Savage Dragon's First Appearance to Be Reprinted In Color For the First Time

03/03/2017 09:28 pm EST

Savage Dragon #225 will mark the 25th anniversary of Savage Dragon at Image Comics, 35 years since the character first appeared in print in the Graphic Fantasy anthology, and 45 years since Erik Larsen created him and started selling hand-drawn and hand-stapled comics in school.

And to celebrate those anniversaries, the 100-page finale to the mega-arc "The Merging of Multiple Earths" will include the first publshed Dragon story from Graphic Fantasy -- now in full color for the first time.

Larsen recently tweeted that "My old pal Kevin Keyes sent over a box of random photocopies and such that went into producing our Graphic Fantasy fanzine from 1982," adding that "Included in that was a copy of the cover to the first issue, sans color. So, finally, I can color it and have the colors be in register."

Things have been crazy for Dragon, who hasn't been the lead character in the comic bearing his name in about two years. After his apparent death in #150, Dragon came back, but his body briefly served as a host to Kurr, a brutal dictator buried in the hero's subconscious before he ever came to Earth. During Kurr's attack on Earth, the body count was astounding -- and as a result, Dragon (even after he regained his senses) was ultimately jailed for life. During his sentence, he willingly underwent a process that removed his superhuman powers (and with them, much of his bulk).

Recently, he was released from prison as a result of a last-minute pardon by outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama. Now, though, it seems Dragon is back in fighting shape just in time to take it to Darklord and Mister Glum.

Starting with Savage Dragon #223, there will be a three-part story culminating in #225, in which Mister Glum attempts to realign reality itself in order to reunite with Angel Dragon, the love of his life who recently died.

Savage Dragon #221 is on sale now from Image Comics. You can get a copy at your local comics retailer or order a digital version here.

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