The original 1986 movie Highlander launched a fan driven franchise with the famous line, “There can be only one.” Immortal warriors, Highlander, grew from being a cult movie to a fan favorite.
Over the next few decades, fans were rewarded with movies, games, television and animated series as well as novels and comic books. However, all that came to an end in 2009 after the release of several audio dramas.
In 2011, a reboot of the Highlander series was announced and, for the past few years, the idea has slowly taken shape. The good news is that fans do not have to wait long for the movie industry to produce the next sequel in the much-loved franchise.
Stepping in the void of new Highlander material is Emerald Star Comics with their title Highlander 3030.
With new characters, stories, a futuristic setting and a kick ass villain, Highlander 3030 promises to be a solid addition to the Highlander series. The sequel aims to take the story in a new direction and also breathe life back into a fan favorite.
However, as we have seen numerous times in reboots and resurrections, promises are easily made but may not be properly supported by the studio. So, how is Emerald Star faring so far with what they are promising to fans?
Fortunately, from the looks of everything they have released for people to see, I would say, pretty damn good
Should their writing and story lines prove to be on the same level as the artwork they have released to date, fans are in for a well-done resurrection and
a great comic title overall in Highlander 3030.
Since the title will not be released until May, a proper evaluation will have to wait. But for now let’s take a look at the artwork they have released.
I am going to step back for a minute because I feel it is important to mention that, when I first heard of this new series, I groaned. Then I saw the artwork, and I am quite happy to say that I am eating my words.
Everything Emerald Star has produced for this series deserves as much praise as it has received and more.
Emerald Star has assembled an excellent art team that is doing a bang up job of producing page after page of great work. These pages include bold dramatic pages, full of energy that are tightly drawn, dramatically inked, brilliantly colored and packed with story in every page and panel.
These pages are wrapped in covers that highlight the same qualities and skill.
Emerald Star has a lot of work ahead. The material they have delivered so far indicates that they will keep the promises they have made to fans. This material indicates that they have certainly assembled the right team of highly talented artists to deliver on those promises.
Visit the Emerald Star website for the progress of Highlander 3030 (as well as their other titles) through this link, or on their Facebook page.
ohn Goodale is the author of ‘Johnny Gora’ (available through Amazon.com), and a number of articles here on TMRZoo.com. His monthly column ‘Indy Comics Spotlight’ appears here and through his blog Indy Comics Spotlight
