Head Lopper, Vol. 1: The Island or a Plague of Beasts

Head Lopper, Vol. 1: The Island or a Plague of Beasts is the collected debut of Andrew MacLean's celebrated Image Comics fantasy series, gathering the first four oversized issues into a single volume. It introduces Norgal, the towering, taciturn warrior known as the Head Lopper, and his unlikely companion: the severed, still-talking head of Agatha Blue Witch, whose sharp tongue never rests.

Summoned to the Isle of Barra, a realm plagued by monstrous creatures conjured by the Sorcerer of the Black Bog, the mismatched duo is contracted by Queen Abigail to end the threat. What begins as a straightforward monster hunt unravels into court intrigue and betrayal as the pair discover they are pawns in a far larger game.

MacLean writes, draws, and letters the series, pairing kinetic, gore-soaked battles with a clean, expressive line and a wry sense of humor. Widely praised as a modern sword-and-sorcery standout in the tradition of Conan and Hellboy, the volume established Head Lopper as one of the most distinctive independent fantasy comics of its era.