Erik Larsen

Larsen was born on December 8, 1962,{{cite web|url=http://www.cbgxtra.com/comics-news-and-notes/todays-comics-guide-november-24-2011|title=Today’s Comics Guide: November 24, 2011: Birthdays 2 Weeks from Now|publisher=CBGXtra|date=November 24, 2011|archivedate=April 5, 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405104732/http://www.cbgxtra.com/comics-news-and-notes/todays-comics-guide-november-24-2011}} in Minneapolis, Minnesota.{{cite web |url=http://www.savagedragon.com/about/erik-larsen/ |title=Erik Larsen – Biography & Bibliography |website=Savage Dragon.com |access-date=November 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526004822/http://www.savagedragon.com/eriklarsen.htm |archive-date=May 26, 2011}} He has one older brother and two younger sisters.{{cite journal |last=Fingeroth |first=Danny |author-link=Danny Fingeroth |date=November 2002 |title=Inside the Mind of a Writer/Artist |url=https://issuu.com/twomorrows/docs/writenow2preview |journal=Write Now! |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |issue=2 |pages=3–4}} Growing up in Bellingham, Washington, he became interested in comics through his father, a professor of English who read EC Comics, and owned a large collection of Captain Marvel Adventures. Through him, Larsen was exposed to those books and those of Marvel Comics, and began to buy comics in earnest in the mid-1970s. It was Larsen's exposure to Dick Sprang's rendition of Batman that would later influence the earliest incarnations of his own creation, The Dragon, who drove a car copied from Speed Racer's Mach Five, and who turned into a superhero using a magic word to trigger his powers like Captain Marvel.{{cite web |url=https://comicbookhistorians.com/erik-larsen-comic-book-maker/ |title=Erik Larsen Interview, Comic Book Maker by Alex Grand & Jim Thompson |last1=Grand |first1=Alex |last2=Thompson |first2=Jim |date=February 21, 2020 |website=Comic Book Historians |access-date=February 21, 2020}}

About a decade after creating the Dragon, Larsen and two friends produced a fanzine called Graphic Fantasy, which featured this character.

For the anthology Megaton #1 (1983), Larsen co-created and illustrated a feature called "Vanguard" with publisher Gary Carlson. A revised version of the Dragon debuted in issue #2 and made a cameo appearance in the following two issues.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/dungeons-dragons-savage-dragon-erik-larsen/ |title=Comic Legends: Did Dungeons & Dragons Object to Erik Larsen's Dragon? |last=Cronin |first=Brian |date=July 23, 2017 |website=Comic Book Resources |access-date=September 7, 2017}} The original Dragon, inspired by elements from Captain Marvel, Batman, Speed Racer and later The Incredible Hulk, differs greatly from the modern incarnation.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/in-depth-erik-larsen/ |title=IN-DEPTH: Erik Larsen |last=Mitchel |first=Bill |date=July 7, 2009 |website=Comic Book Resources |access-date=September 7, 2017}}

Savage Dragon was first featured in two issues of Graphic Fantasy, a self-published title with a small print run, published by Larsen and two friends. In this incarnation, the Dragon was a widower and a retired member of a government-sponsored superhero team. Subsequently, the Dragon made another appearance in the third issue of Gary Carlson's Megaton anthology in its Vanguard strip, which Larsen had been drawing. In these appearances, the character of the Dragon remained basically the same as it had been in Graphic Fantasy, with a few details modified (such as the inclusion of his wife, who was dead in his previous incarnation). Both the Graphic Fantasy and Megaton issues featuring the Dragon were later reprinted in high-quality editions.{{Cite web|title=Savage Dragon's Pre-Image Graphic Fantasy Comics To Be Reprinted Officially|url=https://comicbook.com/comics/news/savage-dragons-early-pre-image-comics-appearances-to-be-released/|access-date=2021-06-14|website=Comics|language=en}}

In 1985 Larsen worked on Sentinels of Justice for AC Comics, and The DNAgents for Eclipse Comics.

By 1986, Larsen penciled scripts for the Renegade Press book Murder, which were written by Robin Snyder and Jim Senstrum, whom Larsen met because Snyder, like Larsen, lived in Bellingham, Washington, and frequented the same comics store.

Larsen did work at DC on The Outsiders, Teen Titans, Adventures of Superman and Doom Patrol. His art on Doom Patrol was negatively received by readers at first, something Larsen thought was due to his style being such a drastic departure from that of his predecessor on the series, Steve Lightle. He remarked, "Years later, I learned from the experience and made more of an effort to ease the transition."{{cite journal|last=Browning|first=Michael |title=The Doom Patrol Interviews: Erik Larsen |journal=Back Issue!|issue=65|pages=52–54 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing| date=July 2013|location=Raleigh, North Carolina}} In 1998, he briefly wrote the series Aquaman.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/pipeline-special-larsen-off-aquaman/ |title=Pipeline Special: Larsen off Aquaman |last=De Blieck Jr. |first=Augie |date=March 17, 1999 |website=Comic Book Resources |access-date=September 7, 2017}}

His first work for Marvel Comics was a fill-in on Thor that was inked by Vince Colletta.Larsen, Erik (May 9, 2008). [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?id=16355&page=article "One Fan's Opinion"]. CBR.com. He later did a fill-in issue of The Amazing Spider-Man and five issues of Punisher for Marvel. He then pitched to editor Terry Kavanaugh a story he would write and draw for Marvel Comics Presents featuring Nova, a character that Larsen adored. It was initially approved, but when it was found that it did not fit with an impending storyline in New Warriors, a team book in which Nova was a member, Larsen's series was cancelled. Larsen instead drew an "Excalibur" arc for Marvel Comics Presents, despite lacking interest in that group, because he needed work. This led to Larsen doing more Spider-Man work.

In 1990 Erik Larsen replaced Todd McFarlane on The Amazing Spider-Man with issue #329, having previously penciled issues 287, 324 and 327. With writer David Michelinie, Larsen illustrated stories such as "The Cosmic Spider-Man", "The Return of the Sinister Six" (#334–339) and "The Powerless Spider-Man" (#341–343). He left the title with #350, was succeeded by Mark Bagley with #351. Larsen again succeeded McFarlane on Spider-Man, where he wrote and drew the six-issue story arc "Revenge of the Sinister Six" (#18–23). Larsen also gained critical acclaim for his work with the character Venom during his time on Amazing Spider-Man. His design of Venom was highlighted during the story "Venom Returns" (#330–#333, #344–347, Annual #25), which introduced signature visual elements to the character such as giving Venom a long reptilian tongue dripping slime.Wizard #23 (July 1993) Wizard Entertainment.{{Cite web|date=May 1, 2018|title=Marvel Artist Explains the Origin of Venom's Weirdly Long Tongue|url=https://screenrant.com/venom-long-tongue-origins-erik-larsen/|access-date=May 1, 2018|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US}} Though his work with Venom was widely lauded and sales were strong, Larsen has gone on record saying he did not enjoy drawing the character and that he found the origin story of both Eddie Brock and the Venom symbiote to be unlikable.

Larsen stopped working for Marvel in 1992 (see below) but has occasionally returned to write and illustrate, on titles such as Fantastic Four, The Defenders, Wolverine and Nova. In 2000, he returned to pencil The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 2, issues #19–21 with writer Howard Mackie. In 2019, he penciled and wrote Amazing Spider-man: Going Big, a one-shot for Marvel's 80th anniversary, along with Mark Bagley and Gerry Conway.{{Cite web|url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/this-september-erik-larsen-returns-to-amazing-spider-man|title=This September, Erik Larsen Returns to 'Amazing Spider-Man'|website=Marvel Entertainment}}

In 1992, seeking greater control and profit over the work they created, Larsen and six other illustrators left Marvel to form Image Comics, where Larsen launched a series featuring a reworked version of Savage Dragon. This version was a massively muscled green amnesiac, who joined the Chicago police department after being discovered in a burning field. Initially debuting in a three-issue miniseries, the series met with enough success to justify a monthly series, launched in 1993. Larsen continued to write and illustrate the series entirely by himself, usually maintaining a roughly monthly schedule except during times when it was not in production.

As an Image partner, he formed the studio Highbrow Entertainment, which publishes through Image.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/image-co-founder-erik-larsen-announces-return-to-marvel/ |title=Image Co-Founder Erik Larsen Announces Return to Marvel |last=Dominguez |first=Noah |date=April 1, 2019 |website=Comic Book Resources |access-date=April 1, 2019}}

Savage Dragon is one of two original Image Comics titles still published (the other being Spawn) and the only one still written and drawn by its creator.David, Peter. [http://www.peterdavid.net/index.php/2010/08/20/giving-credit-where-credit-is-due/comment-page-1/#comment-175956 "Giving Credit Where Credit is Due, Part 1"]. peterdavid.net. August 23, 2010. Reprinted from Comics Buyer's Guide #1033. September 3, 1993 The character was also adapted into a short-lived (26 episodes) USA Network animated series that started in 1995.{{cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/savage-dragon-creator-erik-larsen-on-the-animated-series-finally/ |title=Savage Dragon Creator Erik Larsen on The Animated Series Finally Getting a Full Release After More Than 20 Years |last=Burlingame |first=Russ |date=July 15, 2020 |website=ComicBook.com |access-date=July 15, 2020}}

File:Erik Larsen, sketching, 2015 New York Comic Con, 2015-10-09-15h53m50s781.png

In 2004, Larsen replaced Jim Valentino as publisher of Image Comics, taking responsibility for all comics produced by creators other than the Image partners and their studios.{{cite web | last1=Brady | first1=Matt | url=https://www.newsarama.com/comics/080710-estephenson.html | title=Eric Stephenson: Talking to the New Image Publisher | publisher=Newsarama | date=July 8, 2008}} Larsen stepped down as publisher in July 2008 and executive director Eric Stephenson was promoted to the position:

{{blockquote|Fans wanted more Savage Dragon and I wanted to do more Savage Dragon—but it was not possible to be both a fulltime publisher and a fulltime cartoonist efficiently. Something had to give, and given the fact that Image was in a good place—going in the right direction—and Eric Stephenson was completely up to speed and ready to go—it seemed that the timing was right.{{cite web|title=ERIK LARSEN Interview|url=http://www.projectfanboy.com/vb/showthread.php?1288-ERIK-LARSEN-Interview|last=Piccione|first=Sebastian|date=August 12, 2008|website=Project Fanboy|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210005227/http://www.projectfanboy.com/vb/showthread.php?1288-ERIK-LARSEN-Interview|archive-date=Feb 10, 2012}}}}

In 2012 and 2013, Larsen had a run as writer and artist on a short-lived revival of Rob Liefeld's Supreme, illustrating writer Alan Moore's final unpublished script with issue #63 and writing new stories from issues #64–68.{{cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/news/after-alan-moore-erik-larsen-on-supreme-64/ |title=After Alan Moore: Erik Larsen on Supreme #64 |last=Burlingame |first=Russ |date=September 7, 2017 |website=ComicBook.com |access-date=September 7, 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/erik-larsen-to-leave-supreme-with-issue-68/ |title=Erik Larsen to leave Supreme with Issue 68 |last=Melrose |first=Kevin |date=August 28, 2012 |website=Comic Book Resources |access-date=September 7, 2017}} Also in 2012, Erik Larsen purchased Mario Gully's character Ant.{{Cite web|last=Johnston|first=Rich|date=September 4, 2012|title=Why Mario Gully Sold Ant|url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/why-mario-gully-sold-ant/|access-date=September 7, 2017|website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors|language=en}} In 2015, Erik co-wrote and drew Spawn starting with Spawn #258 and ending with Spawn #266; this run was notable for having included a crossover with Savage Dragon and for featuring Gully's creation Ant.{{Cite web|date=October 8, 2015|title=NYCC EXCLUSIVE: Erik Larsen Joins Todd McFarlane on "Spawn"|url=https://www.cbr.com/nycc-exclusive-erik-larsen-joins-todd-mcfarlane-on-spawn/|access-date=September 7, 2017|website=CBR|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Johnston|first=Rich|date=September 7, 2016|title=Erik Larsen Off Spawn With #266 – And No More (UPDATE)|url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/erik-larsen-off-spawn-with-266-and-no-more/|access-date=September 7, 2017|website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors|language=en}} In June 2021, Larsen concluded the first volume of Gully's series Ant.{{Cite web|last=Simons|first=Dean|date=March 9, 2021|title=Syndicated Comics|url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/the-ant-12-image-comics-erik-larsen/|access-date=June 14, 2021|website=The Beat|language=en-US}} In November 2021, Larsen launched a new Ant series, starting with a new first issue.{{Cite web|last=Johnston|first=Rich|date=May 14, 2021|title=Erik Larsen Launches New Ongoing Ant Comic From August|url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/erik-larsen-launches-new-ongoing-ant-comic-from-august/|access-date=June 14, 2021|website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=May 15, 2021|title=Image Co-Founder Erik Larsen Launches New Ant Series|url=https://screenrant.com/image-erik-larsen-launches-ant-series-comics/|access-date=June 14, 2021|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US}}

Larsen and his wife Jannie live in San Francisco, California, with their two sons, Christopher and Joseph.

In October 2022, Larsen said he would leave Twitter if Elon Musk bought the platform. In an email to NBC News, he said, "Yeah, I left. I said I would leave if Musk bought Twitter. Musk bought Twitter. So, I had no choice. The move only emboldened those most toxic users. The racists, 'patriots' and creeps are back in full force".{{cite news |last=Mier |first=Tomás |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-lists/elon-musk-twitter-celebrities-quit-1234634670/ |title=All the Celebrities Who’ve Quit Twitter Because of Elon Musk |work=Rolling Stone |date=2022-11-21 |accessdate=2022-11-23 }}

In 2012, Larsen received an Inkpot Award from Comic-Con International.{{Cite web|date=December 6, 2012|title=Inkpot Award|url=https://www.comic-con.org/awards/inkpot|access-date=June 14, 2021|website=Comic-Con International: San Diego|language=en}}

Larsen was nominated for the 2016 Inkwell Awards All-in-One Award, for "Favorite artist known for inking his/ her own pencil work in award year interior, cover-dated, American comic book material."{{cite web|url=http://www.inkwellawards.com/?page_id=5352|title=2016 Winners|date=June 30, 2016|publisher=Inkwell Awards}} In 2017, he was again nominated and received the 2017 All-in-One Award for his work on Savage Dragon.{{cite web|url=http://www.inkwellawards.com/?page_id=5951|title=2017 Winners|date=July 3, 2017|publisher=Inkwell Awards}}{{cite web |url=https://www.newsarama.com/34988-2017-inkwell-award-winners.html|title=2017 INKWELL AWARD Winners |publisher=Newsarama|date=June 19, 2017}}

{{div col}}

Art

• Adventures of Superman #431
• DC Secret Origins #13
• Doom Patrol #6–16
• Doom Patrol Annual #1
• Doom Patrol & Suicide Squad Special
• Legion of Superheroes #55
• Lobo's Greatest Hits
• Orion #6
• Outsiders vol. 2 #24, 27, 28
• Teen Titans #33
• Teen Titans Spotlight #10, 15

Script

• Aquaman #50–62
• Aquaman Secret Files #1

Art

• The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 1 #287, 324, 327, 329–344, 346–350, vol. 2 #19–21
• Amazing Spider-Man Annual #25
• The Defenders vol. 2 #1–12
• Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #4
• Excalibur: Air Apparent
• Fantastic Four: The World's Greatest Comics Magazine #1, 5, 9, 12
• Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 1 #13
• The Incredible Hulk #346
• Marvel Comics Presents #31–38, 43, 48–50, 82–83, 138–142
• Marvel Super-Heroes vol. 2 #8
• Namor the Sub-Mariner Annual #1
• Peter Parker: Spider-Man vol. 2 #19
• Punisher #21–25
• Spider-Man #15, 18–23
• Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #11
• Spider-Woman #10
• Thor #385 vol. 2 #26–28
• X-51 #12
• X-Force #2–3

Script

• The Defenders vol. 2 #1–12
• Fantastic Four: The World's Greatest Comics Magazine #1–12
• The Hulk #8
• Nova vol. 3 #1–7
• Spider-Man #15, 18–23
• Wolverine #133–149

Art

• 10th Muse #5
• Ant #12
• Desperate Times #1–4
• Image Illustrated #1
• Image United #1–3
• Negative Burn Anthology
• Savage Dragon vol. 1 #1–3, vol. 2 #1–present
• Savage Dragon vs Savage Megaton Man
• Savage Dragon Companion
• Savage Dragon/Destroyer Duck
• Shadowhawk #4
• Spawn #199, 258–266
• Splitting Image #1
• Supreme #63–68
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1–23
• WildC.A.T.s vol. 1 #14
• Youngblood #1

Script

• Ant #12
• Deadly Duo vol. 1 #1–3
• Freak Force vol. 2 #1–3
• Negative Burn Anthology
• Savage Dragon vol. 1 #1–3 v2 #1–present
• Savage Dragon vs Savage Megaton Man
• Savage Dragon: Sex & Violence #1–2
• Spawn #259–266
• Supreme #64–68
• SuperPatriot #1–4
• WildC.A.T.s vol. 1 #14

Editor

• Deadly Duo vol. 2 #1–4
• Freak Force vol. 1 #1–18
• Savage Dragon: Red Horizon #1–3
• Savage Dragon/Destroyer Duck
• Star #1–4
• SuperPatriot: Liberty & Justice #1–4
• Vanguard #1–6
• Vanguard: Strange Visitors #1–4

• Dart (1996)
• Deadly Duo (1994–1995)
• Deadly Duo vol. 2 (1995)
• Freak Force (1993–1995)
• Freak Force vol. 2 (1997)
• Dragon: Blood & Guts (1995)
• Savage Dragon (1992)
• Savage Dragon vol. 2 (1993–ongoing)
• Savage Dragon/Marshal Law (1997)
• Savage Dragon: Red Horizon (1997)
• Savage Dragon: Sex and Violence (1997)
• Savage Dragon: God War (2004–2005)
• Star (1995)
• SuperPatriot (1993)
• SuperPatriot: Liberty & Justice (1995)
• SuperPatriot: America's Fighting Force (2002)
• SuperPatriot: War on Terror (2004–2005)
• The Dragon (1996)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1996–1999)
• Vanguard (1993–1994)
• Vanguard: Strange Visitors (1996–1997)

{{div col end}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.savagedragon.com/ Official site]
• {{comicbookdb|type=creator|id=205|title=Erik Larsen}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20051029053654/http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/?column=20 One Fan's Opinion], Larsen's column at Comic Book Resources
• [http://www.lambiek.net/artists/l/larsen_erik.htm Erik Larsen] at Lambiek's Comiclopedia
• [http://www.comicgeekspeak.com/episodes/comic_geek_speak-80.php Comic Geek Speak Podcast Interview], October 2005
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110813145316/http://chsrfm.ca/podcast/general/Where%20Monsters%20Dwell/Where%20Monsters%20Dwell%20-%200152%20-%20Wednesday%20May%2025,%202011.mp3 Where Monsters Dwell Interview ], Larsen's interview on Where Monsters Dwell podcast
• [http://superherospeak.com/wp/94-erik-larsen/ Erik Larsen Interview with Super Hero Speak]
• Fukunaga, Kevin (May 6, 2012). [http://www.scriptsandscribes.com/2012/05/interview-erik-larsen/ "Podcast #3: Erik Larsen"]. Scripts & Scribes.

{{S-start}}

{{Succession box| title=The Amazing Spider-Man artist| before=Todd McFarlane| after=Mark Bagley| years=1990–1991}}

{{Succession box| title=Spider-Man writer-artist| before=Todd McFarlane| after=Howard Mackie (writer)
Larry Alexander (artist)| years=1991–1992}}

{{Succession box| title=Wolverine writer| before=Todd DeZago|

after=Steve Skroce| years=1999–2000}}

{{end}}

{{Savage Dragon}}

{{Erik J Larsen}}

{{Image Comics}}

{{Inkpot Award 2010s}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Larsen, Erik}}

Category:1962 births

Category:Living people

Category:American comics artists

Category:American comics writers

Category:People from Mendocino County, California

Category:Writers from Bellingham, Washington

Category:Writers from Minneapolis

Category:Image Comics

Category:Artists from Minneapolis

Category:Marvel Comics writers

Category:DC Comics people

Category:Inkpot Award winners

Category:Image Comics writers