Collects the complete Slaine heroic fantasy saga of prehistoric Britain and Eire (before the flood) scripted by Pat Mills, in order, in multiple large-format volumes!
The 2000 AD Definitive Editions are available in two versions: in paperback (available everywhere) or in gorgeous WEBSHOP EXCLUSIVE limited-edition embossed HARDBACK (only available from shop.2000ad.com).
Inside this magnificent tome you will find the following stories:
THE BATTLE OF CLONTARF (IN COLOR! art: Massimo Belardinelli. 23 April 1014, near Dublin. Brian Boru (High King of Ireland) and his Celtic soldiers are fighting a Viking (Norsemen) horde which is aided by El World demons summoned by Elfric Serpent-Eye (Viking Wizard King, a Dark El/Dev-El, a macrobe that can take human form, a Cythron agent). Murdach (son of Brian Boru) explains to Liag that he will be reborn, the Ever-Living Ones transfer Slaine's spirit to Murdach's body, Slaine warps-out and enters the fray. Elfric wounds Slaine, Slaine beheads Elfric, Slaine's spirit leaves Murdach, Murdach dies.)
THE DEVIL'S BANQUET (art: Glenn Fabry. Ragall (foster-brother of Slaine, King of the Sessair tribe) realizes that his alliance with the mutant Balor of the Evil Eye and his Fomorians (Sea Devils from Tory Island) was a mistake.)
TIME KILLER - part 1 (art: Glenn Fabry. Imprisoned on a planet they christened Cythrawl (ancient Earth enclosed within a ray barrier), the exiled Cythrons have tunnelled through the ages into Slaine's time. Flying on their dragon (the Knucker), Slaine, Ukko the Dwarf and Nest the Druidess see that the Cythrons have sent Diluvials (monsters who can melt solid rock & flesh with sonic vibrations, the third root race before man) to destroy Dinas Emrys (the Eternal Fortress in Snowdonia). Slaine and Nest grab Leyser guns, i.e., Atlantean blasters that discharge Earth-Power (magnetic energies running through the ley lines across Tir-nan-Og) and kill forty Diluvials.)
TIME KILLER - part 2 (art: Glenn Fabry. The Knucker sends Mogrooth (a Rmoahal (a tribe of Atlantis), an homage to Mug Ruith), who is riding his war dragon (Skling), crashing into a mountain of Snowdonia. Myrddin (aka Merlin, the magician of the Celtic peoples, a Human-Cythron hybrid, Trapezius builder) and Cador the Dodman watch as Slaine beheads a Cythron Commander (Klingsor).)
TIME KILLER - part 3 (art: David Pugh. We learn that the Cythrons destroyed Atlantis. Mogrooth fights the owner of the dragon (the Knucker) who attacked his dragon (Skling)... Slaine. Brotor (who prefers Finn mac Cumhaill and King Arthur) thinks that Slaine is only a savage. The Cythrons attack. Uko loads Slaine's Leyser cannon with Lodestones. Myraakothka (Cythron director of experiments/research) and Malkuth-Sluagh (Cythron farm manager) want to claim the Eternal Fortress for the Guledig (the emperor of the Cyth, an homage to Manannan mac Lir).)
TIME KILLER - part 4 (art: David Pugh. Ridden by a Cythron, The Great Time Worm (Crom-Cruach the Maggot God, also a macrobe) emerges from a wormhole and with its Time Power beams... it starts to age the Atlanteans (who were unaffected by time by a time spiral). Slaine and Ukko drink an anguinam brew to see the invisible Crom. Slaine fails to properly shield Tlachtga (Mogrooth's daughter, also The Hill of Ward in County Meath) from Crom's aging blast.)
TIME KILLER - part 5 (art: David Pugh. Tlachtga is now disfigured, Slaine uses a Leyser shield to protect himself from the Cythrons, Slaine stabs Myraakothka in the eye. The Earth Power of Silbury Hill is used to make Crom retreat back into its wormhole. Myrddin has a mission for Slaine: Kill Elfric (an El (Elder race) from Crom's domain (Els-Where), the fake son of the King of Norway)... who is altering the future.)
TIME KILLER - part 6 (art: David Pugh. Slaine learns of the Psychosphere which is constantly being monitored for Cyth shenanigans. Myrddin wants to send Slaine to THE BATTLE OF CLONTARF. A traitor makes the red eggs of Crom hatch, the young Time Worms jump on General Beli, Slaine puts Beli out of his misery, a Worm drags Slaine into the Time Lake (made from the yolks of Crom eggs). In 1014 AD, Elfric kills a Viking betrayer (Ragnall).)
TIME KILLER - part 7 (art: David Pugh. 1014 AD. Elfric creates Elementals. Slaine replaces Murdach, Murdach is sent to Els-where, Slaine kills plenty of Norsemen and Elementals. Slaine is compared to a warrior from the tribes of the Goddess Danu (Tuatha De Danann). Slaine confronts Elfric.)
TIME KILLER - part 8 (art: David Pugh. Slough Feg (arch-drune) sends his warrior-witches of the Badb to 1014 AD to lead the Elementals. Myrddin mentions that he was only able to save Tir-nan-Og when Atlantis was destroyed by the Cythrons. Slaine is victorious.. but badly hurt, the Celts from Altantis will be able to live on. Cador the Dodman (Slough Feg in disguise) is revealed as the traitor).)
TIME KILLER - part 9 (art: Glenn Fabry. Elfric has returned to Els-Where, but his Elementals will remain in 1014 AD. Slough Feg kills Brotor, Nest sends Slaine back a few hours in time to Els-Where. Cythrons infiltrate Dinas Emrys via the Time Lake! Slaine is stranded with Murdach (the son of Brian Boru), they spot El-Women tormenting a Light El/Ang-El (Pluke).)
TIME KILLER - part 10 (art: Glenn Fabry. Slaine and Murdach defeat the El-Women (also macrobes) that are afraid of iron (Like all Els). Myrddin turns his blood into fire to incinerate the Cythrons, Slough Feg uses his Time Worm's breath to paralyze Myrddin, Nest, Ukko, Mogrooth and Tlachtga.)
TIME KILLER - part 11 (art: Glenn Fabry. Myrddin and co. are put aboard a Cythron vimana (Ventla). Murdach is morose, he's lost his kingdom, father and son (Tordelbach). El Riders lead by Elfric attack, Pluke grabs Slaine and Murdach, Elfric sends bats after them, Pluke outflies the bats. Myrddin explains the laws of the Macrocosm.)
TIME KILLER - part 12 (art: David Pugh. The Cythron vimana arrives at Cythrawl (ancient Earth)... as does Pluke, Slaine and Murdach. Slaine and Murdach save Pluke from the cannibalistic Orgots (Organic Robots constructed by the Cythrons).)
TIME KILLER - part 13 (art: David Pugh. Myrddin and co. see Crom-Cruach. Slaine and Murdach attempt to purloin the uniforms of Gressil and another Cythron.)
TIME KILLER - part 14 (art: David Pugh. At the Cythron farm, Myrddin explains that the Cyth are behind all major wars and that they created the Time Worms (also macrobes). The Worms suck up Human fear, rage, anger and hatred (Negative Prana/Life Force energy)... which is the food source of the Cythrons. Slaine finally slays Gressil who was feeding upon his aura (energy field). The Guledig (one of the High Cythrons, the triskelion is based on the three-legged Cythron leader) arrives with his entourage. A lobotomized Cador the Dodman is now Myraakothka's pet.)
TIME KILLER - part 15 (art: David Pugh. Slough Feg returns to his time. Tlachtga (Mogrooth's daughter) tries to kill the Guledig. Myrddin gives a ring to Nest. The Guledig reveals that Myrddin is his son. Slaine and Murdach save Tlachtga and Ukko from being executed.)
TIME KILLER - part 16 (art: David Pugh. Slaine tries out the optical Leyser beams of his Cythron uniform. Murdach escapes with Tlachtga and Ukko, Slaine is brought before the Guledig and Myraakothka. Slaine ends up imprisoned with Mogrooth.)
TIME KILLER - part 17 (art: Glenn Fabry. Trained by Calgacus (a Celt, an homage to Tacitus) and Mogrooth, Slaine faces a Type 3 Battle Orgot in the arena. Slaine's Leyser sword emits mystic GREEN fire because he channels EARTH Power through it. Myraakothka tells the Orgot to cut Slaine's hero-harness.)
TIME KILLER - part 18 (art: Glenn Fabry. Slaine controls his Warp-Spasm and kills the Orgot. He makes his famous Awen hand gesture: The Three Rays of Universal Power (Knowledge, Truth and Light). Slaine frees the other time-displaced gladiators. Myrddin summons wind elementals. Slaine tries to kill the Guledig. Elfric arrives to fight Slaine.)
TIME KILLER - part 19 (art: Glenn Fabry & Bryan Talbot. The Goddess Danu speaks to Slaine for the first time. Slaine challenges Elfric to a Leyser locking contest, Elfric loses the duel and implodes into at least eighteen young versions of himself. Pluke arrives to pick up our heroes.)
TIME KILLER - part 20 (art: David Pugh. Elfric reassembles himself. In the Palace of Experiments in the city of the High Cythrons (Gulag), Nest tries out Myrddin's Venus (planet) charged ring to sway her jailer (Oeahoo).)
TIME KILLER - part 21 (art: David Pugh. We learn that the High Cythrons: Sorog, Niohoggar, Gomboo and Grimnismal (an homage to the poem of the Poetic Edda) are slumbering in Gulag. A friendlier Oeahoo shows Nest around the Palace, Nest sees men being drained of their aura.)
TIME KILLER - part 22 (art: David Pugh. Myraakothka wants Nest to be the first Orgot to mass-produce Prana. A Sluagh (a shadow creature from Irish and Scottish folklore) scorches to death a Japanese gladiator and his shadow remains etched in stone (as seen in Hiroshima and Nagasaki), Slaine destroys a Sluagh with his sword. Our heroes kill Diluvials while looking for Nest. Oeahoo and Nest put Myraakothka in the Organic Blender. Myrddin senses that the Dark God Grimnismal is awakening.)
THE TOMB OF TERROR - part 1 (art: Glenn Fabry. Slaine decides to spare Oeahoo. Diluvials attack.)
THE TOMB OF TERROR - part 2 (art: Glenn Fabry. Slaine names his Leyser sword... Blood-Prow. Our heroes dispose of the Diluvials, dine, rest and arm themselves with new weapons.)
THE TOMB OF TERROR - part 3 (art: David Pugh. Slaine and co. enter The Tomb of Grimnismal, they encounter Orgots who are about to feast on a girl (Giya).)
THE TOMB OF TERROR - part 4 (art: David Pugh. Slaine brings a ceiling down on the Orgots. Sluaghs are going to Grimnismal's life-support control room. A booby trap kills Calgacus.)
THE TOMB OF TERROR - part 5 (art: David Pugh. Slaine throws Oeahoo on the slime spewing Sluaghs, our heroes destroy all the Sluaghs, Oeahoo dies.)
THE TOMB OF TERROR - part 6 (art: David Pugh. Our heroes escape from a new slew of Sluaghs, they crawl into a pipe (a vent for Grimnismal's breath) and wind up in the washroom of the Cythron High Priests. A giant rat drags Giya away.)
THE TOMB OF TERROR - part 7 (art: David Pugh. Another rat jumps on Nest, Slaine kills it. In the dreaming room of the High Priests, Grimnismal's evil infects the minds of Myrddin, Mogrooth, Murdach, Tlachtga and Slaine. A zombie warrior attacks!)
THE TOMB OF TERROR - part 8 (art: David Pugh. Ukko, who is immune to curses, gets our heroes out of the dreaming room.)
THE TOMB OF TERROR - part 9 (art: David Pugh. The dragon Nidhug (Nidhogg from Norse mythology) hypnotizes Tlachtga.)
THE TOMB OF TERROR - part 10 (art: David Pugh. Our heroes wound Nidhug but it devours Tlachtga and escapes. Nest uses the Earth powered blood of Nidhug to paint protective oghams on herself, Mogrooth, Murdach and Ukko. To increase his strength, Nest paints Death oghams on Slaine's face.)
THE TOMB OF TERROR - part 11 (art: David Pugh. Our heroes decimate some macrobes. The Guledig and Elfric arrive in Gulag.)
THE TOMB OF TERROR - part 12 (art: Glenn Fabry. Nest adds up the numbers in the Magic Square of the Sun, Slaine steps on the Square to open the door to the tomb room. The awakened Grimnismal murders Mogrooth.)
THE TOMB OF TERROR - part 13 (art: Glenn Fabry. Our heroes sever some of the vital feed tubes of Grimnismal. Accompanied by Cythron guards, Elfric incapacitates Slaine and wipes the oghams from Slaine's face. Slaine sees Grimnismal as the Dark God truly exists.)
THE TOMB OF TERROR - part 14 (art: Glenn Fabry. Still sane after seeing the star creature's splendour, Slaine slashes another of Grimnismal's tubes. The Dark God drives one of his claws into Elfric. The Guledig arrives and sees that Grimnismal has gone mad.)
THE TOMB OF TERROR - part 15 (art: David Pugh. Grimnismal is destroyed by his own energy, his tomb collapses. Pluke brings our heroes home.)
Zarjaz/Excellent Extras:
A Paper Action Figure of Slaine by Robin Smith in color
Slaine: A Guide to Time Killer
Pin-up of Slaine + Priestess Nest + Ukko by David Pugh
Pin-up of Sorceress Nest + Ukko by Glenn Fabry in color
Pin-up of Slaine by Mark Dunn (Proteus: A Complete Fantasy Adventure Game Magazine) in color
6 original covers by Glenn Fabry, Robin Smith and Anthony Jozwiak from the 2000AD Progs (411, 420, 447, 448, 449, 461) in color
You Are SLAINE in TOMB OF TERROR! A dice-based role-playing game with art by Garry Leach (parts 1-15), Glenn Fabry (part 1), Nik Williams (parts 2-3) and Una Fricker (parts 11-15) + a scroll certificate from the Grand College of Druids by Garry Leach
David Pugh's test page for Slaine and his preliminary pencils for TIME KILLER - part 5 pages 4-6, part 15 pages 1-3 and part 20 page 4
What I did not like:
The cover features art from "The Killing Field" which appears in Slaine: The Definitive Edition Vol. 3, NOT Vol. 2.
The Slaine covers for The Best of 2000 AD Monthly (#33, #36, #37) are missing!
The Cythrons "Pray They Don't Exist!" teaser advert by Glenn Fabry is missing!
The exclusive interview with Ukko and the cover from the 1985 2000AD Annual are missing!
I give it a 10/10. Slaine the Celtic barbarian berserker is back! Looking for a way to Kill Time? An imaginative story rich in gore and lore? Look no further. Fans of Irish mythology, H. P. Lovecraft, H. R. Giger, Frank Herbert's Dune, That Hideous Strength by C. S. Lewis, Fighting Fantasy, The Mythology of the British Islands by Charles Squire, the UFO hypothesis of Trevor James Constable, archaeologist Alfred Watkins, The New View Over Atlantis by John Michell, The Incredible Hulk, The Shining (1980) and/or swineherding will be in hog heaven. NOBODY DOES MYTHOLOGY LIKE MILLS!
Also available in Spanish from Dolmen Editorial (Sláine: El Asesino del Tiempo - 9791388441035)!