Slaine the King #24

Slaine the King, a pivotal story arc within the long-running 2000 AD comic series, was serialized in the mid-1980s. Created by writer Pat Mills and artist Glenn Fabry, the narrative follows the Celtic barbarian Slaine Mac Roth as he battles across Tir-Nan-Og. The series emerged from the British comics boom, characterized by its gritty, high-fantasy tone and complex mythological inspirations, standing out as a cornerstone of the magazine’s darker, adult-oriented storytelling.

The art in this arc is widely celebrated for showcasing Glenn Fabry’s intricate, painterly style, which marked a significant evolution in the aesthetic of the Slaine character. Fabry sought to ground the surreal, legendary elements of the story in visceral detail, utilizing a distinct line work that emphasized the brutality and mysticism of the setting. The issue was received with critical acclaim for its ambitious world-building and has since been cited as a primary influence on the maturation of European sword-and-sorcery comics.