murderous and was wished out of existence using the God Gun, a wish undone by the Dragon's destruction of the weapon. Savage Dragon #130 (Nov. 2006). The She-Dragon also returns from Dimension X with the Angel from the Dragon's original world of origin. They are being pursued by the Darkworld Dragon and a new villainess, Battleaxe. Savage Dragon #131 (Dec. 2006).
Meanwhile, a new Overlord takes over the Vicious Circle, resuming his attacks over the city, and the Savage Dragon, hospitalized after a fight, is ambushed and killed by a new freak with the power to steal the memories and the life force of his enemies. Savage Dragon #131 (Dec. 2006) Due to the huge amount of life force held by the Dragon and his powerful immune system, the freak absorbs all of his memories and physical characteristic, becoming essentially a new iteration of the Dragon. The Impostor Dragon has the remains of his former body packed in a preservative solution by Rex, and resumes his normal life. Savage Dragon #133 (Nov. 2007)
Even this new lease at life appears to be short-lived, as the new Overlord, after trying to bargain with the Savage Dragon for his allegiance, literally blows his head and torso away: the Impostor Dragon, brought in the Vicious Circle laboratories for analysis, revives himself as a crazed, unstoppable, deformed powerhouse with conflicting memories, bent on nourishing himself on the superpowered Angel and Malcolm.
Still knowing nothing about the actions of the Impostor Dragon, Angel and Malcolm seek a way to revive the body of the Savage Dragon, despite being faced by Rex with the prospect of creating nothing more than a soulless being or a mind-addled monstrosity, due to the brain matter lost during the attack. They set off to ask Nurse Stevens for the last blood sample of the Dragon, hoping to use its regenerative abilities to speed up the recovery and the resurrection of the Savage Dragon corpse. The Vicious Circle, however, overpowers them, stealing the blood sample to create an army of Dragon clones.
As a last resort, after being faced by the Impostor Dragon who attacks Rex and is frozen in the preservative solution, Rex and Malcolm agree to transfuse part of Malcolm's blood into the Dragon's corpse. The Dragon revives, but has no memories of his former life.
He then proceeds to alienate from himself Malcolm, planning vengeance over the Vicious Circle, now using the Dragon's blood to empower his members. The new Overlord decides to strike a truce with the police department as seen in #159.Larsen, Erik (w, a). The Savage Dragon #159 (June 2010). Image Comics. He lends the help of all the superfreaks in his command to stop Kurr. As the last attempt fails,Larsen, Erik (w, a). The Savage Dragon #162 (September 2010). Image Comics. Kurr sheds his facade, proclaiming his identity and retelling his origins (see below), for the first time in-universe speaking, to Malcolm and Angel. Battling his way through several enemies, including Vanguard, an unnamed Shapeshifter taking the She-Dragon's appearance, Glum, the original Angel, and other friends and foes from his past, Kurr cleanses Earth of human life using a special venom.
After he battles and kills Malcolm, the Impostor Dragon wakes up, this time with the Savage Dragon's personality fully in charge, and avenges his offspring and world by killing the Kurr-Dragon. Damian Overlord proceeds to restore his original look and body, giving the Savage Dragon the opportunity to greet his species and leave the cleansed Earth in their care.
Distraught by the consequences of Kurr's actions, he pleads with Damian Overlord for the power to travel back in time and kill Kurr before he unleashes the potion, thus creating another divergent timeline where his family is still alive. Damian grants his wish, mercilessly killing him shortly thereafter as "Savage Dragon is a dangerous wildcard for the world". Despite a red herring implying Damian transplanted Savage's personality into WildStar's body, in the "restored" timeline Kurr's alien son, along with a "mysterious gentleman", takes away Virus' corpse (as he is now calling the Impostor Dragon), taking it on to his spaceship, where Virus and Kurr are used to return the Savage Dragon to life. The Savage Dragon decides to keep his resurrection hidden to Earthlings, and to make amends with his species, offers to help them to find a suitable planet.
After the Dragon Wars, Malcolm Dragon has taken the Savage Dragon's role, along with his sister Angel, acting as protectors of the city. A schism in the superfreaks has brought the Overlord working with the police department, with a part of the freaks still engaging in villainy, and Malcolm to keep them in check.
Kurr had previously refused to father an heir, (correctly) believing that it would put his own power in jeopardy and thus killed all the females he had lain with. Weiko's daughter Geeta sacrificed herself by mating with him, allowing her father to recover a fertilized egg from her remains. With their people's future assured, the two scientists gave him brain damage that erased his memory, and implanted within his memories five days' worth of satellite television broadcasts from Earth, giving him an unconscious sense of the culture. Kurr was then sent to live on Earth, while his race moved on to search for a new planet elsewhere.
Fictional character biography
Miniseries
Chicago PD
S.O.S. years
William Jonson and the new Overlord
Single parent and Damian Darklord
This Savage World
Back to Basics
Dragon Wars
Origin revealed
Death
Move to Toronto
Paul Dragon
Characters
Supporting characters
Villains
Multimedia
In other media
Reception
Collected editions
External links
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Archived from the original on February 23, 2017.
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