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Savage Dragon (collected editions) #31
Savage Dragon on Trial
Savage Dragon is on trial for crimes he committed when he had reverted to his Emperor Kurr persona. Now the world is witness to the shocking verdict.
- GenresComics
128 pages, Paperback
First published July 3, 2013
28 people want to read
About the author
Erik Larsen
959 books76 followersAs a child growing up in Bellingham, Washington and Albion, California, Erik Larsen created seveal comic books featuring versions of a character named 'Dragon.' He eventually published a fanzine, which led to his doing professional work on a comic book called Megaton for creator Gary Carlson. It was here that he introduced the Dragon, a super powered superhero, to the comic-reading masses.
After a multitude of mailings, showing his work, Erik became aquainted with Jim Shooter, who was, at that point, Marvel's Editor-in-Chief. Erik eventually met Jim at a convention in Chicago and Jim was impressed enough with Erik's work that he consented to co-plot a story with him on the spot. That story was a battle between Marvel Comics characters Hulk & Thor. Although it wasn't actually published until years later, it did impress a variety of Editors enough to get Larsen some more high-profile work in the funnybook field.
Erik jumped around various books in this part of his career. He did an Amazing Spider-Man fill-in story at Marvel, a few issues of DNAgents for Eclipse, and he eventually took over the art chores on DC's Doom Patrol. Soon afterwards, he left DC and moved on to the Punisher for Marvel. Five issues of that book was about as much pain as that poor Minnesota boy could stand. Erik wanted to write and when a Nova serial was given the thumbs up to run in Marvel Comics Presents with Erik as the writer/artist, he gladly left the Punisher. But it was not to be! The powers that be had other plans for Nova and Erik's yarn didn't fit in with the impending New Warriors series. Editor Terry Kavanaugh gave Larsen an Excalibur serial to draw for Marvel Comics Presents while the poor bastard waited for his big break.
When ever-popular artist Todd McFarlane left his artistic duties on Amazing Spider-Man, Larsen was chosen to be his successor. That run was astoundingly well-recieved, and included popular stories like 'The Return of the Sinister Six', 'The Cosmic Spider-Man', and 'The Powerless Spider-Man'. Although he was comfortable with his position as Amazing Spider-Man penciller, he was frustrated drawing other people's stories. Larsen found that his ravenous desire to write had only gotten stronger. He left Amazing Spider-Man, quite pooped.
By this time, the New Warriors was going full tilt and Erik tossed together a proposal for a Nova ongoing series. While he waited for it to get the nod, Todd McFarlane left the new Spider-Man title that he had launched. Erik was called upon once again picked up the torch - and he ran with it. Larsen created a memorable albeit brief run on that title, despite a traumatic event in his personal life - his house burned to the ground, destroying all of his childhood drawings and comic books.
After this period, creator Rob Liefeld invited Larsen to help found a new comic book imprint called 'Image' at Malibu comics, alongside notorious creators Todd McFarlane, Rob Liefeld, Jim Lee, Marc Silvestri, and Jim Valentino. Erik's flagship comic book at Image (which soon left Malibu and became the third lagest comic book publisher in the United States) was an updated version of his childhood creation -- 'The Savage Dragon.' Larsen has been succeeding with his ideas ever since, through his creations Freak Force, Star, SuperPatriot and the Deadly Duo as well as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles which he helped revitalize and bring to Image.
As of 2004, Erik Larsen became the Publisher of Image Comics and shows no sign of slowing down.
After a multitude of mailings, showing his work, Erik became aquainted with Jim Shooter, who was, at that point, Marvel's Editor-in-Chief. Erik eventually met Jim at a convention in Chicago and Jim was impressed enough with Erik's work that he consented to co-plot a story with him on the spot. That story was a battle between Marvel Comics characters Hulk & Thor. Although it wasn't actually published until years later, it did impress a variety of Editors enough to get Larsen some more high-profile work in the funnybook field.
Erik jumped around various books in this part of his career. He did an Amazing Spider-Man fill-in story at Marvel, a few issues of DNAgents for Eclipse, and he eventually took over the art chores on DC's Doom Patrol. Soon afterwards, he left DC and moved on to the Punisher for Marvel. Five issues of that book was about as much pain as that poor Minnesota boy could stand. Erik wanted to write and when a Nova serial was given the thumbs up to run in Marvel Comics Presents with Erik as the writer/artist, he gladly left the Punisher. But it was not to be! The powers that be had other plans for Nova and Erik's yarn didn't fit in with the impending New Warriors series. Editor Terry Kavanaugh gave Larsen an Excalibur serial to draw for Marvel Comics Presents while the poor bastard waited for his big break.
When ever-popular artist Todd McFarlane left his artistic duties on Amazing Spider-Man, Larsen was chosen to be his successor. That run was astoundingly well-recieved, and included popular stories like 'The Return of the Sinister Six', 'The Cosmic Spider-Man', and 'The Powerless Spider-Man'. Although he was comfortable with his position as Amazing Spider-Man penciller, he was frustrated drawing other people's stories. Larsen found that his ravenous desire to write had only gotten stronger. He left Amazing Spider-Man, quite pooped.
By this time, the New Warriors was going full tilt and Erik tossed together a proposal for a Nova ongoing series. While he waited for it to get the nod, Todd McFarlane left the new Spider-Man title that he had launched. Erik was called upon once again picked up the torch - and he ran with it. Larsen created a memorable albeit brief run on that title, despite a traumatic event in his personal life - his house burned to the ground, destroying all of his childhood drawings and comic books.
After this period, creator Rob Liefeld invited Larsen to help found a new comic book imprint called 'Image' at Malibu comics, alongside notorious creators Todd McFarlane, Rob Liefeld, Jim Lee, Marc Silvestri, and Jim Valentino. Erik's flagship comic book at Image (which soon left Malibu and became the third lagest comic book publisher in the United States) was an updated version of his childhood creation -- 'The Savage Dragon.' Larsen has been succeeding with his ideas ever since, through his creations Freak Force, Star, SuperPatriot and the Deadly Duo as well as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles which he helped revitalize and bring to Image.
As of 2004, Erik Larsen became the Publisher of Image Comics and shows no sign of slowing down.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 16, 2021
Savage Dragon is an incredible series, always doing something new and entertaining. Erik Larsen has written, pencilled, and inked every single issue since the early 90s. Very impressive run, and he writes it in such a way that it's easy for new readers to hop on. He gives enough info that you can jump right in. And it's always something cool and different.
This volume in particular has some of my favorite stories of the whole run. Dragon is on Trial for crimes committed when he wasn't in his right mind. The chapter of his trial is just masterfully done, I'd compare it in some ways to Dark Knight Returns oddly enough, the gravitas of our hero's struggle, the media criticism, etc. It's really pretty unique how it's done here, with lapses of time and seeing how his family is affected by his trial.
Plus there are six issues in this book, and a lot of variety as always. The first issue is one showing Dragon in space on a ship, dealing with some culture shock with his newfound alien allies. It's very fun and well done seeing this very Earthly American Joe talking shop with the aliens. And it leads to some big changes.
Meanwhile on Earth, Dragon's teenage son Malcolm and daughter Angel have to deal with... Overlord! This includes the 20th anniversary issue of the series, a fun one.
All in all, you can't beat this. Check it out.
This volume in particular has some of my favorite stories of the whole run. Dragon is on Trial for crimes committed when he wasn't in his right mind. The chapter of his trial is just masterfully done, I'd compare it in some ways to Dark Knight Returns oddly enough, the gravitas of our hero's struggle, the media criticism, etc. It's really pretty unique how it's done here, with lapses of time and seeing how his family is affected by his trial.
Plus there are six issues in this book, and a lot of variety as always. The first issue is one showing Dragon in space on a ship, dealing with some culture shock with his newfound alien allies. It's very fun and well done seeing this very Earthly American Joe talking shop with the aliens. And it leads to some big changes.
Meanwhile on Earth, Dragon's teenage son Malcolm and daughter Angel have to deal with... Overlord! This includes the 20th anniversary issue of the series, a fun one.
All in all, you can't beat this. Check it out.
July 15, 2013
I'm glad this unpredictable, crazy series continues, I wouldn't claim this Savage Dragon book contained a favorite story arc of mine, but it was enjoyable with interesting, twist cliffhangers so I keep coming back for the more. I'm glad to see the same Dragon is still (or back to being) the main lead as the author has admitted he'd have no problem with the Dargon's son taking on the main character role.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews