His Name Is... Savage
A 1968 magazine-format comics novel, precursor to the graphic novel.
His Name Is... Savage was a 40-page black-and-white comics magazine released in 1968, a forerunner of the modern graphic novel. Veteran artist Gil Kane handled the concept, plot, and illustrations, while writer Archie Goodwin—using the pen name Robert Franklin—provided the script. Kane’s own imprint, Adventure House Press, published it, and it reached newsstands through standard distribution.
Only one issue ever appeared: *His Name Is... Savage* #1, dated June 1968. It was the first full-length comics story in a non-comic-book format since 1950, when St. John Publications had released the digest-sized detective novellas *It Rhymes with Lust* and *The Case of the Winking Buddha*. Like those earlier works, *Savage* sold on newsstands rather than in bookstores. Shortly after its release, Marvel Comics put out the first of a two-issue comics magazine, *The Spectacular Spider-Man*, starring its superhero. Both *Savage* and *Spectacular Spider-Man* cost 35¢, matching the price of contemporary anthological magazines like *Creepy*, *Eerie*, and *Vampirella*; a typical comic book then cost 12¢, and double-sized issues 25¢.
During the 1960s, Gil Kane was a well-known comic-book artist who had co-created the modern versions of DC’s Green Lantern and the Atom. He was also an early, outspoken advocate for creators’ rights in an industry that then offered no character ownership or royalties. Around 1963, Kane set up a studio on East 63rd Street in Manhattan and, over five years, worked sporadically on both *His Name Is... Savage* and a project that would become the paperback comics novel *Blackmark*. In 1996, Kane recalled that the actual drawing of *Savage* “was done, from beginning to end, in 30 days. That last page was inked at the printer while they were getting the book ready.”
Kane conceived the character Savage as an espionage agent and troubleshooter, developing both the story and the art. He based the protagonist’s appearance on actor Lee Marvin, whom he had seen in the movie *Point Blank*. That resemblance was even more pronounced on Robert Foster’s painted cover, which used photo-referencing; for the 1982 Fantagraphics reprint, Kane replaced it with his own illustration. Kane said in 1996, “We never had any trouble from Lee Marvin—obviously he never saw the goddamn thing. We never had any trouble from anybody.”
During the project’s development, Kane brought
- field
- Comics
- format
- Magazine-format comics novel
- creator
- Gil Kane (concept, plot, art) and Archie Goodwin (script, as Robert Franklin)
- publication_date
- June 1968
- publisher
- Adventure House Press
- known_for
- First full-length comics story in a non-comic book format since 1950
Lore & Background
Gil Kane in the 1960s was a well-established comic-book artist who had co-created the modern versions of the DC Comics superheroes Green Lantern and the Atom. He was an early and outspoken advocate of creators' rights. Circa 1963, Kane set up a studio on East 63rd Street in Manhattan and for five years worked sporadically on both His Name Is... Savage and a project that would become the paperback comics novel Blackmark. Kane in 1996 said the actual drawing of Savage 'was done, from beginning to end, in 30 days. That last page was inked at the printer while they were getting the book ready.' Kane conceived the character Savage, an espionage agent and troubleshooter, and based his protagonist visually on actor Lee Marvin, whom Kane had seen in the movie Point Blank. The resemblance was much more pointed on Robert Foster's photo-referenced painted cover, which was replaced by a new Kane illustration for the 1982 Fantagraphics reprint. Kane said in 1996, 'We never had any trouble from Lee Marvin — obviously he never saw the goddamn thing. We never had any trouble from anybody.'
Reader's Guide
His Name Is... Savage holds significance as the first full-length comics story in a non-comic book format since 1950, when St. John Publications issued the digest-sized hardboiled detective novellas It Rhymes with Lust and The Case of the Winking Buddha. Like those, Savage was sold on newsstands rather than in book stores. The project encountered production difficulties, with Kane having difficulty finding a printer willing to risk alienating the large mainstream comics publishers. Adventure House Press printed 200,000 copies, but only approximately one-tenth reached newsstands, per Kane's private estimate. Local distributors chose for unknown reasons not to carry the magazine and returned their copies for credit. Though planned as a continuing series, with Kane having completed cover art for issues #2-3, only this initial issue was produced. The character returned in a four-page vignette titled 'Gil Kane's Savage' in the benefit publication Anything Goes #1 (1986, Fantagraphics Books).
Did You Know?
- The story and art were more graphically violent than comic books and movies of the day, with one panel showing a pulped and bloody crushed hand.
- Kane based the protagonist Savage visually on actor Lee Marvin, whom he had seen in the movie Point Blank.
- The magazine cost 35¢, whereas a typical comic book cost 12¢ and double-size issues 25¢.
- Only approximately one-tenth of the 200,000 printed copies reached newsstands.
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