Immortal By Design
An exciting new merch project
In addition to writing, I design the cover art, interior illustrations, character sketches, and promotional material. The majority of art I create is book related, and I’ve been developing merch based on my growing catalog, but often I will be struck with a concept that is too exciting for me to ignore. Soon, I will be debuting items that will be available in my merch store (details coming soon). While the online shop is being prepared for a proper launch, here is a look at mockups for an upcoming collection of apparel.
Combining my fandoms of Texas sports and the Highlander film and television franchise comes an unexpected, admittedly odd, and definitely unique set of T-shirts. Taking inspiration from the classic Queen song “Princes of the Universe,” these tops display a lyric from the Highlander theme song that showcase the immortal spirit of sports programs from the Lone Star State. From the pros to college, and across various types of athletic leagues, divisions, and conferences, these shirts will show off your love of the Game. Represent your Texas pride by letting everyone know there can be only one.
Merch link:
https://jonmcbrine.com/store
Background on Highlander lore
The Highlander films and television adaptation/continuations primarily feature immortals known as Connor and Duncan MacLeod, foundlings adopted into the same warrior Celtic clan from different eras across hundreds of years. The stories from the movies, shows, audio productions, novels, and comics, etc., are adventures that span centuries, and always have good fighting evil. The secret global community of Immortals have different interpretations of their mysterious origins, but they each possess an inherent will to survive. Adding to the intrigue is the Immortals’ natural way of sensing one another, often resulting in a duel in a secluded area. To achieve a rival’s essence and their varying elements of power, an Immortal must be beheaded. This brutal victory unleashes a phenomenon they refer to as the Quickening, where the fight’s winner absorbs the loser’s skills, strength, and sometimes even memories and characteristics. Since these violent showdowns require a fallen head to declare victory, many Immortals fight with a sword.
Combat must only involve two Immortals at a time, and holy ground such as churches and cathedrals are considered neutral areas where combat is forbidden. The consequences of fighting in or on blessed land is unclear, but even the most ruthless Immortals are known to honor the custom.
It is important for Immortals to understand their rules if they want any chance at staying alive. Duncan MacLeod (played by Adrian Paul) has had many teachers from around the world throughout the centuries, including his fellow clansman from a different era, Connor MacLeod (played by Christopher Lambert). The elder MacLeod shared a similar fate to his distant cousin Duncan: raised in the Scottish highlands among warring clans, and struck down in battle only to find himself resurrected. Connor only appears in the pilot episode of Highlander: The Series, but is occasionally mentioned during the show’s six seasons.
Throughout the films and television series, the average Immortal is an adult, physically at an age where they can properly defend themselves. It is possible for someone to suffer their “mortal wound” at a very young age or at an older point in what would be their “natural” life, but these preadolescent and/or elderly ones are not often seen—a grim reminder of what some Immortals will do in the pursuit to be the final One. Outliving and outlasting every other Immortal in existence is said to grant the lone survivor “The Prize”: the reward differs according to legends among their enigmatic race, but a prevailing theory is that the outcome results in the winner being bestowed with a normal mortal life. Since Immortals are unable to have children, The Prize is also prophesied to bequeath the final champion the ability to have a family.
Texas teams/programs included:
These designs are all inspired by the triumph over adversity as shown in the Highlander stories as well as the tremendous athletes across the state. The cities and organizations are listed below -
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Stars
Dallas Mavericks
Texas Rangers
FC Dallas
Allen Americans
Arlington Renegades
SMU Mustangs of University Park
TCU Horned Frogs of Fort Worth
Texas A&M Aggies of College Station
UT Longhorns of Austin
Baylor Bears of Waco
MCC Highlanders of Waco
Texas Tech Red Raiders of Lubbock
San Antonio Spurs
Houston Rockets
Houston Astros
Houston Texans
Stay in the loop for more details by following Jonfiction Blog on Substack and be sure to check out jonmcbrine.com for more info about this and all my books.
Unsecret Identity: Eric Icarus - Book One is available now from the Amazon as a paperback and as an ebook.
https://a.co/2XAtxvH
New blog every Monday. Newsletter first Monday of each month.