The BEST Irish Comics You've Probably Never Read
5 underappreciated Irish comics you should be reading right now!
Hello friends!
As much as I love discussing my writing and drawing process here on Redhead Pinup Reader, I really love gushing about my favourite comic books and giving people comic book recommendations. And since I’m an aspiring Irish comic book creator myself, I thought it would be a fun idea to recommend some of my favourite comic books written/illustrated by Irish writers and artists as well as comic books that take place in Ireland or focus on Irish history/culture in some shape or form.
Here are my top 5 favourite Irish comics and why you should be reading them right now!
1. Sláine
Out of all of the comics on this list, Sláine by Pat Mills and Angela Kincaid is probably the most popular and accessible one. Sláine is an epic Celtic historical fantasy comic book series created by Pat Mills and his former wife, Angela Kincaid, which follows the powerful and brutal Celtic barbarian, Sláine Macroth, who is banished from his tribe. As he wanders through Tír Na nÓg (the Irish mythological otherworld), he befriends a dwarf named Ukko and together they fight monsters and mercenaries who cross their paths.
First published in 1983 in the British magazine 2000 AD, Sláine has gained a huge fanbase among comic book readers. Most of the series takes heavy inspiration from Irish mythology so if you are interested in reading the Sláine series, I would recommend reading up on Irish mythology beforehand because there are numerous stories within the series that reference characters and events that occur in Irish myths and fairy tales such as Cú Chulainn, the Fomorians, Balor of the Evil Eye, as well as the lore and history behind Tír Na nÓg (the setting of the comic). I personally think Sláine would make a fantastic TV series (in the vein of Game Of Thrones, Vikings, or The Witcher). It features a wide range of characters, creatures, and villains as well as a rich detailed world brimming with politics, betrayal, revenge, corruption, magic, dragons, gods, and so on.
If you enjoy reading stories like Conan The Barbarian, Red Sonja, or even Irish folk tales, I think you’ll really enjoy Sláine.
2. The Celtic Clan
The Celtic Clan by Nigel Flood and Frank J Right is definitely the most underappreciated comic book series on this list and it’s quite hard to get a hold of too. But I still wanted to share my love for it and get as many people to read as possible! So what is The Celtic Clan? Why do I love it so much?
The Celtic Clan is a fun slapstick superhero comedy comic book series that takes place in Ireland and follows a team of Irish superheroes. THIS COMIC IS SO GOOD! It’s one of the funniest and cleverest comics I’ve read in a long while. I came across this comic earlier this year when I was participating in the Irish Readathon in March. The Irish Readathon is an annual reading challenge that pushes more people to read more Irish books and support Irish authors. I read a few Irish comics during this time and this was when I came across The Celtic Clan.
What I love about this comic is just how clever the writing and humour is. Each member of The Celtic Clan represent different aspects of Irish pop culture, history, and mythology. One of the characters refers to himself as ‘The Big Fella’ which is a refence to Michael Collins as well as a character who is the literal badass superhero version of Saint Patrick. There is also another character that calls himself ‘The Celtic Tiger’ which is obviously a reference to the Celtic Tiger economic growth period in Ireland from the mid-1990s to the late 2000s, and oh, he’s an actual humanoid tiger too!
There are so many funny moments in this series that I feel if you’re an Irish person, you will find yourself cackling because the comedic writing is just so sharp and clever. One of my favourite moments in the series is when The Celtic Clan are meeting up at their superhero lair in Newgrange which is a historical neolithic monument in Ireland and it just made me laugh because of course their superhero lair would be in Newgrange!
I do feel like this particular comic was written for an Irish audience in mind because most of the jokes and gags are focused on Irish culture and historical events that have happened in Ireland. However, I still think anyone can read this series and still enjoy the story for what it is.
Seriously go read this comic book series if you haven’t already! It’s a very obscure series and it can be hard to find any copies of it but if you do, you won’t regret it.
3. The League Of Volunteers
The League Of Volunteers by Robert Curley and Barry Keegan is one of my all-time favourite Irish superhero comics. It’s so well-written and the artwork is incredible! I’m surprised it isn’t as popular as it should be because it has such a unique plot and the characters are really well-written.
The League Of Volunteers is definitely a more serious and gritty Irish superhero comic book series compared to The Celtic Clan but I’d highly recommend reading it! First published in 2011 by Atomic Diner Comics, the story focuses on a group of Irish superheroes during the 1940s in Ireland during the Second World War where dark magical forces are planning to bring a Neutral Ireland to it’s knees while a group of ancient figures from Irish mythology travel forward in time to stop them. Not to mention an array of chaotic action sequences featuring Nazi regimes, magic, and Irish political intrigue. If you enjoy adult superhero stories like Watchmen, Brat Pack, and The Boys, I definitely think The League Of Volunteers would be right up your street.
This Irish comic is definitely more aimed at readers who live all over the world and not just Irish readers. The story is well-paced and well-written and unlike any other superhero comic I’ve ever read. It’s also really action-packed and Barry Keegan’s artwork truly shines!
4. Celtic Warrior: The Legend Of Cú Chulainn
Celtic Warrior: The Legend Of Cú Chulainn by Will Sliney is a great comic book to get into if you’re new to Irish myths and legends and would like to dip your toe into the Irish mythic genre.
This graphic novel follows the life and times of the Celtic legendary hero, Cú Chulainn, and is packed with action and beautiful artwork by Will Sliney. I wouldn’t say this graphic novel is on par with Sláine as I do think Sláine did a better job at providing more depth and nuance to the characters of Irish mythology and in particular, Cú Chulainn. This graphic novel is still a fun and informative read, packed with interesting nuggets of Irish folklore surrounding the adventures of Cú Chulainn.
If you are interested in learning more about the heroic mythological figure of Cú Chulainn, I do think Celtic Warrior: The Legend Of Cú Chulainn by Will Sliney is the perfect place to start.
5. The Bog Road
The Bog Road by Barry Keegan is one of my favourite graphic novels that I’ve read this year so I had to place it on this list!
Barry Keegan, who worked as the illustrator for The League Of Volunteers, published his first solo graphic novel, The Bog Road, with Atomic Diner Comics in 2018 and it is an absolute feast for the eyes. This is a fantastic read. A fresh, new, and intriguing story that blends dark fantasy, Irish mythology, and horror. This was also another Irish graphic novel I picked up during the Irish Readathon this year and I became quickly obsessed.
It’s so hard to find good Irish dark fantasy books and The Bog Road effortlessly captured everything I love about Irish mythology and folk horror. The story of The Bog Road takes place in County Laois in Ireland and is centered around the main character, Jim Bracken, who sets out to investigate an array of mysterious deaths in a small town neighbouring a nearby bog.
This comic is perfect for Swamp Thing fans!
Thank you for reading! Let me know what comics/novels/manga you’re all reading at the moment.
Love,
Laura-Louise xoxo
Such an awesome resource. I’m an American artist of Irish heritage always looking to connect with art from Ireland, so thank you for the time that went into this!
Awesome! Uh how about a couple webcomics?