DYNAMITE LAUNCHES HIGHLANDER SERIES IN '06

**MattBrady** · 12-20-2005, 09:57 AM

Confirming what was assumed to be coming with the announcement that it had acquired the Highlander license in September, Dynamite Entertainment has confirmed for Newsarama that it will launch an ongoing Highlander series in 2006. The series will reportedly tell stories set both in the movie and television series continuities, with the opening arc set following the events of the first movie.

With the first film released in 1986, Highlander has seen four features, an animated series, a television series lasting six seasons, and fourteen original novels, as well as licensed merchandise. A reported trilogy of new feature films, starring Adrian Paul as Duncan MacLeod is in production, with filming on the first, Highlander: The Source, having completed earlier this month.

“Highlander is such a rich and wonderful universe that we are thrilled to be able to add the characters, films and shows to our growing line of great comics,” Dynamite spokesperson J. Allen said. “We plan to take advantage of next year’s 20th Anniversary of the first film by launching our series which will go back to that original storyline, and show what happened immediately following that story. For our retailing partners, this is a great opportunity as we will be working with David Anderson to promote the comic on their website, and in e-mailers and mailings to millions of fans, so there will be a huge amount of awareness for this series. There can be only one Highlander comic book series and it’s found its home at Dynamite.”

Allen told Newsarama that the publisher is currently selecting the artists for the opening arc, and declined to name the series writer at this time. “We will be offering the comic once we have the first couple of issues complete and ready for distribution,” Allen said. “What we do know, is that the first book will have a painted cover by Gabriel Dell’Otto and that future covers will feature the talents of John Cassaday, Billy Tan, Mel Rubi, Lee Moder, Will Conrad, Guiseppe Camuncoli and more covers by Gabriel Dell’Otto.”

Dynamite also confirmed for Newsarama that the series will launch with a #0 issue, and strongly implied that the Highlander series will follow the model the publisher established for Red Sonja (minus the delays). Though Dynamite did not confirm the specifics, a Red Sonja style model would see a 25-cent #0 issue, shipping in April, which would put it in stores in time for 2006’s Free Comic Book Day.

GOSD · 12-20-2005, 10:13 AM

Interesting....

But, please, please release the books on time..

None of that 3/4/5 variant covers per book nonsense please.

B-Mac · 12-20-2005, 10:14 AM

I will be checking this series out because I am a big fan of the first movie and TV series.

Bakema NL · 12-20-2005, 10:16 AM

Red Sonja.....Battlestar Galactica......Highlander............... Dynamite entertainment has some great stuff coming out.

I'm probably in for this one, a comic sounds very interesting. As far as the movies and everything go I only consider the 1st movie truly great and try to erase all the rest from memory.........tv series was ok, but nothing more than that.

gredenko · 12-20-2005, 10:21 AM

Let. This. Franchise. Die.

HugoMF · 12-20-2005, 10:22 AM

This is a dream come true.

Now if only Firefly would return in some ongoing comic goodness fashion...

HugoMF · 12-20-2005, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Let. This. Franchise. Die.

Grow. up. Stop. Beeing. In. Denial. Don't. Have. Anything. To. Say. Don't. Say. It.

Hoffmeister · 12-20-2005, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MattBrady
With the first film released in 1986, Highlander has seen four features, an animated series, a television series lasting six seasons, and fourteen original novels, as well as licensed merchandise.

Wasn't there also this lame spin-off tv-series with a female immortal in the leading role... Raven I think it was called.

Hm, I'm torn though. The first movie is one of my all-time favourites, but the sequels have ruined the whole franchise. The series with Adrian Paul was enjoyable to watch. I guess I'll just wait and see what kind of reviews it gets.

bizarrolike · 12-20-2005, 10:34 AM

Duncan was always more interesting than Conner. Alot more believeable as a swordsman.

Electric Glove · 12-20-2005, 10:44 AM

Highlander is cool and all, and I eally hope it works out, but I've had a really bad track record when it comes to enjoying Dynamite books over the past two years.

rroch · 12-20-2005, 10:52 AM

Es kann nur Einen geben ! Great !!!!

JackM3 · 12-20-2005, 10:55 AM

Let's just hope that Dynamite takes the Highlander philosophy to heart and follows it through with a "There can be only one cover per issue" policy.

BatmanBegins · 12-20-2005, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bakema NL
Red Sonja.....Battlestar Galactica......Highlander............... Dynamite entertainment has some great stuff coming out.

I'm probably in for this one, a comic sounds very interesting. As far as the movies and everything go I only consider the 1st movie truly great and try to erase all the rest from memory.........tv series was ok, but nothing more than that.

I also loved the first movie. I was actually one of the few that saw this in theaters, the week that it was in theaters.

I just wrote a lot about my feelings of the sequel and how bad it was, but I deleted it all and decided to replace it with one word, Zeist. That's Ed Wood bad.

The last movie I saw in a theater was the third movie hoping the mistakes from the second movie were fixed and they were, but it was still bad. At the very least I was expecting a lame movie with good fight scenes, but it didn't even have that.

The fourth movie I saw on dvd and it was lame, but the fight scenes were better.

I am shocked that another Highlander film is being made.

The tv show was ok. It had its moments, but I am not going to get it on dvd.
There is even a Highlander anime film coming out.

I will definitely check out this comic. I am sure it will have multiple covers. That's what Dynamite does. Hopefully the fight scenes will be good.

lesterg · 12-20-2005, 10:59 AM

Cool news. Loved the first movie, the second film was beautifully-shot (but it's terrible) and the series wasn't bad.

The property always seemed like a natural for the comics world, although I wonder if they're about ten years too late...

The Marvel · 12-20-2005, 11:13 AM

Sigh.

Crusader K · 12-20-2005, 11:13 AM

I am so totally geeked out over this news!

That cover by Del'Otto is way cool but would be cooler if it were a poster, hint hint. I wonder if the series will attempt to somehow unify the contradictory history of the Highlander movies and series. It would be cool to see some backstory on characters like Ramirez, the Kurgan, Amanda and Fitz.

Sorry folks - Duncan was very cool and absolutely worthy to hold the sword, but I always liked Connor and the pathos that Christopher Lambert projected.

This definitely gets added to the pull list this week.

Storminator · 12-20-2005, 11:37 AM

I've been watching my DVDs again (on Season 3 right now) and I've been thinking the past couple of days, "If I had to write a Highlander comic, how would I go about it?"

Awesome news! I've always thought this would make great comics because of the rich story telling that can be done based on the world of Immortals.

With the live-action movie coming (I had no idea it was a trilogy!), the anime, and now this....Highlander is back, baby!

Btw....

Adrian Paul >>>>> Christopher Lambert. For one, Lambert didn't even know English when he did the first movie, so his performance was woody. His performance was much better in the second movie, but you would have to watch the Renegade version to actually enjoy it. LOL

Derek Ruiz · 12-20-2005, 11:40 AM

This is cool. I'll at least check it out. If the art is good and it comes out on time I'll stick with it. This was one of those movies and shows that always gave me a couple of kicks.

Quote:

Originally posted by The Marvel
Sigh.

What's the point of a post like that? I understand if this might not be something you like but how does posting what you did add to the discussion.

I would of been okay with you saying something like you were never a fan of it so this comic isn't for you.

BlueThunderArmy · 12-20-2005, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JackM3
Let's just hope that Dynamite takes the Highlander philosophy to heart and follows it through with a "There can be only one cover per issue" policy.

Hah. Beat me to it. And if Dynamite is going through the trouble to get Del'Otto covers, why do they think they need variants? I'm sure these other (big name) artists don't work for free...

Derek Ruiz · 12-20-2005, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BlueThunderArmy
Hah. Beat me to it. And if Dynamite is going through the trouble to get Del'Otto covers, why do they think they need variants? I'm sure these other (big name) artists don't work for free...

You know you guys can just buy the one cover? You don't have to buy all the covers it's all the same comic shut the covers different.

If a book has four covers just buy the one you like. Its really that simple.

ravendrake · 12-20-2005, 11:55 AM

Lets see...
there was the movies.
There was the tv show.
The spin-off tv show.
The cartoon.
Books.

Personally, I always liked the TV show the best. And yeah, the spin-off wasn't all that great.

I'm looking forward to the comic and the movies. I've always liked the universe.

Lord Ice · 12-20-2005, 12:02 PM

Nice. I've only seen the first movie but I was a faithful watcher (no pun intended

) of the tv series. Definitely getting this.

Black Beetle · 12-20-2005, 12:04 PM

I'm all over this...

ALL OVER IT!

Psivage · 12-20-2005, 12:06 PM

wonder if they will introduce new immortals or just stick with the established ones.

GalvaTRION · 12-20-2005, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Crusader K
I am so totally geeked out over this news!

That cover by Del'Otto is way cool but would be cooler if it were a poster, hint hint. I wonder if the series will attempt to somehow unify the contradictory history of the Highlander movies and series. It would be cool to see some backstory on characters like Ramirez, the Kurgan, Amanda and Fitz.

Sorry folks - Duncan was very cool and absolutely worthy to hold the sword, but I always liked Connor and the pathos that Christopher Lambert projected.

This definitely gets added to the pull list this week.

Seconded. Can't beat Christopher Lambert.

Highlander has really frustrated the hell out of me... for all of the potential it's had, it's pissed it away badly. The first movie is my favorite of all the Highlander stories, and after that great introduction, each movie got worse, and worse, to the point of absolute horror (I wanted to kill everyone involved in Endgame, and I personally regaurd that as the worst film I've ever seen).

If they can go back, and do things RIGHT, then that's great. Here's hoping.

EDIT: They forgot to mention the Anime that's coming out (it looks horribly cliche`)