This is the first Titan reprint of the Slaine strips from 2000AD, the infamous weekly British comic magazine, also the original source of Judge Dredd. Slaine is set in Celtic times, where our hero is a warrior, capable of channeling the power of the earth-goddess in the Warp-Spasm, which multiplies his strength and bodily size. He is expelled from his tribe, and goes wandering the country, with his servant Goblin, Ukko.
The first half of the book is taken from the first "Slaine the Wanderer" series, and shows nine issues of his exploits, as vagrant and freelance bodyguard. This is basic sword-and-sorcery stuff, with the only attraction being the genuine Celtic sorcery. The art doesn't help overmuch either: Mike McMahon art is sketchy and variable in parts.
The second half of the book, on the other hand, more than makes up for the first. Taken from the later "Slaine the King" run, these issues deal with Slaine's return home to his tribe, and his fate as leader of the tribe. The increase in quality is incredible: The humor, the characterization - even the drawing on Celtic mythology is depicted as something central to the story, and not just a plug-in piece of mysticism. The art improves immensly also, with Glenn Fabry producing eye-wateringly good black & white art, easily some of the best I've seen in the field.
McMahon Art:2
Fabry Art:5
Writing:3.5
Andrew These reviews are copyright the authors