Dawn

Dawn is a mysterious, ethereal figure created by Joseph Michael Linsner for the indie anthology Cry for Dawn — a goddess-like embodiment of life, love, and sorrow who serves as a bridge between humanity and the divine, recognizable by her vivid red hair and iconic three-teardrop facial markings.

Few characters from the early indie comics scene have burned as brightly or as lastingly as Dawn, who made her entrance in Cry for Dawn #2 in 1990, brought to life by Joseph Michael Linsner and Joseph M. Monks through their own Cry for Dawn Productions — a true labor of passion outside the mainstream machine. Born at the cusp of the Copper and Modern Ages, she's a striking figure whose presence has persisted across an impressive 35 years of publication, appearing in titles like Cry for Dawn, Dawn 1/2: Dreams of Dawn, and Danger Funnies. Along the way she's shared pages with some genuinely eclectic company — from Sara Pezzini to Ka-Zar to the Sub-Mariner — a range that speaks to her ability to move through very different corners of the comics world. For collectors who love independent artistry, bold visual storytelling, and characters with genuine longevity outside the Big Two, Dawn is absolutely worth seeking out.