Want advice on image spawn savage dragon. 2 questions.

[Phantom]

Thinking of buying and reading Spawn or Savage dragon.
As buying a collection.

Has anyone read either?

Obviously I am a valiant fan.
I like dark dominion aswell.

What I have in my collection leads me to think Spawn would be a better bet for me. But as I have read neither some advice would help.

I have complete runs of spectre ( minus golden age stuff), complete runs of ghost rider, moon knight, hellblazer, animal man, swamp thing, starman ( not complete). I like lord pumpkin

Going to clear out a lot of doubles and stuff I do not want to complete. And focus on completing runs.

on a separate note ~ is this worth buying? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-Milestone- ... 2c8fb2e31b" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[geocarr]

I haven't read much Spawn but I really enjoyed reading the two HC's of Savage Dragon that I have and would like to read more.

I was working on a complete set of Milestone books up until about 3 years ago and really enjoyed Icon and Hardware of some Static Shock stories. I would say the Milestone creators worked harder at the "world outside your window" concept than Marvel or DC did but not as hard as Valiant during their time.

[Captain Craig]

I have no advice either. Although I do believe McFarlene has managed to collect quite a solid run of Spawn into consecutive issue trades...I think.

Savage Dragon is more sporadic, or at least the early material is/was last time I looked.

I picked up Spawn #200 to test it out only to find that Al Simmons was no longer Spawn. I'm going to re-try #250, where Al Simmons returns but I feel this is a book in my past.
I'm also going to re-try Savage Dragon at #200 next month and I understand his son is now "The Dragon".

[Elveen]

PM Jonesy, he is a huge SD fan. He can give you the scoop.

[kjjohanson]

I really enjoyed the Milestone comics when they came out. It's been years since I read them, so I don't know how well they hold up. I'd say the lot is worth it if you're looking to read. If they're in decent condition as well then it's a bonus because some of those later issues are tough to find, and the lot contains a few of them.

[Phantom]

so only johnesy reads Savage Dragon.
no one reads spawn? thought we might have a long term reader around.

[jeremycoe]

Savage Dragon is my all-time favorite book. Over the course of it's run there have lots of different types of stories: from police stories, to straight-up superhero, to cosmic adventure. Something that's great about the book is that it occurs in real time, meaning the characters are 20 years older than they were when the book started. Another thing to keep in mind is that this book is whatever Erik Larsen wants it to be at any given time. He's often playing around with different styles just because he can. The issue that comes out tomorrow (#199) is an all double-page spread issue, for example.

For me, it's the only book I've picked up consistently since 1996.

[Ramses818]

I would say pick up Spawn if you want to collect a long running series. McFarlane has said he would like Spawn to outlive him where as Larson is going to be ending Savage Dragon. Spawn biggest drawback is that it has been kind of rudderless for a while. They have tried many different artists and writers but nothing seemed to stick. Now they are bringing back Al Simmons (a.k.a. The big baddie from the new Deathmate, also known as image United! Lol) so who knows what's going to happen.

[Phantom]

do read it ramses?
Not that I doubt your knowledge of the subject. One can know about something without being a full time reader. Just like us fans that read and my be caught up in the book not to notice its shortcomings.
How long have you kept up with spawn?

[newt138]

I have read both before. Savage Dragon is IMHO the better of the two. There is 2 or 3 archive editions that collect in order the first 50 or so issues. Then I am pretty sure there is trades for the rest. Also I have noticed that when digging in back issue boxes I always see SD issues for cover price or lower. Spawn I rarely see in back issue boxes and when I do they are cover or more.

Depending on if you don't mind b/w I would say goto a place like instocktrades and order the first Savage Dragon archive. I am pretty sure it collects from the first mini series until around issue 20 or so of the ongoing series.Plus with Dragon every issue is written and drawn by the same person. With Spawn sometime after I gave up on it,around issue 23 IIRC,Todd quit drawing it. Then he eventually quit writing it. Plus to me Spawn always read like a toned down version of Tim VIgil's Faust comic.

[Phantom]

cheers for the tip on back issue prices.
Was leaning towards spawn, or likely to continue for a long time.
Savage dragon seems finite, not that that is a problem.
Got the impression that savage dragon is more like a comic book soap opera. Not that I have read it, where spawn is more comic book.

Seems any issues over 100 in either case are hard to get, early issues are abundant.

[jeremycoe]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Savage Dragon outlast Spawn in the long run. For Larsen it seems to be purely about loving what he's doing. I don't think it's the same way for Todd and Spawn.

[maraxusofkeld]

I wouldn't go wth either and pick up some Veritgo runs, Preacher, Sandman, 100 Bullets, Y the last Man.

[Ramses818]

I wouldn't go wth either and pick up some Veritgo runs, Preacher, Sandman, 100 Bullets, Y the last Man.

Nice choices.

[Ramses818]

do read it ramses?
Not that I doubt your knowledge of the subject. One can know about something without being a full time reader. Just like us fans that read and my be caught up in the book not to notice its shortcomings.
How long have you kept up with spawn?

I was reading until Image United. I plan to start up again with the return of Simmons. Sorry for the late reply.

[Ramses818]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Savage Dragon outlast Spawn in the long run. For Larsen it seems to be purely about loving what he's doing. I don't think it's the same way for Todd and Spawn.

That won't happen because Larsen has already started his end game. He could change his mind but he has always been pretty straight forward. Spawn on the other hand he has said he wants it continue on long after him.

[jeremycoe]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Savage Dragon outlast Spawn in the long run. For Larsen it seems to be purely about loving what he's doing. I don't think it's the same way for Todd and Spawn.

That won't happen because Larsen has already started his end game. He could change his mind but he has always been pretty straight forward. Spawn on the other hand he has said he wants it continue on long after him.

I realize Larsen's plan, I just think it's likely Spawn ends before then. I don't think Savage Dragon has to be profitable to continue, but Spawn does.

[Phantom]

I do read (read) a lot of vertigo. I was the 'vertigo go to guy' in the comic book chain I worked at.
Just wanted to try something from each company.

[Captain Craig]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Savage Dragon outlast Spawn in the long run. For Larsen it seems to be purely about loving what he's doing. I don't think it's the same way for Todd and Spawn.

That won't happen because Larsen has already started his end game. He could change his mind but he has always been pretty straight forward. Spawn on the other hand he has said he wants it continue on long after him.

I don't keep up with Larsen. What is the stated end game for Dragon?
He's pulling a Dave Sim with Cerebus or like Calvin&Hobbs and despite potential future success just going to cease the book, the character etc.?

[Captain Craig]

Over on the Savage Dragon boards I poster named Andrew asked Erik Larsen this very question and Mr.Larsen stated he does not have an end game in mind at this time.

[jeremycoe]

Over on the Savage Dragon boards I poster named Andrew asked Erik Larsen this very question and Mr.Larsen stated he does not have an end game in mind at this time.

I think that Ramses is referring to the fact that Larsen is just planning on ending the series when he retires and not handing it off to anyone else. Although he has said he wouldn't mind if his son took it over. But his son can't draw, or something like that.

[Ramses818]

Sorry for the late response guys, to answer the question it was a few months back and In a interview I read they brought up Image United and Savage Dragon and he mentioned that he was going to end the series in a couple years. That he had the ending for Dragon and the other characters planned and that it was the story driving it nothing else. I don't believe he had a firmer date than "a couple years" but again I don't have the interview to reference. I will look for it though.

After some research it was probably an early article referring to the end. Which is just where is the Savage Dragon book is been passed on to his son through a series of events. Reading more articles I did not realize it Savage Dragon takes place in real time. And Larson is quoted as saying this is peanuts not Batman it's his vision in other words. Where as McFarlane has always stated that he wants Spanton live on long after him Like Batman,Superman,Spiderman and X-Men. But there's all the info I got. LOL

[Phantom]

read a few issues of te current realese. Up untill 200, and 200.
Not for me.
Will try spawn.

[Ramses818]

read a few issues of te current realese. Up untill 200, and 200.
Not for me.
Will try spawn.

I am interested in what you think as this was the one I first said to go for.

[Phantom]

Will get back to you.
More like a bad American teenage sitcom.
198 and 199 where just comics, not good comics. Didn't like the splash issue.
All the charactors are so basic ~ very one dimentional.
Issue 200 was rubbish.
Hey lets have group sex with my new girlfriend and my sister (adopted).
'Come on you only young and stupid once'
Should of left that out and focused more on the fathher ~ that was interesting.

You can tell this is a one man show, maybe hee was trying to be edgy to get new readers.

Hey, I ave only read three issues (but on is 100 pages long), just nothing their. Even the art is basic, maybe add alittle effort to make charactors stand out from the page and give depth to the page.

Saying that, I could not do what he does, exspecially in a month. If it works, and people buy it for so long, he must be doing something right.

Edit ~ Oh yeh I am a american football player.
No I shouldn't I will hurt people ~ its unfair on the opposition.
Ok I will.
OH look I win everygame by myself.
Oh Wait, oter teams are bringng in superheros ~ and all the other human players are getting hurt.
I will stop my football career.
All in 5 pages.
WOW, should of left that out aswell, or use it as a story. Just pointless.