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

 MacLean, Andrew with Mike Spicer. Head Lopper, Vol 1: The Island or A Plague of Beasts. 2016. 280p. ISBN 978-1-63-215-886-4.

Norgal, also known as the Head Lopper, is delivering slave cargo to the island of Barra. Ruled in theory by a King, the island of Barra is in fact controlled by a powerful sorcerer who has been confined to the Black Bog and who cannot leave its borders. Nothing prevents him from sending forth monsters, however, and the whole island has been plagued by them for a long time.

Upon arriving in Barra, the Head Lopper remove the head of a sea monster, and when payment for the slaves doesn't arrive, he takes the head cleric's amulet for himself. The Head Lopper carries around a bag containing the head of Agatha, an old witch. Despite having been removed from its body, the head remains alive and well, and Agatha never misses an opportunity to berate and mock the Head Lopper.

Hearing of his prowess, Queen Abigail hires the Head Lopper to go to the Black Bog and kill the sorcerer. With the king absent, with the king's stewart plotting his own ascent to the throne, and with witches not pleased to see the head of one of their own in his hands, the Head Lopper will need to use all of his fighting skills to survive the trek and defeat an enemy who has long been planning Norgal's arrival ...

Fans of fantasy will appreciate the creepiness that permeates the island of Barra, and will enjoy the action drawings as well as the strong plot that propels the story forward.