This classic series was invented by English writerly genius Pat Mills, as rendered here by another genius-artist blokey, Simon Bisley, someone who should be relatively familiar across the classic American comics market. It first appeared in the Brit sci-fi mag 2000 AD in 1983, with this story following around 6yrs later.

Now, I *think* my first exposure to Mills’ work was via Requiem Chevalier Vampire, a perfectly crazy-ass series which created a fascinating, extra-mortal, mythological hierarchy of a devilish & demonic world of recurring suffering, good perhaps equally-well for both Dante enthusiasts and Orthodox Christians. Or something like that.

Bisley was evidently a huge fan of Richard Corben, and it really shows at times!

Sláine is a wanderer who is banished from his tribe, the Sessair. He explores the “Land of the Young” with an unscrupulous dwarf called Ukko, fighting monsters and mercenaries. In one early adventure he rescues a maiden, Medb, from being sacrificed in a wicker man, only to earn her enmity – she was a devotee of Crom Cruach, the god to whom she was to be sacrificed, and was looking forward to the experience. Her master and mentor, the ancient, rotting and insane Lord Weird Slough Feg, leader of the evil Drunes, becomes the series’ main villain. --WP

Sláine’s favourite weapon is an axe called “Brainbiter”. He has the power of the “warp spasm”, based on the ríastrad or body-distorting battle frenzy of the Irish hero Cú Chulainn, in which earth power “warps” through his body, turning him into a terrifying, monstrously powerful figure. He is a devotee of the earth goddess Danu.

And here’s a backstory key that may help:

(right-click as needed)

Right so, let’s take a look at a story-chapter:

PRIOR CHAPTER : It seems that in pursuit of a certain quest, Sláine must first brave all in reaching a secret underwater cave wherein the Earth Goddess dwells. He does so successfully, and she interrogates him in what normally seems like a fatal ending for those who make it thus far. Yet his frank, canny answers please her, and so they take a walk…

NOTE: if in the UK (etc) where Imgur is blocked, use archive tools to backup & view THIS link.

I selected this particular story sequence because there’s a clear narrative here, following up from the previous chapter and setting up things to come. At other times, Sláine can be complex and elusive, with narrative and focus shifting a lot. Indeed, much of this book hits me as examples of ‘tell, don’t show,’ which can be frustrating for people like me who tend to prefer the reverse. That said, Bisley’s art is consistently fascinating, and even if one can’t follow the story very well at first blush, well, they can simply flip pages and enjoy them that way.

In short, this series seems to be one which can be read a load of times, while it gradually reveals its larger meaning with each pass. Best perhaps for art and history-fanciers, with a heavy dollop of ‘swords & mythology’ energy. That said, I’m still an early reader at this point, coming at this stuff as a Thorgal and The Mercenary enthusiast, with some fleeting-fond memories of Conan the Barbarian.

Bah. We’ll see how it goes, then…