Savage Dragon
Context
The Savage Dragon is a signature action character by artist/writer Erik Larsen. Though created decades ago, the Dragon genuinely started his published career in 1992, and would soon become a notable part of the early roster of Image Comics.
I’m definitely not a fan, but Peter and Hartley like him fine so you get a profile anyway. Which is (one of) the point(s) of teamwork, right ?
However these notes are from the previous century, so they’re fairly brief and mostly about his stats back then.
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Background
- Real Name: Unrevealed.
- Marital Status: Widowed.
- Known Relatives: Malcolm Eugene Jackson Dragon (son), Jennifer Murphy-Dragon (wife, deceased), Angel Dragon (foster daughter), Emperor Krull (son).
- Group Affiliation: Leader of Special Operations Strikeforce, former member of the Chicago Police Force and Freak Force (while it was part of the police department).
- Base Of Operations: Chicago.
- Height: 5’ 10” (6’6” at top of fin) Weight: 450lbs.
- Eyes: Green Hair: None
Powers and Abilities
The Dragon has vast super human strength. His legs are strong enough to enable him to leap a maximum height of 460 feet straight up in the air, and a maximum distance of 945 feet. According to Larsen, he is capable of lifting (pressing) approximately 34 tons without breaking a sweat. But when reading the comics it is obvious his STR is closer to 13 or 14, in DC Heroes RPG terms.
(You can see our article about superhuman strength scales if the previous paragraph is gibberish for you.)
He possesses reptile-like regenerative abilities. It is so powerful that he actually evolves defenses against attacks used against him. His skin acts like a bullet proof vest. A bullet isn’t capable of penetrating it but a sharp knife thrust by a super human arm can.
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In fact, it is almost impossible to significantly harm the Savage Dragon by physical means, unless these are extraordinarily powerful.
Lastly, the Dragon is a “perfect” action hero, gifted with unbelievable speed, coolness under fire, coordination and weapon mastery. In short, he kicks ass.
History
Found naked in a burning vacant lot, the man later known as Dragon was taken to Hillman Hospital. There, he was questioned by Lieutenant Frank Darling. Upon learning that the man had no memory of his past, and aware of the mounting super-freak threat, Darling was determined to see that this freak, this blank slate, would not become a new menace.
Nurse Ann Stevens dubbed the man “Dragon” because of his green skin and unusual features, and the name stuck.
Darling saw to it that Dragon got a job working for his cousin, Fred, at his warehouse. When several super-heroes were incapacitated and it appeared that the criminal organization known as the Vicious Circle would take over the city, Lieutenant Frank Darling asked Dragon if he would join the Chicago Police department. Dragon refused.
When super-freaks SkullFace and Hardware tried to rob Fred, Dragon intervened and had the two arrested. In retaliation, the Vicious Circle had Fred’s warehouse blown sky high, killing Fred.
Sound of da police
After witnessing the menace of the Vicious Circle firsthand and with no place else to turn, Dragon sought out Frank Darling. He joined the Chicago Police Dept.
Months later, after being fired from the Police Force, Dragon became the leader of Special Operations Strikeforce. It was a government-based squadron of superhuman operatives who filled the void when Youngblood went missing in the Image universe.
When Dragon moved on to the S.O.S. he brought Jennifer Murphy (Smasher) with him to the team. He quickly fell in love with her. On their wedding day, Smasher was abducted by the Sword of the Covenant and replaced by a shape shifter who was killed by Overlord. Thus, Dragon was convinced that Jennifer was dead.
Grief stricken, Dragon retired from the S.O.S. to better take care of Jenifer’s daughter Angel. However, he recently rejoined the S.O.S. when he realized that he could better protect Angel by allying himself with the S.O.S. again.
Description
He’s bald, has green eyes and is, well, green. He has two toes, fangs, a dimetrodon-like fin on his head, dis proportionately large upper body and arms. He used to wear a CPD uniform, but that time is now over.
Personality
Dragon is a Hero (capital H) ; I sometimes think of him as Bruce Willis in a green suit. Alternatively easy-going and dead serious, he’s manly (yet sensitive !), and confident in his abilities, but not to the point of being close minded. He’s one of those heroes who insist on cracking jokes during combat.
Dragon is a very “common sense” kinda fella, and he is *extremely* honest about his thoughts and opinions.
He’s also very protective of his town. Oh, and he likes chocolate donuts and ABBA.
DC Universe History
The “Larsenverse” is a strange place that seems to coexist with all major comics universes, and pretty much anyone can appear in it. I’d consider it a strange Hypertime fluke.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Savage Dragon
| Dex: 09 | Str: 13 | Bod: 10 | Motivation: Unwanted/Responsibility |
| Int: 06 | Wil: 09 | Min: 05 | Occupation: Government Operative |
| Inf: 07 | Aur: 06 | Spi: 13 | Resources {or Wealth}: 008 |
| Init: 025 | HP: 100 |
Powers:
Damage capacity: 03, Defensive adaptation: 08, Iron will: 04, Jumping:08, Flame immunity: 06, Invulnerability: 13, Regeneration: 08, Skin Armor: 02.
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Regeneration allows for regrowing large amounts of tissues, such as a hand and much of a forearm, within less than a month (+0).
- Skin armor doesn’t work against cutting attacks (-1).
- Defensive adaptation can add to Mental RV (+2).
- Iron Will only against the exact same attacks from the persons he previously scored Defense Adaptation RAPs (-2).
Skills:
Acrobatics: 07, Charisma (intimidation): 07, Martial Artist:10, Vehicles: 07, Weaponry *: 09
Advantages:
Attractive, Lightning Reflexes, Iron Nerves, Leadership, Free Access, Omni connection.
Connections:
S.O.S (High), Chicago P.D. (High), Daredevil (High).
Drawbacks:
Public identity, Distinct Appearance, Misc. : Amnesia.
Equipment:
Nowadays, Dragon does not regularly carry firearms.
New rules
Defensive adaptation : This power is detailed in Sidekick, p41, or in Blood of Heroes : Special Edition. Basically, RAPs scored by an attack form against the character with Defensive adaptation become added to his RV against future attacks of the same kind (flame, cold…).
A character can have as many APs adding to his RV against various attack forms as he has APs in Defensive Adaptation.
Source of Character: Image Comics.
Helper(s): Shawn Carman, Peter Piispanen.