Highlander (comics)

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Highlander
Image:Highlander12.jpg
Publisher Dynamite Entertainment
Format Limited series
Publication date July, 2007 - 2008
Number of issues 12
Main character(s) Connor MacLeod
Duncan MacLeod
Creative team
Writer(s) Brandon Jerwa
Michael Avon Oeming
Artist(s) Lee Moder
Cover:
Gabriele Dell'otto
Dave Dorman
Letterer(s) Simon Bowland
Colorist(s) Brian Buccellato
Creator(s) Gregory Widen

Highlander was a twelve issue comic book limited series that was first released in 2006 and ran for one year ending in 2007. It is written by Brandon Jerwa and Michael Avon Oeming in close collaboration with David Abramowitz,[1] who was Creative Consultant in charge of the writing on Highlander: The Series and the subsequent Highlander movies. It is published by Dynamite Entertainment.[2] The preview issue released in July 2006 had over 100,000 copies pre-sold.[3] Though Highlander: The Source was released at the same time that the comic was in production, the comic is the only of the two considered canon to the franchise.[citation needed]

It is inspired from Highlander, the franchise about Immortals battling each other throughout history. The comic book series deals with what the main characters of the franchise, Connor MacLeod and Duncan MacLeod, do concerning happenings from the films and television series. It spawned a second comic book mini-series, Highlander: Way of the Sword.[4]

Contents

[edit] Plot details

The initial issues deal with Connor MacLeod after the events that took place in the first Highlander film. Although the Kurgan has been defeated, some of those who followed him still seek to bring about some of his plans. Connor also deals with battling within himself for control over the impulses and emotions he received from the Dark Quickening of the Kurgan.

The later story arc introduces Duncan MacLeod and has him assisting his kinsman Connor in defeating the followers of the Kurgan.

The two separate plot line issues were bound into two separate trade paperbacks by Dynamite Entertainment[5]. Dark Quickening and The Coldest War, respectively.

[edit] Reception

The comic book has largely been regarded as the best continuation of the story thus far.[6] Reviewer Dave Baxter of Brokenfrontier.com thinks that "the art on this book by Lee Moder is fluid, well-executed, flawlessly paced, and visually as slick as a slip-'n-slide for the eyes. The scripting by Jerwa and Oeming is equally strong, with above-average, rhythmic dialogue and a fabulous use of the more obscure characters and sequences from the film." But Baxter minds the fact that the comics' storyline "manages to ignore entirely the continuity of the first film’s premise, and especially its conclusion and, instead, the writers have opted to invent their own, "alternative" Highlander universe."[7]

Reviewer Michael Bailey of Comicsbulletin.com thinks that "this story wasn't going to be all that good, but [he] was pleasantly surprised by this first issue," and that "this could turn out to be a really neat story," but that artist Lee Moder "wasn't the right choice for this world."[8] After the events of Highlander: The Source, it has been argued that the comic is the only acceptable franchise production in recent years. Sales figures dropped slowly since release, but Dynamite Entertainment released a second Highlander comic series.[9]

[edit] Collections

The series is being collected as trade paperbacks:

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ There Can Be Only Two: Jerwa and Oeming Talk "Highlander" Comic Book Resources, August 28, 2006
  2. ^ IGN previews Highlander
  3. ^ Article at ScifiSlacker.com
  4. ^ Comicon on Highlander: Way of the Sword
  5. ^ Trade Paperback
  6. ^ The Comic Book Gazette on Reception
  7. ^ Review of the first issue at Brokenfrontier.com
  8. ^ Review of the first issue at Comics Bulletin
  9. ^ Dynamite discusses sales and hopes with fans

[edit] References

[edit] External links

[edit] Interviews