Slaine the King #23

Slaine the King, appearing in the British anthology comic 2000 AD, is a pivotal saga in the chronicles of the Celtic warrior Slaine Mac Roth. Created by writer Pat Mills and artist Glenn Fabry, this particular narrative arc focuses on Slaine’s ascension to the kingship of the Tuatha de Danann. The story emerged during the 1980s, a period marked by the expansion of dark, epic fantasy within the medium, designed to push the boundaries of sword-and-sorcery tropes with gritty realism and visceral, intricate illustration.

Glenn Fabry’s detailed, textured artwork defined the visual identity of this period, moving away from the more stylized tropes of contemporary comics toward a grotesque yet heroic aesthetic. The series was well-received for its uncompromising tone and its role in establishing Slaine as one of 2000 AD's most enduring icons. Issue 23 contributes to the layered, sprawling mythology that redefined European fantasy comics by blending historical folklore with modern, nihilistic narrative sensibilities.