James Bacon took some time off on St Patrick’s day following Dublin Comic Con and a weekend of non-stop comics to sit down and relax with some comics that he had picked up over the weekend and reflecting on some interesting recent titles that have been worked on by Irish writers and artists.
Titles include Draw with Will by Will Sliney, Godfell, from Vault Comics The Ties That Bind from Limit Break Comics, the self-published anthology OPart, and some Star Wars tales – and Thundercats: Omens!
The Ties that Bind
By Paul Carroll, John McGuiness, Kerrie Smith and Rob Jones
Published by Limit Break Comics | Available from Limit Break Comics
Launched at Dublin Comic Con 2025, this stand alone horror comic is beautifully drawn by John McGuinness, a poignant and heartfelt story about the importance of family, and the divisiveness within the unit. It draws on brotherly conflict, and the importance of one’s mother. We see two brothers, both have found their own path and are very different, and one is driven by purpose, and there is a shared concern for their ailing mother while also the real life matter of what happens at the point of loss, to her house, the inheritance. Into this painful situation, a horrific aspect is added, and we see a series of brilliantly realised but darkly supernatural scenes that start to reach past the interior of the house, as brutality is met upon those who get too close to a house that is horrifically haunted but in a very different way.
There is so much to love about this comic. I especially think that there is a fresh take, utilising horror in a clever way, impacting the brothers and also how there is the modern problem of greed, weaved through the story. The artwork is beautifully black and white and holds the reader well, with consistent clean lines for the characters, and incredible full page splashes, to emphasise moments of importance, and the brilliant moments of action when they occur. McGuinesss’ neat style and very good tone use, as well as superb shadow work expresses a great atmosphere and really compliments Carroll’s well polished story.
Star Wars: Rise Of Skywalker: Adaptation #1
by Jody Houser and Will Sliney
Published by Marvel | Available from Local Comic Shops | Forbidden Planet Affiliate Link
Will Sliney started work in comics professionally in 2011, and it happened to be on a Star Wars: The Clone Wars story. He has gone on to be hugely respected. Will’s Spider-man work is very popular, and his artistic style is really nice, and he knows how to tell a story well, to the degree that he is now a TV star with his Draw with Will TV show.
Star Wars the Rise of Skywalker #1 was released on 26th February 2025. This comic was anticipated to come out in the summer of 2020, but, sadly, due to worldwide pandemic, was not released, I’ve been looking forward to this comic for nearly five years, and thought it would never happen, but it’s an important reminder that 2020 was a horrible year.
The comic has just been released and delightfully exceeded expectations, the art has killed it, I was just staggered by the ingenuity of the layouts, and how well drawn the comic is, highlights include an astonishing page split between Rey and Leia, then a wonderful single page sequence, were we see the cracks in Kylo Ren’s helmet framing what has occurred before, imagery sharing the story space as the helmet being repaired, and, finally, there is a page with the TIE Silencer as it rushes towards Rey, and this demonstrates cunningly brilliant framing.
This is a very impressive comic, catching the eye and also with so much depth to enjoy visually. It’s hard to create excitement with a known story, but this is really impressive work from Jody Houser and Will and is a cracking read. I genuinely had not expected that the comic would feel so fresh, and also with a story already told, add so much enjoyment to the read.
There are five issues on the series, and this is a fabulous start.
Draw with Will
by Will Sliney
Published by Gallery Kids | Available from Bookshops | AmazonUK Affiliate Link
As mentioned, Will Sliney is hugely popular on TV as he has brought his enthusiasm and desire to see others create art to a very wide audience on RTE and SkyKids. His programmes have proven highly infectious and now he has released an amazing activity book, which takes him on an adventure, as he learns how to draw as he travels through time and space.
It is wonderful to see a comic artist, who is so good at what he does, a real expert practitioner, who is an exemplar of the professional community of comic artists brining his skills and knowledge to children, sharing the enthusiasm. The entertainment value is high, but so is the development of the artistic skills of children.
This is a Marvel artist at the top of their game who has shared his brilliance with children on the SkyKids Draw With Will and RTE’s Storytellers and to now he has produced an activity book, for children.
It really exceeded expectations, as my nephew Sam sat down with me to look at this really colourful and packed book. His inquisitiveness and pleasure reading it was fantastic to see. The book is systematic and measured in approach, first steps are achievable, with kids asked to draw over blue line pencil, and steadily, with the activities, one can see there is practice and then a build towards achieving more and more: but the bar is never set too high, and soon it is about the basics of drawing a face, and it is magical to see the detailed and really thoughtful steps that Will has laid out.
I was utterly astonished, as examples of emotions and techniques are gently and positively presented, all the time with the child offered to engage and draw, but never impossible. It’s a wonderfully positive work, and feels like very practical and helpful guidance, instructing in steps that are manageable as well as sharing really interesting tips.
Draw with Will has a fun feel throughout, the narrative takes the children along, and the design is beautiful, and it is all more than sufficient to entertain children, as well as help them develop artistically as they are asked to take the steps towards working imaginatively. Uncle James was very impressed, and was a little envious at the fun and excitement that this book creates!
Self-Esteem and the End of the World
by Luke Healy
Published by Faber & Faber | Available from Bookshops | AmazonUK Affiliate Link
Self-Esteem and the End of the World is a hard book from Dubliner Luke Healy who is able to pierce through the daily facade of life and offer an incredible human insight into the imaginative inner world of a comic artist. This is a really introspective but also open piece of work, the sadness in places, tinged with a brilliant humour, but, gosh, it can feel tragic. How we are as humans is laid bare, in an awkward inducing way, only as humans can, as we see anxiety, self worth, ones purpose all opened not surgically, but with a can opener spilling out its contents. There is a subjective focus of one being the centre of everything, and it is drawn together nicely in this comic. The concept and literary world of self help is a feature, the human drive to develop, and the inability of the world to accept.
Luke is a comic artist, and like so many, he feels the value of himself in what he does, his career, it is what he builds his self esteem around. When this not only starts to crumble, but falls apart because of a pandemic, then logistics issues, it results in a mental dissonance and upset, that unsettles the fragile equilibrium that existed for him, as he resorts to working in the heavily capitalistic high productivity world of a call centre. Soul destroying stuff.
Set somewhat in the future, this allows the addition of the depressing and honest reality of climate change and its impact on life which superbly adds to the doomed feeling. Even when he gets a break, it seems that the world is plotting against him, while the mundane every day things, small human thoughts and matters continue to occur.
Empathy and understanding for Healy are worn thin by the story. One feels that on purpose as we come to understand that, if one stops to look away from the page, that the ongoing incessant capitalistic drive all around us, the machinery that never ends which makes one question choices, opportunities and destiny. One wonders if that by doing, something – anything – different it would help him, better him, such is the erosion of understanding of humans, let alone any appreciation of the human affliction of anxiety that can inadvertently impact anyone.
This is bleak stuff, in the tradition of Irish “Bleak” – a genre nearly of its own that reflects the grey rained upon damp depressiveness of the country, oppressed and still traumatised, that has perfected through art its portrayal of the lowest moments of Irish human experience.
Self-Esteem and the End of the World is brilliantly bleak, a story that is quietly grim as it acutely looks at human frailty, while also considering the wider world, which in itself is a depressing thought, but also unnervingly funny.
Thundercats: Omens
by Drew Moss, Declan Shalvey and Stephen Mooney
Recommended by David Ferguson and James Bacon
Published by Dynamite Entertainment | Available from Bookshops and Local Comic Shops | AmazonUK Affiliate Link
“Thundercats Ho!” was shouted about Irish schoolyards with enthusiasm and gusto by children of the 1980’s, hand raised aloft, gripping a legendary weapon like a Claíomh Solais, but in fact, it is an imagined Sword of Omens!
It was a fun animated TV series with cat-like humanoids escaping the planet Thundera, and there was a fascinating introduction, too. Meeting Panthro, Chetara, Tigra Wily Kit and Wily Cat and then with the older Jagga introducing the Sword of Omens to Lion-O, which contains the “living” Eye of Thundera and has “eye beyond sight”. We also meet Snarf. We see that the sword will serve Lion-O as hereditary lord of the Thundercats. For these people escaping the dying Thundera are the nobles and as such Jagga presents them with weapons personal to them. The ThunderCats and their fleeing people are attacked en route by their mortal enemies, the Mutants of Plun-Darr and they destroy the other pilgrim ships which are unarmed and attack and board the flagship, but are defeated by Lion-O as the Sword of Omens comes alive in his hands.
The comic takes us on the same journey. We see the escape, and Jagga’s sacrifice, and also the grown up, yet immature Lion-O and the Flagship which acts as a base on their new home, Third Earth, but there are aspects that receive brief mention, allowing a wonderful mix of action and depth space to flower. The challenges facing Lion-O, his feelings, his inexperience, as they must fight against the mutants, forn example. But we also see new aspects in the first issue, new courses being charted, so we see that there are connections that were not previously known, and also we see that Sword of Omens is not impervious!
As the story continues, we have a totally new adventure, exciting, full of action, and offering a level of depth that really works well, and the first five comics form this story, collected in Volume 1.
The passion from Declan, Drew and Stephen is clear and one feels that this is very much so something they both enjoyed and were delighted to give fans, the art is really nicely done, and the attention to detail demonstrates a real care but the energy and excitement comes through the pages.
Dreadnoughts Volumes 1 and 2 – Dreadnoughts – Breaking Ground and Dreadnoughts – The March of Progress
by Michael Carroll, John Higgins and Sally Hurst
Published by 2000AD | Available from Bookshops and Local Comic Shops | AmazonUK Affiliate Link
One of the best Judge Dredd-related stories this century. The story does not make Dredd the focus: just like John Wagner’s and Colin MacNeil’s America, we see a story that is removed slightly and allows a more thoughtful approach, with longer episodes in the Judge Dredd Megazine. Now we have two collected volumes.
As I re-read them I cannot believe just how fresh they feel now, even though this story began nearly five years ago, but Michael Carroll captured an inspired feeling at that time, perhaps divining how politics could be, but with John Higgins and Sally Hurst brilliantly creating a beautifully presented story.
At the time I wrote in 2020:
“Dreadnaughts is phenomenal. It really is pitch perfect right now, the art is stunningly done, and really amazing looking and the tone is set – so also much praise to Sally Hurst for the colours! A team effort.
It just seems like a fascinating story at this moment in time, and there is a dystopian element to it, as the police blindly continue to do things that they might have always done, without realising th Judges are – judge, jury, sentencer – and also something on point about the oppressiveness of the new enforcers, and yet they are portrayed, well, not altogether negatively.
It’s a really thoughtful and thought provoking piece of comic work, hinting at issues of the now, but also properly foreboding, and in many respects, goes back all the way to the original concept of Judge Dredd, and I love that.
It is a cracking good read, and the art is spectacular and it fits really well, with realistic and believable aesthetic, and very cleanly done.”
Dreadnoughts is set in the world of Judge Dredd, set in the future from now, although not very far, the 2030’s telling the history of how America went from a place with Police and a Judicial system to “Judges”, with the power administer justice instantaneously, enforcers, investigators as well as judge, jury, sentencer and even executioner.
The concept of Judge Dredd, at its core, was to demonstrate, forty eight years ago, the risks of fascism and a dystopian world where democracy was no more. It had a political aspect to it and it has confronted the challenges of democracy and rights, in very inventive ways over the years, but Dreadnoughts just leans into asking readers hard questions, presenting stories that feel relevant and are so timely.
There is a patience and thoughtful approach, with the second volume, Dreadnoughts – The March of Progress following on from the first, Dreadnoughts – Breaking Ground, there is something horribly fascinating as we see the development of the dystopian aspect, as we are presented with two stories in this volume. All in the name of progress, we see the oppressiveness and flaws, how democracy could be challenged and of course, that is very poignant at this time and yet it keeps its focus, telling individual stories.
As we follow Judge Veranda Glover in Boulder, Colorado there is a subtlety to the view of the near future. How do people get to the eventual place of a benevolent fascism that is brutal, one that is course littered with corruption? Here we see that journey, although it is gentle, allowing the reader to reflect and consider Glover’s actions and the world she is in as we move forward. It is interesting to see how protests and riots are portrayed and there are layers to what is going on, although adding criminal elements allows us to follow Glover on a procedural while not ignoring the broader situation.
There is also a stand alone story “Nothing to Fear”, which has a very different pace and setting. We see a smaller situation, with Judge Beckett entering a small town in Wyoming and how much disruption it causes to the quiet and settled corruption and criminality that works under the calm surface. There is the classic “Marshall” coming to the Western town sense about it all, and it is full of action without the loss of the broader sense of power shift and concern.
Dreadnoughts continues to be fascinating and brilliantly told. Going back and giving it a long and relaxed read, today in spring 2025, is spine tingling. Removing so much of the science fictional and fantastic from the Judge Dredd of a future over 100 years away, we are left with something much more personal and human, even familiar situations, that are then powerful in their portrayal: and one can feel a connection to the now. Fear is such a lever as well as a powerful emotion that creates energy and empowers those who set out top abuse trust and it is a tool that can be used to implement a demise of democracy.
Dreadnoughts is one of those comics that not only captures the imagination but harnesses and drives thoughts. Everytime I read Dreadnoughts, and the stories are continuing in the pages of the Judge Dredd Megazine, I feel it is exciting and fresh, but also it is of the moment, it helps one reflect I think about particular current events that resonate and allows for a broader and wider pause for thought, as news comes so quick and fast on a daily basis, as we consider where democracy goes astray.
OPart
Edited by Mari Rolin and Rodrigo Ortiz Vinholo
Self published by Rodrigo Ortiz Vinholo | Available from Little Deer Comics
This is an amazing comic, brought together in partnership between comic creatives residing in Ireland and Brazil. There are six short stories in the collection. The idea was to consider the “displacement” of talents, and this book is bursting with talent.
OPart stands for out of place artifacts and and the stories, which are fantastical in nature. Consider artifacts that are not where they should be, but existing “out of any expectations or logic”, and then how they reflect the characters, brilliantly brought to life, who encounter them. I thought this was a superb selection of short pieces, with amazing art, with twelve great contributors, I should mention that Nene Lonergan’s “Art for Swingin’” was really nice, Emmet O’Briens “Ruined Lives” was really well written and I loved Coireall Carroll Kents style. The stories are quick but also read thoughtfully.
Two other items I should mention by Mari who I met at Dublin Comic con is The Dark House, which is an anthology of comic art written by Paul Carroll and then drawn by a number of personal favourite artists, including Clare Foley and Gavin Fullerton, while introducing me to the excellent work of Lane Lloyd and James Killian. It is a fabulous collection, and an entertaining read, with quite a variety of “Horror” amongst the stories, which all felt really intriguing and dark. Mari Molin contributed some beautiful work to that collection. I also bought a beautifully produced comic zine, Beached, an eight pager as one might say, but hand stitched and a lovely reflection on life.
Star Wars: Bad Batch: Ghost Agents #1
By Micheal Moreci, Reese Hannigan and Elisabetta D’Amico
Published by Marvel | Available from Local Comic Shops | Forbidden Planet Affiliate Link
• Star Wars Hyperspace Stories Collection out in October | AmazonUK Affiliate Link
Irish comic artist Reese Hannigan made a massive comics debut with this Star Wars story, which was only released last month. I personally loved the Bad Batch cartoon series, and felt that Omega, Hunter and the team and their adventures were cracking good fun.
Presenting a story within the existent canon, and characters who are loved so much is never easy, but this first of a five issue mini series hits the ground running as we see the four specialised Troopers of Clone Force 99 on a mission, but who are soon recalled to Coruscant by General Mace Windu. The team go undercover and we see them going into a Cantina in civvies, acting as “Ghost Agents” in the lower and more seedier levels of the planet.
I was well impressed with this comic, it works well to give a sense of time and place clearly, so readers understand the setting, but the team are the dynamic and well known selves, the dialogue pitch perfect, and I was really delighted with the artwork, it is lovely to see a new artist on a comic, but it is brilliant when one feels they nail characters that one has come to love well. This is a harder aspect to Star Wars, and Reese Hannigan really delivers, demonstrating a knowledge and understanding of the characters that visually is so important to compliment the story which is well paced and is a great start.
When the Blood has Dried
By Gary Maloney, Daniel Romero Ullo and Becca Carey
Published by Mad Cave Studios | Available from Book Shops | AmazonUK Affiliate Link
This is one of the break out comics in 2024, and when I picked up the first four issues, I was stunned and immediately hooked – and I was gutted when I missed the graphic novel signing in Forbidden Planet in Dublin.
This is an astounding fantasy story, with stunning art by Daniel Romero’s and Becca Carey’s lettering which in this thoughtful comic is crucial, complementing and bringing together a really lovely story.
Carraig an Bhun feels distinctive and authentic: there is something about the setting that really helps readers slide into the world that Maloney has built. We briefly see the past that our protagonist Meabh has come from, a warrior, and then move to the now, five years later, and see the town and bar that is now home. As Meabh goes about her daily life, she is the Barkeep at Tralocks Bar, and has a lovely way about herself and is both popular and kind and the life of the town, with a number of different fantasy elements is well portryaed.
We learn about Meabh’s past, and how she met Traolock, who saved her and then learn that the “Adventurers Guild” which is in itself a beutiful term for the Fighters who don’t seem that pleasant at all, desire to set up an outpost in the town will impact Meabh badly, as her past with the Guild and the leader is one where they both wish each other death and her current life will be sold from under her or maybe taken from her, but it seems matters sufficiemntly honourable will resolve issue’s in a comptition.
The story is loaded with emotions, and it is so well paced, I was grateful I had the comics to read promptly: I would have been killed waiting a month for each issue. The outsider and town politics percolate, as does hatred and betrayal on many levels. There is also a sadness to aspects of the story, but only because the reader is drawn into this lovely world of a small Fantastical town on a lough.
The dialogue is brilliant, and the use of spelling to infer accents is a fine example of how to manage that. Comics use short cuts to give a sense of person as promptly as possible, and Maloney is very skilled at this, and one is warmed to Meabh, he ways so natural and nice. Yet Meabh of Cklonia is so much more, and the story is an utter delight.
The art is astonishing, but it feels like such a well honed package, there is much more of a nuance to it, the design work and imagery we see, even before we get to the story, and then then village being looked down, gave me the feel of looking down at a little village in Gaul. It made me smile wide, and then we see the story and it is uniqueness immersing readers into a fantasy world, that one feels has vast potential, even if these five issues are all we get to see.
The covers, the variant covers, the design and framing all work to enhance the story, which is well told as we follow Maebh, and the other characters, the Gaffer, Fergus the Dwarf and Darius the Elf mentor warrior and the action sequences are fabulous,
Godfell
By Christopher Sebela, Ben Hennessy, Triona TreeFarrell and Jim Campbell
Published by Vault Comics | Available from Bookshops and Local Comic Shops | AmazonUK Affiliate Link
We are in the land of Kerethim and from the sky falls God, dead. Into this story, we have Zanzi Vuiline, a veteran berserker and she happens into a chaotic situation as we see the consequences of God dying. Royal Families are at war, we see fantastical creatures, and a desire for parts of God’s body, like a desired relic of old but not on the scale that one might expect.
It’s quite the thing to see, I loved how God was portrayed, dead on the last page of the first issue, as Zanzi sees the scale of the situation, and we follow her as she gains a companion and she has to fight the length of God, as she encounters the likes of the Fellnacht, a grim cult intent on fighting. It is wonderfully done as different parts of of God’s corpse is reflected in the type of gruesome fighting that occurs, but also we have a variety of enemies some even with psychic powers, and the fight continues, but in many regards there is a lovely aspect to how Zansi must also act carefully, while threats are all about. The conclusion is well executed, as we see warring sides fighting for control, seeking the divine power.
I love the art in this comic, Ben Hennesy has an beautiful style to him, and I have liked his art for some time, and was delighted with this story and how well it comes together, the action scenes, while Triona Tree Farrell has become one of Ireland’s most prolific comics artists, specialising in colouring. She continues her deft approach with the first number of issues of this comic and readers are assured that her colour art will always enhance any story, beautifully and skillfully, so this was a brilliant combination for me, as the story needed a sense of grandeur and it the artists achieved it nicely.
James Bacon
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James Bacon (he/him) is an Irish fan, a train driver living in London. A Hugo Award-winning editor of the fanzine “Journey Planet”, he is a comic fan and enjoys comic art, war Comics, Star Wars, Irish aspects to comics and railways in comics or otherwise. He has been writing about comics for over thirty years.
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