Ahhhh!! I KNEW you sumbitches were gonna do this when you made that instagram post yesterday. This book was in my opinion easily the absolute best of the first run of image comics. All the way up through about issue 75 it’s a perfect series. It is also the only comic series I have collected from day one till right now and have every issue he’s done.Thank you for for looking at this guys. Erik Larsen is a master that deserves more recognition
It should be mentioned that the appearances from so many Image characters shows Larsen’s dedication to building a shared universe. The other founders abandoned those attempts very early on but Larsen continued featuring other characters throughout the series.
I was pretty much in the same situation as Jim when starting with Savage Dragon. That Larsen was one of the Image founders who I wasn't expecting much of because I wasn't that much of a fan of his Spider-Man work (I came to appreciate his art at Marvel more in time though) but after reading it, Savage Dragon easily became my favourite Image comic at the time. I would even go as far to say that Savage Dragon during issues 1-75 was the best superhero comic out at the time. It was crazy, sexy, brutal, surprising, with great characters and interesting plot lines. That's a roller coaster ride of madness I would easily recommend to any superhero fan to this day. When it went into the Savage new world post issue 75, it really brought my interest in the comic down. While one could say it's a plus that Savage Dragon actually has drastic changes to the status quo unlike other comics, this drastic change destroyed a status quo I was a fan of and replaced it with a Kamandi setting where Dragon fights a random monster every issue. Which just wasn't as interesting as the world that was built prior to this. It got better again later on circa issue 100 (and then worse again). But imo it never really got as good as those first 75 issues. I don't regularly buy Savage Dragon anymore. Whenever there's a comixology sale (I've gone full digital because of space issues) I still get all the issues I don't own because of those amazing memories attached to this comic, but rekindling them never really had the same effect.
Savage Dragon was my favorite ongoing comic in the latter days of high school. Violent, funny and with enough melodrama to get keep you reading from issue to issue. I dropped off not long after issue 100, but I still pick up an issue from time to time to get that nostalgia hit. Eric's art has just gotten more interesting over the years and it's great to see someone so dedicated when he could have coasted off residuals from those first few issues for the rest of his life. He put it all back into what he loved and that's amazing.
I identify with you Ed. When I was a kid I used to draw and I had my own comic book universe, and I was in my mind in direct competition with Marvel and DC lol
Ed, Jim, thank you for this video. I completely missed the boat on Savage Dragon back in the day, and from the looks of these three issues, compared to the other initial Image offerings, it was the best of the bunch! Fortunately I think my wife has the first 24 issues or so in her collection - that'll give me something to do this weekend!
Notice that full shot of Frank, head down, heavily shadowed, mirrors the same panel of him in issue 1 where he's fully lit, upright, and heroic looking. Great design.
You guys should take a look at the archive editions. First, there are extra splash pages Larsen added that are incredible, along with his rearranging some of the pages in Issue #1 to make a more sequential narrative. Second, Larsen's inks (sans color) are VERY interesting...his artwork becomes something entirely. The color definitely adds solid definition to his work, but b&w only there is a more expressive and experimental quality to his work I never noticed before. The Archives are definitely work picking up. Great video, btw, as always!
The old woman meet Dragon in issue 6, regular serie, believing Dragon is her son Rodney. But I think she find him many issues later 😉 (Mrs Schwartzblatt btw... )
I crossed paths with J Scott Campbell at a one room mini-con at Denver, CO around '92-'93. (They were a regular thing at the time, and would bring in artists so folks could get their books signed. I think they were called Great Eastern Conventions) Campbell had brought in some pages to show off and get some tip for improvement, and a d I happened to pass by as he was showing them off. Can't remember if it was that con or not, but that migh have been when Art Thibert was the guest. A really cool guy, and was excited to see that amongst the books that I brought in to get signed, was the Titans Sell Out special with a Nightwing poster that he had done. If I remember correctly, he was excited about a Nightwing project that he was working on at the time, and I had told him that I was looking forward to seeing it. Too bad nothing became of that, because it would have had good art, regardless of what the story was.
Had no idea this episode was in the pipeline when I threw that Hellrazor sketch up on your FB page on a total whim. Boy do I look prescient! :-D Great episode about one of the most important books from my artistic formative years, guys!
Pretty sure the mini series covers (and posters) were colored by Erik himself. I think w airbrush ? His coloring style is marked by lots of highlights going to white and super saturation- went on to digitally color some variant covers of the regular series and even some interior pages moving past issue 100.
You guys! Thank you sooo much for defying the social distancing rules and making new content! You’re helping us get through this madness... and now I have a whole new list of reading material! Stay safe and wash your hands!
I recall reading an interview (probably Wizard) where Larsen talked about wanted to write PG-13 kinda books; not kid stuff, but not 'mature' to the point of pretension (I think he referenced Vertigo). I also remember him saying "I just like drawing big knockers," so take his opinion as you will.
Yea I remember I didn't like his Amazing Spider-Man stuff, esp. at the beginning cause he followed McFArlane and it felt a second rate Todd. But as he switched to the Spider-Man title, he made it his own although I did not completely take to it this time cause it seemed very shallow. But once he went to Savage Dragon Larsen flourished to something he really wanted to do and it showed. That mix of the style and the cartoonish look, the writing, the characters creation and violence, it was a special book. The best of the Image OGs. BTW this era is called "Grim & Gritty" and it is often linked to Alan Moores and Frank Millers starting with Watchmen and Dark Knight but to me these were in a completely area. Watchmen and DK were bleak work of art and you can put many other 80s comics in that category, like Mike Grell's Green Arrow for instance. These were mature serious comics and characters but not particularly gory. Image stuff were fun comics for teenagers, often sillier than Marvel and DC stories but with tons of blood and gore. It is completely different.
I was so disappointed when Erik Larson took over the art of amazing spider man and spider man comic after McFarlane. But I look back at it and it’s not as bad as I remember. I do like savage Dragons action in the comic, he definitely has a lot of Kirby influences.
“300 issues, doing it himself, Todd.” Well Said.
Erik Larsen will always be a great cartoonist. Love his stuff soooo much, so much passion.
Ahhhh!! I KNEW you sumbitches were gonna do this when you made that instagram post yesterday. This book was in my opinion easily the absolute best of the first run of image comics. All the way up through about issue 75 it’s a perfect series. It is also the only comic series I have collected from day one till right now and have every issue he’s done.Thank you for for looking at this guys. Erik Larsen is a master that deserves more recognition
You guys GOTTA do a shoot interview with him. Erik's got stories and he's not shy in sharing them (in private, at least).
There are some great podcast with him, love them. He's always funny, nice and great.
I still read Savage Dragon to this day, it's a really fun comic.
It should be mentioned that the appearances from so many Image characters shows Larsen’s dedication to building a shared universe. The other founders abandoned those attempts very early on but Larsen continued featuring other characters throughout the series.
I was pretty much in the same situation as Jim when starting with Savage Dragon. That Larsen was one of the Image founders who I wasn't expecting much of because I wasn't that much of a fan of his Spider-Man work (I came to appreciate his art at Marvel more in time though) but after reading it, Savage Dragon easily became my favourite Image comic at the time. I would even go as far to say that Savage Dragon during issues 1-75 was the best superhero comic out at the time. It was crazy, sexy, brutal, surprising, with great characters and interesting plot lines. That's a roller coaster ride of madness I would easily recommend to any superhero fan to this day.
When it went into the Savage new world post issue 75, it really brought my interest in the comic down. While one could say it's a plus that Savage Dragon actually has drastic changes to the status quo unlike other comics, this drastic change destroyed a status quo I was a fan of and replaced it with a Kamandi setting where Dragon fights a random monster every issue. Which just wasn't as interesting as the world that was built prior to this. It got better again later on circa issue 100 (and then worse again). But imo it never really got as good as those first 75 issues.
I don't regularly buy Savage Dragon anymore. Whenever there's a comixology sale (I've gone full digital because of space issues) I still get all the issues I don't own because of those amazing memories attached to this comic, but rekindling them never really had the same effect.
Savage Dragon was my favorite ongoing comic in the latter days of high school. Violent, funny and with enough melodrama to get keep you reading from issue to issue. I dropped off not long after issue 100, but I still pick up an issue from time to time to get that nostalgia hit. Eric's art has just gotten more interesting over the years and it's great to see someone so dedicated when he could have coasted off residuals from those first few issues for the rest of his life. He put it all back into what he loved and that's amazing.
Erik Larsen is like a prefect blend of Kirby, Byrne, Simonson, and Miller with some of his own spice thrown in
Absolutely
This book is everything early Image Comics could have been.
This channel is like a time machine... I appreciate y'all.
TSD v.2 #7 is the comic that’s forever imprinted on the brain of all who read it at the time
I identify with you Ed. When I was a kid I used to draw and I had my own comic book universe, and I was in my mind in direct competition with Marvel and DC lol
This might be my favorite episode yet.
21:05 I believe that isn't Peter David, but Jon Day, who shows up in the background of almost every comic Erik has ever drawn. =)
Ed, Jim, thank you for this video. I completely missed the boat on Savage Dragon back in the day, and from the looks of these three issues, compared to the other initial Image offerings, it was the best of the bunch! Fortunately I think my wife has the first 24 issues or so in her collection - that'll give me something to do this weekend!
Notice that full shot of Frank, head down, heavily shadowed, mirrors the same panel of him in issue 1 where he's fully lit, upright, and heroic looking. Great design.
I couldn't stand to look at his work when I first saw it. now, after years of epic consistency, I look forward to reading these! great episode!
You guys should take a look at the archive editions. First, there are extra splash pages Larsen added that are incredible, along with his rearranging some of the pages in Issue #1 to make a more sequential narrative. Second, Larsen's inks (sans color) are VERY interesting...his artwork becomes something entirely. The color definitely adds solid definition to his work, but b&w only there is a more expressive and experimental quality to his work I never noticed before. The Archives are definitely work picking up. Great video, btw, as always!
this is becoming my favourite channel on youtube. for real.
His enthusiasm for making more comics is my favorite thing about Larsen.
It's on screen right now Ed! :D LOL, you are becoming masters of the medium :D
these videos are surely helping with all this bullshit right now. Thank you, guys.
The old woman meet Dragon in issue 6, regular serie, believing Dragon is her son Rodney. But I think she find him many issues later 😉 (Mrs Schwartzblatt btw... )
I crossed paths with J Scott Campbell at a one room mini-con at Denver, CO around '92-'93. (They were a regular thing at the time, and would bring in artists so folks could get their books signed. I think they were called Great Eastern Conventions)
Campbell had brought in some pages to show off and get some tip for improvement, and a d I happened to pass by as he was showing them off.
Can't remember if it was that con or not, but that migh have been when Art Thibert was the guest. A really cool guy, and was excited to see that amongst the books that I brought in to get signed, was the Titans Sell Out special with a Nightwing poster that he had done. If I remember correctly, he was excited about a Nightwing project that he was working on at the time, and I had told him that I was looking forward to seeing it. Too bad nothing became of that, because it would have had good art, regardless of what the story was.
Had no idea this episode was in the pipeline when I threw that Hellrazor sketch up on your FB page on a total whim. Boy do I look prescient! :-D Great episode about one of the most important books from my artistic formative years, guys!
Pretty sure the mini series covers (and posters) were colored by Erik himself. I think w airbrush ? His coloring style is marked by lots of highlights going to white and super saturation- went on to digitally color some variant covers of the regular series and even some interior pages moving past issue 100.
That's how I remember it. He did a few pages in the first trade too. I always thought the was using markers though
Three great numbers that had even more pages on the trade paperback.. And even more in the second release, years later.
You guys! Thank you sooo much for defying the social distancing rules and making new content! You’re helping us get through this madness... and now I have a whole new list of reading material! Stay safe and wash your hands!
Savage Dragon was also my favorite of the bunch and bought every issue consistently until about issue 100
Thank you for doing these. It’s just great the analysis and appreciation you have. Erik Larsen, under appreciated.
I sent stuff in too.
all the way from Malaysia.
I recall reading an interview (probably Wizard) where Larsen talked about wanted to write PG-13 kinda books; not kid stuff, but not 'mature' to the point of pretension (I think he referenced Vertigo).
I also remember him saying "I just like drawing big knockers," so take his opinion as you will.
Yea I remember I didn't like his Amazing Spider-Man stuff, esp. at the beginning cause he followed McFArlane and it felt a second rate Todd. But as he switched to the Spider-Man title, he made it his own although I did not completely take to it this time cause it seemed very shallow. But once he went to Savage Dragon Larsen flourished to something he really wanted to do and it showed. That mix of the style and the cartoonish look, the writing, the characters creation and violence, it was a special book. The best of the Image OGs.
BTW this era is called "Grim & Gritty" and it is often linked to Alan Moores and Frank Millers starting with Watchmen and Dark Knight but to me these were in a completely area. Watchmen and DK were bleak work of art and you can put many other 80s comics in that category, like Mike Grell's Green Arrow for instance. These were mature serious comics and characters but not particularly gory. Image stuff were fun comics for teenagers, often sillier than Marvel and DC stories but with tons of blood and gore. It is completely different.
It would have been cool that Image was a single universe later on.
The Rodney storyline was resolved. Won’t spoil it
Amazing video! Thanks from quarantine!
the fan art at the 1 hr mark, is that Kurt Metzger the stand up comedian? internet?
“When in doubt, black it out” I Don remember exactly who said it, but I know I’ve seen it!
It was Mcfarlane and lefield would said it in the Comic Book Greats video series
damn savage dragon paperbacks are hard to come by except those black & white archive collections.
So good. Lots of fun.
Yo the hardest freak in chi town son!!!
Please do the rest of the wave one image titles, i've collected almost 200 early image books in the past month
He ran perfectly into it and hit head and ded
I love savage dragon, great video guys. I hope you do the wetworks mini-series next. or nick manabat's cybernary. early image filipino guys.
I have this trade. I may have to dig it out again. Very dynamic stuff!
Gregory Wright was the co-writer on the 1990s Deathlok series.
This was the only thing I looked forward to from image, Erik was the only creator there I thought was worth following at the time
I literally dated his niece, but I had no idea who he was at the time. I just knew what savage dragon was...
Great episode!
Are there any comics today that capture this kind of dynamism and fun? I can’t think of any.
Great stuff!
Ehi rewatching... Isn't it time for showing Superpatriot first serie? 😉
YESSSSSSSS
aight, why is no one talking about the glass floor in that apt building 41:50
I was so disappointed when Erik Larson took over the art of amazing spider man and spider man comic after McFarlane. But I look back at it and it’s not as bad as I remember. I do like savage Dragons action in the comic, he definitely has a lot of Kirby influences.
we need oversize hardcovers... stat!
super