Comic Review 244 // Judge Dredd: Small House by Rob Williams & Henry Flint

Nice to be back among the streets of MC-1. I originally read this back in 2019, but I never reviewed it for some reason. Why did that happen? But it gave me what little excuse was needed to re-read it. Found at my local library, so let us dive in.

Title: Judge Dredd: The Small House

Author: Rob Williams

Artist: Henry Flint

Blurb: The critically-acclaimed and fan-lauded latest Judge Dredd tale which sent shockwaves through the universe and Mark Millar called “one of the best runs ever!”

Everything is at stake and no-one is safe – in the critically-acclaimed storyline from Rob Williams and Henry Flint, Judge Dredd and his team of hand-picked allies finally takes on the nefarious Judge Smiley, Mega-City One’s behind-the-scenes manipulator – but who will be left standing at the end? And with tensions with Chief Judge Hershey at breaking point, has Dredd finally met his match?

Format: 96 pages, Paperback (buy via Amazon: Affiliate Shop - thanks for the support)

Review

As a long-time reader, you can't read a Rob Williams' Dredd story without having this feeling of building dread. He is being sneaky in his stories and hinting at something in the shadows working against Dredd and possibly MC-1, but what is it or better yet, who? This story is bringing this all to a head and seems to be finally closing this arc (maybe).

The tale begins on Titan with a survivor of an early Rob William story - Judge Sam. If you haven't read Titan, I highly recommend it, and you could say this is the beginning adventure of the arc. Judge Sam hails from Brit-Cit and is a brilliant Architect. With too much free time on Titan, Judge Sam has noticed a more like a web pattern. This web of actions across the globe all lead to MC-1 and, more importantly, to the Grand Hall of Justice. Wanting to unravel this mystery, Judge Sam requests a transfer to MC-1 and becomes a street judge hoping to discover more.

Now I don't want to ruin it with spoilers, so I must stop there with the plot. But inside this story, we get Judge Dredd, Judge Giant, SJS Judge Gerhart, Judge Sam and Wally Squad Dirty Franks working together. It's like a dream team! We also finally discover the origin story of Dirty Frank and boy it does not disappoint!

Ultimately this is a classic conspiracy tale that can be enjoyed as a stand-alone piece, but also very enjoyable to see all the loose strings tied up. The artwork, unsurprisingly, is fantastic. Henry Flint is my favourite Dredd artist of the modern line-up. He just knows what works! Backgrounds are detailed but not distracting, his characters show their age, and I wonder how he does it, but he can portray the persona of a character purely through art. The story this writer/artist combo has produced over the years has been some of my favourites in the series, and I can't wait to get more of their work soon!

There is one line you see a lot about this tale, but it sums up the conspiracy perfectly:

“There is a house, you know. A small house. And it has no doors. There is no way in and no way out. Yet someone lives there.”

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Comic Review 237 // Slaine: The Brutania Chronicles - Book 4

The penultimate graphic novel. As far as I know, there is only one more collection! How scary, no more Slaine tales. I will have to start painting the figures soon. But back to the review:

Title: Sláine: The Brutania Chronicles Book Four

Author: Pat Mills

Illustrator: Simon Davis

Blurb: Stone Killer! Albion. Celtic Warrior Sláine United the tribes of the Earth Goddess and became the first High King of Ireland, but is now a wanderer. Having journeyed to Monadh to rescue Sinead from the Drune Lords, Sláine has discovered that they have been experimenting on their own creations, much to the displeasure of the Cyths’ jailer, the Archon Yaldabaoth. Now, the Archon has awoken, and destruction will surely follow…

Format: 96 pages, Kindle Edition (Buy now via Amazon)

Review

Hmmm. There's so much I like about Sláine, but I am finding the story of his parentage to be dragging on a bit too much. The last collection dealt with his mother and set up the options of who could be Sláine's father and in this collection we finally get the answers. But boy did they drag it out!

We continue the overarcing themes of Folklore alongside the hatred of Christianity. It would seem unsurprisingly to Mills fans that he has issues with Patriarchal faiths (as we should), but it came across a bit to heavy in this title.

Overall the story wrapped up nicely and all the pieces are in place to leave Sláine  heading off into the wild. The real highlight of course is Simon Davis' artwork. It was beautiful, intriguing and had you searching out the details. The Stone Men, were brutal and I really hope we will see them in miniature form soon. Fingers crossed!

Now for a little break from Sláine before I read the final book. Maybe we should visit Judge Dredd for a bit? As always I appreciate you stopping in for the read and I hope you will consider supporting my blogging adventures by using the following links:

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Comic Review 235 // Slaine: The Brutania Chronicles - Book 3

Sad to think our time with Slaine is drawing to an end. There have been some spectacular highs in the series, along with lows. But no series has divided the crowd as much as the Brutania Chronicles. I've enjoyed the pace change, but I can see how this new/older Slaine is upsetting the fans. A broken hero in a world that no longer wants him is a step away from the young heroic barbarian of the 80s. Now I remember reading this series, so I am excited to revisit it; I remember the artwork being great.

Title: Sláine: The Brutania Chronicles Book Three

Author: Pat Mills

Illustrator: Simon Davis

Blurb: UNLEASH THE BEAST!

Overpowered by the fury of the Primordial, Sláine is on the brink of defeat. 

Cyth Lord Gododin attempts to break him by summoning memories that he would rather forget… 

Confronting the demons of his past, the Celtic Hero must cut through the Drune Lord’s twisted minions and reunite with Sinead to rescue Zana, the ape-woman, one of the last remnants of humankind before they were ‘improved’ by the Cyth. As their attempts to suppress humanity fall before Sláine and his axe, the Cyth must answer to their master and jailer – the Archon Yaldabaoth!

Format: 105 pages, Kindle Edition

Buy now on Amazon 

Review

Yep, stunning artwork as I remember. Simon Davis produces some beautiful panels. I also like how the colouring of the artwork helps us to know when we are in the present vs the past. The classic sepia filter really does help. 

It was a great read and we got to rediscover Slaine and the emotions that drive him. We basically get a Slaine with depth finally. This volume continues to build on the theme of isolation that Slaine has found himself in, no family, no tribe and no Ukko. These combine together to lead us to a self-doubting Slaine alone in the world and this weakness is punished by enemies who attempt to tap into this trauma to finally break Slaine's spirit.

Cyth Lord Gododin forces Slaine to relive parts of his childhood in an attempt to manipulate the warrior, and we take a back seat and join the ride as we watch the death of Slaine's mother, and attempt to solve the mystery of who Slaines father is (lots of fun twists here). Whilst this is happening Sinead with a weakened Slaine also attempts to rescue Zana, the ape-woman. Possibly the final survivor of the pre-Cyth races of earth. But with all the death and battling an older more scary power has woken and it would seem in book four that Slaine will have to face the Archon Yaldabaoth.

Everything is now nicely set for the final volume and I for one am excited to read it.

Comic Review 234 // Slaine: The Brutania Chronicles - Book 2

I love that my joy of Slaine is upon me and I am devouring the Brutania Chronicles. Are you ready? Because I am!

Title: Sláine: The Brutania Chronicles - Book Two: Primordial

Author: Pat Mills

Illustrator: Simon Davis

Blurb: TROJAN WAR!

ALBION, IN A TIME OF LEGEND. Celtic warrior Sláine united the tribes of the Earth Goddess Danu and became the first High King of Ireland. After ruling for seven years, he travelled through time to fight for the Goddess in other eras before returning to save his people from the Fomorian sea devils. Now, having journeyed to Monadh to rescue Sinead from the Drune Lords, he must face the powerful might of the Trojan army and their superhuman warrior, the Primordial, in a battle to the death!

This thrilling continuation of The Brutania Chronicles was written by 2000 AD creator Pat Mills (Ro-Busters) and features the breathtaking, painted art of Simon Davis (Missionary Man, B.L.A.I.R. 1).

Format: 112 pages, Kindle Edition (buy now on Kindle)

Review

I really enjoyed this one. The artwork looked amazing the characters were interesting and having to learn some Celtic terms and lore was a true highlight. Good job I have google. Also for the love of all things, I hope a model of the Fishhead Drune wearing the Salmon of Knowledge becomes a real Warlord Games model in the future!

The story continuing in Albion has Slaine facing down against Slough Gododin. Gododin is the chief of the Drunes lords but also the Son of Slough Feg, meaning he has a well-rounded and thought-out back story. We actually have a revenge story that isn't just thrown together. With Slaine's link to the warping powers broken, we also have a Slaine who is broken and physically at his weakest. Add into this mix the psychological abuse Gododin is adding and we get a really meaty plot.

The plot highlight of this volume is Slaine's back story as we try to work out and discover who his real day is and how it may affect Slaine moving forwards. I don't want to give spoilers so you have to read this volume yourselves!

Now don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this title, but being book two means ultimately it is setting us up for the main action. So there is a little feeling of a lull in the story, but in no way is this bad if read correctly. Reading it all in one go is very important (if long when it is multiple volumes), if you pick this up as a stand-alone read, you will be disappointed and you are also missing the point. Read in sequence and you should not be disappointed.

Comic Review 233 // Slaine: The Brutania Chronicles - Book 1 by Pat Mills

Continuing my adventures into the Worlds of Slaine. This title is the beginning of something new. The series is called The Brutania Chronicles and is spread over four books (I believe). It is also a change in art styles as we get treated to Simon Davis's version of the world. So let us dive in.

Title: Sláine: The Brutania Chronicles - Book One

Author: Pat Mills

Illustrator: Simon Davis

Blurb: THE CELTIC WARRIOR RETURNS!

ANCIENT ALBION. Celtic barbarian warrior Sláine united the tribes of the Earth Goddess and became the first High King of Ireland. After ruling for seven years, he fought for the Goddess, travelling through time to battle her enemies before returning to save his people from the Fomorian sea devils. Now, he's crossed over onto the isle of Monadh in an attempt to rescue Sinead from the evil clutches of the Drune Lords...

This brand-new chapter in the life of Sláine is the perfect jumping-on-point for new readers as writer Pat Mills (Marshal Law) transports the Celtic warrior to the ancient world of Albion. This book also introduces the fully-painted art style of Simon Davis (Ampney Crucis) to the strip for the first time.

Format: 112 pages, Kindle Edition

Buy now via Amazon

Review

Wow, a change of pace with this title. Slaine is a changed man, older, wiser, disgruntled and grizzled. The wars and deaths have taken their toll, and now Slaine wanders Albion alone, almost a shade of his former self. This is a depressed Slaine; the world has changed, and his people have gone to a new dimension to live in peace with the Earth Goddess. The temples of old now lie abandoned and cold, many being plundered by raiders. Whilst the few Fomorians still left alive have carved out a new empire where they impose their fearsome nose tax!

It does feel like Slaine has lost his spark, finally beaten by the constant fighting and loss. He isn't the hero of old, but that makes this title interesting. He fights only when he has to; he no longer seeks out adventure. This is a true insight into what happens to the hero who lives for too long. What happens when you become broken and disenchanted by the world around you. It is an exciting direction to take Slaine, and it also feels like a point many reviewers miss.

I am a big fan of Simon Davis's work; it feels like proper fantasy artwork, which you would have seen in the 70s and early 80s. The creatures are genuinely fantastical, with a hint of realism still about them, whilst the large panel artwork keeps you focused on the story. But the problem you have is this is following on from such an epic story arc, "Invasions," that it is hard not to compare. Our heroic saviour of his people being broken and depressed will not please everyone. But this arc promises to be great and seems very fitting for the times it was written in.

Let me know your thoughts. Are you reading these as well?

By far a highlight!

Comic Review 222 // Slaine the Wanderer by Pat Mills

Whoops, I have fallen behind on my Slaine reading and reviewing, I allowed the library finds to distract me for too long. But no more! Today we return to Slaine.

Title: Sláine: The Wanderer

Author: Pat Mills

Art: Clint Langley

Blurb: Tir Nan Og - the Land of the Young, a mystical place of myth and legend. Celtic warrior Sláine, the first High King of Ireland and Ukko his (un) faithful dwarf sidekick encounter everything from evil magicians and demonically-possessed maidens, to the bloody roots of modern day football, as they roam their world in search of adventure.

Collects:

- The Gong Beater (Progs #1635–#1638)

- The Amber Smuggler (Progs #1662–#1665)

- The Exorcist (Progs #1709–#1712)

- The Mercenary (Progs #1713–#1714 and Prog 2011)

Format: E-Book - 112 pages

Review

As mentioned in the opener I have let too much time pass between the reviews. But what a way to come back. A stand-alone graphic novel collecting four short tales. This is the perfect way to reintroduce me to the series. All the stories are created by Pat Mills so we know what to kind of expect and the art of Clint Langley which is always crazy and epic. I expect a fun read.

It was first of great to have Ukko back, he was absent from Invasions, and I missed him, so having him back in the downtrodden sidekick role was uplifting. The opening Tale 'The Gong Beater" was a fun light-hearted tale like the old Slaine. Seeing Ukko attempting to make some fast cash by turning an Old Cyth Tower into condos. Which ultimately goes wrong when the monsters start arriving.

This seems to be the theme of the book as we have a lot of old-school Slaine adventures, with them getting in trouble and fighting their way out again. It was a great reminder of where Slaine started off with humour and tongue-in-cheek fantasy stories, which have of late been replaced with darker tales. It was also full of cameos of old favourites, like Nest and the Guledig, who were actually nice touches as it showed some of the old characters still existed (it has been feeling like most of the characters had died at this point).

Ultimately if you are a fan of Slaine's early tales you will enjoy these. If on the other hand, you started with Invasions you may be wondering what happened to the heroic Slaine and why is the stupid Dwarf here (ha). The art was good and helps bring the stories to life, but I feel like something is lacking, maybe the palette of colours was dulled down too much? Overall a great refresher to the world of Slaine and I am ready for Books of Scars.

Comic Review 212 // Slaine: Book of Invasions Vol.3 by Pat Mills

We made it, people! Sláine: The Books Of Invasions, Vol. 3 - Odracon and Carnival by Pat Mills, the concluding part of this story arc and the exciting ending of this tale. Let's no waste time and just dive in.

Title: Sláine: The Books Of Invasions, Vol. 3 - Odracon and Carnival
Author: Pat Mills

Illustrator: Clint Langley

Blurb: Tir Nan Og is the Land of the Young, deep in Celtic myth and legend. After years of wandering, Slaine united the tribes of the Earth Goddess and became the first High King of Ireland. After defending the Goddess in other eras, he has since returned to his own time and kingdom. Now, as the Fomorians besiege the city of Tara, Slaine comes back from the Otherworld to help.

Collects:

- The Books of Invasions V: Odacon (Progs #1436–#1442)

- Carnival (Progs 2006, #1469–#1475) (less)

Get your own kindle copy from Amazon.ca

Format: Hardcover, 128 pages

Review

Slaine is returned just in time to save Tara from the Fomorians. But not all the Fomorians are killed in the action, and soon a band of warriors led by Slaine are searching the lands for the last of them. The Fomorian in question is Odacon and with aid manages to dup a village into becoming hosts for its spawn. Soon Slaine and his band are striking out against the village before burning it and the foul spawn to the ground. Here ends the arc of the Invasion tales and the lands of Ireland are purged from the Fomorians. As the final pages come to an end Slaine is left to wander in search of his son Kai, whilst Gael is crowned High King of Ireland.

A nice ending for this series. Weirdly this could have been squeezed into the last book in my opinion. But with it being only half this title we can move on to the next piece.

Carnival of Night - Slaine whilst looking for his son Kai has arrived in Albion. As he travels the lands he discovers a travelling Carnival that declares to have a collection of monsters and marvels that can not be rivalled. Well as it turns out it is managed/owned by Slaine's Dwarf ally Ukko, who managed to also recruit Kai, Slaine's son. Kai has grown and become a man, along with finding a partner in Estella, the sleepless beauty. Of course, with Slaine on the scene, the story has to have some mystery/action and soon it is discovered that a murder stalks the grounds of the Carnival. Can Kai, Slaine and Ukko discover the truth or will the show be about to end?

A great return of Ukko and the story itself was engaging, this felt very much like old-school Slaine. It was actually the highlight of the book for me. But with the end of this tale, we have another Slaine story finished.

Let me know your thoughts on this tale. Also, any suggestions on what title to read next will greatly help.

Comic Review 211 // Slaine: Book of Invasions Volume 2 by Pat Mills.

Can't leave Slaine alone for too long! He gets into trouble way too fast. This week's read is Slaine: Book of Invasions Volume 2 by Pat Mills. So sharpen your axe, and let's dive in!

Title: Sláine: The Books of Invasions, Volume 2.

Author: Pat Mills

Artist: Clint Langley

Blurb: Barbarian warrior and former High King of Ireland Sláine continues the epic battle against the fearsome sea demons, but now he finds an ally from an unexpected source. Together they must rid Tir Nan Og of the Fomorian scourge, using every means at their disposal, including calling on help from the Earth Goddess herself!

Collects:

- The Books of Invasions III: Scota (Progs 2004 and #1371–#1376)

- The Books of Invasions IV: Tara (Progs 2005 and #1420–#1425)

Format: Kindle, 100 pages

Buy Now on Amazon.ca

Review

Unsurprisingly this title swiftly follows on from Volume One. Having just defeated the first round of Formanians and Moloch, Slaine returns to Ireland to once again another invading force. As warned by Moloch, the children of Atlantis have returned and plan to take Ireland.

We are introduced to a new race of Fomorian sea demons who have to meld with a host to be able to walk on the land, and we get a genuinely fearsome-looking enemy! The leading group has taken on a host of warriors who seem noble in spirit but have no will of their own anymore. Once more battle is joined, skulls are taken, and blood is everywhere. We get action, betrayal, a love story and a lot of sadness.

The new characters are fascinating, and we start to see some new lore slipping in from outside the traditional Celtic tales. Scota, for example, brings some Egyptian folktales over with the inclusion of Atlantis. The villains also seem extra villainous, willing to sacrifice the hosts if it means a final chance at a backstab. They can also wholly reanimate injured and damaged bodies, meaning you must completely put them down to stand a chance against them! Following some brutal battles, this tale ends with the Fomorians at the Gates of the City Tara. If this city falls, so will all of Ireland!

Overall, this title has something for everyone; I enjoyed it so much. This series has definitely felt like a move away from traditional Slaine. But I don't think that is a bad thing. If Slaine were to stay the same, his stories would become repetitive and dull, so I feel the Invasion series was much needed to refreshen the series. What are your thoughts? Let me know!

Comic Review 208 // SLÁINE: BOOK OF INVASIONS VOL. 1

We are back with Slaine, and it is the start of the Invasion Series. Quite possibly the most chilling story I remember from my 2000 AD days. Here are the details:

Title: Sláine: The Books of Invasions, Vol. 1 - Moloch and Golamh (Sláine #10)

Author: Pat Mills

Artist: Clint Langley

Blurb: The Sea Devils have risen against Tir Nan Og, the Land of the Young, and Sláine, once the first High King of Ireland, must protect his tribe against this new tide of evil. Leading the demons is Moloch a hideous Fomorian lord, bristling with swords and driven by a perverse hunger for human suffering. Fighting alongside his warrior wife Niamh, Sláine must drive back the demons or pay a price too terrible to comprehend...

Collects:

- The Books of Invasions I: Moloch (Progs #1322–#1326)

- The Books of Invasions II: Golamh (Progs #1350–#1355) (less)

Get a Copy via Amazon CA - Kindle Edition

Review

It's an all-out war! The Fomorians aka Sea Devils have been roused to war by Balor of the Evil Eye. He leads them in an invasion of Ireland where Slaine currently serves as High King. The Fomorians having claimed a lot of lands started demanding heavy taxes, and this inspires the Irish to rise up against them.

The battle does not go well, mainly because Slaine is not allowed to fight and is actually chained up! Hearing the slaughter Slaine warps out, escaping and turning the tide of battle. Slaine goes on to kill Balor and even manages to capture Moloch, a High Lord of the Fomorians. Once again Slaine is held back from killing the monster and is instead forced to accept a truce and allow Moloch to leave unharmed! This of course was the wrong choice, and the villainous Moloch returns to murder Slaine's love Quenn Niamh.

Soon Slaine is on a War Path looking for Moloch, having stood down as High King. Moloch didn't really stand a chance and as he dies he warns Slaine that the Lost Children of Atlantis is coming and that another invasion is inevitable. Soon Slaine is heading home but how much of Ireland will be left?

An amazing start to this new series. I am excited for the new villains and a Slaine with no regard for his own safety. The artwork was stunning and captured my attention with all the fine details. The Niamh story was painful and heart-wrenching, well played Mr. Mills. I need to book two so expect that one next week.

As always I appreciate the support thank you all. Please take a moment to check out my unboxing video of the Slaine game and give my Youtube channel a follow: Adventures with Peps YouTube

Comic Review 204 // SLÁINE: LORD OF THE BEASTS by Pat Mills

Got another Slaine graphic novel under my belt. Crazy to think I am now nine collections in. I really enjoyed the series and was hoping Lord of the Beasts would continue the trend.

Title: Sláine: Lord of the Beasts (Sláine #9)

Author: Pat Mills

Artist Team: Rafael Garres, Paul Staples, Wayne Reynolds, Siku, David Bircham & Steve Parkhouse.

Blurb: THE LOST YEARS!

Having united the Tribes of the Earth Goddess to battle the hoards to enslave demons determined on enslaving them, Sláine was appointed as the first High King of Ireland. After protecting the tribes for seven years, he was put to death so that he could serve Danu in the afterlife.

This exciting collection features a series of adventures which took place during Sláine's seven-year reign – a period where he spent time as a near-mindless beast stuck in a warp spasm, was reunited with his son Kai and was forced to defend his lands against the Secret Commonwealth of demons led by his old enemy, Medb!

Buy Now on Amazon

Format: E-book 256 pages

Review

Grail War seems to be the end of the epic Slaine tales (for now), and Lord of the Beasts is just a series of short stories collected together as Slaine's "Lost Years". Most of them are set during Slaine's High King of Ireland.

We start things off with the title tale Lord of Beasts. It explores what would happen if Slaine became trapped within the Warp Spasm beast he can become. Cleverly told by Nest, it is a tale of love as Niamh races to rescue Slaine before he is trapped forever. The artwork in this one is bat-shit crazy and the fantasy styling is lovely.

We follow this up with two tales about Kai, the son of Slaine and Niamh. The first involves an ambush by the Fomorians as they attempt to capture Slaine and his bloodline in the hopes of ending his line. A simple story but comical at times and fun to read. Then we get The Banishing, which sees Slaine involved in a parent-teacher meeting as Kai is facing banishment for experiments gone wrong.

A lot of the stories are pretty standard, they work as a one-shot, but when reading back to back, they can become dull. Luckily, there is some stand out tales like "The Swan Children". Based on a Celtic Legend and beautifully recreated with the artwork, it is about the four foster siblings of Slaine and Niamh. Such a beautiful story and how the children affected Ukko shocked me!

But for every standout there is a disappointment. The Secret Commonwealth falls under this bracket. For this adventure, we have Slaine facing off against his old enemy Medb. She has returned at the head of an otherworldly army. I don't get what was happening here; Slaine looks weird. To be honest, it seems like they had hoped to edit the style of the artwork for a more modern look and simply lost the character and ended up making the story feel disjointed. It's a shame to end on a downer, but that is how it goes sometimes. I wonder if the story was recreated in different styling, if it would work, or if the tale was just destined to fail.

Have you read Lord of Beasts? Let me know.

Comic Review 202 // Sláine: The Grail War by Pat Mills

Powering through the Slaine stories at the moment! We have reached book 8, The Grail War, by Pat Mills. Slaine is still travelling through time and has reached the era of the Crusaders! This should be a good one.

Title: Sláine: The Grail War

Author: Pat Mills

Illustrators: Steve Tappin, Nick Percival & Massimo Belardinelli

Fluff: Sláine MacRoth – Celtic warrior and High King of the tribes of the Earth Goddess Danu, continues his journey through time. Sláine arrives in thirteenth-century France, where he comes face to face with Crusader Simon De Montfort, the sworn enemy of the Cathars. While searching for the tortured reincarnation of his lover Niamh, Sláine is compelled to join forces with De Montfort to seek out the Grail Stone. The quest won't be easy, however – Sláine will have to defeat the dark forces of El if he is to stand any chance of saving Niamh's soul!

Collects:

- The Demon Hitchhiker (Prog #1032)

- King of Hearts (Progs #1033–#1039)

- The Grail War (Progs #1040–#1049)

- Secret of the Grail (Progs #1090–#1099)

- The Battle of Clontarf (2000 AD Annual 1985)

Format: Digital 176 pages

Buy on Amazon and support the blog

Review

This title kicks off with King of Hearts, which sees Slaine paired up with William Wallace as he joins the Scots to fight off the English. We get to witness the defeat of Falkirk and William's retreat to his home. Here he communes with the ancient spirits of Scotland as he awaits to battle with the English again. As he prays, Slaine answers the call and becomes William's Champion due to the bonds between Ireland and Scotland. This helps to set up the Stone of Destiny story and introduce the Knights Templars as agents of the Cyth. So evil and brutal that I love it.

The rest of the book is, of course, The Grail War. We finally leave the shores of the British Isles and head into mainland Europe. Slaine has arrived in medieval France and joins forces with Simon De Montfort as he wages war on the Cathars. This is an exciting twist as up till now, Slaine has always fought against the Christian Church, but in a twist of fate, it turns out that Slaine's enteral love, Niamh, has been reincarnated as Simon De Montfort. The story has strange twists and turns as we have dragons and Lovecraft-style demons from space. I found that there was too much going on to remember it all, and I found myself rereading pages to remind myself.

The art, as with nearly all the Slaine books, is stunning, each artist is different, but all add a great depth to the story. They definitely added to the fantasy aspects of the story while still keeping us grounded in the darkness and gore. Pat Mills did an excellent job on the storytelling, but a little less religion/folklore would have helped me out no end. But for fans of Slaine, this is a great read.

As always, I appreciate you reading this far, and I hope you will check out the graphic novel using my link above. Looking for more fun? Head over to my Youtube page for more adventures (CLICK).

Comic review 201 // Slaine: The treasures of Britain by Pat Mills

Hard to believe I am now on book seven in the Slaine series! I really wasn't sure heading into the Slaine stories if I would enjoy them or not. For me, the idea of Slaine was very much like Conan, but as I have read more, I have realized how different they are. Pat Mills is a true treasure of Britain! Now on to the graphic novel.

Title: Slaine: The Treasures Of Britain

Purchase via Amazon

Author: Pat Mills

Illustrator: Dermot Power

Fluff: Slaine Mac Roth - Celtic warrior and High King of the tribes of the Earth Goddess Danu, has been summoned through time to the age of Camelot. King Arthur has fallen in battle, and a curse has caused darkness to fall upon the kingdom. To heal the land, Merlin and Morgaine la Fee need Sláine (accompanied by his unfaithful sidekick Ukko, the Dwarf) to retrieve the lost 'Treasures of Britain' - magical artifacts also being sought out by the Saxon plunderer Hengwulf. These powerful items are defended by the demon-like Cyth, who harvest human misery to revive their masters - the Dark Gods of Cythrawl!

Format: Epub

Other info: First published October 15, 1997

Review

Now, as many kids have been. I was enthralled by knights, castles, Camelot and Arthur. So I was happy to see Slaine getting thrown into the mix. The story takes place after Arthur falls in combat with his son Mordred. The land of Brittania has been covered in darkness, Saxons and Christianity. To save the kingdom, the rivals of Merlin and Morgaine La Fee combine their powers to call on the Great Dragon of Britain to bring forth a hero to recover the 13 treasures of Britain. Said hero is, of course, Slaine and the proper lead Ukko, the Dwarf.

Now, of course, Slaine can't just march in as himself, so he takes on the Green Knight (Gwalchmai) role and will discover new and some old enemies along the way.

This is a fantastic story and, for my personal tastes, actually beats out the Horned God. Set in a theme, I thoroughly enjoy how this perfectly added to the stories and myths. The story is enhanced to another level by the work of Dermot Power, whose action scenes are intense and full of movement while the colour palette matches the story theme perfectly. We also get some humour-filled tales which helped break the epic up. I can't recommend this title enough; it was a joy to read and look at and deserving of more praise than it has received.

I hope you will give it a go and let me know what you think.

Comic Review 200 // Slaine Horned God by Pat Mills

Well, we are starting to race through the Slaine series now! I now own 18 out of the 19 titles and have completed six reviews. meaning we are a third of the way through. For many Slaine fans, this is the must-read title so I have high hopes and really hope I am not left disappointed.

Title: Slaine: The Horned God: Kiss His Axe!

Author: Pat Mills

Artist: Simon Bisley 

Fluff: FOR TOO LONG THE PEOPLE OF TIR-NAN-OG HAVE SUFFERED UNDER THE DOMINION OF THE DRUNES; strange druids who have poisoned the land with their magic. Slaine has had enough of their tyranny and, through the Earth Goddess, he learns some shocking truths about the priesthood and his own future. Now Slaine must unite the four kings of Tir-Nan-Og and use their mystical weapons as he and the Sessair tribe prepare for all-out war!

This new edition of one of 2000 AD's most popular stories comes complete with an intro and commentary by Pat Mills (A.B.C. Warriors) and features the stunning art of Simon Bisley (Lobo).

Format: 192 pages, Kindle Edition

Buy via Amazon here: Kindle Edition

Review

As mentioned I am rapidly devouring these Slaine titles and if you want to learn more please feel free to check out the other reviews here.

This is the fourth title in the series following Slaine and his adventures for the Earth Goddess. Having become King of his tribe, Slaine must now unite the other fractured groups and collect the treasures of the Goddess to become High King. But whilst he undergoes these trials his two greatest enemies Balor and Lord Wierd Slough Feg, are raising armies of Drunes and Fomorians to raid the kingdom of the Young.

This is a classic adventure tale, leading up to some big moments. The obvious one is the battles but we also delve into the history of the Earth Goddess and how man has raised male Gods above her in order to control her (which I found interesting), this path of discovery then leads Slaine to become the Horned God which is the 'Husband' of the Goddess. This role he will hold for seven years before sacrificing himself in honour of the Earth. It is also at this time that we discover that Slough Feg was also a Horned God, but instead of sacrificing himself, he corrupted his power to sustain his life, which slowly drove him insane and into the monster that he now is.

The battle scenes are epic and bloody, very deserving of a Slaine title. It turns out that all the fighting has enraged the Earth Goddess and she causes the land to convulse, so as Slaine claims victory over the Drunes and Fomorians he is forced to watch as the land of the young is swallowed by the waves forcing the tribes into what would become Ireland.

Overall an amazing story I can see why many recommend it. It shows Slaine as more than just a thug, a barbarian. It shows his leadership qualities, his ability to unite the tribes and even acts of diplomacy. For once we have rounded out Slaine's character and I like it. The artwork throughout the piece is stunning and I definitely know how to paint up my Fomorians finally. So ultimately a win for me.

If you are interested in the Slaine series you should try out this collection. I feel it will set you on the right path.

As always thanks for reading!

Comic Review 199 // Slaine: Lord of Misrule by Pat Mills

Wow, we have finally caught up with teenage reading me! I remember this story being in the 2000 ADs when I first started reading them. This is bringing back a lot of memories. Before I get too misty-eyed, let's get into the details.

Title: Sláine: The Lord of Misrule (Sláine #6)

Author: Pat Mills

Art team: Greg Staples, Clint Langley and Jim Murray.

Fluff: Sent on a quest by the Earth Goddess to destroy the Blood God, Sláine has now been reborn in the time of the Normans as Robin Goodfellow, King of the Greenwood. First, he has to seek out his beloved Niamh (herself reborn as a Christian nun called Marian) and together, they must learn the secret name of the beast so that Sláine can destroy it as the Lord of Misrule!

Collects:

- Name of the Sword (Progs #950–#956)

- Lord of Misrule (Progs #958–#963)

- Bowels of Hell (Prog #1000)

Buy Now on Amazon

Review

Slaine and Ukko are travelling through time as they aid the Goddess Danu on random quests to recover artifacts and knowledge that can save the land of the young in Slaine's past. For this collected series, we see them arriving in Britain in 1108ad, searching for the Sword of the Blood God. Slaine has taken on the role of Robin Goodfellow aka Robin Hood. In this role, we see Slaine facing Normans and the Christian Church.

This task is troublesome, but it comes to Slaine's attention that his love Niamh has been reincarnated as Nun. Can Slaine focus on his mission, or will love conquer all?

As mentioned earlier, this story holds many memories for me, and as soon as I saw Simon Bisley's art, I was absorbed back in that time as a teenager. The artwork is stunning and challenging to duplicate (though many have tried). The Merry Men are Pagan warriors and honestly look the part, though kind of the hero they in still fear and terror that still haunts me into my adult life. Clint Langley's tale reminds me of the opening Graphic Novel's artwork with its more passionate and rough drawing style and makes for an excellent refresher for the eyes. Combining this art with Pat Mills' exceptional storytelling, we get a delightful story. A great fusion of Celtic/Pagan lore and the onset of Christianity tales.

As I continue my Slaine adventures, I can't help but get more and more excited. The stories seem to get better every time. I will be jumping back to Horned God as I didn't realize that was the next tale and skipped in error.

Have you read this graphic novel? What are your thoughts on it? Let me know, and more importantly, who is playing the Slaine Tabletop skirmish game by Warlord Games? Tell me in the comments.

Comic Review 196 // SLÁINE: THE KING

Time to get rocking through some Slaine goodies! Slaine: The King continues the story of Time Killer that ended abruptly, in my opinion. So grab an axe, pray to the Earth Goddess and become the King!

Title: Slaine: The King

Author: Pat Mills & Angie Kincaid

Art team: David Pugh, Glenn Fabry, Mike Collins. Letters Steve Potter

Format: Digital Edition

Want to Read? Support me by buying through Amazon.

Fluff:

Book 3 of 17 in the series.

Through the blood of his enemies...he will regain his throne!

From writer Pat Mills (Marshal Law) and artist Glenn Fabry (Preacher) comes a world of mists and magic and the ultimate Celtic warrior, Sláine! This classic tale of sword and sorcery, which makes Conan look like a boy scout, is finally available again, complete with an introduction by Mills and a host of extras.

Exiled from his tribe, Sláine is forced to roam the land of Tir-Nan-Og with his dwarf, Ukko. Ahead of him lie terrifying ordeals that will require all of Sláine's famed warrior strength if he is to return victorious and claim his rightful place as King!

Stories include:

The Tomb of Terror

Spoils of Annwn

Slaine the King

The Killing Field

Slaine the Mini-Series

Plus!

Author Bios

Bonus Material

Gallery

Review

Firstly it is great to get the conclusion from the last book. I was a little annoyed to find that they had split it. But hey, at least I didn't have to wait long. So the story continues with Slaine, Ukko and Nest teaming up with a rag-tag group of warriors and a mysterious Sorcerer. As they progress through the tomb, we discover an Old God is awakening from slumber thanks to the aid of the Cythrons. Of course, Slaine and crew are on hand to save the day but the building dread and the deaths really hit well in this tale.

With the threat passed, for now, we continue onto a trial of Hercules style story as Slaine, Ukko, and Nest travel to a new and strange country, completing tasks that will ultimately lead Slaine to become the King of his people.

But as Slaine returns home, he discovers his people to be enslaved by Northmen. And now prepares to rally his tribes and beat back the invaders. Which seems will be the focal point of the next book.

For the most part, I enjoyed the book, the HR Giger style Cythrons make for a great otherworld villain. This was great, paired with learning about elder races and gods/goddesses. I did, at times, struggle with the artwork, and I found the whole Leyser sword or gun not really needed. But overall a great read that has expanded my Slaine knowledge to no end.

I hope you feel inspired to read the comic and will take a moment to purchase it through the link. Thank you!

Comic Review 195 // Slaine: Time Killer by Pat Mills

Feels good to be back into Slaine after a little run of Star Wars. Don't get me wrong reading some other sci-fi was fun but it is not 2000 AD. Here we go with book two in the Slaine series by Pat Mills.

Title: Slaine: Time Killer

Author: Pat Mills

Fluff: 2000 AD's ever-popular Celtic hero returns in a deluxe collectors' hardback edition Before the events of 'The Horned Go'', a group comprising of Slaine; Ukko, his faithful((if evil-smelling) dwarf; Nest, a trainee priestess who knows the secrets of the Land of the Young; and Slaine's vast, voracious dragon steed, the Knucker, wander Tir-Nan-Og in search of the fortress of the Ever-Living Ones, arch-druids who may hold the key to the final defeat of the evil forces oppressing Slaine's people. But a chance encounter with a demonic alien race who are besieging the fortress hurls Slaine and his allies through time... to ever-greater battles, threats, and challenges

Comics

Format: 128 pages, E-book.

Review

First up I was surprised to discover this book is only made up of two stories! In the first tale, we are headed north with Slain and Ukko. Whilst travelling they come across a young lady in need of help. We discover her name is Nest of the Speckled face. Nest lives and works on a Dragon Farm! Slaine soon finds out that the farm is being accused of having a rogue dragon who is attacking the local village. Soon the truth is revealed and a wild dragon is loose, leaving it up to Slaine to ride a dragon into battle and save the village. Overall a classic fantasy story arc, with abusive uncles in power, evil villagers and dragons. Such a great start.

In the second tale, we have the trio heading north as Nest leads them to the Fortress of the Ever-Living Ones. As they arrive they find the fortress under siege by the villainous Pythons. An evil alien race imprisoned in the past on Earth, who manipulate time in an attempt to enslave the humans of earth. This story turned out to be an all-out battle, full of very strange artwork and creatures and starts to introduce the wider world of the mysticism of the Slaine lore. It is definitely a strange ending to the book as they leave us on a cliffhanger! My interest is definitely riding high and the High King has now been bought.

Compared to the first book we definitely see the epic stories starting to build. I can now comprehend where Pat Mills is trying to take the character, I also loved the mention of Finn in the story as that was one of my favourite comics back in the day before they removed it :(

I hope you enjoyed the review and stop back tomorrow for some more fun!

Comic Review 189 // Slaine: Demon Killer by Pat Mills

With the building excitement of my Warlord Games Slaine game arriving, I had to dive in and read more of the epic adventures of Slaine by Pat Mills. This title is not the next in the series, but it was the next one I had on hand. So let us dive in:

Title: Sláine: Demon Killer (Sláine #5)

Author: Pat Mills

Art: Glenn Fabry, Cam Kennedy, Greg Staples

Fluff:

Sláine is summoned by the Earth Goddess to travel through time and defend the Britons from Caesar's legions at the side of warrior-queen Boudica. But the Romans are not to be underestimated, especially with Sláine's old foe, the demon Elfric, at their side!

Buy Now: Amazon Kindle Edition

Other: 165 pages. Published March 2010 by 2000ad/Rebellion

Review

Another excellent 2000 AD and Pat Mills title. The introduction, for me, was a very nice touch as he explains how we commonly take the viewpoint of the Romans as civilized compared to the Celts. Which, as we are learning, is not always true. It is easy to remember that history is written by the victors, and their viewpoint of other cultures is properly best not taken as pure fact.

We join Slaine at a low point as he discovers being the High King of Ireland to be rather dull. Now, of a rank too essential to be injured. Slaine is no longer allowed to fight or brawl with his fellows. This continues into the main feature, which sees Slaine reaching the end of his Reign and embracing welcomed Death. At this point, the Earth Goddess offers Slaine the chance to continue fighting for her and whisks him into the future to fight alongside the legendary Boudica.

As Slaine joins forces with the warriors of Boudica, we soon discover that the Caesarians (Romans) are being manipulated by a demon called Elfric. Slaine has met this demon in a book I have skipped, but I am sure there was blood drawn, ha. Elfric is sadistic and enrages Boudica by desecrating sacred worship sites and Boudica's own children. This led to the significant battles of Boudica's fame and an infamous uprising that stalled Rome's occupation of Britain and beyond.

Soon a lot of blood is being shed. And though Slaine enjoyed being a part of the action, he soon longs for Ireland, and as Boudica's forces are finally crushed, he asks the Earth Goddess to return him to Ireland ending the story. This story was violent, like actually shocking at times. Most of the adventure is set within a battle. We play witness to bodies mutilated, spilt or severed. We even see/hear of the acts performed on civilians. I really think this book should come with a warning.

Glenn Fabry's art style is definitely suited to this gore-filled adventure and adds depth to the bloody horrors of war. I think this was a great choice by the art department to use him, and I hope we get more shortly.

The interesting twist in the book is within the final pages as we are treated to a classic Choose-your-own-Adventure story. What a great way to end the book, and it also makes me want to dig out the Ian Livingstone books with the green spines I have hoarded away.

Overall, a solid tale, and I am excited for the next installment I can grab. Until next time I appreciate the support whether it is following here, on Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Tik-Tok. I also love that a few of you are using my Amazon links or the Ko-fi Subscription. The little kickback I get is definitely helping to fund my life.

Cheers

Comic Review 187 // 2000 AD Prog 1337

Getting into the flow of reading these progs now. Expect more 2000 AD content coming your way in the upcoming weeks. For now, here is Prog 1337.

Absolute stunning cover image showing Hammerstein of the ABC Warriors directing his fellow droids as a crazy pyramid-shaped tank smashes through the wall. Seems like that storyline is about to get action-packed. But before that, we have other tales to talk about. Up first:

Judge Dredd - The Trial of Orlock // Part 2. Judge Dredd has been called to the stand as Orlock's defence council attempts to get the death sentence removed. Though a bold try was tried to save the East-Meg assassin's life, it ultimately fails, and Orlock is sentenced to death.

A sad end for such an iconic character of the strip. Though the true highlight of this strip is the executioner Judge, never seen these Judges before, and now I am intrigued.

The Caballistics are back with a new story titled; Caballistics, Inc. Breaking Out // Part 1. Some eco-friendly activists have broken into a lab they should have left well alone. During the break-in, some freaky-looking creatures escape, and I can only assume the team will be hunting them down in future issues. It would also seem Mr.Ravne is up to something as he drugs a down and out, forcing him to take a unique medicine and talk to the dead.

This ending is very hard-hitting; I was not expecting that.

We follow up with another new tale called Interceptor // Part 1. Hmm not sure on this one. An alien posing as a human is rushed into a hospital before being chased down and killed by what looks like a random group of humans. The alien/human passes on a device to the doctor next to him, giving her the ability to see aliens disguised as humans.

For an opener, I found this a dull or overused plot idea. But hopefully, I can be proven wrong.

Now the cover art story ABC Warriors - The Shadow Warriors // Part 2. The ABC Warriors act as a Peacekeeper force during a civil war on Mars. The team is sent into Getty City to explore the damage done during a Confederate attack. Inside they discover a dead city, but worst yet, the sound of silence grows and grows as they move further in. Too late, Hammerstein realizes what is happening, and the team is ambushed by Behemeks. Giant pyramid-shaped tanks create a wall of silence and are invulnerable to all but the heaviest artillery. The next issue is going to be a good one!

The final tale of the issue is the counter-terrorist story Snow/Tiger - Pax Americana // Part 2. As the team continues to track down the stolen Ebola Virus, they discover the actual group responsible and head to Kentucky to take them out. Ultimately this story is what it is. Personally not a favourite for me, but I can understand the appeal.

Overall another solid 2003 comic. Wow, 2000 AD was on a rollback then. The true highlight was ABC Warriors this issue and I am excited to see where it leads. As always thanks for reading.

Comic Review 185 // 2000 AD Prog 1336

This issue is going to be interesting. With three all-new tales inside, we get to see the return of some fan favourites, like Orlock and The ABC warriors. It did feel weird only having three stories as it felt short even though the stories were longer.

Up first. Judge Dredd - The Trial of Orlock // Part One. Orlock, the master assassin, has been captured and stands trial in Mega-City One. Unfortunately, it would seem the trial is afore gone conclusion and is just a show to prove justice is done. While the prosecution has a senior Judge working the case, the defence only has a junior Judge. But even with the game stacked against him, the junior Judge will do his best and attempt to defend this mass killer.

Great start to In this new series, I don't see how Orlock will Survive this one.

ABC Warriors - The Shadow Warriors // Part One. The return of the ABC Warriors to my reading is very much welcomed! Beautifully portrayed in the Black and White artwork Carlos Ezquerra and written by Pat Mills, we are in for a treat. Now I personally am way behind on the ABC lore, so I am going in a bit blind to what is happening at this time. But we join Joe Pineapples as the droid travels across Mars on the Fargo Supercoach. During this travel, poor Pineapple is stored in the cramped Robot bays, which is lucky for the human passengers as the coach is boarded by the Dogs of Gore. A robotic band of mercenary pirates, soon Pineapple is all guns blazing in an action-packed opening script. I am one hundred percent behind this story, give me more!

Snow/Tiger - Pax Americana: Part 1. This story took me by complete surprise. Never heard of it, nor expected it. The story seems to follow an anti-terrorist squad as they deal with a hostage situation at the CDC. One seems to be a negotiator always looking to save everyone, while the other is a hotshot wannabe action hero. I can kind of see already how this pair will play off against each other. The story seems pretty straightforward, with the villain being a right-wing rich Texan trying to make 'Merica great again. Like I mentioned a pretty straightforward story, but enjoyable enough.

Overall a terrific issue, and this is a fantastic jump on point for anyone wanting to start up. Who else is reading 2000 AD currently? Ever go back to earlier issues and re-read?

As always, thanks for reading and joining in this adventure.

Judge Dredd - Demo-bots

Had a lot of fun with this Warlord Games, 2000 AD Judge Dredd - DemoBot. This is one of the larger models in the 2000 AD line, but wow, is it a stunning model. It definitely had a weak point with the chain, which, unfortunately, my two-year-old could break, but after a little bit of superglue, I was able to repair and create an exciting look model.

I hope you will enjoy the video and give me a like and a follow over on Youtube.

Some Rule Pointers

DemoBots are designed to knock down buildings, and it's too bad if any 'fleshy ones' are buried in the rubble. They are also incredibly slow, with their Ponderous Special Rule ensuring they cannot perform Sprint double actions. Not only that, but when using a DemoBot to charge an opponent, players must roll two D6 and add the lowest result to their Move stat.

Their Rivet Guns can offset this lack of speed (maximum range 12", Power 5, Aimed Fire only). Still, with a +5 modifier on their Demolition Hammers and the Piercing and Rending special rules on their Power Drills, a DemoBot only truly shines in melee.

I can't wait to get this on a table, killing fleshy ones. I hope you enjoyed the video and will come back soon for the next update.

Cheers