Like previous issues, Savage Dragon #191 is split between the titular hero – who even in prison manages to get in enough fights – and Malcolm, which has plenty of dialogue and smaller themes. Both are good but, together, they simply bounce off each other far too much. Going from prison-wide breakouts to girlfriend issues doesn’t always make sense in the same title.. at least not after so many issues in a row. This issue does show obvious signs of the area, cast and story-lines merging, but it needs to be quicker about it.

There’s nothing specifically wrong about the writing. Erik Larsen knows his own title, but it does need to mature sometimes. This issue just throws characters and bad guys at panels, hoping to hit nostalgia or trigger memories of previous story-lines. It’s chaotic, but not in a good way. Still, as I’ve said before, I appreciate the work on Malcolm, identifying him with growing responsibility and a ‘coming of age’ type. This side is showing much more potential.

The art is the same as it’s always been, with Mike Toris on flats and Nikos Koutis on colors. The art is sketchy on smaller panels but pulls enough detail and depth where it needs to. Given the lively, colorful universe of Savage Dragon it suits it well, but I wouldn’t mind some more shading to provide depth and atmosphere.

Over all this isn’t a bad issue, but it certainly promises more for future issues than it offers.