The Dragon Archives #3
Cover Date: December 1998
Cover Price: $2.95 (US) / $? (CAN)
Format: 36 Pages / Black & White
Cover: Erik Larsen and I.H.O.C.
Thinks Linda Tripp is One Foxy Momma: Josh Eichorn
LEAD STORY: “DEAD LINE”
Pages: 16
CREDITS
Gary Carlson: Script/Co-creator
Erik Larsen: Plot/Pencils/Co-creator
Sam Grainger: Inks/Letters
HEROES
Graphic Fantasy:
Vanguard
Mighty Man (First Appearance)
Paul Dragon
SUPPORTING CHARACTERS
Graphic Fantasy:
Roxanne Wells
Wally
General Yasmov (Hologram Only) (First Appearance)
VILLAINS
Graphic Fantasy:
The Tyrrus Combine (Holograms Only) (First Appearance)
SUMMARY
Vanguard sits down for an interview with Roxanne Wells where it soon becomes clear that they are both attracted to the other. Vanguard talks all about his mission which is to act a safeguard for Earth against his people’s enemies, the Tyrrus Combine. These intergalactic despots wish to conquer all life and he has been sent to this remote region to keep an eye out for the threat so he can signal his allies to come in full force.
They decide to continue the interview on Vanguard’s Orbitor spaceship but Roxanne’s colleague Bobby Berman mistakenly thinks she has been abducted after finding a discarded joke note about alien spies for an impending invasion. He is secretly the superhero Mighty Man and transforms into his powered form and flies up to Vanguard’s vessel to attack. This leads to their fight going all the way down to Earth where numerous innocent civilians are killed.
The fight eventually concludes with Vanguard victorious and he returns back to his home. Mighty Man is left comatose as a result of his beating and the media starts to panic. A call is soon placed to Complex III in Chicago where Paul Dragon of the S.O.S. is contacted. He is asked to help bring down Vanguard and he vows to apprehend this apparent threat…
Story Notes
This story is reprinted from Megaton #2.
This story takes place outside regular continuity.
Collected Edition
LEAD STORY: “TO BATTLE THE DRAGON”
Pages: 16
CREDITS
Erik Larsen: Story/Art
Gary Carlson: Editor
HEROES
Graphic Fantasy:
Vanguard
Mighty Man (Death Issue)
The Society of Superheroes
– Paul Dragon
– Smasher
SUPPORTING CHARACTERS
Graphic Fantasy:
Angel Dragon
Ann Stevens (First Appearance)
Roxanne Wells
Wally
Don Boyd (First Appearance)
SUMMARY
Vanguard and Roxanne enjoy spending so much time together on the Orbitor where they spend most of their time having sex. Both are completely unaware that the media has helped fuel a panic about the presence of Vanguard. Paul Dragon holds a press conference where he promises to locate and arrest this alleged alien spy and avenge the murder of a now deceased Mighty Man.
Whilst attempting to make dinner, Vanguard offers to head down to Earth to pick up a missing ingredient but when he is recognized as the “killer alien”, word soon reaches to Dragon who races across the country to confront his target. Paul and Vanguard are soon fighting which takes them up to near space and back again. Paul realizes that he had underestimated his foe but also quickly suspects that this has all been a misunderstanding.
As the conflict continues, Vanguard’s translating helmet is damaged which prevents Paul from learning more about his opponent. With no other choice, he is forced to go all-out and eventually renders Vanguard unconscious. Paul announces his success and that his prisoner is being held at Complex III where they will try to get to the truth over this potential threat. Roxanne learns of her lover’s arrest and vows to release him with Wally’s help…
Story Notes
This story is reprinted from Megaton #3.
This story takes place outside regular continuity.
Collected Edition
Issue Extras
Editorial by Erik Larsen, vintage Megaton promo by Erik Larsen & Don Drake, and original cover from Megaton #3 by Erik Larsen.