Tales of the Living Legends: The Green Lama

Tales of the Living Legends starts a new story today, this one featuring the Green Lama versus a gang of goons on the city docks.

I do not know exactly what it is that draws me to the Green Lama, but I do know I thoroughly enjoy the simply designed costume but utter coolness of the character. Back in the golden age, the Lama was a fairly popular figure. He first appeared in the pulps as a more powerful variation of the Shadow (albeit much happier) before transitioning both in to comics and radio. He lasted well in to the late forties before disappearing along with the rest of his ilk.

Jethro Dumont often plays second fiddle to a lot of golden age revivals, usually either to Black Terror or Daredevil. But while I have used both those characters in Out For Vengeance and Living Legends, I think the Lama may be the most versatile. His powers open up a lot of room for storytelling which is why I think his stories range so freely between Batman-style street violence to cosmic craziness.

Expect the Lama to pop up semi-regularly in the pages of Tales as well as in future chapters of Living Legends. He has a big future ahead of him in the Quadrant Universe.

Super-Powered Comics: Savage Dragon

Savage Dragon has been around for over a hundred and fifty issues, but in the last half dozen issues the book has hit a creative stride it hasn't seen for a few years. Creator/writer/artist/everything-else-fans-will-him-do Erik Larsen is producing some of the best issues of this book ever.

In the mid-140’s, Erik made an interesting decision by putting Dragon back on the Chicago police force, the same role he occupied for the first forty or so issues of the book. Meanwhile, he is dealing with being the parent to two children for the first time, both his adopted daughter Angel (who has massive super-strength inherited from her late mother Smasher) and Malcolm (his son with Rapture with similar powers to Dragon’s own). He has a new ally in the Golden Age Daredevil (a character I have used myself over in Living Legends) and a new enemy in the second generation Dart. Oh, and Overlord is back too.

None of this probably means much to you if you have never read Savage Dragon. To you I say, for shame. Erik Larsen has regularly produced one of the most rip-roaring, exciting series of comics ever (and in the process produced the second longest uninterrupted run by a single creator, behind only Dave Sim and Cerebus). If you are unfamiliar with all the goodness, you should immediately check out Savage Dragon Archives volume 1 for a low cost intro to the series.

Sadly, Savage Dragon is one of several great “indy” superhero books that is woefully under-ordered. Anyone willing to try a great comic book should check Dragon out. Erik Larsen and I will both thank you.

Living Legends 16 Notes

After last chapter, Isobel feels some ill effects of her late night rendevous. Look for this subplot to move forward quickly after the action in Riccapoor wraps up.

The Coward has already made an appearance in Tales of the Living Legends but it is right here that his role starts coming to the forefront of our story. Expect to see more of him in the months ahead.

Silver Streak was a rather weak character that debuted in the same title that gave us the Golden Age Daredevil. I hope to strengthen the character’s history a bit by making the name the first full-fledged legacy character of the series.

Yes, the cast is just getting bigger. AJ, Emma, and a few of these kids are an important part of the ongoing subplot featuring Dominique. More on that in future chapters.

Tales of the Living Legends: The Return of the Golden Age Daredevil!

Up now at Tales of the Living Legends you can find the first page of the new serial featuring none other than the Golden Age Daredevil!

This feature comes from some of the worst quality art scans I have had to work with, so for the first time I will be heavily using Photoshop to edit the pages. Using some of its texture tools has allowed me to darken some of the colors and allow for a smoother appearance of the page.

Daredevil, now known as Coward in the pages of Living Legends is set to be a major player in the expanding Quadrant Universe. Stay tuned for more details soon.