Savage Dragon Shocks Fans by Killing Off Last Original Heroes After 30+ Years

In the recent release of Savage Dragon #275, fans from Image Comics bid farewell to one of the series’ last original characters. SuperPatriot, who first appeared in 1992, holds a special place in the hearts of fans, making this milestone an emotional moment as his story comes to a close. This pivotal issue has contributions from an impressive creative team, including Erik Larsen, Joe Keatinge, Ryan Alexander-Tanner, Simon Mallette St-Pierre, Scott James, Jack Morelli, Mike Toris, and Nikos Koutsis.

Savage Dragon Kills Off SuperPatriot

A Beloved Hero’s Journey Ends

SuperPatriot met his end during a rescue mission in Ukraine, marking a significant departure for both the comic and its narrative universe. Having been around for decades, he is notably one of the most cherished characters created by Larsen, aside from Savage Dragon and his son, Malcolm. Initially conceived as a homage to Captain America, SuperPatriot underwent cybernetic enhancements before his debut in the original Savage Dragon miniseries.

With roots tracing back to World War II, SuperPatriot was nearly a centenarian upon his demise. During the mission to rescue a young American soldier held by Russian forces, he suffered fatal injuries. However, in a twist, his cybernetic components later merged with the injured soldier, ensuring that his legacy continues in an unexpected way. In an interview with Comic Book Club, Larsen expressed:

“Even since SuperPatriot started closing in on 100 years old I thought – he’s overdue. I mean, I guess he could have gotten a jab and become immortal or slowed his aging to a crawl, but it strained credibility to have him out there kicking ass at that age. It just seemed too hard to swallow. So, I started making plans.”

The Perilous World of Savage Dragon

The Diminishing Roster of Original Characters

Since Malcolm Dragon assumed his role as the lead character nearly 100 issues ago, many classic villains have either aged or been eliminated from the storyline. Consequently, Malcolm has begun to develop his own set of adversaries, predominantly consisting of legacy villains linked to those from his father’s past. Recently, the character Mister Glum, once a brilliant but twisted alien who temporarily dominated Earth, also met his fate. Just prior, he swapped bodies with a supporting character, introducing new dilemmas expected to influence future story arcs.

Beyond SuperPatriot’s Demise: More Changes Unfold

The Return of Dragon… Sort Of

The tumultuous mission in Ukraine was intricately planned. Angel Murphy carried vials of Dragon’s blood, enabling her to bestow healing powers and other abilities upon her team members. However, without prompt administration of an antidote, the risks were dire, and SuperPatriot succumbed to his grievous injuries. Both Theo Strange, the soldier in distress, and Paul Dragon also suffered severe wounds. Notably, Theo now possesses a youthful representation akin to Captain America, similar to how Sam Wilson has assumed the mantle from Steve Rogers in the MCU. Yet, Larsen clarified:

“I wanted it to be visually apparent that these two were not the same guy and this was an easy way of showing that, but it’s not like I had any agenda here. It’s not a political statement of any kind. In retrospect, doing this at the same time as the Falcon assuming the Captain America mantle in the MCU is unfortunate timing. But what can I do?”

Paul, an alternate-dimensional version of Dragon, lacked the healing abilities and displayed a distinctly different fin. As SuperPatriot’s robotic elements saved Theo, Angel managed to revive Paul with the Dragon’s blood. In his recovery, Paul gained Dragon’s fin and experienced a significant power augmentation, elevating him to match Dragon’s capabilities. Following the tragic mission, the entire team remains stranded overseas, and while Paul and Theo’s newfound powers represent a thrilling evolution, it will take time for them to adapt effectively.

For fans of Savage Dragon, this is a monumental time as they witness the farewell of a longstanding hero with SuperPatriot’s death, welcome a new figure in Theo, and observe Paul’s transformation that resonates with the series’ legacy.

Source: Comic Book Club

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