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(Redirected from Andrew MacLean (comics)) Comic book series by Andrew MacLean

Head Lopper
Head Lopper #1, 2013
Publication information
PublisherSelf-published (2013–2014)
Image Comics (2015–present)
ScheduleQuarterly
FormatOngoing series of miniseries
GenreFantasy
Publication dateJune 7, 2013 – present
No. of issues2 (self-published)
15 (Image Comics)
Creative team
Created byAndrew MacLean
Written byAndrew MacLean
Artist(s)Andrew MacLean
Letterer(s)Andrew MacLean #1–present
Erin MacLean #6–present
Colorist(s)Mike Spicer #1–4
Andrew MacLean #1
Jordie Bellaire #5–present
Editor(s)Erin MacLean #9–present
Collected editions
The Island or A Plague of BeastsISBN 9781632158864
The Crimson TowerISBN 9781534305083
The Knights of VenoraISBN 9781534313330
The Quest for Mulgrid's StairISBN 9781534319127

Head Lopper is a comic book series created by writer and artist Andrew MacLean, currently published by Image Comics. The story follows the exploits of the Viking warrior Norgal (or "head lopper", as some call him) and the severed head of Agatha the Blue Witch.

Publishing history

Head Lopper originally began as a self-published project by comics creator Andrew MacLean. In 2015 it was picked up for a four-issue miniseries.

The character originated from a piece for Brand New Nostalgia. The theme of the week had been Vikings, and a bearded warrior with a witch's head skewered on his sword was the result.

Self-published issues

Head Lopper #1 debuted at Heroes Con 2013. The first issue was a small print run and thus costly to produce. The second issue was funded via a Kickstarter campaign launched October 10, 2013.

Story Arc Issue Release Date Chapter Writer Artist Colorist Cover Artist Extras
The Island #1 June 7, 2013 Blood and Water Andrew MacLean Mike Spicer Andrew MacLean PINUPS:
Toby Cypress
Brian Churilla
Tradd Moore
Warwick Johnson-Cadwell
James Harren
#2 June 29, 2014 The Wolves of Barra PINUPS:
Mike Mignola and Dave Stewart
Joe Dellagatta
Michael Avon Oeming
Simone D'Armini
Max Fiumara
Troy Nixey
Fillip Acovic
Enrique Fernandez
Paul Maybury
Janusz Pawlak

Image Comics issues

In 2015 Image Comics picked up Head Lopper as a "quarterly adventure comic". The series eschewed the industry standard 22-page monthly issues in favor of a larger issues published quarterly.

… I've decide to release the HEAD LOPPER comic on a quarterly basis because I think a longer book can make a better book. Here's what I want in every issue of HEAD LOPPER: long fights, dark jokes, creepy atmosphere, short plots and long plots, and comfortable conclusions that, hopefully, still leave you wanting more. The standard comic length would make me cut something short.

I'll be able to make it the story I want if i take more pages to tell it, maybe fifty to sixty pages per issue, cover to cover. But I can't pull off that big of an issue on a monthly schedule. So… QUARTERLY! It's for the better…

— Andrew MacLean, author's afterword from Head Lopper #1, September 2015

In April 2016 MacLean announced on various social media channels that Image Comics had picked up Head Lopper for another miniseries in 2017.

Story Arc Issue Release Date Chapter Writer Artist Colorist Cover Artist Extras
The Island #1 September 9, 2015 Blood and Water Andrew MacLean Mike Spicer Andrew MacLean
Rafael Grampá (variant) 		PINUPS:
Zé Burnay
Adam Miller
Alexis Ziritt
MacKenzie Schubert
Lamar Mathurin
The Wolves of Barra
That Which Lurks in the Mist Andrew MacLean
#2 December 9, 2015 Into the Silent Wood Andrew MacLean Mike Spicer Andrew MacLean
Mike and Laura Allred (variant) 		PINUPS:
Aaron Conley
Stephen Green
Scarecrowoven
Matt Smith
#3 March 9, 2016 The Sisters of the Hill Andrew MacLean
James Stokoe (variant) 		PINUPS:
Skottie Young
Rebecca Kirby
James Callahan
#4 June 8, 2016 The Black Bog Andrew MacLean
Gabriel Bá (variant) 		PINUPS:
J.B. Roe
Mike Rooth
Mike Spicer
Andy Suriano
Ben Templesmith
Epilogue (TPB) Return to Castlebay Lin Visel
& Joseph Nergin III 		— —
The Crimson Tower #5 March 15, 2017 In the Shadow of the Tower Andrew MacLean Jordie Bellaire Andrew MacLean
Tony Sandoval (variant) 		PINUPS:
Marcus Georgiou
Nicole Goux
Paul Maybury
Victor Santos
#6 June 21, 2017 Quest for the Crystal Eyes Andrew MacLean
Benjamin Marra (variant) 		PINUPS:
Austin James
Daniel White
Derick Jones
J.M. Dragunas
Justine Jones
Tom Hunter
#7 September 20, 2017 Deeper into the Strange Andrew MacLean
Nathan Fairbain and Ryan Ottley (variant) 		PINUPS:
Christine Larsen
Gerardo Zaffino
Shane Hillman
#8 December 20, 2017
(printing error)

January 10, 2018
(corrected printing) 		Gladiators Andrew MacLean
Skinner and Alexis Ziritt (variant) 		PINUPS:
Cliff Rathburn
Jason Fischer
Jeffrey Alan Love
Kyle Meyerdierks
Luke Parker
Sean Kiernan
Epilogue (TPB) In the Shadow of the Tower: Part Two — —
The Knights of Venora #9 September 12, 2018 Norgal Has a Talking Basket Andrew MacLean Jordie Bellaire Andrew MacLean
Alan Brown (variant) 		—
#10 December 12, 2018 From the Lips of Venora Andrew MacLean
Jeanne D'Angelo (variant) 		PINUPS:
Skam 2
Shadia Amin
Ainsley Sturko
Luca Vassallo
Matt Lesniewski
Chris Faccone
Diman Kaiman
Fran P. Lobato
#11 March 13, 2019 Send the Wizards Andrew MacLean
Al Gofa (variant) 		PINUPS:
Cam Shepler
Chad Lewis
Demetrius Dawkins
Nerdgore
Zach Cunningham
#12 June 26, 2019 The Last Time I Saw Him He Was Covered in Blood Andrew MacLean
Matthew Allison (variant) 		—
Epilogue (TPB) — —
The Quest for Mulgrid's Stair #13 September 16, 2020 The Executioner Andrew MacLean Jordie Bellaire Andrew MacLean
Daniel Warren Johnson (variant) 		—
#14 December 16, 2020 The Gorgon Andrew MacLean
Tradd Moore (variant) 		—
#15 March 17, 2021 The Mines of Martan Andrew MacLean
Dennis Brown (variant) 		—
#16 July 28, 2021 Of Climbing and Falling Andrew MacLean
Dani (variant) 		—

Crossover

In October 2019, Norgal and Agatha appeared in two short stories in Rumble Vol. 2 #17. The first, "Belly of Hell", was drawn by Andrew MacLean and the second, "Deceitful Above All Things", was drawn by James Harren. Both stories were written by John Arcudi. The events of these stories are in continuity and referenced in Head Lopper #16. These stories were collected in Rumble – Volume 6: Last Knight and Head Lopper & the Quest for Mulgrid's Stair.

Collections

Volume Title Release Date Collects Extras ISBN
1 Head Lopper & The Island
or A Plague of Beasts 		October 5, 2016
  • Head Lopper #1–4
  • Epilogue
  • 5-page Sketchbook
  • Pinup Gallery
  • Cover Gallery
 9781632158864
2 Head Lopper & The Crimson Tower April 4, 2018
  • Head Lopper #5–8
  • Epilogue
  • 7-page Sketchbook
  • Cover Gallery
 9781534305083
3 Head Lopper & The Knights of Venora September 18, 2019
  • Head Lopper #9–12
  • Epilogue
  • 11-page Sketchbook
  • Cover Gallery
 9781534313330
4 Head Lopper & The Quest for Mulgrid's Stair September 22, 2021
  • Head Lopper #13–16
  • "Belly of Hell"
  • "Deceitful Above All Things"
  • 7-page Sketchbook
  • Cover Gallery
 9781534319127

Premise

The series follows the adventures of the legendary swordsman Norgal, dubbed the Head Lopper, and his companion, the severed head of Agatha Blue Witch, as they trek across the realm to fulfill their quests, uncovering mysteries whilst encountering friends and foes along the way.

Reception

The Kickstarter for the self-published Head Lopper 2: The Wolves of Barra was funded with only 544 backers, but strong word of mouth and reviews led to the series being picked up by Image Comics. The Image Comics incarnation of Head Lopper has had strong reviews since its debut, with MacLean's artwork and sense of humor and Bellaire's coloring receiving consistently high praise.

Issue Review average Reviews
#1 9.0 10
#2 9.0 4
#3 10 4
#4 9.2 5
#5 9.3 5
#6 9.4 4
#7 9 3
#8 9.1 1
#9 8.7 3
#10 6 1
#11 8.9 3
#12 8.9 4
#13 8.9 4
#14 8.6 3
#15 9.1 3
#16 9 2

References

  1. Meylikhov, Matthew (June 4, 2013). "Heroes Con 2013: Heads Roll in MacLean's "Head Lopper"". Multiversity Comics. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  2. Sullivan, Jeremy. "Image Comics solicitations for September 2015". Image Comics. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  3. MacLean, Andrew. "Andrew MacLean's "Viking"". Brand New Nostalgia tumblr. Brand New Nostalgia. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  4. Parkin, J.K. "Andrew MacLean kickstarts a second helping of 'Head Lopper'". Robot 6. Comic Book resources. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  5. MacLean, Andrew. ""Head Lopper 2: The Wolves of Barra" Kickstarter campaign". Kickstarter. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  6. MacLean, Andrew. "Head Lopper #1". Image Comics. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  7. MacLean, Andrew. "Facebook post, 22 April 2016". Andrew MacLean's Facebook. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  8. Arcudi, John; Rubín, David (2019). Rumble – Volume 6: Last Knight. Image Comics. ISBN 9781534313712.
  9. MacLean, Andrew (September 28, 2021). Head Lopper & the Quest for Mulgrid's Stair. Image Comics. ISBN 9781534319127.
  10. "Head Lopper". Comicbook Round Up. Retrieved December 6, 2020.

External links

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