Preview: ‘Sláine: The Definitive Edition’ Vol. 1 — Another Classic Gets The Definitive Treatment

First it was Nemesis, now it’s Sláine that gets the 2000 AD Definitive Edition treatment, an oversized, lush repackaging of all the essential tales of one of 2000 AD’s finest, and volume 1 is out on 10 April.

Yes, we had one of the classic Crown Jewels of 2000 AD history get the Definitive Edition treatment with Nemesis The Warlock, and now it’s time for another one of those Crown Jewels to get the same treatment, Sláine.

Created by Pat Mills and Angie Kincaid, Sláine‘s adventures have filled 2000 AD with sword and sorcery action from the early days. It was something absolutely different for 2000 AD, which had, up to that point, been a pure sci-fi anthology. Sláine changed all that, becoming one of 2000 AD‘s most beloved characters over the years, a mythology building, plenty of blood to be shed, and a fair bit of axe kissing going on over the years.

This is the first of three definitive volumes that covers every Sláine from the very earliest up to, but not including, ‘The Horned God’, which already came out in its own newly-restored edition in 2024.

That means there’s gorgeous artwork to come, from the likes of Kincaid, Massimo Belardinelli, and Mick McMahon here in this first volume, followed by Glenn Fabry, David Pugh, Bryan Talbot, and Mike Collins & Mark Farmer in the remaining two volumes. But it’s also a sign that 2000 AD have sort of decided that, as quite a few readers did, the saga of Sláine really did come to a natural conclusion at the end of ‘The Horned God‘, and you can’t help but think all that came after, whilst it may have looked great, had very little to add to the saga.

The first 256-page volume will be published in large-format size measuring 276 × 210 mm in paperback, on sale from 8th April 2025. There will also be a limited embossed hardcover edition, available from the 2000 AD webshop.

It’s quite fascinating reading it now, full of the energy and anger, but with a lot more besides, Mills introducing so much Celtic myth and legend into 2000 AD through Sláine . But it’s the art that still blows you away, just so much to love in here. Angie Kincaid might have only done that first episode, but she stamped a look on Sláine , one that was carried on, quite brilliantly by Belardinelli.

But, for me, this is all about seeing those early McMahon pages, absolutely stunning things, with his first few Sláines just looking otherworldly different, the linework just a revelation, just so perfect, so inventive, strange but quite beautiful as well. But even within the first couple of years, McMahon would go on to shift his style, just one of the many across his career.

 

Here’s what 2000 AD have to say about it…

‘Sláine Mac Roth of the Sessair tribe is known as the Warped Warrior – a mighty barbarian who can master the ‘warp-spasm’, harnessing the power of the Earth to transform into a monstrous creature. Accompanied by his dwarf sidekick, Ukko, and wielding his legendary axe Brain-biter, he travels Tir-Nan-Og, a land marred by warring tribes and ruled by merciless gods.

‘Tir-Nan-Og (the ‘Land of the Young’) is a violent world, home to warring tribes who worship gods both benign and malevolent. One such tribe is the Sessair, brave warriors of enormous skill and the best of them is a young barbarian named Sláine Mac Roth. Sláine is, among other things, a master of the ‘warp-spasm’ channeling the mystical power of the Earth through his body to become a mighty, monstrous berserker!

‘In the first Definitive Volume you’ll meet a young, reckless and angry Sláine as he lives in exile, travelling with his repellent dwarf companion, Ukko. The series quickly introduces readers to the customs and wonders of his world and the horrors, like the Sloughs: sinister magicians who worship death and destruction and can raise armies of the dead to do their dark bidding…’

Sláine: The Definitive Edition Volume 1 – Written by Pat Mills, Art by Angie Kincaid, Massimo Belardinelli, Mick McMahon. Letters by Tom Frame, Steve Potter

Includes the stories ‘The Time Monster’, ‘The Beast in the Broch’, ‘Warrior’s Dawn’, ‘The Beltain Giant’, ‘The Bride of Crom’, ‘The Creeping Death’, ‘The Bull Dance’, ‘Hero’s Blood’, ‘The Shoggy Beast’, ‘The Origins’, ‘Sky Chariots’, and ‘Dragonheist’.

Originally serialised in 2000 AD Progs 330-367 (1983, 184)

Published by 2000 AD on 9 April 2025

Now, preview time – opening with Angie Kincaid art from the very first appearance of Sláine , Prog 330…

Followed by the second episode, and the first art by Massimo Belardinelli, The Beast in the Broch, Prog 331

And now, utterly brilliant, totally different, Mick McMahon’s first Slaine, Warrior’s Dawn, Prog 335…

And finally, more McMahon, heavier on the line and the inks here, from Sky Chariots, Prog 352…