Savage Dragon #216

September 2016
20 Pages
NOTE: This issue takes place following SPAWN #265 and leads into SPAWN #266

Credits

Erik Larsen: Story & Art
Chris Eliopoulos: Letters
Nikos Koutsis: Colors
Mike Toris: Flats
Gavin Higginbotham: Editor
Josh Eichhörn: reserves the right to refuse service to anyone.

Heroes

Malcolm Dragon
Ant
Battle Girl

Supporting Characters

Dragon
Maxine Jung Dragon
Amy Dragon
Jack Dragon
Tyrone Dragon
Chicago Police Department
– Officer Amy Belcher
– Officer Jordan Gordon
Lorella
Nancy Chu
Thunder-Head

Villains

Flying Ant (First Appearance) (Death Issue)
The Ant Menaces (Some Die)
Dart II
Carmella Toad (First Appearance)
Red Menace (First Appearance)
Rotgut (First Appearance)
Spike (First Appearance)
Split-Head (First Appearance)

Summary

Malcolm Dragon and Angel Murphy attend the funeral of the recently deceased Battle Dragon and mourn his tragic life and death. They note how his death was horrific but at least it was a painless way to go. Malcolm points out that the positive from the affair is that Dart is now out of commission, now locked up within Stronghold Penitentiary., The head of the Vicious Circle sits alone in her cell, unable to escape incarceration at this point.

Dragon is visited in prison by Malcolm and Maxine who introduce him to his grandchildren, now having been named as Amy, Jack and Tyrone. The young parents explain that when Malcolm is out serving with the Chicago Police Department that Maxine is assisted in taking care of the kids by a super-powered friend. This duty tends to be shared by either Angel or Thunder-Head, extended family members who can be trusted with the kids’ care.

As time passes on, the triplets grow older and cause a number of issues for their parents and babysitters. Both Angel and Thunder-Head have their clothes torn off at separate times in front of Maxine, much to their embarrassment. They are taken to see Lorella for a check-up and Maxine explains that despite the damage the infants have caused, they have not once come close to hurting her, presumably recognizing their mother as more fragile and not wanting to hurt her. Lorella once more has a finger broken by one of the kids as she holds them.

Malcolm continues to bring in numerous super-powered threats, things having not slowed down since Dart’s apprehension. One of Malcolm’s fellow cops notes that the Vicious Circle has suffered tremendous losses recently, especially at the hands of their own leader. Yet even with their ranks thinned, Malcolm is kept as busy as ever. This apparent mystery is shrugged off by Malcolm as the next emergency call comes through.

An invasion of the surface world by the Ant Menaces has begun and Malcolm Dragon has been sent in to fend off this assault. He battles against this army as they try to emerge from the hole in the ground. Ant joins the fray but Malcolm mistakenly believes her to be part of the enemy army and strikes her. Ant quickly recovers and assists Malcolm, assuring him that she is a fellow hero and the pair soon drives back the Ant Menaces.

Ant explains how she is hoping to put an end to the threat of Alzayah Stone, a mutant with the ability to gift superhuman abilities to others. Numerous criminals have been seeking out Stone to become villains and his actions are actually now beginning to threaten the entire world. Ant had sought out Spawn to assist her but his power is not what it was and she needed additional assistance and so she has come to Chicago to recruit Malcolm.

The conversation is suddenly interrupted as a huge flying Ant Menace bursts out of the ground and attacks the two heroes. It quickly renders Ant unconscious which leaves it to Malcolm alone to deal with this creature. His physical abilities prove to be ineffective and so Malcolm is reluctantly forced to unleash his lightning powers to electrocute the monster to death. He turns his attention back to Ant but she remains unconscious…

Backup Story

Aquaria

Mermaid Ave
5 Pages

Credits

Adam McGovern: Story
Paolo Leandri: Art
Dominic Regan: Color
Steve Price: Design