The
Savage Dragon v1 Issue 1
Baptism
Of Fire.
Synopsis : The
issues opens with Dragon kicking in action immediately, taking down
his first super freak in the
form of Cutthroat and
his girlfriend Glowbug, who are trying to rob a bank.
As he brings them in Dragon is greeted by thunderous applause by the oppressed
citizens of Chicago.
Cut
back to
before, where Dragon is found in a
burning field naked, with out any
memory of himself by LT Frank Darling. Dragon
is aware of the basic facts,
but knows absolutely nothing about himself.
As the
situation in Chicago worsens and
the few super hero hold outs, Superpatriot and Mighty man, either get maimed and left
for death or killed in
their civilian form. The
situation grows ever desperate as LT Darling impresses the gravity of the situation on Dragon. Who
reluctantly rejects Franks plea to work for the
city's police force.
LT
Darling however did get Dragon
a job and a place to stay with his cousin Fred in a warehouse.
Not long
after however, Dragon first hand
has to deal with the super
freaks over running Chicago, as three of them try to strong arm Frank's cousin Fred, in to either coughing up the money or a lung.
Dragon deals
with them easily, but to no avail as
the warehouse is blown up
with him and Fred along with it.
Dragon
survives the explosion but cousin Fred doesn't and his
mind is made up for him.
Back in
the present Dragon deals with a hostage situation, taking out 23 perps without killing anybody.
With a little
help from a new vigilante named Star.
The
issue ends with the kingpin of the Vicious Circle, the criminal organisation that holds Chicago in it's grasp, Overlord. Dismissing
Dragon and dispatching 3 of his
higher placed bruisers, to do as
they wish with the dragon situation.
Credits
:
Story\Art\
Ink\ Erik Larsen
Letterer,
Chris Eliopolous
Color,
Gregory Wright and Steve Oliff
Editor,
Jannie Wong.
Notes :
First appearance
of err , well everybody !
Dragon,
himself.
LT Frank
Darling.
Mildred
Darling.
Overlord.
Cutthroat.
Glowbug. ( last
appearance as well )
Skullface.
Cousin Fred. ( dies this
issue)
Basher.
Mako.
Alex Wylde.
Hellrazor.
Amanda Payne.
And, Star.
Most, if
not all of these will play pivotal roles
in the issues to come.
Dragon is
also shot in the eye and comes off not
much worse for the wear, there by establishing he is bullet proof.
It does
seem to sting a bit, judging by his reaction.
This
issue is 29 pages, for 1.95.
Review :
The
first thing that you will notice, is that Larsen wastes absolutely no time
in throwing the action at us.
Dragon
comes flying at the camera
and the first ever
"superfreak "we
ever see on the first
page, which is a splash page to boot.
Followed
by a
spread showing Dragon punching Cutthroat
in the face and getting cut himself.
Immediately
highlighting the difference between Larsen's Marvel and Image work. Lot's more
blood and violence.
The violence is
fast and brutal, but not so brutal it belongs in a adult only
comic
and the
action high octane.
The
plotting is fairly simplistic. ( for
now )
Plot,
story line and motives are all secondary to the action. (
again for now )
Characterisations
are simple and come in broad strokes, but
they work.
There
are no mysterious connections, no brooding.
It's
easy to jump in to the world of the Dragon and despite it being a very violent
world, with a city over run with
super powered beings, it's still a fun
place to visit.
The enthusiasm Larsen had
for this comic is very obvious,
and it just radiates of the page.
Despite
the plot being simple, it is rather wordy, but not overly so and it rolls along
in a rollicking fast paced ride, but you the reader never get lost.
New
characters are introduced left and right,
but they all have a role to play either to showcase how bad the situation has
become in Chicago.
To set
up new characters, or to set up
story lines and plot points that will come in to play later.
It's all
remarkably cohesive and it's not hard to see how the Dragon became
regarded as one of the better early Image books.
This enthusiasm is also evident in the
introduction at the back of the book.
Larsen
finishes the intro with, "I feel like I am nine years old all over again",
and it
shows.
Not
because its badly drawn or juvenile, but because the boundless
enthusiasm translates on to the page.
Of all
the launch titles of Image Comics, this is the one that is for a lack of a better word, the most
enthusiastic, the most intense and the
most thrilling.
It packs
everything all the other Image Comics, wanted to do in one exiting package. And never for one
second stops to brood
or to let the introductions bog down the storylines.
The
story is simple and easy to follow.
The art
crisp albeit it slightly cartoony, with the
action over the top and even
easier to follow.
Essential
reading for anybody even remotely
interested in The Savage Dragon or early 90's comics.
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