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Sláine: The Horned God Anniversary Edition announced – oversized and with new scans

By John Freeman on August 19, 2023

A new edition of one of British comics most influential graphic novels ever, in incredible detail and at a scale never before seen, Sláine: The Horned God Anniversary Edition is on its way from Rebellion in 2024.

Timed to coincide with the 35th anniversary of its first publication in 2000AD in 1989, this new edition of Pat Mills and Simon Bisley’s groundbreaking and best-selling collection will feature brand new scans – meaning readers will be able to see its fully-painted art in unprecedented new detail.

Measuring 355mm by 270mm, the 208-page paperback Sláine: The Horned God Anniversary Edition will arrive in stores in May 2024.

Rebellion has also announced the Sláine: The Horned God Anniversary Edition Slipcase. Available exclusively through the 2000AD webshop, and also measuring 355mm by 270mm, this boxset will feature the three books of “The Horned God” in separate hardcovers, housed in a stunning slipcase covered with Celtic motifs and the “S” from the original Sláine logo that featured in Pat Mills and artist Angie Kincaid’s first story in 1983.

Rebellion says this promises to be a unique collection: both editions will be produced using pages scanned from the original film, housed in the 2000AD archive, and will also be printed at a size that more closely matches Bisley’s original artwork – giving readers the opportunity to see the greatest Sláine epic in unmatched detail.

“The Horned God” is the definitive Sláine storyline, its appearance in the pages of 2000AD in three instalments between 1989 and 1990 marked a creative high-point for the comic, and the work inspired artists for generations with its incredible painted scenes of epic battles evoking the work of Frank Frazetta but in the medium of comic art.

For those unfamiliar, Sláine is a wandering warrior cast out from his tribe and wandering the mist-wreathed realm of Tír na nÓg, the “Land of the Young”, with his duplicitous dwarf, Ukko.

Pat Mills created Sláine with artist Angela Kincaid in 1981, although it would take two years of story and art development before it appeared in print. What began as a personal quest for Pat to make sense of his Irish roots became a magical quest for Celtic marvels, myths and mysteries. And from it, Sláine emerged: a unique hero who stands apart from all other sword and sorcery warriors.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this summer, Sláine is a heady mix of Celtic mythology, barbed anti-authoritarian politics, and extreme violence.

“The Horned God” story combined Mills’ fascinating characters and saga-like storytelling with Bisley’s incredible artwork, and sparked a revolution in sequential comic books, and spawned a multitude of imitators. Even after three and a half decades, their masterpiece is as fresh and startling as it was when it was first published as a weekly serial.

This deluxe collector’s edition of The Horned God returns us to this ancient land, suffering under the dominion of the Drunes; strange druids who have poisoned the land with their magic. Sláine has had enough of their tyranny and, through the Earth Goddess, he learns some shocking truths about the priesthood and his own future. Now Sláine must unite the four kings of Tír na nÓg and use their mystical weapons as he and the Sessair tribe prepare for all-out war!

With brand new scans and in its oversized format, Sláine: The Horned God Anniversary Edition promises to bring one of comics’ greatest sagas to live in a way never before seen.

Pat Mills’ writing and editorial career started in Dundee, working for DC Thomson on the teenage romance magazine Romeo. Later he went freelance and started a long relationship with IPC Magazines, initially writing for girl’s titles like Tammy, Pink and Sandy. He then worked with Malcolm Shaw on devising Jinty before moving over to rejuvenate boy’s comics. He created Battle (with John Wagner), Action, Misty and 2000AD. Other notable works include Marshal Law, ‘Third World War’ in Crisis, and Requiem Vampire Knight.

Pat has published his own account of the creation of Sláine in Kiss My Axe, a guide to the exceptionally talented artists who illustrated the internationally acclaimed epic, who in addition to Simon Bisley include Glenn Fabry, Mick McMahon, and more. It’s about the comedy behind Sláine and Ukko’s hilarious and fantastic adventures. And the warp-outs by the writer as well as the warrior, as he battled duplicity, censorship and discrimination to save his story from senseless sabotage.

Simon Bisley occupies an almost unique place in 2000 AD history as one of the first UK artists to popularise the fully painted style. His highly dynamic artwork made his two major series in the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic — A.B.C. Warriors: ‘The Black Hole’ and Sláine: ‘The Horned God’. He also illustrated ‘Heavy Metal Dredd’ before going on to paint the hugely successful first Batman/Judge Dredd crossover story ‘Judgement on Gotham’. Bisley has provided countless pin-ups and short pieces across an astonishing variety of comics, from legendary fantasy anthology Heavy Metal to anarchic DC superhero series Lobo, and has an even more extensive CV in Europe, where his painted style enjoys enormous success.

• Sláine collections on AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

SLÁINE AT 40 – FURTHER 40TH ANNIVERSARY READING FROM 2000AD

*Sláine made his debut in “The Time Monster”, which you can read for free on the 2000AD website*

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “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.