The Pug

Stepping out of the late-'90s Image Comics fantasy scene, The Pug made their debut in Jay Anacleto's Aria Preview #1 in 1998, arriving at the dawn of a richly imagined world that would unfold across Aria and its companion volumes Aria Blanc & Noir. It's a corner of comics populated by evocative figures like Kildare, Nigel Hawthorne, Gwynnion, Childe Roland, and The Dark One — company that hints at the mythic, storybook atmosphere Anacleto conjured with such distinctive visual flair. With only seven catalog appearances across a compact 1998–2000 run, The Pug is the kind of quietly intriguing supporting presence that rewards the dedicated reader hunting through a beloved cult series — a small piece of a beautifully crafted Modern Age gem.