Savage Dragon Archives, Vol. 1 Tp

[The Scribe]

SAVAGE DRAGON ARCHIVES, VOL. 1 TP
story ERIK LARSEN
art & cover ERIK LARSEN

616 PAGES - BW - DECEMBER 13 - $19.99

The earliest adventures of fandom's favorite fin-head are collected for the first time in one volume as Savage Dragon defends Chicago from Overlord and the Vicious Circle! Considered by many to be the definitive Savage Dragon saga, this is the complete Overlord epic from start to finish, culminating in a battle that only end one way! Guest-starring WildC.A.T.s and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Collects SAVAGE DRAGON miniseries #1-3 and SAVAGE DRAGON #1-21

;)

[glue]

Two questions:

1. Is SAVAGE DRAGON b&w in the monthlies?

2. I lied.

[The Scribe]

Two questions:

1. Is SAVAGE DRAGON b&w in the monthlies?

2. I lied.

1. No, but, it's like the essentials This will be cheap for new readers and hopefully bring in new readers. ;)

2. Lying is not a good quality. :p

[glue]

I'll pick it up if I can think of it when it comes out. I've been interested in SAVAGE DRAGON and I think ESSENTIALS hung the moon.

[DWEarhart]

I absolutely LOVED early Savage Dragon. I was lost, however, when Erik Larsen did his tribute-to-Jack Kirby-run.

The Archives edition would be a great purchase, and even better read.

[the film freak]

I absolutely LOVED early Savage Dragon. I was lost, however, when Erik Larsen did his tribute-to-Jack Kirby-run.

The Archives edition would be a great purchase, and even better read.

The book seems to going back to it's roots. Actually it's been moving closer to old school Dragon since issue 108.

[pmpknface]

Augie talked to Erik about this in the recent Pipeline Podcast. Neat stuff - check it out!

[torippu]

The DCBS discount is enough (50% off I think) that I'm seriously considering getting this now. It sounds like a lot of hard work was put into making this B&W.

[Magnificent Bastard]

$20 bucks for 616 pages of Eric Larsen goodness? How could anybody pass this up? $20 bucks is nothing for hours and hours of entertainment.

The 14yr geek in me is having a nerdgasm in anticipation of this Larsen tome.

[Mox Monkey]

Good to see this happening. I have the original trades of these issues, but I'll be picking up these essentials reprints starting where my trade collection leaves off (somewhere in the 50s? Donno, I'll have to pull them out and see which is the last I have).

It'll be tough to get into b/w Dragon, though. Obviously, it's always been in color before, and that's the only real way I can picture it. Hopefully the artwork looks as amazing as it always has in b/w.

[Erik Larsen]

It's pretty nifty in b&w--it's actually been a bit more of a chore than I had anticipated making it work without color but I'm pleased with the way it's looking.

[Kid Kyoto]

DING!

Added to my buy list.

[Predator]

Already have this preordered. I've heard a lot about Dragon over the years and saw this as the perfect time to check it out.

[will_butler]

Already have this preordered. I've heard a lot about Dragon over the years and saw this as the perfect time to check it out.

Quoted for identical circumstances. Also, I just got the Outlaw Nation archive thing today, and I loves me some phonebook-sized b&w reprints.

Will

[Aaron King]

I've been looking for a way to get into Savage Dragon since Mr. Larsen started doing One Fan's Opinion (which I love). This seems perfect, although I was hoping for a new and nifty name a la Essentials and Showcase. Not this'll keep me from buying it by any means. It's just that Archives seems so dusty and old and... DC. I was thinking... Savage Dragon Catalogue 1! Or... Big Fat Savage Dragon 1! Or Savage Dragon Big Big Book 1!

[Jack]

Yay! I've been wanting to get into Savage Dragon for the longest time, but I couldn't afford all the regular trades. This is perfect.

[the_coldest_sun]

Yeah, Im not so keen on the "Archives" title since Erik already had a Savage Dragon Archives series reprinting the non-continuity adventures of Dragon from his work in Megaton. When someone mentioned the Savage Dragon Archives coming out, it confused me because I thought he was talking about the old books that I already own.

[Gavin Higginbotham, BotF]

Yeah, Im not so keen on the "Archives" title since Erik already had a Savage Dragon Archives series reprinting the non-continuity adventures of Dragon from his work in Megaton. When someone mentioned the Savage Dragon Archives coming out, it confused me because I thought he was talking about the old books that I already own.

Yeah, me too. I wouldn't mind a trade of those books, but what would that be called?

[Erik Larsen]

Yeah, me too. I wouldn't mind a trade of those books, but what would that be called?

How about Ancient History?

[Gavin Higginbotham, BotF]

Sounds good to me! Any chance this may ever happen?

[Erik Larsen]

Sounds good to me! Any chance this may ever happen?

Dunno. It would be a pretty slim trade--and one with pretty limited appeal, I'd imagine.

[Aaron King]

Savage Dragon: The Lost Scrolls. I'd buy it if it had some childhood-drawn Dragon pictures in it. Even if they weren't from Mr. Larsen's childhood.

[Gavin Higginbotham, BotF]

Dunno. It would be a pretty slim trade--and one with pretty limited appeal, I'd imagine.

Yeah, I guess. Perhaps if you ever do those Ultimate Hardcover collections like Invincible and The Walking Dead, they could go in as some kind of back-up. It'd be nice to see them collected somewhere, at least.

While we're talking about Archives-era stories, I was wondering how sentimental you are about characters that existed pre-Image. I realise that guys like Dragon, SuperPatriot, Vanguard, the Deadly Duo, Star, Mako, Rock and Zeek are obviously much beloved, but there's other characters that you've bumped off along the way; Sgt. Marvel, Tiger, Dart, Mace (kinda), Fiend, etc.

Is this just like with the Image characters that you kill off at your leisure? Like, some you created back then but weren't overly attached to them at the time, so don't mind killing now?

I guess I'm just interested in how you perceive some of your older creations.

[DubipR]

It's pretty nifty in b&w--it's actually been a bit more of a chore than I had anticipated making it work without color but I'm pleased with the way it's looking.

Sold! Erik, will there be any changes to the issues like how Marvel did with their Tomb of Draculas, with drawing on tops to cover the exposed skin, and with the scripts as well; the wording will be the same?

[bird]

i don't care what it's called i'm looking forward to picking this up. i missed the savage dragon stories and only bought the crossover stuff (megaton man & hellboy).

great chance to check out another missed gem of the comic book world. plus it's in chicago, i love chicago!

well i have to go listen to my macabre and articles of faith records and think about that ugly ass metal bean, or is it a cloud, or is it a huge waste of money? i'm just glad i don't have to clean the damn thing.

[MackSztaba]

SWEET! Erik Larsen actually posted here! Sorry for sounding like a total fan boy, but Savage Dragon was of my biggest inspirations

Mr. Larsen love your work and dedication! Great comic run, i look forward to more awesome years of Savege Dragon.

If you feel like checking out my art : www.mackart.ca

I stopped reading around issue 60, but got back to it the last few months! I'm glad i'm back, i love this book.

[the_coldest_sun]

SWEET! Erik Larsen actually posted here! Sorry for sounding like a total fan boy, but Savage Dragon was of my biggest inspirations

Mr. Larsen love your work and dedication! Great comic run, i look forward to more awesome years of Savege Dragon.

If you feel like checking out my art : www.mackart.ca

I stopped reading around issue 60, but got back to it the last few months! I'm glad i'm back, i love this book.

MackSztaba, you should check out Erik's messegeboard (http://www.imagecomics.com/messageboard/viewforum.php?f=20) at Image Comics' website. He posts and replies there all the time! He's a pretty cool dude, who finds the time to answer questions from fans.

[hmnut73]

MackSztaba, you should check out Erik's messegeboard (http://www.imagecomics.com/messageboard/viewforum.php?f=20) at Image Comics' website. He posts and replies there all the time! He's a pretty cool dude, who finds the time to answer questions from fans.


Yeah I have to second that in a big way. Erik is the coolest single comic creator out there. Unlike most he really doesn't look down on his fans as just $ signs, he doesn't do cheap gimmicks to sell his book, he puts his heart into. He's like the old school jazz musician of comic books, most of the rest are crappy pop boy bands. If it wasn't for Erik's stuff I likely would have given up comic books many years ago. Damn you Larsen!!!!

[Erik Larsen]

Sold! Erik, will there be any changes to the issues like how Marvel did with their Tomb of Draculas, with drawing on tops to cover the exposed skin, and with the scripts as well; the wording will be the same?

There won't be any editing of that sort. It won't be toned down. But the pages were drawn to be colored and there are numerous cases where (on the original art) stars are drawn BLACK so that they can be color held as WHITE and burned through a dark color (typically blue). For a black and white book--black stars wouldn't "read" as white stars in a night sky so I had to go into each line art file and create a dark sky that the stars could be white against. I added a lot of "zips." It was a lot of work but the end result looks terrific.

[Erik Larsen]

SWEET! Erik Larsen actually posted here! Sorry for sounding like a total fan boy, but Savage Dragon was of my biggest inspirations

Mr. Larsen love your work and dedication! Great comic run, i look forward to more awesome years of Savege Dragon.

There'll be plenty of 'em. I'm just getting started.

[MackSztaba]

Thanks guys, i'll sign up on his message board.

Thanks Erik.:D

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

There won't be any editing of that sort. It won't be toned down. But the pages were drawn to be colored and there are numerous cases where (on the original art) stars are drawn BLACK so that they can be color held as WHITE and burned through a dark color (typically blue). For a black and white book--black stars wouldn't "read" as white stars in a night sky so I had to go into each line art file and create a dark sky that the stars could be white against. I added a lot of "zips." It was a lot of work but the end result looks terrific.

It's good to know that you're putting time and effort into somthing that others companies seem to be putting out just on the off chance it will make a buck.
Definetly gotta be one of my fave new formats - at the prices they are, you can afford to take the risk.

Personally I was hoping Dragon would get the Hardcover treatment,as I understood part of the joy of Dragon was the colouring, BUT, I'm certainly not going to complain about getting more issues for less cost.
Put me down for one.

[DubipR]

It's good to know that you're putting time and effort into somthing that others companies seem to be putting out just on the off chance it will make a buck.
Definetly gotta be one of my fave new formats - at the prices they are, you can afford to take the risk.

I agree. While I'm enjoying the Essentials from Marvel, I'm a bit upset that they are changing the books a bit to make them PG. Like I mentioned prior to this, the Ess. Tomb of Dracula had bra tops put on to cover the drawn Colon breasts he did in the Dracula magazines. The reason why he drew them was that the magazines were meant to be more adult. Why mess up the original and just reprint the damn page as intended. Also when I asked Erik about the language (particularly with the confrontation with God), I'm hoping a black bar doesn't appear. I'm sure Erik wouldn't do that to the fans.

Personally I was hoping Dragon would get the Hardcover treatment,as I understood part of the joy of Dragon was the colouring, BUT, I'm certainly not going to complain about getting more issues for less cost.
Put me down for one.

I would've bought a Dragon Omnibus as well, but like you said... the cost is always a plus.

[Erik Larsen]

Personally I was hoping Dragon would get the Hardcover treatment,as I understood part of the joy of Dragon was the colouring, BUT, I'm certainly not going to complain about getting more issues for less cost.
Put me down for one.

I'd like to do one of those oversized hardcovers too but logistically, it's difficult because many early issues of Savage Dragon exist only as FILM and not as digital files. That means that they can be printed only at that size. To do them larger would mean getting them re-colored--an expensive and time-consuming prospect which wouldn't match the original color no matter how much I tried. It's a lot easier to re-color the Fantastic Four and match the originals because the original colors are all flat and easy to match (they're in standard increments of 25, 50 and 100%). The color on Savage Dragon is complex and there are numerous blends and effects to take into account.

But it IS something I'd like to do at some point.

[Magnificent Bastard]

I didn't realize how damn BIG this thing was. It's phonebook plus size ridiculous. I got so busted by the wife trying to sneak this, the HC Moon Knight and a box of cigars into the house.

Out of curiosity how is this $elling, Erik? I think I snagged the last copy at the shop I was at.

[Erik Larsen]

I didn't realize how damn BIG this thing was. It's phonebook plus size ridiculous. I got so busted by the wife trying to sneak this, the HC Moon Knight and a box of cigars into the house.

Out of curiosity how is this $elling, Erik? I think I snagged the last copy at the shop I was at.

It's doing quite well. :)

[DubipR]

Erik,
Congrats on a job well done! I picked mine up last week and read it all in one sitting! That's a whole lot of Dragon in one night. The reprinting on it was great and I can see the effort you gave to produce a final product that made me want the second volume right now!

For the 2nd Archives, it looks like we're coming to the Dragon meets God arc. Now are we going to see the F-Bomb or is that going to change?

[the film freak]

For the 2nd Archives, it looks like we're coming to the Dragon meets God arc. Now are we going to see the F-Bomb or is that going to change?

He'll probably keep it. It was never changed for the trade.

I don't think too many little kids read Dragon anymore. Dragon drops the f-bomb in issue 47 too.

[DubipR]

He'll probably keep it. It was never changed for the trade.

I don't think too many little kids read Dragon anymore. Dragon drops the f-bomb in issue 47 too.

But there were 2 versions of ish. 31...one with and one with the black box over it. Just curious on which one's going to be used. If he's trying to make a bit more reader friendly and lure kids into reading it.

[the film freak]

But there were 2 versions of ish. 31...one with and one with the black box over it. Just curious on which one's going to be used. If he's trying to make a bit more reader friendly and lure kids into reading it.

He had the uncensored shower scene with Rapture in the last Archives from issue 17 and he did two versions of that (the censored page is in there as well). I kind of doubt it. Dragon isn't exactly a kid friendly book right now (The Wanted issue had a ton of swearing).

[Predator]

This is a fantastic book!! You can forget what fun comics can be, and this was one of the most fun ones I've read in a long time. Can't wait for volume 2. :)

[Erik Larsen]

Erik,
Congrats on a job well done! I picked mine up last week and read it all in one sitting! That's a whole lot of Dragon in one night. The reprinting on it was great and I can see the effort you gave to produce a final product that made me want the second volume right now!

For the 2nd Archives, it looks like we're coming to the Dragon meets God arc. Now are we going to see the F-Bomb or is that going to change?

It'll be there.

[Erik Larsen]

But there were 2 versions of ish. 31...one with and one with the black box over it.

Actually--it was "@#$%" not a black box.

[GreatLakesAvengers]

I find it a little strange that so many people are concerned about the appearance or non-appearance of the F-Bomb. It's only one word, people. And, whether it's printed or replaced by symbols, you know what it's supposed to say either way.

[Jesse Newcomb]

I'm not for censorship for artists, they're free to do whatever they want to in a comic. Just don't get mad if I want to white out the f-bomb in ish 31 in the forth coming volume, simply just that I grew up in a christian household, it just doesn't rub me right that God would drop it, and all that jazz. (I read a friend's copies by the way.)

I also wanted to add that I got the book today at Borders and I was surprised to find it. I didn't know about it until today, so kudos to Larsen to putting it out. I'm totally digging the art in it.:)

[MilkManX]

I have one on order from my LCS. I cant wait till it comes in!