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.

In September 2024, between the fourth and fifth arcs of the series, MacLean returned to self-publishing via Kickstarter for a one-shot issue sidestory, Agatha: A Tale of Three Witches.

Story arcIssueRelease dateChapterWriterArtistColoristCover ArtistExtrasThe Island#1June 7, 2013Blood and WaterAndrew MacLeanMike SpicerAndrew MacLeanPINUPS:Toby CypressBrian ChurillaTradd MooreWarwick Johnson-CadwellJames Harren#2June 29, 2014The Wolves of BarraPINUPS:Mike Mignola and Dave StewartJoe DellagattaMichael Avon OemingSimone D'ArminiMax FiumaraTroy NixeyFillip AcovicEnrique FernandezPaul MayburyJanusz PawlakAgatha:A Tale of Three WitchesJanuary 2025Andrew MacLean

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.

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

In 2026, when the series returned after a nearly five-year absence, the numbering was reset to #1, although the original cover art in the solicitations had it as #17.

Story arcIssueRelease dateChapterWriterArtistColoristCover ArtistExtrasThe Island#1September 9, 2015Blood and WaterAndrew MacLeanMike SpicerAndrew MacLeanRafael Grampá (variant)PINUPS:Zé BurnayAdam MillerAlexis ZirittMacKenzie SchubertLamar MathurinThe Wolves of BarraThat Which Lurks in the MistAndrew MacLean#2December 9, 2015Into the Silent WoodAndrew MacLeanMike SpicerAndrew MacLeanMike and Laura Allred (variant)PINUPS:Aaron ConleyStephen GreenScarecrowovenMatt Smith#3March 9, 2016The Sisters of the HillAndrew MacLeanJames Stokoe (variant)PINUPS:Skottie YoungRebecca KirbyJames Callahan#4June 8, 2016The Black BogAndrew MacLeanGabriel Bá (variant)PINUPS:J.B. RoeMike RoothMike SpicerAndy SurianoBen TemplesmithEpilogue (TPB)Return to CastlebayLin Visel& Joseph Nergin IIIThe Crimson Tower#5March 15, 2017In the Shadow of the TowerAndrew MacLeanJordie BellaireAndrew MacLeanTony Sandoval (variant)PINUPS:Marcus GeorgiouNicole GouxPaul MayburyVictor Santos#6June 21, 2017Quest for the Crystal EyesAndrew MacLeanBenjamin Marra (variant)PINUPS:Austin JamesDaniel WhiteDerick JonesJ.M. DragunasJustine JonesTom Hunter#7September 20, 2017Deeper into the StrangeAndrew MacLeanNathan Fairbain and Ryan Ottley (variant)PINUPS:Christine LarsenGerardo ZaffinoShane Hillman#8December 20, 2017(printing error)January 10, 2018(corrected printing)GladiatorsAndrew MacLeanSkinner and Alexis Ziritt (variant)PINUPS:Cliff RathburnJason FischerJeffrey Alan LoveKyle MeyerdierksLuke ParkerSean KiernanEpilogue (TPB)In the Shadow of the Tower: Part TwoThe Knights of Venora#9September 12, 2018Norgal Has a Talking BasketAndrew MacLeanJordie BellaireAndrew MacLeanAlan Brown (variant)#10December 12, 2018From the Lips of VenoraAndrew MacLean Jeanne D'Angelo (variant)PINUPS:Skam 2Shadia AminAinsley SturkoLuca VassalloMatt LesniewskiChris FacconeDiman KaimanFran P. Lobato#11March 13, 2019Send the WizardsAndrew MacLeanAl Gofa (variant)PINUPS:Cam SheplerChad LewisDemetrius DawkinsNerdgoreZach Cunningham#12June 26, 2019The Last Time I Saw Him He Was Covered in BloodAndrew MacLeanMatthew Allison (variant)Epilogue (TPB)The Quest for Mulgrid's Stair#13September 16, 2020The ExecutionerAndrew MacLeanJordie BellaireAndrew MacLeanDaniel Warren Johnson (variant)#14December 16, 2020The GorgonAndrew MacLeanTradd Moore (variant)#15March 17, 2021The Mines of MartanAndrew MacLeanDennis Brown (variant)#16July 28, 2021Of Climbing and FallingAndrew MacLeanDani (variant)The Heart of the Godbeast#1April 22, 2026By the Strings on Death's Luteor10 Days Since Tarf was Shot in the StomachAndrew MacLeanJordie BellaireAndrew MacLeanJames Harren (variant)PREVIEW:Agatha: A Tale of Three Witches#2TBD#3TBD#4TBD

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

VolumeTitleRelease dateCollectsExtrasISBN1Head Lopper & The Islandor A Plague of BeastsOctober 5, 2016 Head Lopper #1–4 Epilogue 5-page Sketchbook Pinup Gallery Cover Gallery2Head Lopper & The Crimson TowerApril 4, 2018 Head Lopper #5–8 Epilogue 7-page Sketchbook Cover Gallery3Head Lopper & The Knights of VenoraSeptember 18, 2019 Head Lopper #9–12 Epilogue 11-page Sketchbook Cover Gallery4Head Lopper & The Quest for Mulgrid's StairSeptember 22, 2021 Head Lopper #13–16 "Belly of Hell" "Deceitful Above All Things" 7-page Sketchbook Cover Gallery

Premise The series follows the adventures of the legendary swordsman Norgal, dubbed the Head Lopper, and his companion, the severed head of Agatha the 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.

IssueReview averageReviews#19.010#29.04#3104#49.25#59.35#69.44#793#89.11#98.73#1061#118.93#128.94#138.94#148.63#159.13#1692

References

External links

Andrew MacLean's official website