Bisley back in 2000AD with special Slaine episode

By John Freeman on September 4, 2013

Industry legend Simon Bisley returns to 2000AD today, for a special one-off episode of the strip that catapulted him to international fame in the 1980s – Sláine.

To celebrate the Celtic barbarian’s 30th anniversary, in Sláine: Book of Scars creator Pat Mills is revisiting classic moments in the strip’s history with some of the artists who made Sláine such a landmark character for 2000AD, including Mick McMahon (who provides the cover to this week’s prog, below), Glenn Fabry, and Clint Langley.

Bisley’s special eight-page episode in 2000AD Prog 1848 returns to the events of Sláine: The Horned God, when Sláine continues his battle against the forces that continue to threat Tir Nan Og, the Land of the Young.

The Horned God was an instant hit when it debuted in the weekly anthology title back in 1989 and helped popularise
fully-painted comic books. It made Bisley one of the biggest names in comic books and he went on to work on Batman, Lobo, Hellblazer, and Judge Dredd.

“It’s great to have Simon back on art duties for ,” says editor of 2000AD, Matt Smith. “It’s been more than 20 years since he last produced strip art for us and it’s fantastic to see how his style has evolved since then.

“Book of Scars has been a real treat for fans of Sláine and 2000AD as it has revisited key moments in this seminal character’s history.”

• 2000AD Prog 1848 is available from Wednesday 4th September in print, through the 2000AD iPad app, or DRM-free through the 2000AD webshop.

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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.