Erik Larsen Reveals Baby Names, Key Upcoming Savage Dragon Scene

09/06/2016 05:59 pm EDT

Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Savage Dragon #216.

Malcolm Dragon's triplets in Savage Dragon finally have names -- and series creator Erik Larsen revealed them on social media today in a post teasing the upcoming Savage Dragon #216, featuring the original Dragon meeting his grandchildren for the first time.

A quick explanation for the uninitiated: Malcolm Dragon, the second character to serve as the lead of Savage Dragon, impregnated three different women in Savage Dragon #200. Since then, there have been three babies born -- and they're all being passed off as triplets and cared for by Malcolm and his wife Maxine.

In the next issue to hit the stands -- coming on September 21 -- Larsen will reveal the names Malcolm and Maxine have chosen for the children. That's been up in the air for a few issues, since shortly after they were born, a supervillain briefly kidnapped them to use for leverage and there was action to be had.

The reveal, appropriately enough, comes when the children are introduced to their grandfather, the original protagonist of Savage Dragon, for the first time:

Savage Dragon takes place in real time, so the original Dragon is now into his middle age, with an 18-year-old son who's recently taken over the title. Dragon is also in jail for reasons only a superhero could be in jail, so he wasn't helping out when the kids were taken, and is going to meet his grandkids for the first time when the new issue comes out.

The children's names are, as you can see above, Jack, Tyrone, and Amy Dragon. Larsen specifically addressed Amy, saying he "just liked the ring of 'Amy Dragon.'"

We'll ask Larsen whether he has any interesting stories for the other two names when he joins us for an interview about the issue when it hits the stands in two weeks.

Meanwhile, don't expect the (currently-powerless) Dragon to take to the streets, fighting crime by his son's side, anytime soon.

"The only way this generational thing works is if you guys can somehow find it in your hearts to let the older characters go," Larsen cautioned when somebody asked for Dragon to get his powers back and return to action.

The "generational thing" has somewhat split Dragon fans. Most fans are fond of the concept, but in execution many miss their longtime lead character.

That said, it's been nearly 70 issues since Dragon was the sole lead in any meaningful capacity. Savage Dragon #150 saw Dragon apparently killed, and forced his teenage children into active roles as superheroes to fill the void. When he returned, he was evil -- and Angel and Malcolm had to fight "Emperor Kurr" to save their dad, whose mind was locked within Kurr's body. Not long after Dragon was "back for good," he surrendered himself to authorities on charges stemming from Kurr's crimes. By then, the kids were 18 and starting to serve as heroes of their own volition.

Larsen also hinted that the children might "grow into" the role of a Dragon family "team" or replace his existing super-team, Freak Force.

Savage Dragon has been in continuous publication since 1993, and saw Malcolm born in its pages along the way, and grow into the lead of the book. Larsen has said repeatedly that his current plans are to work on the title long enough that one or all of these Dragon Triplets will be the lead(s) of the comic some day, as well.

Disclosure: ComicBook is owned by CBS Interactive, a division of Paramount. Sign up for Paramount+ by clicking here.