A lot of folks in the comic book business talk about what's working and what isn't in comics. I've made it no secret where I think we have gone wrong and rather than simply talk about it -- I'm going to DO something about it. In some ways Savage Dragon has been part of the problem. In the past, I've failed to remember that any issue is somebody's first. My book has really played to and rewarded long-term readers-- each issue has been a chapter in a massive involving story. Starting with issue Savage Dragon #76, everything literally changes and in the process, each and every issue will become far more coherent and inviting to new readers.
I’m placing the Dragon in a New World -- more dangerous and with much different rules. It's like "No Man's Land" meets The Road Warrior on a global scale -- but actually, it's a world where literally ANYTHING goes and it's wild as all hell. Imagine all the crazy stuff from every comic book ever published crammed into a single title and you'll begin to get an idea of what I'm talking about. From Giant Killer Ants to Frost Giants to Underwater Kingdoms to Hidden Cities and everything in between -- this one, truly, has it all.
Long term readers will be happy to hear that as the series progresses, old friends and foes will be reintroduced to contrast this New World. The stories work well for both regular and new readers but the important distinction is that the issues themselves will be far more self-contained and accessible. You will be able to pick up any issue and get a satisfying read out of it. This is my effort to try and show by example how it can be done right. I think the proof will be in the actual books themselves.
It's hard for me to even begin to communicate just how excited I am to do my book each month-- after eight years on a title you'd think I'd be pretty tired of it-- I'm more excited than ever!
I've done a lot of comics over the length of my career and the Dragon is by far the one that thrills me the most-- this is my dream book-- and it's the dream book where the dream never ends and can't be taken away. And I'm telling you-- that's the best kind of dream to have.
- Erik Larsen