A blood-soaked post-apocalyptic Western set practically 100 years after Earth is taken over by cosmic parasites, Savager #1 is now lurking on cabinets from PANICK Leisure, and forward of the second concern’s launch in November, we caught up with co-writers Dirk Blackman and Shannon Eric Denton in addition to artist Kewber Baal to debate their new comedian e-book sequence, together with trying on the post-apocalypse via a vibrant lens, creating a singular bond between the final human standing and the parasite inside him, working with colorist Schimerys Baal and letterer Sal Cipriano to carry this story to life, the mutated horrors awaiting readers in future problems with Savager, and the wonderful covers by Tehani Farr, Christopher Lair, and Shane Pierce, respectively.
You’ll be able to learn our full Q&A with Dirk, Shannon, and Kewber beneath, and you too can try our cowl artwork gallery (that includes killer art work by Tehani Farr, Christopher Lair, and Shane Pierce, respectively) in addition to a preview from the primary concern. To study extra, you’ll want to go to PANICK Leisure’s official web site!
Thanks for taking the time to reply questions for us, and congratulations on Savager! When did you initially provide you with the thought for this comedian e-book sequence?
Dirk Blackman: A bit over ten years in the past. We had the preliminary concept: the apocalypse got here, and humanity misplaced. Our monsters had been completely different, our hero was completely different. We revamped it a few yr later to primarily what we’ve now. Over the course of the years, we dipped out and in of the undertaking as we took different jobs, and so on. We thought-about writing a characteristic movie model however then determined about two years in the past that it will have its greatest life as a graphic novel. We took it to the blokes at PANICK and right here we’re.
Shannon Eric Denton: Once I began Monster Forge with the objective of simply actually making my model all concerning the stuff I really like, this undertaking was on the entrance of the record. Then PANICK comes alongside and it’s like all that point loving this undertaking was purposely meant to attend for the correct companions to make it occur. With Crew PANICK, Kewber, Schimerys, Sal, and our genius cowl artists we’ve discovered these companions! It went from an concept to a actuality!
The banter between Riley Phillips and the extraterrestrial parasite he’s fused with jogs my memory of the connection between Eddie Brock and the symbiote Venom, and it actually offers the story a enjoyable and poignant aspect from inside. How essential was it so that you can spotlight that inside dialogue and put it to use as a solution to additional flesh out the character of Riley?
Dirk Blackman: It is vastly essential. First, from a narrative mechanics angle, we needed to set this far sufficient sooner or later that there have been no individuals or animals left aside from Riley. We wanted a sensible purpose why that may very well be. From the superhero angle, it allowed us to do horrible issues to Riley as a result of the creature may heal him. After which from the character angle, it gave Riley one other being to speak with, even when it was a monster inside him. And it is enjoyable to have him speaking to himself like a basket case, despite the fact that there actually is another person there. As for future sequence—if we get to jot down one—it’ll prove that Riley is not simply utilizing the creature to assist get his revenge, the creature can be utilizing him for its personal nefarious ends.
Shannon Eric Denton: We’d at all times had this plan for them to speak and I’ll be trustworthy when Tom Hardy added that back-and-forth to the Eddie/Venom dynamic, it was a bit like, “Nicely, I knew this might work however…” The temptation was there to scrap it, however years of expertise has led me to grasp that so long as your “voice” is in there, it’ll be your factor. It’s like by no means doing one other werewolf undertaking as a result of somebody has already completed one. We’ve simply labored further exhausting to ensure Riley and his Dweller have their very own distinctive voice.
Kewber, I’m in awe of your art work for this sequence, and I really like the way it combines with the colourful shade palette from Schimerys Baal to infuse this post-apocalyptic panorama with a kinetic vitality. What was your artistic strategy to illustrating the post-apocalyptic world of Savager?
Kewber Baal: Thanks a lot! To begin with, I have already got some expertise in comics with dystopian and post-apocalyptic universes, creatures, zombies, horror, gore, and so forth. This already gave me a artistic increase, which I imagine makes it simpler for me to mix all of it and develop this world. And second, Shannon and Dirk already had an entire concept developed, bringing me tons of of references, ideas, and a really completely different strategy, which I assumed was sensational. As a substitute of a destroyed, grey, or desert world, we’ve a colourful, lovely, illuminated world. That is the place Schimerys got here in, who works quite a bit with vivid, vibrant colours, and who I already knew she could be good for this mission. A magnificence on this planet that makes us wish to recognize it, however on the similar time desires to kill us. That is Savager!
I really like how Savager takes place practically 100 years after humankind was contaminated by parasitic monsters. The overgrown landscapes remind me of a mutant-infested model of Life After Folks. Was that post-apocalyptic setting a enjoyable artistic sandbox for all of you to play in whereas engaged on this sequence?
Dirk Blackman: Hell yeah! First, you have received your monsters, and that is only a clean slate of coolness, and Kewber is killing it. Plus, we requested ourselves a easy world-building query: if 1000’s of wormholes opened across the globe, letting in these creatures, what did that do to the earthly physics the place they opened? We determined that meant something goes. So, in a single place all the things turned to glass; in one other, a lake is burning; in one other, gravity is 1/tenth the norm, and so forth. When you inform physics to fuck off, the world turns into MUCH extra attention-grabbing.
Shannon Eric Denton: My years as an artwork director in video games and animation at all times informs my comedian e-book–making (and vice versa). I actually love world-building and I’m additionally an enormous fan of this apocalypse style, so it was essential to place our visible stamp on this world. Because of Kewber and Schimerys for being good sports activities with our preliminary notes however as soon as it clicked, we had been off and operating. This can be a model of Earth NO ONE has ever been to earlier than!
Kewber Baal: What I favored most about this universe is that, not like what we’re used with dystopian, destroyed worlds, a useless planet, this one is not like that. Earth remains to be alive. And it appears extra lovely than a world with people. And I wish to level out the truth that everyone knows about this, however we appear to keep away from enthusiastic about it. The planet would not want us. Right here, humanity is gone, however the planet stays alive. It strikes ahead, detached to our existence. That is deep, even nihilistic, and it is what makes me attempt to discover the probabilities. What would a brand new planet be like with out us? What would the vegetation be like? What would the buildings, the stadiums, the good monuments seem like? That is very bizarre and funky on the similar time. And I actually want to have extra Savager tales to work on it!
From the primary draft to the ultimate model, roughly how lengthy did it take to jot down and illustrate these first 4 problems with Savager?
Dirk Blackman: We began storyboarding e-book 1 in late July 2024. As of this writing, we’re completed with e-book 4, and Kewber is starting e-book 3, whereas our wonderful colorist Schimerys Baal and letterer Sal Cipriano have completed e-book 2.
Shannon Eric Denton: Dirk and I are incorporating quite a lot of our filmmaking background into this and actually storyboarding all the things out together with the script. It’s not for sharing with Kewber or directing him as a lot because it’s us determining if every scene is as epic and filmic as we are able to make it. As soon as we’re proud of that, we share the script with the group and we’re off to the races.
Do you every have a favourite second specifically that you simply’re excited for readers to expertise throughout the pages of Savager?
Dirk Blackman: Nicely, the climactic battle for one, particularly since we have not written it but. However significantly, there are some flashbacks that present the human facet of Riley arising, a battle inside a glass mall, a “sandworm” second… There’s quite a lot of cool issues coming.
Shannon Eric Denton: I feel in concern 1 when Riley is simply strolling via the remnants of what was a metropolis, and we’ve bioluminescent flora simply casually interspersed with the ruins. To me that’s after I received to see our world realized and knew people would really feel like we’d taken them someplace new.
Kewber Baal: There is a scene on a carousel that each one I can say is, it is lovely! And your complete concern #3 is a punch within the mind. However you understand what I like to indicate, what I need readers to expertise? Riley Phillips himself. I like to grasp how he works. What he is able to. He’s completely different of some other character I’ve ever seen. However you will must learn the e-book to search out out.
Have been you every impressed or influenced by any films, books, TV sequence, comics, or video video games whereas creating the post-apocalyptic world of Savager?
Dirk Blackman: To not be flip, however all the above. We did not got down to do “one thing like x,” however we’re so steeped in all of this that it is like one big stew. However hats off to Lovecraft, Carpenter, Planet of the Apes, Alien, Mad Max, The Mist, and so many extra.
Shannon Eric Denton: Precisely. Regardless of years working in comics/video games/animation/toys, we’re HUGE followers! It’s been nice to have the ability to step right into a little bit of nostalgia whereas making one thing new and distinctive out of it.
Savager will initially be a four-issue sequence, however do you’ve got plans to proceed the story past the fourth concern if given the chance?
Dirk Blackman: 1000%. We have got two extra storylines able to go. We simply want individuals to like this primary sequence.
Shannon Eric Denton: Precisely. Inform your mates to choose this up as a result of we’ve an entire world to indicate you! Savager is hopefully one thing we get to work on for years and years!
The primary concern of Savager ends with a stunning revelation and intriguing cliffhanger. What are you able to tease about what awaits readers in upcoming problems with Savager?
Shannon Eric Denton: I’m excited for folk to see how a lot motion we pack into every concern whereas additionally permitting you to soak up the in depth world-building with out slowing issues down to elucidate it. There’s some epic monster preventing whereas additionally honest and heartfelt questions on what existence is versus simply surviving.
I undoubtedly see the potential for Savager to be tailored as a film, TV sequence, or online game. Do you’ve got any plans or hopes for Savager to cross over into different mediums sooner or later?
Dirk Blackman: I feel our greatest shot can be an grownup animated sequence. Now we have an expansive, bloody, violent world, a kick-ass hero, and new visuals and risks round every bend. That might assist a online game world additionally, however we expect the sequence is the perfect subsequent step.
Shannon Eric Denton: Having jumped forwards and backwards (and typically abruptly) between movie, video games and comics. I at all times have a number of variations of a undertaking in my head. I feel, like discovering the proper companions in PANICK, I’m most enthusiastic about discovering a associate who loves Savager as a lot as I do no matter medium it’s. Folks ought to completely try our playable DnD card although. That card made me so joyful!
In the end, what do you hope readers take away from Savager?
Dirk Blackman: Hopefully it is not too heavy-handed, however we needed to the touch on the sensation that in our world, on this time, we should be higher to one another, higher to the planet, as a result of it may all simply go away. And if it does… there will not be anybody to mourn us. The planet will go on with out us. However most significantly, we simply need everybody to have a enjoyable, gory time. We wish the readers to say, “That was effing cool! What’s subsequent?!”
Shannon Eric Denton: Yeah, it ended up being one thing we weren’t aiming for however regardless of all of Savager’s blood, gore and eviscerations it’s actually about appreciating what/who we’ve and the way fragile all of it is. Go odor the roses… and browse some comics!
What has it been wish to work with the group at PANICK Leisure as you put together to unleash Savager into comedian e-book retailers?
Dirk Blackman: Could not have been higher. From the artists they discovered us, to the editors with nice insights, to the creative respect… we could not have requested for extra. Though… we did ask for 2 further pages as soon as. They gave them to us.
Shannon Eric Denton: I’ll ceaselessly cherish these two further pages! And I had the benefit of getting labored with these guys method again at one other comics firm and being friends. It’s made the comics-making-process a ton of enjoyable! Extremely advocate if you will discover a solution to make your work your play.
Kewber Baal: They’re all nice! We work nicely, talk nicely, and have quite a lot of respect for one another! That is essential to our work, as consequence depends upon everybody’s collaboration and belief. I belief what Shannon and Dirk keep in mind, they usually belief what I’ll do. I belief the editors’ opinions, and after I pitch an concept that I feel can be good for the story, they settle for it with none drawback. This offers me quite a lot of freedom and a way of ease, as we are able to at all times be open to doing what’s greatest for the books.
What recommendation would you give to comedian e-book writers and artists who’re simply getting began?
Dirk Blackman: I might say the identical recommendation we give different younger creatives—administrators, screenwriters, and so on.—go make one thing. You must knock on all of the doorways you will discover, however completely don’t look forward to a solution. Discover a solution to inform your story. Comedian e-book, sock puppets, line drawings, no matter. Put it out on this planet. If the story is sweet, individuals pays consideration. It could be a gradual street, however that is the sport.
Shannon Eric Denton: Share your pleasure. Let fellow creatives know what you like. Maintain it real however don’t preserve it to your self. Life is brief.
Kewber Baal: My recommendation is, preserve making an attempt, preserve learning, at all times attempt to have a important eye by yourself work, as a result of as artist, I solely evolve after I can see my very own errors after which repair them. At all times do the perfect you’ll be able to together with your work at that second; by no means be lazy. It may very well be a check web page, it may very well be an unknown sequence; it would not matter; at all times do your greatest. You by no means know when a giant editor, or author, will see your work. And in the event that they see a weak piece, you will be lacking your large likelihood.
With the primary concern of Savager now out there, do you every have some other tasks arising that you could tease for our readers?
Dirk Blackman: I’ve an upcoming e-book about screenwriting known as “What the F*** Was I Considering,” a How-Not-To for Screenwriters and a kids’s e-book about Santa Claus that options pirates and parachuting elves.
Shannon Eric Denton: Out the identical day as Savager is Kraken with Titan Comics! Spectors, additionally with Titan, is coming quickly and some unannounced tasks with Heavy Metallic, Mad Cave, Storm King and extra so preserve following MonsterForgeProduction.com for updates on my stuff. And prepare to choose up Savager 2–4 from PANICK Leisure!
Kewber Baal: Truly Dynamite Comics is releasing the sequence Vampirella Armageddon, that I labored on the primary points, and I’m beginning the primary sequence of Thundarr: the Barbarian, the ’80s basic, additionally by Dynamite Comics!
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Fifty years publish invasion–Earth is a useless world–all natural life consumed by tentacle-clad cosmic parasites. Inhabiting barely recognisable husks of Earth’s former lifeforms, these remnants battle for dominance in a horrific post-apocalypse. Riley Phillips is the Savager–as soon as a human warrior, now an contaminated shell–at battle with the parasite inside him, hopelessly wandering the lifeless planet, violently looking for revenge for the loss of life of his world. When Savager discovers the final residing people, he should battle his private monster and face the harrows of his previous if he’s to avoid wasting the longer term from the lethal creatures on their path–defending the final of a “presumed extinct” humanity from a brand new and everlasting extinction!
The post-apocalyptic nightmare SAVAGER is a lovecraftian revenge story from the world constructing minds of screenwriter Dirk Blackman (UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS, OUTLANDER) and Shannon Eric Denton (Monster Forge Productions, Kingdom Riders) alongside the devastatingly detailed work of artist extraordinaire Kewber Baal (Elvira, KISS, James Bond, Vampirella).
CREDITS
Writers: Dirk Blackman & Shannon Eric Denton
Artist: Kewber Baal
Colorist: Schimerys Baal
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Cowl A by Tehani Farr
Cowl B by Christopher Lair
ZOOP-Unique Variant by Shane Pierce
SAVAGER #2 Cowl by Shane Pierce
SAVAGER #1 Preview
(W) Dirk Blackman, Shannon Eric Denton (A) Kewber Baal (CA) Tehani Farr
Panick Leisure Presents: Savager. Almost 100 years after Earth fell to cosmic parasites, seemingly solely the SAVAGER — Riley Phillips, a former secret service agent fused with a lethal alien – stays. Alone and pushed by vengeance, he roams the wasteland, guided solely by the voice inside him. However when he discovers a residing human, all the things modifications. Can a monster that was as soon as a person turn out to be humanity’s final hope on this bloody post-apocalyptic Western? Inside artwork: Kewber Baal. Cowl A: Tehani Farr.
