![Sláine - [Title]](slainet.gif)
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For over ten years Slaine has been one of the most popular characters in the Galaxy's Greatest Comic, 2000AD. Probably the first 2000AD series ( igorning Blackhawk ) to break the traditional mold of futuristic science fiction, Slaine was the brainchild of Pat Mills. The first episode of Slaine was drawn by Angie Kincaid. Slaine mixed celtic mythology with known lifestyles and people of celtic times.
Map of The Western Europe in Sláine's Time or in colour
In the first episode Sláine met Ukko 'The dwarf' and started the epic jounery home to his tribe, and to recover his name after a five year exile, in what is now called Ireland ( The offical name of Republic of Ireland is Eire ), at that time known as Eriu, from Gabala. On this trip he did many great deeds. After encountering the Wickerman, Ice Dragon, BloodThirsty dwarfs, freakish mutants.
Before coming to the eternal fortess, high in the welsh mountain. Then travelling through and space to the Battle of Clonarf 1014 ( A one of the greastest battles in Irish History between the last High King of Ireland and The Vikings ) to ensure the Irish victory endangered by the intervention of the Demon, Elfric. After this he followed Elfric to Cythral. and returning to his own time to do a tour of astral temple in Glastonbury. Finally he returned to his after been exiled from the sessair and become the tribe's king, as they are now down-trodden ( As shown on the shown on the cover 'Slaine the King' ). He goes on to enbrace the ways of the Horned God in order to gain help from the Earth Godess. He becomes united the various Tribes of Earth Godess ( Celts ) after the great battle and the great flood. Sláine and the tribes begin again in Ireland with Sláine as the first High King of Ireland and he began the tradional Seven reign before begin ritually sarficed.
  | The Triple Goddess - The goddess could constantly change her form sometimes "splitting" into Maiden, Woman and Hag, othertimes Earth,Moon and sea. Three of her famous names were Blodeuwedd(Maiden),Morrigu(Woman) and Ceridwen( Hag ). The three witches or fates in MacBeth are the Triple Goddess. Being Irish myself, I think Mills has igorned some important aspects of celts. Newgrange the oldest buildling in europe built 4500 years ago, it was designed to suddenly light the burial chamber within on the winter solitice. The tales of the red-branch knights, Tír ná óg, the queen meave of connacht and the children of lir survive as myths taught in history in classes to seven-eight years olds in Ireland. The celtic holidays of Samhain, that became the modern Halloween and Febuair, where it regonised that the present day St Brigid represented the 'Goddess of the earth' of Slaine's time. Celtic traditions in Ireland, Brittany, Wales, Scoland and Cornwall The celtic tales of the Horned God have produced a brillant story arc leading up to Slaine: Horned God, but since the character has wandering almost aimlessily from story to story. The Ogham Alphabet - Mysterious, Celtic form of writing used by Ukko, one of the several versions is given below. It was often written in vertical lines or sometimes in hortizontal lines such as seen on gravestones around Ireland. 
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All Scripted by Pat Mills.
Title: The Time Machine Prog: 330 Date: 20/8/83 Episode: 1 Pages: 6 Art: Angie Kincaid (Angie Mills) Reprinted:Best of 2000AD 19 |
Title: The beast in the Broch Prog: 331-334 Date: 27/8/83-17/9/83 Episode: 4 Pages: 25 Art: Massimo Belardinelli Reprinted: Best of 2000AD 19 |
Title: Warrior's Dawn Prog: 335 Date: 24/9/83 Episode: 1 Pages: 6 Art: Mike McMahon Reprinted: Best of 2000AD 20, Best of 2000AD special edition #1 |
Title: The Beltain Giant Prog: 336 Date: 31/9/83 Episode: 1 Pages: 6 Art: Mike McMahon Reprinted: Best of 2000AD 20 |
Title: Bride of Crom Prog: 337-342 Date: 8/10/83-12/11/83 Episode: 6 Pages: 36 Art: Massimo Belarddinelli Reprinted:Best of 2000AD 20 |
Title: The Creeping Death Prog: 343 Date: 19/11/83 Episode: 1 Pages: 6 Art: Massimo Belarddinelli Reprinted: Best of 2000AD 59 |
Title: The Bull Dance Prog: 344 Date: 26/11/83 Episode: 1 Pages: 6 Art: Massimo Belarddinelli Reprinted: Best of 2000AD 59 |
Title: Heroes' Blood Prog: 345-347 Date: 3/12/83-17/12/83 Episode: 3 Pages: 18 Art: Mike McMahon Reprinted: Best of 2000AD 59 |
Title: Shoggey Beast Prog: 348-351 Date: 24/12/83-14/1/84 Episode: 4 Pages: 23 Art: Mike McMahon Reprinted: Best of 2000AD 59 |
Title: Sky Chariots Prog: 352-360 Date: 21/1/84-17/3/84 Episode: 9 Pages: 52 Art: Mike McMahon Reprinted: Best of 2000AD 21 |
Title: Dragonheist Prog: 361-367 Date: 27/3/84-5/5/84 Episode: 7 Pages: 49 Art: Massimo Belardinelli Reprinted: Best of 2000AD 22 |
Title: The Time Killer Prog: 411-434 Date: 30/3/85-7/9/85 Episode: 22 Pages: 121 Art: Glenn Fabry/David Pugh Reprinted: Best of 2000AD 33-34, Judge Dredd Meg #202- |
Title: The Tomb of Terror Prog: 447-461 Date: 7/12/85-15/3/86 Episode: 15 Pages: 90 Art: Fabry/Pugh Reprinted: Best of 2000AD 36/37 |
Title: Devil's Banquet Appeared: 2000ad Sci-fi special 1986 Page: 1 Art: Glenn Fabry |
Title: You are Sláine in the Ring of Danu Appeared: Diceman #4 (August 1986) Pages: 30 Art: Mike Collins (Pencils), Mark Farmer (Inks) |
Title: Spoils of Annwn Prog: 493-499 Date: 25/10/86-6/12/86 Episode: 7 Pages: 43 Art: Collins/Farmer Reprinted: Best of 2000AD 93 |
Title: Sláine The King Prog: 500-519 Date: 13/12/86-25/4/87 Episode: 12 Pages: 62 Art: Glenn Fabry Reprinted: Best of 2000AD 81 |
Title: Sláine the king - mini-series Prog: 589-591 Date: 27/8/88-10/9/88 Episode: 3 Pages: 14 Art: Glenn Fabry Reprinted:2000AD Yearbook 93 | Title: Sláine the King: The arrow of God Prog: 2000AD annual 1989 Pages: 7 Art: Steve Parkhouse |
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Title: Sláine: The Horned God Book I Prog: 626-635 Date: 13/5/89-15/7/89 Episode: 10 Pages: 60 Art: Simon Bisley Reprinted: Graphic Novel |
Title: Sláine: The Horned God Book II Prog: 650-656 Date: 28/10-9/12/89 Episode: 7 Pages: 42 Art: Simon Bisley Reprinted: Graphic Novel |
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Title: Sláine: The Horned God Book II Prog: 662-664 Date: 20/1/89-3/2/89 Episode: 3 Pages: 18 Art: Simon Bisley Reprinted: Graphic Novel |
Title: Sláine: The Horned God Book III Prog: 688-698 Date: 21/7/90-29/9/90 Episode: 11 Pages: 67 Art: Simon Bisley Reprinted: Graphic Novel |
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Title: Slaine the high king Prog: 2000AD yearbook Date: Episode: 1 Pages: 9 Art: Glenn Fabry Reprinted: Best of 2000AD special edition #3 |
Title: The Jealousy of Niamh Prog: 850-851 Date: Episode: 2 Pages: 12 Art: Greg Staples/Nick Percival |
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Title: Demon Killer Book I Prog: 852-859 Date: 11/9/93-30/10/93 Episode: 8 Pages: 48 Art: Glenn Fabry/Dermot Power Reprinted: Graphic Novel |
Title: Demon Killer Book II : Queen of Witches Prog: 889-896 Episode: 8 Pages: 48 Art: Dermot Power Reprinted: Graphic Novel |
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Title: Untitled Prog: Slaine Poster prog Date: 1/1/94 Episode: 1 Pages: 6 Art: Dermot Power |
Title: The name of the sword Prog: 950-956 Date: 15/7/95-8/95 Episode: 6 Art: Greg staples |
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Title: Lord of Misrule Prog: 958-963, 995-998 Date: 9/95-10/95 Episode: 11 Art: Clint Langley |
Slaine becomes Robin Goodfellow (just another name for robin hood). But the 1980's TV series Robin of Sherwood already had the idea of bringing the Horned God to sherwood forest. (Plus this series had brillant Clánnad theme music,'The Hooded man', to cement the celtic connection) |
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Title: The Bowels of Hell Prog: 1000 Date: Episode: 1 Art: Jim Murray |
Title: The Treasures of Britain Book I Prog: 1001-1010 Date: Episode: 10 Art: Dermot Power |
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Title: The Cloak of Fear Prog: 1011-1012 Date: Episode: 2 Art: Steve Tapin |
Title: Treasures of Britain Book 2 Prog: 1024-1031 Date: Episode: 8 Pages: 48 Art: Dermot Power |
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Title: Demon Hitch-Hiker Prog: 1032 Date: Episode: 1 Pages: 6 Art: Steve Tapin |
Title: King of Hearts Prog: 1033-1039 Date: Episode: 7 Pages: Braveheart take-off Art: Nick Percival |
New story arc starts involving the Cathars ( The Grail War starts with page introduction to this little known culture to which christian phrase of 'the body and blood of christ' is originated )
Title: Grail War Prog: 1040-1049 Episode: 10 Art: Steve Tapin | Title: Secret of the Grail Prog: 1090-1099 Date: 15/4/98-23/6/98 Episode: 10 Art: Steve Tapin |
Title: Lords of the beast Prog: 1100 Episode: 1 Pages: 24 Art: Rafael Garres | Title: Kai Prog: 1104-1107 Episode: 4 Written: Pat Mills/Debbie Gallagher Art: Paul Staples |
Title: The Banishing Prog: 1108-1109 Episode: 2 Written: Mills & Gallagher Art: Wayne Reynolds | Title: The Triple Death Prog: 1111 Pages: 10 Written: Pat Mills Art: Wayne Reynolds |
Title: The Swan Children Prog: 1112-1114 Episode: 3 Written: Pat Mills Art: Siku | Title: Macha Prog: 1115-1118 Episode: 4 Written: Pat Mills Art: Paul Staples |
Title: Beyond Prog: Prog 2000 special (1173+) Episode: 1 Pages: 6 Written: Pat Mills Art: Greg Staples | Title: The Secret Commonwealth Prog: Prog 1183-1199 Episode: 16 Written: Pat Mills Art: David Bircham |
Title: Book of Invasions, Book I Prog: Prog 2003 special, 1322-1326 Episode: 6 Date: 7/1/2003->5/2/2002 Pages: 44 Written: Pat Mills Art: Clint Langley |
"They build gigantic Wicker work figures, the limbs of are filled with living men.
They are then set on fire and the victims burnt. they think the gods prefer the
deaths of thieves, outlaws and other prisoners..
But when they run short,they do not hesitate to make up with innocent men.."
"A grove there was, untouched by mens hands from ancient times,whose branches enclosed a space
of darkness and cold shade. There birds feared to perch and wild beasts would not lie down.
Gods were worshipped with savage rites... the altars were heaped with hideous offerings ...
and every tree was sprinlked with human gore"
"taste the fruits of the forest , Eat of the golden bough drink of its sap. So you may be
vigorous and fruitful."
(from the the anicent chronicle )
"Behold the day come and the whole develish public procession goes forth. The new year is
consecreated with old blasphemies. hatever deformities are lacking in nature art labours to
fashion. People dressed as cattle and men are turned into women.. If anyone goes about as a
stag or a bull,that is making himself into a WILD animal by putting on the head of a beast,
penance for three years because of these devilish."
Early christian account of the old pagan rituals.
Ancient Rhyme
"Heavens above ,heavens below,
stars above ,stars below,
all that is over,under shall show.
happy thou who the riddle readest. "
Ancient rhyme
"taste the fruits of the forest , Eat of the golden bough drink of its sap. So you may be
vigorous and fruitful."
Anicent chronicle
A History of early Ireland. Slaine.
Five Chiefians, who were at same time brothers, landed in Ireland. They found it
they found it uninhabited and divided it in five equal proportions amongst them
themselves.When these five brothers ,namely Gann, Sengann, Rudraige and Slaine had divided
the island, each portion had a little section meeting at a certain stone in
Meath said to be the Navel of Ireland, as it were, placed right in the middle ofthe land
"As time went on and fortune varied and as is her want, turned many thigs upside down in a
short time,Slaine became the High king of Ireland as a result is called the first king of
Eire"
Ancient chronicle
"From an old and evil custom the celts always carry an axe intheir hand as if it were a staff.
Wherever they go,they drag it along with them. In this way,if they have a feeling for evil,
they can quickly give it effect..
When they see the opportunity, this weapon has not to be unsheathed such as a sword, or as a
bow ,or poised as a spear. Without preparation,it inflicts a mortal blow ...
At hand, or rather , in the hand and ever ready, is that which is enough to cause death."
"When enqiuring into matters of great importance,the Druids have a strange and incredible
custom.. They stab to death a human being.. and foretell the future from the convulsions of
his limbs and the spurting of the blood.. "
Ancient Chroncile
"They appoint their King with a rite altogether barbarous and abominable."
"A white mare is brought into the assembly and killed,cut up into pieces,and boiled in water..
Then he who is to be inaugated, not as a prince but a beast,comes before the people on all
fours, confesssing himself a beast also.."
" He sits in a cauldron surrounded by his people and they eat of the meat which gives to
them..."
He is then required to drink of the broth in which he bathes, not in any cup,not even in
his hand,but lapping it up with his mouth..."
"When this unrightous and outlandish rite is carried out ,his kingship is concessed
An ancient desription of a Celtic coronation
Judging by the Tain (with a comprehensive account of the warping *) while he
was "wonder-wrath",Slaine's cheeks would have "peeled back from jaws
until the gullet appeared and his lungs and liver flapped about in his mouth"
And rising up from the center of his skull:"A straight spout of black blood",
as he furiously "twisted around in his skin."
His warriors would have been in a similar warped state... tramformed into
monstrous things, with "spurts of fire flickering red around them,from the
maligant gases" they gave off
* The Tain desribes Cuchulain's warp-spasm, but other Celtic
heroes went into simalar berserker frenies. Murdach, King Brian Boru's
son at the Battle of Clontarf ,in 1014, was "the last man who killed a
hundred in one day."
Nevertheless, it would seem likely Medb was defeated -although Ukko
does not indicate whether she survived the battle or shared the fate of her
spectral army. Neither does he make it clear whether she is the sensual Queen
Medb of legend who had "at least nine husbands" and became ruler of Connacht.
But she is, at least a kindred spirit of the legendary character, described
as being "lavish with her physical friendship",who is reputed to be buried
in the Hill of Kings, in Silgo
as to Tribes of the Earth Goddess, the Annuals state they were," Most notable
Magicians who did wonderful things by magick and other diabolical arts wherein,
they are exceedingly well skilled." And relate how their flying ships crossed
the Irish coast concealed in a black cloud, "which cast a darkness upon the sun
for three days and nights..."
It was in mist the Tuatha de Danann, the Tribes of the Godess Danu, the Men of the Triple
Godess, came through the high air to Ireland."
"It was from the North they came; from four cities skilled in Witchcraft and Wizardary :great
Falias and shinning Gorias and Finias and rich Murias...
And they brought from those four cities their four most holy and precious treasures: A Stone
of Virtue from Falias They Called Lia Fail, the Stone of Density..."
"And from Gorias they brought a Sword from from whose stroke no one ever escaped or recovered.."
"And from Finias a Spear of Victory that was alive and thristy for slaughter."
"And from Murias the fourth Treasure,the Cauldron that no company well went from unsatisfied."
Here used to be. A high idol with many fights Which was named the Crom Cruach
It made every tribe to be without peace, He was their God
The withered Crom with many mists
The people whom he shook over every host The everlasting kingdom they shall not have
They did evil They beat their palms, they pounded their bodies,
Wailing to the deom who enslaved them
They shed failing showers of tears
Crom-Cruach:- the "bloody maggot" God was worshipped on the Plain of Adoration where
"great was the horror of scare of him"
Her lips were red,her looks were free,
Her locks were yellow as gold,
Her skin was white as leprosy,
The Nightmare Life-in-Death was she,
Who thicks man's blood with cold.
A desription of the Dark Goddess
The Sláine epic, which some compared to Cónan, expect that it was building to a climax with flood and disappearance of 'Tir Ná Óg'. (with a couple detours such as 'Time Killer' ). After that, well each story has to judged on own merits.
Download Section
Art by Glenn Fabry => Slaine 'The King' cover, 795x990, 186 KB. - Classic 'Slay' Cover, 642x722x16, 201 KB.
Slaine & Niamh: Eternal Love by Julian Gibson
also availible from the source celtnet (for PC or MAC)
Art by Simon Bisley => 'Horned God' Cover and one page from prog 626 | Slaine and Dragon, Horned God Part II | Turnips - Horned God Part II | Slough Feg, GIF file
