Erik Larsen’s Savage Dragon has received attention from The New York Times and The Huffington Post due to the eponymous superhero’s endorsement of Barack Obama for President of the United States.  The pre-release sell out of issue #137 of Savage Dragon, which was issued with a special Obama cover in a 1-5 ratio, has led Image Comics to announce a reprint.  The second printing of Savage Dragon #137 will feature a new version of the Barack Obama cover with a new background and trade dress.  The second printing is due in stores on September 10th.  Given Obama’s popularity with the under-30 demographic, the endorsement makes marketing sense, though it does risk alienating conservative readers.

 

The 2008 election doesn’t represent Savage Dragon’s first brush with presidential politics.  He mounted an ill-fated campaign himself in 2004 before he realized that his running mate was the supervillain Dreadknight.  While the 2004 campaign ended rather disastrously for Savage Dragon, it did provide a memorable image for the cover of issue #119—though thankfully it appears that the Dragon’s mighty blow wasn’t landed with full force.

 

Considering the events of the 2004 election, it was hardly surprising when Savage Dragon creator Erik Larsen announced: "Fans have asked if he'll be running again, but given the importance of the upcoming election it seemed appropriate that he would back Barack Obama, the candidate whose politics most reflect his own. Savage Dragon will be giving Barack Obama his full support."