Comments on: John Seavey’s Storytelling Engines: Savage Dragon

By: Grant

Grant — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 06:36:36 +0000

As a Dragon fan I can see what you’re saying because it seems like whenever anyone writes Dragon he’s always kind of off. I can’t think of a really good guest appearance (other then Vanguard 3 which Larsen had a hand in) Fellow Fin addict Robert Kirkman never seems to get a good handle on him, Jason Pearson wrote and drew a cool Dragon mini but even despite a fun story, the character didn’t seem quite right (especially the forced sexual tension between him and Alex). Giffen only plotted a few Dragon stories and even those were usually scripted by Larsen.

On the other hand other Larsen creations like Superpatriot, Star and Freak Force work well under different creators.

That said since the book operates in real time and Dragon has at least one biological kid someone could conceivably take over the book with Son of Savage Dragon and build their own mythology.

It’s still one of my favorite books and hope Larsen keeps putting them out (though I’m curious about his “mystery project” due later this year).

By: D. Eric Carpenter

D. Eric Carpenter — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:39:41 +0000

Actually, it seems that Larsen not only interchanges characters and ideas…but wholesale ‘engines.’

The only thing that remains constant in the book is literally the Dragon. The last time I read the book, he was the only survivor of his universe living in an alternate world.

If Larsen decides he wants to do a super-crime book, he does…the he changes his mind and wants to do a Kirby New Gods book…then a post-apocalyptic book…each time, he basically plugs a whole new ‘engine’ in place and the character deals with it.

By: ryan s.

ryan s. — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:51:31 +0000

It’s cool how in addition to writing whatever he wants, you can also see Larsen experimenting with different art styles, and even formats(Like the all splash-page issue, or the one that decreases panels each page)

I’ve enjoyed reading Savage Dragon Archives, but I do find it hard to follow the plot at times. Not having clear issue breaks doesn’t help, and I think inserting pages from other books actually hurts. I assume it gets better as it goes along.

By: John Seavey

John Seavey — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:06:27 +0000

Shoot. You just made me realize that Cerebus is actually doable. It’s been ages since I read the books I have, and I’d have to go back and finish the series (I think I stopped at ‘Latter Days Part One’…)

By: Mark_Andrew (Has to spell his name wrong or it gives me that stupd "Every 15 seconds" comment.)

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:55:27 +0000

Ooh! Do Cerebus next! Or Palomar!

By: John Seavey

John Seavey — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:21:30 +0000

You’re right; the series doesn’t necessarily need an engine. Erik Larsen may never decide to pass ‘Savage Dragon’ on to another writer, he may decide to wind the whole thing up tomorrow and make it a finite story. It’s up to him. Or, he may decide to handle it like Todd McFarlane handled ‘Spawn’, and hand the writing and art off to another person, at which point a storytelling engine might be helpful.

I’m not condemning the lack of a storytelling engine; I’m merely pointing it out, and pointing to some of the potential problems that might cause down the line. (Emphasis on “might”.)

By: comixkid2099

comixkid2099 — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:23:28 +0000

is it possible that, if the Savage Dragon was passed on to another writer, they could continue the same way larsen has? just throw in whatever the heck they want, and watch the comic sell?

I guess what i am trying to ask is, is there a reason why a new writer must have a story telling engine for a series like this? like you said, the series has done pretty well without an engine so far, so why not continue to not have an engine?

By: Scavenger

Scavenger — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:12:09 +0000

It doesn’t need to be past on, but for example, Larsen might want to pass it on. Yes it’s a comic book, but it is also his intellectual property, that one day he may wish to sell to finance his retirement, or an island or something. He could go the Jim Lee route, selling to a major company…or the McFarlane route, with him moving to run an empire while other people produce the comic…or something entirely unthought of right now.

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:38:26 +0000

Ditto to John. Creator owned characters don’t need to be made for other writers. In that sense, Savage Dragon is similar to Mr. Natural or Madman, it is just a character for the creators’ whims.

(Allred *did* write for the character in Madman and the Atomics…hmmm…)

By: John Trumbull

John Trumbull — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:15:08 +0000

…But since The Savage Dragon is a creator-owned book, his storytelling engine doesn’t really NEED to be passed on to the next writer, yes?