PRESS RELEASE
What started off as a fan-made celebration of Savage Dragon, has been fully realized as a new Image Comics one-shot titled Super Freaks.
In 2021, hosts of the Savage Fincast, a podcast that celebrates Savage Dragon and the work of creator and Image Comics co-founder, Erik Larsen, began planning a way to celebrate their ten-year anniversary. After brainstorming and gauging the interests of their friends, the hosts decided to attempt a self-published Savage Dragon fanzine featuring the talents of their fellow Savage Dragon enthusiasts. With approval from Erik Larsen, the hosts began work on the fanzine with the goal of producing something that could be awarded as a prize to their podcast listeners. The project, now titled Super Freaks, brought in the talents of twenty super-fans, contributing four-to-five-page stories, one-page gag strips, pinups, and more.
Larsen was so taken by it that he insisted it be released to the world as an official Image Comics publication. Larsen explained: “This was too good not to share! It’s hilarious! It’s exhilarating. It’s poignant and sexy and brutal and everything I love. It’s a ton of fun and I couldn’t let this be some limited-edition book that nobody else got to see.”
Craig Olsen, contributor/editor of Super Freaks states, “Many of the project contributors have been collecting Savage Dragon and other Image Comics titles since the inception of the company back in 1992; to have their work printed in an Image comic, especially during the company’s 30th anniversary celebration, is really a dream come true. We are all over the moon!”
The comic is a fan love letter to 30 years of Savage Dragon with stories covering many characters and various eras of the long-standing series. In fact, the title Super Freaks is a nod to the term established in the Savage Dragon comic for super-powered beings, many of which are showcased in the one-shot’s stories and pin-ups. The 56-page extravaganza delivers action-packed superhero romps including, a multiverse of Dragons; a tie-in to the 1990s cartoon show; features focusing on Dragon’s son, Malcolm and his wife Maxine; and stories spot-lighting other fan-favorite supporting and obscure characters.
The mix of indie creators and relative newcomers that contributed to the book are sure to create new fans of their work. Some of the more established contributors include Mark Welser (Gods of Brutality), Rich Woodall (Electric Black), Raven Perez (Raven’s Dojo), Connor Tierney (Kid Eastwood), Scott James (Juiceman) and Nick Justus (Anne Bonnie). Additionally, Super Freaks sports a dynamic brand-new cover by Erik Larsen and Mark Welser. Whether you are a long-time fan, someone who is curious about the Savage Dragon universe, or just enjoy fun comic anthologies with great art and stories– Super Freaks has something for everyone. Super Freaks is available for order now (Previews code APR220123) and in comic shops and other retailers on June 1, 2022.
