View source for High Moon


{{Use American English|date=August 2021}}

{{Infobox comic book title <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics--> 
| image               = High_Moon_Macgregor.jpg
| caption             = Matthew Macgregor in the cover to ''High Moon'', art by [[Steve Ellis (comics)|Steve Ellis]].
| format              = Ongoing webcomic series
| publisher           = [[Zuda Comics|Zuda]] imprint of [[DC Comics]]; Super Genius imprint of [[Papercutz (publisher)|Papercutz]]
| date                = 2007–2010; 2017
| main_char_team      = Matthew Macgregor
| writers             = David Gallaher
| artists             = Steve Ellis
| creative_team_month = 
| creative_team_year  = 
| creators            = [[David Gallaher]] <br/> [[Steve Ellis (comics)|Steve Ellis]]
}}
'''''High Moon''''' is a [[horror Western]] [[webcomic]] series featuring [[Werewolf|werewolves]]. It was developed in 2004 with a debut in 2007 as a part of [[Zuda Comics]], [[DC Comics]]' [[webcomic]] [[Imprint (trade name)|imprint]]. The first season concluded on July 8, 2008. Season two ran from August 16 to November 25, 2008. Season three and four began its run in February and October 2009, respectively. Serialization ended when Zuda Comics shut down in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/43711-dc-comics-shuts-down-the-zuda-web-comics-site.html|title=DC Comics Shuts Down the Zuda Web Comics Site}}</ref> [[Papercutz (publisher)|Papercutz]] re-released ''High Moon'' in a new collection in 2017, consisting of three volumes for their Super Genius imprint.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/werewolf-western-comic-book-high-moon-returns-all-new-material-974152|title=Werewolf Western 'High Moon' Returns With All-New Material (Exclusive)|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=February 12, 2017|language=en}}</ref>

==Publication history==
Created by [[David Gallaher]] and [[Steve Ellis (comics)|Steve Ellis]], ''High Moon'' was part of Zuda's initial launch in October 2007. Month later, ''High Moon''<ref>[http://www.comixology.com/podcasts/8/High-Moon-from-Zuda-with-David-Gallaher David Gallaher's ''High Moon'' Wins Zuda] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071208010929/http://www.comixology.com/podcasts/8/High-Moon-from-Zuda-with-David-Gallaher|date=December 8, 2007}}</ref> was awarded a contract with [[DC Comics]], where the strip was serialized on Zuda.com. [[Scott O. Brown]] was the production artist and letterer.

==Synopsis==
In the first series, a bounty hunter, Matthew Macgregor, investigates a series of strange happenings in the [[Texas]] town of Blest, where drought has brought famine and hardship to most of the town and surrounding ranches. Additionally, the nights are haunted by [[Werewolf|werewolves]]. While Macgregor, a former [[Pinkerton (detective agency)|Pinkerton]] detective, seeks to uncover the town's secrets, he tries desperately to keep secret his own past steeped in [[witchcraft]] and the [[supernatural]]. 

The second series finds werewolf-hunter Macgregor in Ragged Rock, [[Oklahoma]], investigating a series of murders following a bizarre train robbery, and finds himself caught in a vendetta and confronting a technological monstrosity. 

In series three, Macgregor helps a young woman and finds himself amid two warring factions in the [[Black Hills]] of [[South Dakota]].

== Characters ==
* '''Matthew Macgregor''': A descendant of Scottish outlaw [[Rob Roy MacGregor|Robert "Rob Roy" Macgregor]], the protagonist is a stubborn and grumbly retired Pinkerton.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gallaher |first=David |url=https://high-moon.blogspot.com/2007/11/original-character-notes-for-high-moon.html |title=The High Moon Rises: Original Character Notes for ''High Moon'' |publisher=High-moon.blogspot.com |date=November 1, 2007 |accessdate=April 2, 2011}}</ref> He first appears on page 3 of Season 1. As of page 17, he demonstrates a degree of ritual [[Psychometry (paranormal)|psychometry]]. He carries a pair of pistols with the words [[Gáe Bulg|Gáe Bolga]] carved into the handles. As seen on page 30 of the strip, his bullets of choice are Blaine bullets. Mac's history shows a past with [[James Bowie]], [[Abraham Lincoln]], [[Allan Pinkerton]], and [[Marie Laveau]].
* '''Eddie Conroy''' is an African-American outlaw afflicted with lycanthropy. After MacGregor is killed, Conroy assumes his identity. He is seen on page 5 in werewolf form, and again on page 6 in human form.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zudacomics.com/node/109 |title=High Moon on Zuda Comics |publisher=Zudacomics.com |date= |accessdate=April 2, 2011}}</ref>
* '''Tristan Macgregor''' is a member of the Macgregor family, an esoteric subset of the [[Pinkerton (detective agency)|Pinkertons]] and brother of Matthew. He has a [[mechanical arm]], conceals his face with goggles, and uses [[steampunk]] weapons invented by [[Nikola Tesla]].
* '''Red''': Conroy's loyal [[wolfdog]].

===Supporting characters===
* '''Tara Bradley''': Daughter of legendary lawman Sheriff Patrick Bradley, Tara is a beautiful redhead who since moving to Blest has been working for the Sheriff's office. She first appears on page 2.
* '''Deputy Jeb Garret''': He first appears on page 2. He enjoys reading [[dime novel]]s.
* '''Gabriel Hunter''': The founder of Blest and father of the little girl who goes missing on page 1 of the story arc, he first appears on page 2.
* '''Margaret Hunter''': Goes missing in page 1 of the opening prologue.
* '''Mavis Hunter''': Seen on page 7, and recounts his story in a flashback on page 10.
* '''Sheriff Patrick Bradley''': Mentioned on page 2, he does not appear in the prologue.
* '''Doc McNear''': Appears on page 11, where he aids Mavis Hunter with her hysteria, and later is confronted by Conroy.
* '''Were-Bats''': Strange, multi-eyed, multi-armed bat-like creatures, spawned from the Jim Bowie caves.
* '''Miss Molly''': Appears on page 33, she is the owner of the Crabapple dance hall.
* '''Deirdre''': Wife of Tristan.
* '''Young Raven''': A Red Indian mystic who becomes Conroy's lover, she is the granddaughter of [[Cultural depictions of ravens|Raven the Trickster]], a legendary [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] character.
* '''Dr. Bell''': An English detective based on [[Sherlock Holmes]], he is revealed to be the alter ego of the vicious serial killer [[Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (character)|Mr. Hyde]].
* Others include '''Ester, August, and Frederick Kittel''', '''Vivian''', and '''Egregore'''.

==Print==
''Bayou'' and ''High Moon'' were the first two Zuda titles to be published as [[graphic novel]]s, in June and October 2009, respectively by [[DC Comics]].<ref>[http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/11/dc-comics-onlin.html Thill, Scott. "Zuda Comics' ''Bayou'' Makes Jump from Web to Print"], ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' "Underwire" (column) November 17, 2008</ref>

In October 2017, [[Papercutz (publisher)|Papercutz]] published new trade editions of the series.

==Awards==
* ''High Moon'' was nominated for two 2009 [[Harvey Awards]], for Best New Series and Best Online Work, winning the latter award.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.harveyawards.org/ |title=The Harvey Awards |publisher=The Harvey Awards |date= |accessdate=April 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150818170308/http://www.harveyawards.org/ |archive-date=August 18, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* ''High Moon'' was nominated for a 2010 Harvey Award for Best Online Work.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.harveyawards.org/ |title=The Harvey Awards |publisher=The Harvey Awards |date= |accessdate=April 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150818170308/http://www.harveyawards.org/ |archive-date=August 18, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* [http://www.zudacomics.com/high_moon Zudacomics.com: ''High Moon'']
* [https://high-moon.blogspot.com/ High Moon Production Blog]

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080516054245/http://www.comixology.com/podcasts/33/NYCC-Special-4-High-Moon Comixology.com New York Comic Con podcast]
* [[Valerie D'Orazio|D'Orazio, Valerie]]. [https://occasionalsuperheroine.blogspot.com/2007/10/occasional-interviews-zuda-artist-steve.html "Occasional Interviews: Zuda Artist Steve Ellis on ''High Moon''"], OccasionalSuperheroine.com, October 31, 2007
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080116172235/http://www.yourmomsbasement.com/archives/2007/10/last_minute_edi_3.html "Last Minute Edition – David Gallaher on ''High Moon'' and Zuda.com"], YourMomsBasement.com, October 30, 2007
* Kean, Benjamin Ong Pang. [https://archive.today/20070623103614/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=134931 "The Opening Team: Talking to the First Wave of Zuda Creators"], [[Newsarama]], November 1, 2007
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20010610160644/http://www.davidgallaher.com/ DavidGallaher.com]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071010064259/http://www.hypersteve.com/gallery.htm Hypersteve.com] (Steve Ellis official site)

{{DC Western Characters}}

[[Category:2007 webcomic debuts]]
[[Category:2010 webcomic endings]]
[[Category:2000s webcomics]]
[[Category:American webcomics]]
[[Category:Comics about werewolves]]
[[Category:Horror Westerns]]
[[Category:Horror webcomics]]
[[Category:Webcomics in print]]
[[Category:Western (genre) webcomics]]
[[Category:Zuda Comics titles]]
[[Category:Works about bounty hunters]]
[[Category:Comics set in Texas]]
[[Category:Comics set in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:South Dakota in fiction]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of James Bowie]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Abraham Lincoln]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Allan Pinkerton]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Nikola Tesla]]
[[Category:Works based on Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde]]
[[Category:Comics based on works by Robert Louis Stevenson]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=High Moon|access_date=2026-03-03}}