Head Lopper
{{short description|Comic book series by Andrew MacLean}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox comic book title
| image = Head Lopper 1 cover (self-published edition, 2013).png
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Head Lopper #1, 2013
| schedule = Quarterly
| format = Ongoing series of miniseries
| genre = Fantasy
| publisher = Self-published (2013–2014)
Image Comics (2015–present)
| date = June 7, 2013 – present
| startmo = June
| startyr = 2013
| endmo =
| endyr =
| issues = 2 (self-published)
15 (Image Comics)
| writers = Andrew MacLean
| artists = Andrew MacLean
| pencillers =
| inkers =
| letterers = Andrew MacLean #1–present
Erin MacLean #6–present
| colorists = Mike Spicer #1–4
Andrew MacLean #1
Jordie Bellaire #5–present
| editors = Erin MacLean #9–present
| creators = Andrew MacLean
| TPB1 = The Island or A Plague of Beasts
| ISBN1 = 9781632158864
| TPB2 = The Crimson Tower
| ISBN2 = 9781534305083
| TPB3 = The Knights of Venora
| ISBN3 = 9781534313330
| TPB4 = The Quest for Mulgrid's Stair
| ISBN4 = 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.{{cite web|last1=Meylikhov|first1=Matthew|title=Heroes Con 2013: Heads Roll in MacLean's "Head Lopper"|url=http://www.multiversitycomics.com/previews/heroes-con-2013-heads-roll-in-macleans-head-lopper-preview/|website=Multiversity Comics|date=June 4, 2013 |accessdate=30 April 2016}} In 2015 it was picked up for a four-issue miniseries.{{cite web|last1=Sullivan|first1=Jeremy|title=Image Comics solicitations for September 2015|url=https://imagecomics.com/content/view/image-comics-solicitations-for-september-2015|website=Image Comics|accessdate=30 April 2016}}
The character originated from a piece for Brand New Nostalgia.{{cite web|last1=MacLean|first1=Andrew|title=Andrew MacLean's "Viking"|url=http://brandnewnostalgia.com/post/18907154322/vikings-andrew-maclean|website=Brand New Nostalgia tumblr|publisher=Brand New Nostalgia|accessdate=30 April 2016}} The theme of the week had been Vikings, and a bearded warrior with a witch's head skewered on his sword was the result.{{cite web|last1=Parkin|first1=J.K.|title=Andrew MacLean kickstarts a second helping of 'Head Lopper'|url=http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2013/10/andrew-maclean-kickstarts-a-second-helping-of-head-lopper/|website=Robot 6|publisher=Comic Book resources|accessdate=30 April 2016}}
=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.{{cite web|last1=MacLean|first1=Andrew|title="Head Lopper 2: The Wolves of Barra" Kickstarter campaign|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/192941175/head-lopper-2-the-wolves-of-barra|website=Kickstarter|accessdate=30 April 2016}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |
| Story Arc
!Issue !Release Date !Chapter !Writer !Artist !Colorist !Cover Artist !Extras |
|---|
| rowspan=2|The Island
|#1 |June 7, 2013 |Blood and Water |colspan=2 rowspan=2|Andrew MacLean |rowspan=2|Mike Spicer |rowspan=2|Andrew MacLean |PINUPS: |
| #2
|June 29, 2014 |The Wolves of Barra |PINUPS: |
=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.
{{Quote|text=… 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…|author=Andrew MacLean|source=author's afterword from Head Lopper #1, September 2015{{cite web|last1=MacLean|first1=Andrew|title=Head Lopper #1|url=https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/head-lopper-1|website=Image Comics|accessdate=30 April 2016}}}}
In April 2016 MacLean announced on various social media channels that Image Comics had picked up Head Lopper for another miniseries in 2017.{{cite web|last1=MacLean|first1=Andrew|title=Facebook post, 22 April 2016|url=https://www.facebook.com/andrew.ross.maclean/posts/10157345915970355|website=Andrew MacLean's Facebook|accessdate=30 April 2016}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |
| Story Arc
!Issue !Release Date !Chapter !Writer !Artist !Colorist !Cover Artist !Extras |
|---|
| colspan=9 style=background:#d62128| |
| rowspan=7|The Island
|rowspan=3|#1 |rowspan=3|September 9, 2015 |Blood and Water |colspan=2 rowspan=2|Andrew MacLean |rowspan=2|Mike Spicer |rowspan=3|Andrew MacLean |rowspan=3|PINUPS: |
| The Wolves of Barra |
| That Which Lurks in the Mist
|colspan=3|Andrew MacLean |
| #2
|December 9, 2015 |Into the Silent Wood |rowspan=4 colspan=2|Andrew MacLean |rowspan=3|Mike Spicer |Andrew MacLean |PINUPS: |
| #3
|March 9, 2016 |The Sisters of the Hill |Andrew MacLean |PINUPS: |
| #4
|June 8, 2016 |The Black Bog |Andrew MacLean |PINUPS: |
| colspan=2|Epilogue (TPB)
|Return to Castlebay |Lin Visel |— |— |
| colspan=9 style=background:#f7ef69| |
| rowspan=5|The Crimson Tower
|#5 |March 15, 2017 |In the Shadow of the Tower |rowspan=5 colspan=2|Andrew MacLean |rowspan=5|Jordie Bellaire |Andrew MacLean |PINUPS: |
| #6
|June 21, 2017 |Quest for the Crystal Eyes |Andrew MacLean |PINUPS: |
| #7
|September 20, 2017 |Deeper into the Strange |Andrew MacLean |PINUPS: |
| #8
|December 20, 2017 |Gladiators |Andrew MacLean |PINUPS: |
| colspan=2|Epilogue (TPB)
|In the Shadow of the Tower: Part Two |— |— |
| colspan=9 style=background:#8ed3d3| |
| rowspan=5|The Knights of Venora
|#9 |September 12, 2018 |Norgal Has a Talking Basket |rowspan=5 colspan=2|Andrew MacLean |rowspan=5|Jordie Bellaire |Andrew MacLean |— |
| #10
|December 12, 2018 |From the Lips of Venora |Andrew MacLean |PINUPS: |
| #11
|March 13, 2019 |Send the Wizards |Andrew MacLean |PINUPS: |
| #12
|June 26, 2019 |The Last Time I Saw Him He Was Covered in Blood |Andrew MacLean |— |
| colspan=3|Epilogue (TPB)
|— |— |
| colspan=9 style=background:#177f74| |
| rowspan=4|The Quest for Mulgrid's Stair
|#13 |September 16, 2020 |The Executioner |colspan=2 rowspan=4|Andrew MacLean |rowspan=4|Jordie Bellaire |Andrew MacLean |— |
| #14
|December 16, 2020 |The Gorgon |Andrew MacLean |— |
| #15
|March 17, 2021 |The Mines of Martan |Andrew MacLean |— |
| #16
|July 28, 2021 |Of Climbing and Falling |Andrew MacLean |— |
=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{{cite book |last1=Arcudi |first1=John |last2=Rubín |first2=David |title=Rumble – Volume 6: Last Knight |year=2019 |publisher=Image Comics |isbn=9781534313712 |url=https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/rumble-vol-6-last-knight-tp}} and Head Lopper & the Quest for Mulgrid's Stair.{{cite book |last1=MacLean |first1=Andrew |title=Head Lopper & the Quest for Mulgrid's Stair |date=28 September 2021 |publisher=Image Comics |isbn=9781534319127 |url=https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/head-lopper-vol-4-head-lopper-the-quest-for-mulgrids-stair-tp}}
=Collections=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |
| Volume
!Title !Release Date !Collects !Extras !ISBN |
|---|
| colspan=7 style=background:#d62128| |
| 1
|Head Lopper & The Island |October 5, 2016 |
|
|{{ISBNT|9781632158864}} |
| colspan=7 style=background:#f7ef69| |
| 2
|Head Lopper & The Crimson Tower |April 4, 2018 |
|
|{{ISBNT|9781534305083}} |
| colspan=7 style=background:#8ed3d3| |
| 3
|Head Lopper & The Knights of Venora |September 18, 2019 |
|
|{{ISBNT|9781534313330}} |
| colspan=7 style=background:#177f74| |
| 4
|Head Lopper & The Quest for Mulgrid's Stair |September 22, 2021 |
|
|{{ISBNT|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.{{cite web |title=Head Lopper |url=https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/image-comics/head-lopper |website=Comicbook Round Up |access-date=December 6, 2020}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |
| 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
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/head-lopper}}
- [https://artofandrewmaclean.com/ Andrew MacLean's official website]
{{Authority control}}