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Still under construction a bit, I think.

HEY, YOU! Go pick up Dragon 179 today, tear out the Vanguard section, and mail it to your local representative or congressman with a note nominating it for Best Vanguard Chapter 8 Ever!

And since it's New Comic Day, let's look at some cover mockups from the very beginning of the project. I did various experiments with cover layout and copy in the beginning, including versions of the first two Van covers with the "Image Comics Group" dressing Erik used during the Savage World era. It's a fun look, but Gary felt that since he is already so associated with doing "retro" comics, he preferred a more standard, modern approach.

Still-- these are kinda neat "might-have-beens". I wasn't sure which issue the serial was going to begin, so I just put "#1" to signify Part One. Also, the taglines are different-- #1's tagline in particular changed a number of times. #2 had the same tagline text but with a different typeface. Both had their placements changed for the final covers. The "floating head" next to the Vanguard logo is from the Ethereal Warriors one-shot; we would have put a different graphic there if this format had been used on the final covers, but I thought it was fun to use the angry-looking Van face in these rough drafts.

The covers weren't finished at this point, so we just used Frank's initial pencil prelims for these mockups.

Hey--wasn't there a Vanguard back up in this issue of SD 179? No reviews, no critiques?

Perhaps you gotta get your Dragon/Larsen fix and I can't blame you for that 'cause it's been a little longer wait this time between issues.

MAN!--am I needy.

I already sent Frank an email with this, but I'll repost a modified version here to get the conversation going:

Wow. Best chapter yet! There is so much going on here. I love how it feels like I have enjoyed a full length comic with just six pages. Another very cool cover as well!

I love how Gary seems to be tying in all of Vanguard's rogue gallery including Amok. Nice to see Frank's version of him, and in color at that. All the action with the tyrannean bugs looks so cool.

I love the homage to Jack Kirby with Barrackus (or is it Thramm?) in the infamous Captain America punching pose (only your version wasn't screwed up by an inker or colorist). If you don't know what I am referring to, check out: http://www.whatifkirby.com/news/better- ... ch-part-ii

Adam's lettering really stood out this episode as well. The action words really make the fight scenes pop. Frank's art is also pretty killer with all of the different characters and all the action going on. I love his version of the Tyranneans.

It seems like Vanguard gets absolutely no respect from Thram or Barrackus. His orders are disobeyed once again! Those Kylptian blasters can really do a job on the Tyranneans (just like the Krylan blasters). And it looks like Dragon may be coming back, sweet! Maybe Earth has a fighting chance after all. Especially if the Krylans can find a cache of Kalptian (sp?) weapons by going down to the planet's surface and then combine it with their own weapons.

I also really like how the last panel of the Vanguard story matched up with the first panel of the main story. Frank even drew the weird bubbly background technology just like Erik's version in the same location (or was it vice-versa?)

Another outstanding job guys! I seriously wish this could be its own ongoing book. Highbrow needs a relaunch like the Extreme line!!!

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DragonFan.net - The best source for news on Erik Larsen-related projects!
Savage Dragon Wiki - Character profiles, issue summaries, and more!
Savage Fincast - A podcast that celebrates all things Savage Dragon and Erik Larsen!

Wow! Thanks, Craig.

Erik had the first page drawn to the SD story so I used it for reference for the last panel of the Van back up.

I also had this thought/idea after the fact about the Tyranneans. The way the talons are so long on their fingers they can't fold their hand into a complete fist. What if there were slots going through the palm of their hand to the top of the hand, so when they made a fist properly the talons would curl through the slots at the top of the hand protruding as talon blades? That would be awful lethal, eh?

Aaa--it was just a thought.

So Frank, is the next chapter the last one, or are there more?

_________________
DragonFan.net - The best source for news on Erik Larsen-related projects!
Savage Dragon Wiki - Character profiles, issue summaries, and more!
Savage Fincast - A podcast that celebrates all things Savage Dragon and Erik Larsen!

The Vanguard series will end at 10 chapters in SD 181. Two more chapters to go. Unless of course we were able to go for 12 chapters to make it a years worth of stories. I don't know. But for sure 10 chapters.

I think Erik has a nice little surprise for a back up in 182.

Ooh! Interesting...

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- Gavin Higginbotham.

http://savagedragonwiki.wikispaces.com/

@Adam : love those cover mock-ups. I always liked that classic cover set-up. But I understand Gary's decision nonetheless.

Just been privileged enough to see the next Vanguard chapter and... Holy shit! This is intense. I don't understand how Gary and Frank can keep making the serial get better each chapter. Pressure's on for the final chapter!

_________________
- Gavin Higginbotham.

http://savagedragonwiki.wikispaces.com/