Reborn #1 Review (Mark Millar, Greg Capullo)

My latest review for Need to Consume was Mark Millar and Greg Capullo's Reborn #1. Read the full piece here: http://www.needtoconsume.com/comics/reborn-1-review/

Cannibal #1 Review (Jennifer Young, Brian Azzarello)

My latest review for Need to Consume was Jennifer Young, Brian Buccellato, and Matias Bergara's Cannibal #1. Read the full piece here: http://www.needtoconsume.com/comics/cannibal-1-review/

Moonshine #1 Review (Brian Azzarello, Eduardo Risso)

My latest review for Need to Consume was Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso's Moonshine #1. Read the full piece here: http://www.needtoconsume.com/comics/moonshine-1-review/

Kill or Be Killed #2 Review (Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips)

My latest review for Need to Consume was Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips' Kill or Be Killed #2. Read the full piece here: http://www.needtoconsume.com/comics/kill-killed-2-review/

Glitterbomb #1 Review (Jim Zub, Djibril Morissette-Phan)

My latest review for Need to Consume was Jim Zub and Djibril Morissette-Phan's Glitterbomb #1. Read the full piece here: http://www.needtoconsume.com/comics/glitterbomb-1-review/

The Black Monday Murders #1 Review (Jonathan Hickman, Tomm Coker)

My latest review for Need to Consume was Jonathan Hickman and Tomm Coker's The Black Monday Murders #1. Read the full piece here: http://www.needtoconsume.com/comics/black-monday-murders-1-review/

Kill Or Be Killed #1 Review (Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips)

My latest review for Need to Consume was Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips' Kill Or Be Killed #1. Read the full piece here: http://www.needtoconsume.com/comics/kill-killed-1-review/

Snotgirl #1 Review (Bryan Lee O'Malley, Leslie Hung)

My latest review for Need to Consume was Bryan Lee O'Malley and Leslie Hung's Snotgirl #1. Read the full piece here: http://www.needtoconsume.com/comics/snotgirl-1-review/

Scooby Apocalypse #1 Review (Keith Giffen, Howard Porter)

My latest review for Need to Consume was Keith Giffen, JM DeMatteis and Howard Porter's Scooby Apocalypse #1. Read the full piece here: http://www.needtoconsume.com/comics/scooby-apocalypse-1-review/

Criminal 10th Anniversary Special Review (Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips)

My latest review for Need to Consume was Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips' Criminal 10th Anniversary Special. Read the full piece here: http://www.needtoconsume.com/comics/criminal-10th-anniversary-special-review/

Klaus #4 Review (Grant Morrison, Dan Mora)

My latest review for Need to Consume was Grant Morrison and Dan Mora's Klaus #4. Read the full piece here: http://www.needtoconsume.com/comics/klaus-4-review/

The Legacy of Luther Strode #5 Review (Justin Jordan, Tradd Moore)

My latest review for Need to Consume was Justin Jordan and Tradd Moore's The Legacy of Luther Strode #5. Read the full piece here: http://www.needtoconsume.com/comics/the-legacy-of-luther-strode-5-review/

The Violent #3 Review (Ed Brisson, Adam Gorham)

My latest review for Need to Consume was Ed Brisson and Adam Gorham's The Violent #3. Read the full piece here: http://www.needtoconsume.com/comics/the-violent-3-review/

The Violent #1 Review (Ed Brisson, Adam Gorham)

My latest review for Need to Consume was Ed Brisson and Adam Gorham's The Violent #1. Read the full piece here: http://www.needtoconsume.com/comics/violent-1-review/

The Goddamned #1 Review (Jason Aaron, RM Guera)

My latest review for Need to Consume was Jason Aaron and RM Guera's The Goddamned #1. Read the full piece here: http://www.needtoconsume.com/comics/goddamned-1-review/

Head Lopper #1 by Andrew MacLean Review

Andrew MacLean’s pretty directly-titled comic Head Lopper lives up to its name within just a few pages as our barbarian hero, Norgal, decapitates an evil leviathan! It’s a fantasy adventure about a badass who lops the heads off monsters and carries the decapitated (but still alive) head of Agatha Blue Witch, another apt name as she is, literally, a blue witch! It’s also a pretty good issue!

Like the names, MacLean’s stories get straight to the point: Norgal’s gotta fight a series of monsters to save the lands of Castlebay and Barra. That’s it! After the leviathan, it’s giant wolves, and then giant mountain lizards. if it seems like simple stuff, that’s because it is, but that doesn’t mean it’s not enjoyable.

The action is fluidly drawn, kinetic and exciting. Because Norgal’s tiny in comparison to the giants he’s going up against, it means he has to be imaginative and quick with how he deals with the threats which leads to some dynamic panels. MacLean’s style reminds me a lot of Mike Mignola’s art (very much a good thing!), especially given the fantasy/monsters angle.

I love Mike Spicer’s work in general and his colours in Head Lopper are incandescent. Some of the pages have an eerie glow to them, the colours are so vivid. Really beautiful stuff. MacLean colours the third part of the issue and that looks great too - it’s such a good-looking comic!

The adventure genre, with the focus on story, means that the characters are a bit underwritten, particularly Norgal who is the barbarian archetype. Gruff and tough who rarely speaks, there’s not much to him besides being a sword-for-hire. Agatha is the comic relief, the sidekick who natters away because the hero doesn’t - that too is a bit stereotypical - and because she’s a dangerous witch, Norgal keeps her around so no-one else might get hexed by her. (That said, he’s pretty careless with the head in this issue!) What if he just dug a really, really deep hole and buried it? Also, I guess it’s ok to beat a woman if she’s a decapitated head?

Agatha Blue Witch is about the only thing approaching a long-term story as evil characters are after her because she’s powerful (apparently - we don’t see anything in this comic that points to that), which means more foes for Norgal to lop in the future. The series seems a little one dimensional so far but it’s only one issue in. Also, it’s called Head Lopper and it’s swords and sorcery action-centric so it’s probably expecting a bit too much for it to be too layered!

And let’s talk about the physical issue - it’s 80+ pages long! That’s like four regular sized issues in one! Hence the higher price tag and it’s quarterly publication schedule as it’s MacLean writing/drawing/colouring (though Spicer does the majority of the colouring) in the comic - basically, everything!

Head Lopper #1 is a wonderfully illustrated, fine first issue packed with fantasy and violence. The characters/setting/world-building and overall story are all a bit generic but it’s a fun read and if you like your fantasy comics, Head Lopper is definitely worth checking out.

Plutona #1 Review (Jeff Lemire, Emi Lenox)

My latest review for Need to Consume was Jeff Lemire and Emi Lenox's Plutona #1. Read the full piece here: http://www.needtoconsume.com/comics/plutona-1-review/

Star Trek/Green Lantern #1 Review (Mike Johnson, Angel Hernandez)

My latest review for Need to Consume was Mike Johnson and Angel Hernandez's Star Trek/Green Lantern #1. Read the full piece here: http://www.needtoconsume.com/comics/star-trekgreen-lantern-1-review/

The Legacy of Luther Strode #2 Review (Tradd Moore, Justin Jordan)

My latest review for Need to Consume was Justin Jordan and Tradd Moore's The Legacy of Luther Strode #2. Read the full piece here: http://www.needtoconsume.com/comics/legacy-luther-strode-2-review/

Nameless #4 Review (Grant Morrison, Chris Burnham)

My latest review for Need to Consume was Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham's Nameless #4. Read the full piece here: http://www.needtoconsume.com/comics/nameless-4-review/