Archive for the ‘Erik Larsen’ Category
Press Release
IMAGE UNITED, the six-part crossover written by Robert Kirkman and featuring Image Founders Erik Larsen, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Whilce Portacio, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino, makes its second coming to comic stands this Wednesday with a pre-release, distribution-level sell out!
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The fine people at Image Comics sent over sneak peeks of Savage Dragon #154, Sky Pirates of Neo Terra #2, and Tyrese Gibson’s Mayhem #3, all of which arrive in stores on November 4, 2009.
Erik Larsen continues his love for President Barack Obama by offering up an exclusive WonderCon cover to Savage Dragon #145.
“I had no idea what I was getting into, but the moment I finished the cover I told myself: ‘Erik, you just created the greatest comic book cover of all time’ and it turns out I was totally right,” Erik Larsen said in a prepared statement. “Lets face it, President Barack Obama punching out Osama Bin Laden with a huge American flag in one hand while Savage Dragon frees Lady Liberty from a Weapon of Mass Destruction is as good as it’s ever going to get.”
Despite Larsen’s humble nature, the WonderCon variant will no doubt be the greatest comic book cover ever printed, due in no short order to our nation’s 44th President kicking the ass of his greatest nemesis. The cover’s status is augmented by the fact a very limited run of 1000 will be made available and never reprinted. Fans wishing to purchase a copy can only do so by attending San Francisco’s WonderCon.
The variant can only be found at the Image Comics booth at WonderCon this weekend — and then presumably on eBay Monday morning for $500.
President Obama is making another appearance in Image Comics’ Savage Dragon #145. In anticipation of the Obama-Nation queing to wait to get their hands on the issue, Image Comics is assuring readers that there will be plenty of copies available for fans.
“A lot of people have been milking the reprint game for all it’s worth by keeping their print runs tight in order to guarantee a sellout and I’d rather not engage in such tomfoolery. I want people read my comic instead of chasing after elusive back issues on eBay,” Erik Larsen said. “While we’ve gone through multiple printings on SAVAGE DRAGON #137, which featured the first cover appearance of Barack Obama back when he was a candidate, we’ve now printed more than double our expectations for sell through in order to ensure there are plenty of copies to go around. This relaunch has been years in the making and it’d be a darned shame if anyone was unable to try out the series. New fans, lapsed fans and everyone in-between can pick this issue up to jump on board the series. With an appearance by President Barack Obama – it’s the patriotic thing to do!”
Pretty sharp words from series creator who hasn’t been shy about pointing the finger at Marvel, claiming it stole his idea.
The $3.50 issue arrive February 25, 2009.
Image Comics has announced the fourth and final printing of Savage Dragon #137 is headed back to press. The issue features Savage Dragon endorsing the then candidate for President.
“While we sold out some time ago, we’ve been receiving an awful lot of letters from fans and retailers alike demanding another printing,” Erik Larsen said. “This fourth – and definitely final, I might add – printing commemorates the very first time a superhero has openly nominated a real-life candidate for Presidential office. It’s been flattering to receive such attention and I hope everyone who’s bought a copy sticks around for the rest of the series, especially #145’s relaunch!”
The reprint arrives the same day as Savage Dragon #145, that features Savage Dragon returning to the Chicago Police force and getting a first day back on the job pep talk from the President.
SAVAGE DRAGON #137 FOURTH PRINTING, a 32-page full color comic book for $3.50, will be in stores to coincide with SAVAGE DRAGON #145 (Obama Cover: DEC082233 & Regular Cover: DEC082232 ) on February, 25th, 2009.
Yesterday was another banner day for Marvel as non-comic readers lined up to get their mitts on the Obama variant cover to Amazing Spider-Man #583. This was a limited variant, and some stores jacked up prices, which didn’t make too many people happy – including one ass of a store clerk.
What of other reactions?
Erik Larsen isn’t too happy over Marvel stealing his idea.
As far as Marvel goes– I can’t help but feel very betrayed. They duplicated the incentive cover–and preempted my upcoming one–and even used the “terrorist fist jab.” Clearly those in the “house of ideas” looked at what I did and found inspiration.
I hear that they’re even doing a story similar to the one I did four years back, where an image-altering villain disguises himself as the President (in my story the Impostor replaced President Bush and took his place for a speech–in theirs the Chameleon, the shape-shifting villain, is going to spoil a speech being given by President-Elect Obama). The whole mess just feels really underhanded. I feel betrayed and, frankly, ripped off and in the real world–the one outside our funnybook bubble–Marvel will spin themselves as these great innovators who came up with this terrific publicity stunt–instead of the thieves they are.
And I know what they’re saying when they’re called on it–”Presidents have appeared in comics before” and “Erik didn’t create Barack Obama” and blah, blah, blah.
The thing that Marvel is attempting to do is to frame the argument. To say “we’ve featured presidents in the past–this is what we do–it’s part of a pattern.” But that’s a false argument. The “stunt” was an alternate cover featuring Obama– which was something no publisher had done with any president in the past and one that received a lot of press when I did it. If Marvel had done alternate covers with Bush and Clinton or any of the others– they could legitimately claim that they were following a pattern and doing what they’ve done in the past– but that wasn’t the case. And theirs is not simply the appearance of a president in a comic book but one on an alternate cover– and one concocted to try and get some of the same attention that got. I did not create Obama– I did, however, have a character endorse him, long before he was elected while Marvel played footsie with Stephen Colbert– a joke candidate.
For those who didn’t purchase a $25.00 variant cover yesterday, Marvel has announced it is going back to press to make sure everyone has a chance to get on the bandwagon.
UPDATED: It’s the story you’ve seen everywhere from CNN to the New York Times to Fox News—Spider-Man and United States President-Elect Barack Obama meet for the first time—and to meet the unprecedented demand, Marvel is going back to press with Amazing Spider-Man #583 Third Printing Obama Variant.
The first two printings sold out immediately and Marvel urges retailers to place their orders by Monday, January 19th, using Diamond Code NOV088141.
Who is the biggest loser in this big media event?
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When Barack Obama becomes President, not only will he be on televisions and newspapers around the world, he’ll also make an appearance in Savage Dragon #145. Erick Larsen and Image Comics have released the variant cover that features Barack and Savage Dragon bumping fists as Dragon returns to the Chicago police force.
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