View source for Sláine (character)

{{Short description|Comic book character}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox comics character
|image=Image:slainegn.jpg
|caption=Sláine graphic novel cover by [[Mike McMahon (comics)|Mike McMahon]]
|character_name=Sláine MacRoth
|real_name=Sláine mac Roth
|publisher=[[IPC Media|IPC Magazines]] (until 1999) / [[Rebellion Developments]]
|debut=''[[2000 AD (comics)|2000 AD]]'' #330 (20 August 1983)
|creators=[[Pat Mills]] <br /> [[Angela Kincaid]]
|alliances=Tribes of the Earth Goddess
|previous_alliances=
|aliases=
|powers=Warp-spasm
}}
'''Sláine''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|l|ɔː|n|j|ə}} {{respell|SLAW|nyə}}, {{IPA-ga|ˈsˠl̪ˠaːnʲə|lang}}) is a comic hero that was first published in British magazine ''[[2000 AD (comics)|2000 AD]]''.

Sláine is a [[barbarian]] [[fantasy]] adventure series based on [[Celtic mythology|Celtic myths and stories]] that first appeared in 1983, written by [[Pat Mills]] and initially drawn by his then wife, [[Angela Kincaid]]. Most of the early stories were drawn by [[Massimo Belardinelli]] and [[Mike McMahon (comics)|Mike McMahon]]. Other notable artists to have worked on the character include [[Glenn Fabry]], [[Simon Bisley]], [[Clint Langley]] and [[Simon Davis (artist)|Simon Davis]].

Sláine's favourite weapon is an axe called "Brainbiter". He has the power of the "warp spasm", based on the ''ríastrad'' or body-distorting battle frenzy of the [[Irish mythology|Irish]] hero [[Cú Chulainn]], in which earth power "warps" through his body, turning him into a terrifying, monstrously powerful figure. He is a devotee of the earth goddess [[Danu (Irish goddess)|Danu]].

==Plot==
Sláine is a wanderer who is banished from his tribe, the [[Cessair|Sessair]]. He explores the Land of the Young (Irish: ''[[Tír na nÓg]]'') with an unscrupulous dwarf called Ukko, fighting monsters and mercenaries. In one early adventure he rescues a maiden, [[Medb]], from being [[Human sacrifice|sacrificed]] in a [[wicker man]], only to earn her enmity – she was a devotee of [[Crom Cruach]], the god to whom she was to be sacrificed, and was looking forward to the experience. Her master and mentor, the ancient, rotting and insane Lord Weird Slough Feg, becomes the series' main villain.

Sláine encounters sky chariots (flying [[longship]]s), dragons and prehistoric alien gods.

Sláine returns to his tribe and becomes king, leading them against the [[Fomorians]], a race of sea demons who were oppressing them. In ''The Horned God'', Sláine unites the tribes of the earth goddess against Slough Feg and his allies, while his personal devotion to the goddess leads to him becoming a new incarnation of the [[Horned God]] Carnun (based on the [[Gaulish]] deity [[Cernunnos]]). By the end of the story the Land of the Young is no more, and Sláine is the first [[High King of Ireland]].
[[Image:SLAINE -H-7- 16.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Sláine in Simon Bisley's version]]

In subsequent stories, Sláine is sent through time by Danu to fight alongside other heroes and heroines such as [[Boudica]] (with whom he fought against the Romans, [[Elfric (comics)|Elfric]], and [[William Wallace]]), and returns to Ireland to defend his people against new enemies alongside his wife Niamh.

These new enemies turn out to be a full Fomorian invasion led by [[Balor]] and [[Moloch]], murdering, raping, and eating their way through Sláine's tribe until he is able to defeat Balor. The tribal council forces Sláine to let Moloch go, hoping he would fulfill his promise of keeping the Fomorians out of Ireland; instead, he returns to rape and murder Niamh. Wanting vengeance, Sláine abdicates the throne, and goes to Albion, killing Moloch. In his absence, his son Kai leaves the tribe to search for his father (eventually becoming a performer in an Albion carnival) and Ireland faces a second invasion – "the dread of Europe", Atlanteans whose ancestors had lived in Ireland before the tribes of Danu, and who had been forcibly turned into hosts – ''Golamhs'' – for the symbiotic Sea Demons under Lord Odacon (an offshoot of the Fomorians). When Sláine returns, he finds the new High King Sethor, former member of the council who had granted Moloch freedom, was willing to surrender half of Ireland to Odacon in return for the gifts of science and civilisation.

Sláine convinces the tribal council that the demons could be killed and war is once more declared on the invaders, but it was clear that Ireland would be constantly attacked by wave after wave of Fomorian invasion. Sláine suggests having the Tribe of Danu escape to the Otherworld that their Sky Chariots had been sent to in order to free them from the demons, and allow the Atlanteans to settle peacefully in Ireland. Both armies unite against Odacon and his Sea Demons. Sláine is able to free the Atlantean leader Gael from being Odacon's ''Golamh'' by handing over Sethor to take Gael's place, and they lead their armies to bolster the city of [[Hill of Tara|Tara]]. While the tribes fight a defensive battle, Sláine is sent to the Otherworld to secure Danu's blessings for the Tribes of the Earth Goddess to settle there. He returns with her power behind him and leads a charge that decimates Odacon's forces. The Tribe is cast into the Otherworld in the aftermath, and Sláine assists Gael in finally destroying Odacon and the parasitic spawn with which he had infested the outer-lying villages.

With Gael as High King of Ireland and founder of the eventual [[Gaels|Gaelic]] race, Sláine leaves to track down his son. He finds Kai at a [[travelling funfair]], and later embarks on a quest to track down [[Crom Dubh]].

==Sources and influences==
Sláine's most obvious sources are [[Robert E. Howard]]'s [[Conan the Barbarian]] and [[Cú Chulainn]], the hero of the [[Ulster Cycle]] of [[Irish mythology]]. Mills derived much of the series' background from Celtic mythology and European prehistory (as did Howard: the name [[Conan the Barbarian|Conan]] is Irish and is borne by a number of mythological figures).<ref name="robert">[http://www.robert-e-howard.org/Louinet/dwelling3Part1.htm "Irish, Norman & Danish strains"], [http://www.rehtwogunraconteur.com/Articles2.html "The Legendary Celts"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927223109/http://www.rehtwogunraconteur.com/Articles2.html |date=27 September 2007 }}: articles exploring Howard's use of Nordic and Celtic material;</ref> Sláine himself is named after [[Sláine mac Dela]], the first [[High King of Ireland]], and his "warp-spasm" or body-distorting battle frenzy is derived from the ''ríastrad'' of Cúchulainn; "warp-spasm" is the term [[Thomas Kinsella]] used for ''ríastrad'' in his translation of [[Táin Bó Cuailnge|The ''Táin'']]. His barbed spear, the ''[[Gae Bulg|gae bolga]]'', is also borrowed from Cú Chulainn, though his favourite weapon, the axe, is more usually associated with the [[Vikings]] or [[Anglo-Saxons]] than the Celts.

His [[patronymic]], [[Mac Roth]], is the name of the steward of [[Ailill mac Máta|Ailill]] and [[Medb]], king and queen of [[Connacht]], in the same cycle. The death of Sláine's mother, Macha, who was forced to run on foot in a chariot race because of her husband's boasting, is taken from the story of an Irish goddess called [[Macha]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/debility.html|title=The Debility of the Ulstermen|website=www.maryjones.us}}</ref>

Sláine's seduction of Niamh, the king's chosen bride who was brought up in seclusion until she was of age, is reminiscent of the Irish story of [[Deirdre]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/usnech.html|title=The Exile of the Sons of Usnech|website=www.maryjones.us}}</ref> [[Cathbad]], the druid who foretells the evil consequences of Deirdre's birth and appears in several other tales of the Ulster Cycle, gives his name to Sláine's chief druid. Sláine's feat of crossing a raging river to visit her, weighed down by a heavy stone to prevent him from being swept away, is taken from an episode of the ''Táin''.<ref>"On the morrow a valiant hero called Úalu went and took a great flagstone on his back to go across the water. But the river turned him over and he lay with his stone on his belly. His grave and his headstone are on the road beside the stream. Lia Úalann is its name." (from [http://www.ucc.ie/celt/online/T301012/text001.html] Táin Bó Cúailnge'' Recension 1], ed. & trans. [[Cecile O'Rahilly]], p. 153)''</ref> [[Niamh]] is a popular Irish girl's name, and is also the name of a fairy queen from the [[Fenian Cycle]]. Her otherworld homeland, ''Tír na nÓg'' (the Land of the Young), provides the name of the series' setting.

Sláine's goddess, Danu, and her tribes, the [[Tuatha Dé Danann]], come from the Irish [[Mythological Cycle]], though the worship of a universal mother goddess of the earth is not Celtic, and comes from speculations about prehistoric European culture and religion by people like [[Marija Gimbutas]] and [[Robert Graves]]. The Horned God, Carnun, is adapted from the [[Gaul]]ish antlered deity [[Cernunnos]]. Some of the religious ideas in the series are taken from ''Barddas'', a possibly fraudulent compilation of "bardo-druidic" beliefs by the 18th-century Welsh antiquarian [[Iolo Morganwg]].<ref>"Gwynfyd cannot be obtained without seeing and knowing everything, but it is not possible to see or to know everything without suffering everything." From Iolo Morganwg, ''Barddas'', quoted in [[T. W. Rolleston]], ''Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race'' [http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/mlcr/mlcr08.htm Chapter 8]. Compare with the quote of Cathbad in Horned God, vol 1, page 18:
"That's all very well sire but we must look beyond this life to the higher realms... and they cannot be obtained without seing and knowing everything and, unfortunately,it's not possible to see and know everything without suffering everything". The origin of the name [[Cythrawl]], given to the dimension of the "Dark Gods of Cythrawl", Sláine's enemies, can be found in the same passage of ''Barddas''.</ref> Mills divides the priests of Tir na nÓg into two factions: the good [[Druid]]s, the well known priestly class of Celtic Europe, and the evil Drunes, whose name derives from the [[Galatia]]n place-name Drunemeton ("oak-sanctuary") used in the story "The Bride of Crom" as the name of the Drunes' capital.<ref>[[Strabo]], ''Geography'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Strab.+12.5.1 12.5.1]</ref> Their leader, Slough Feg, is partly based on Cernunnos and partly on the [[paleolithic]] [[cave painting]] known as [[The Sorcerer (cave art)|the Sorcerer]] in the ''[[Trois-Frères]]'' cave in [[Ariège (department)|Ariège]], southern France.<ref>"...the famous 'Sorcerer of Trois Freres' is Slough Feg." Pat Mills, "Sláine: the Origins" (introduction), ''The Collected Sláine'', Titan Books, 1993.</ref> His acolyte, Medb, is named after the legendary queen of Connacht from the Ulster Cycle. The Drunes' god, [[Crom Cruach]], is an Irish deity who was reputedly appeased with [[human sacrifice]]s. The practice of mass human sacrifice by burning in a wicker man is mentioned as a practice of the Celts of Gaul by [[Strabo]] and [[Julius Caesar]].

The enemies of the Tribes of the Earth Goddess, the Fomorians, and their leader Balor, are from the Irish mythological cycle.

Other elements of the series are derived from non-Celtic mythological sources. Sláine's dwarf companion is named [[Ukko]], after the [[Finnish mythology|Finnish]] [[Thunder god|storm god]]. Odacon is identified in Theosophist circles<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theosophical.ca/IranianOannesNDK.html |title=The Iranian Oannes by N.D.K – from "The Theosophist" – January 1895 |access-date=2008-04-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080504160410/http://www.theosophical.ca/IranianOannesNDK.html |archive-date=4 May 2008 }} ''"In a letter [Theosophist, Vol −2-, page 214] written by a learned Fellow of the Theosophical Society [F.T.S.], from the monastery of Soorb Ovaness (Armenia), the writer says that the Armenians, who, until the 4th and even the 7th centuries of the Christian era, were Parsees in religion, called themselves Haiks or descendants of King Haig. In the forgotten traditions of these people, we find that they claimed to have remained true to the teachings of Zoroaster. These they had accepted ever since '''Musarus''' Oannes or Annedotus – the Heaven or Sun-sent (the first '''Odacon''' And Daphos, the man-fish) – arising daily from the sea at sunrise to plunge back into it at sunset – taught them the good doctrine, their arts and civilisation. That was during the reign of Ammenon the Chaldean, 68 Sari or 244,800 years before the deluge"''</ref> with a Babylonian deity named [[Oannes (mythology)|Oannes]], and is considered closely related to [[Dagon]]. Musarus, one of the same species as Odacon, shares this origin. [[Grimnismal]], the name of the dark god Sláine and his companions defeat in "Tomb of Terror", is the title of a poem about [[Odin]] from the [[Norse mythology|Norse]] [[Elder Edda]]. The term [[Ragnarok]], for the end of the world, is also borrowed from Norse mythology.

==Publication {{anchor|Collected editions}}==
The stories have been collected in a number of volumes but recent [[trade paperback (comics)|trade collections]] include:

*''Sláine'' (written by [[Pat Mills]] unless stated):
** ''Warrior's Dawn'' (2005, {{ISBN|1-904265-33-2}}):
*** "The Time Monster" (with [[Angela Kincaid]], in ''2000 AD'' No. 330, 1983)
*** "The Beast in the Broch" (with [[Massimo Belardinelli]], in ''2000 AD'' #331–334, 1983)
*** "Warrior's Dawn" (with [[Mike McMahon (comics)|Mike McMahon]], in ''2000 AD'' No. 335, 1983)
*** "The Beltain Giant" (with Mike McMahon, in ''2000 AD'' No. 336, 1983)
*** "The Bride of Crom" (with Massimo Belardinelli, in ''2000 AD'' #337–342, 1983)
*** "The Creeping Death" (with Massimo Belardinelli, in ''2000 AD'' No. 343, 1983)
*** "The Bull Dance" (with Massimo Belardinelli, in ''2000 AD'' No. 344, 1983)
*** "Heroes' Blood" (with Mike McMahon, in ''2000 AD''  #345–347, 1983)
*** "The Shoggey Beast" (with Mike McMahon, in ''2000 AD''  #348–351, 1983–1984)
*** "Sky Chariots" (with Mike McMahon, in ''2000 AD'' #352–360, 1984)
*** "The Origins" (two-page text article, ''2000 AD'' No. 352, 1984)
** ''Time Killer'' (2007, {{ISBN|1-905437-21-8}}):
*** "Dragonheist" (with Massimo Belardinelli, in ''2000 AD'' #361–367, 1984)
*** "The Time Killer" (with [[Glenn Fabry]], [[David Pugh (comics)|David Pugh]] and [[Bryan Talbot]], in ''2000 AD'' #411–428 and 431–434, 1985)
** ''Slaine the King'' (2008, {{ISBN|1-905437-66-8}}):
*** "The Tomb of Terror" (with Glenn Fabry and David Pugh, in ''2000 AD'' #447–461, December 1985 – March 1986)
*** "Spoils of Annwn" (with [[Mike Collins (comics)|Mike Collins]] and [[Mark Farmer]], in ''2000 AD'' #493–499, October–December 1986)
*** "Sláine the King" (with Glenn Fabry, in ''2000 AD'' #500–508 and 517–519, December 1986 – April 1987)
*** "The Killing Field" (written by Angela Kincaid, with Glenn Fabry, in ''2000 AD'' No. 582, July 1988)
*** "Slaine the Mini-Series" (with Glenn Fabry, in ''2000 AD'' #589–591, August–September 1988)
** ''The Horned God'' (2008, {{ISBN|1-905437-73-0}}):
*** "The Horned God, Book I" (with [[Simon Bisley]], in ''2000 AD'' #626–635, May–July 1989)
*** "The Horned God, Book II" (with Simon Bisley, in ''2000 AD''  #650–656 and 662–664, October 1989 – February 1990)
*** "The Horned God, Book III" (with Simon Bisley, in ''2000 AD''  #688–698, July–September 1990)
** ''Demon Killer'' (2010, {{ISBN|1-906735-41-7}}):
*** "The High King" (with Glenn Fabry, in ''2000 AD Yearbook'', September 1992)
*** "The Return of the High King" (by Dermot Power, ''Poster Prog Slaine'' 1, January 1993)
*** "Jealousy of Niamh" (with [[Greg Staples]], in ''2000 AD'' #850–851, August–September 1993)
*** "Demon Killer" (with Glenn Fabry and [[Dermot Power]], in ''2000 AD'' #852–859, September–October 1993)
*** "Queen of Witches" (with Dermot Power, in ''2000 AD'' #889–896, May–July 1994)
** ''Lord of Misrule'' (2011, {{ISBN|1-907519-85-8}}):
*** "Name of the Sword" (with Greg Staples, in ''2000 AD'' #950–956, July–September 1995)
*** "Lord of Misrule" (with [[Clint Langley]], in ''2000 AD'' #958–963, September–October 1995, #995–998,June 1996)
*** "Bowels of Hell" (with [[Jim Murray (comics)|Jim Murray]], in ''2000 AD'' #1000, July 1996)
** "Treasures of Britain" (2012, {{ISBN|1-907992-97-9}}):
*** "Treasures of Britain" (with Dermot Power, in ''2000 AD'' #1001–1010, July–September 1996, #1024–1031, January–February 1997)
*** "The Cloak of Fear" (with [[Steve Tappin (comics)|Steve Tappin]], in ''2000 AD'' #1011–1012, October 1996)
** ''The Grail War'' (2013, {{ISBN|1781081123}}):
*** "The Demon Hitchhiker" (with Steve Tappin, in ''2000 AD'' #1032, March 1997)
*** "King of Hearts" (with [[Nick Percival]], in ''2000 AD'' #1033–1039, March–April 1997)
*** "The Grail War" (with Steve Tappin, in ''2000 AD'' #1040–1049, April–July 1997)
*** "Secret of the Grail" (with Steve Tappin, in ''2000 AD'' #1090–1099, April–June 1998)
*** "The Battle of Clontarf" (with [[Massimo Belardinelli]], in ''2000 AD Annual'', 1985)
** ''Lord of the Beasts'' (2014):
*** "Lord of the Beasts" (with [[Rafael Garres]], in ''2000 AD'' #1100, June 1998)
*** "Kai" (with [[Paul Staples]], in ''2000 AD'' #1104–1107, July–August 1998)
*** "The Banishing" (with [[Wayne Reynolds]], in ''2000 AD'' #1108–1109, August 1998)
*** "The Triple Death" (with Wayne Reynolds, in ''2000 AD'' #1111, September 1998)
*** "The Swan Children" (with [[Siku (comics)|Siku]], in ''2000 AD'' #1112–1114, September–October 1998)
*** "Macha" (with Paul Staples, in ''2000 AD'' #1115–1118, October–November 1998)
*** "Beyond" (with Greg Staples, in ''2000 AD'' Prog 2000, December 1999)
*** "The Secret Commonwealth" (with [[David Bircham]], in ''2000 AD'' #1183–1199, March–June 2000)
*** "The Arrow of God" (with [[Steve Parkhouse]], in ''2000 AD Annual'', 1989)
** ''The Books of Invasions: Moloch and Golamh'' (2006, {{ISBN|1-904265-82-0}}):
*** "The Books of Invasions I: Moloch" (in ''2000 AD'' Prog 2003 and #1322–1326, December 2002 – February 2003)
*** "The Books of Invasions II: Golamh" (in ''2000 AD'' #1350–1355, July–August 2003)
** ''The Books of Invasions: Scota and Tara'' (2006, {{ISBN|1-904265-92-8}}):
*** "The Books of Invasions III: Scota" (in ''2000 AD'' Prog 2004 and #1371–1376, December 2003 – February 2004)
*** "The Books of Invasions IV: Tara" (in ''2000 AD'' Prog 2005 and #1420–1425, December 2004 – February 2005)
** ''The Books of Invasions: Odacon'' (July 2007, {{ISBN|1-904265-92-8}}):
*** "The Books of Invasions V: Odacon" (in ''2000 AD'' #1436–1442, April–June 2005)
*** "Carnival" (in ''2000 AD'' Prog 2006 and #1469–1475, December 2005 – February 2006)
** ''Slaine the Wanderer'' (2011, {{ISBN|978-1-907992-24-7}}):
*** "The Gong Beater" (with Clint Langley, in ''2000 AD'' #1635–1638, May–June 2009)
*** "The Amber Smuggler" (with Clint Langley, in ''2000 AD'' #1662–1665, November–December 2009)
*** "The Exorcist" (with Clint Langley, in ''2000 AD'', #1709–1712, November 2010)
*** "The Mercenary" (with Clint Langley, in ''2000 AD'', #1713–1714 and Prog 2011, November–December 2010)
** ''The Book of Scars'' (2013, {{ISBN|978-1781081761}}):
*** "The Book of Scars" (with Clint Langley, Mike McMahon, Glenn Fabry, Simon Bisley, in ''2000 AD'', #1844-1849, August 2013)
** ''The Brutania Chronicles: A Simple Killing'' (2015, {{ISBN|978-1781083352}}):
***  "The Brutania Chronicles: A Simple Killing" (with Simon Davis, in ''2000 AD'', #1874–1886, 2014)
** ''The Brutania Chronicles: Primordial'' (2016, {{ISBN|978-1781084724}}):
***  "The Brutania Chronicles: Primordial" (with Simon Davis, in ''2000 AD'', #1924–1936, 2015)
** ''The Brutania Chronicles: Psychopomp'' (2017, {{ISBN|978-1781085462}}):
***  "The Brutania Chronicles: Psychopomp"  (with Simon Davis, in ''2000 AD'', #1979-1988, 2016)
*** "Red Branch" (with Simon Davis, in ''2000 AD 40th Anniversary Special'', 2017)
** ''The Brutania Chronicles: Archon'' (2018, {{ISBN|978-1781086322}}):
***  "The Brutania Chronicles: Archon" (with Simon Davis, in ''2000 AD'', #2050–2060, 2017)
** ''Dragontamer'' (2021, {{ISBN|978-1781089538}}):
*** "Dragontamer" (with [[Leonardo Manco]], in ''2000 AD'' #2212–2219, 2221, 2228; 2020–2021)
*** "The Bogatyr" (with [[Chris Weston]], in ''2000 AD'' #2111, 2018)
*** "The Lord Weird Slough Feg: Lord of the Hunt" (with [[Kyle Hotz]], in ''2000 AD Villains Special'', 2019)

==Characters==

===Main characters===
*'''Sláine MacRoth''' – Mighty black-haired Irish warrior exiled from the Sessair tribe for having an affair with the chief's fiancée Niamh. He loves fighting and often beats up Ukko. His favoured weapon is the stone axe Brainbiter and he first experienced the Warp Spasm as a child.<ref name="Slaine characters">{{Cite web|url=http://www.fortunecity.com/tatooine/slaine/444/bisley/slaine/slainechar.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225233846/http://www.fortunecity.com/tatooine/slaine/444/bisley/slaine/slainechar.htm|url-status=dead|title=Slaine characters|archivedate=25 December 2010}}</ref>
*'''Ukko''' – Sláine's [[Dwarf (folklore)|dwarf]] sidekick and chronicler, named after the Finnish storm-god [[Ukko]]. He is lecherous and greedy; like most fantasy dwarves he loves gold and has a business mind centuries ahead of the human characters. When Sláine becomes king, Ukko is appointed his "Royal Parasite" – his [[jester]].<ref name="Slaine characters"/>
*'''Nest''' – Druidess who urges Ukko to record Sláine's deeds. She frequently quarrels with Ukko, but it is hinted there may be some mutual attraction between them.<ref name="Slaine characters"/>
*'''[[Niamh]]''' – Slaine's strong-willed wife. She is very assertive, and prone to anger and jealousy, often beating up Sláine's other wives and [[concubine]]s<ref name="Slaine characters"/>

===Supporting characters===
*'''[[Danu (Irish goddess)|Danu]]''' – Goddess of the earth who provides Slaine with guidance. Originally earth was ruled by female goddesses but the druids suppressed them and replaced them with male counterparts<ref name="Slaine characters"/>
*'''[[Cathbad]]''' – Chief [[druid]] who wears a horse skull and has a strong dislike of Ukko. He is a short old man with a [[moustache]] and [[bald]] head, save for a single tuft of hair.<ref name="Slaine characters"/>
*'''Myrddin''' – Half-Cythron Atlantean survivor and high-level magus analogous to [[Merlin]]. His fortress is located in modern-day Wales.
*'''Murdach''' – Time-displaced son of [[Brian Boru]].<ref>Slaine: Time Killer</ref>
*'''Kai''' – Sláine's son. Sláine wanted him to be a warrior but Niamh had him train as a druid. He later becomes a travelling acrobat.<ref name="Slaine the King">Slaine the King</ref>
*'''King [[Rudraige mac Dela]]''' – Ruler of the city of [[Gorlias]] and guardian of the Silver Sword of the Moon. His hand is bitten off by Avagddu and replaced with a metal prosthesis, preventing him from becoming High King. He was married to Niamh for a year, but leaves her for a warrior resembling [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]]'s Conan.<ref name="Slaine characters"/>
*'''King [[Gann mac Dela]]''' – Ruler of [[Finias]] and wielder of the Spear of the Flaming Sun. To celebrate the defeat of the Fomorians Gann was sacrificed and eaten by the tribe<ref name="Slaine characters"/>
*'''King [[Sengann mac Dela]]''' – Mad ruler of [[Falias]], a moon-worshipping society. His people, the black-skinned Tribe of the Shadows, were responsible for exterminating the [[Neanderthal]]-like beaver folk and stealing the [[Stone of Scone|Stone of Destiny]].<ref name="Slaine characters"/>
*'''Mogrooth''' – Fearsome Atlantean dragon rider and gladiator with enlarged, sharpened fangs. Despises Ukko for his thievery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://comicvine.gamespot.com/mogrooth/4005-84663/|title=Mogrooth (Character)|website=Comic Vine}}</ref>
*'''Tlachtga''' – Mogrooth's daughter and one of Myrddin's best warriors. She is badly disfigured by the Great Worm's breath, which aged part of her face.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://comicvine.gamespot.com/tlachtga/4005-84673/|title=Tlachtga (Character)|website=Comic Vine}}</ref>

===Villains===
*'''The Lord Weird Slough Feg''' – Ancient, rotting leader of the Drunes and the original Horned God who refused to die when his seven-year reign was over. He ate the Time Worm's eggs to prolong his life and resides at the drune capital [[Carnac]] where he spends his time making [[cave paintings]].<ref name="Slaine characters"/>
*'''[[Medb]]'''/'''Megrim''' – Drune priestess saved by Slaine from [[human sacrifice]]. It is revealed she wanted to be sacrificed to the worm-god [[Crom (fictional deity)|Crom]] to become a goddess.
*'''Catha, Fea,''' and '''Nemon''' – Three Drune priestesses who serve as Slough Feg's lieutenants.
*'''Melga''' – Slough Feg's general, oversaw the construction of the standing stones at Carnac.
*'''[[Balor]]''' – Leader of the Fomorians. He has only one eye, which is capable of destroying anything he stares at.<ref>Slaine: The Horned God</ref>
*'''Moloch''' – Balor's cruel lieutenant, who wields six swords in battle. Based on the pagan god [[Molech]]. Assumes command of the Fomorians when Balor is killed, and brutally murders Niamh.<ref name="Slaine: The Books of Invasions">Slaine: The Books of Invasions</ref>
*'''Odacon''' – Assumes control of the Fomorians after Moloch.<ref name="Slaine: The Books of Invasions"/>
*'''Sethor''' – Member of Sessair tribal council who succeeded Sláine as High King. He later betrays the Celts to the Fomorians and becomes Odacon's golamh.<ref name="Slaine characters"/>
*'''Avagddu''' – The demon son of the earth goddess, and the foulest, stupidest demon ever to have lived. Medb summoned him to kill Niamh but he ended up eating himself.<ref name="Slaine characters"/>
*'''Elfric''' – Three-eyed blue skinned demon capable of [[time travel]]. He led both the [[Roman invasion of Britain]] and the Viking invasion of Ireland. He appears to be homosexual or [[bisexual]] as he refers to his relationship with [[Nero]] and was reluctant to rape [[Boudicca]]'s daughters, only doing so out of spite.<ref name="Slaine: Demon Killer">Slaine: Demon Killer</ref>
*'''Quagslime''' – Fomorian [[tax collector]] who cuts off the noses of tax-dodgers.<ref name="Slaine the King"/>
*'''Nudd''' – [[Ogre]] serving as assistant jailer. Slaine bashed out his brains when Nudd tried to kill him.<ref name="Slaine: Warriors Dawn">Slaine: Warriors Dawn</ref>
*'''Domnall''' – A dwarf [[blacksmith]] who murdered warriors and tempered his weapons in their blood. He is killed with his own sword by Slaine.<ref name="Slaine: Warriors Dawn"/>
*'''Slough Throt''' – A drune lord who successfully sheds his rotting skin to earn the rank of Slough. He hired Sláine as a bodyguard to escape Slough Feg and deliver the plans for [[Ragnarok]] to the Druids of [[Glastonbury]].<ref name="Slaine: Warriors Dawn"/>
*'''Cador''' – An ancient Druid who built the forcefield that protects Myrddin's territory from the Cythrons. Was killed and replaced by a disguised Slough Feg at some unspecified point in Time Killers.
*'''Robym''' – An evil dwarf who acts as a servant to Medb<ref name="Slaine the King"/>
*'''[[Skuld]] the Demented, Hadric Hissing-blade,''' and '''[[Thorgrim]] Ironjaw''' – Three [[Viking]] pirate captains sent by Slough Feg to attack Slough Throt's flying [[longship]].<ref name="Slaine: Warriors Dawn"/>
*'''Broog''' – Torturer employed by the [[Inquisition]], actually a cult worshipping the [[blood god]] Iahu.<ref>Slaine: Lord of Misrule</ref>
*'''Gael''' – Leader of the tribe of wandering Atlantean refugees who ally themselves with Odacon's fomorians. Serves as Odacon's first host (golamh). Gives his name to the '[[gaels|gaelic]]' peoples.<ref name="Book of Invasions">Book of Invasions</ref>
*'''Scota''' – Egyptian princess who eloped with Gael's Atlanteans. Gives her name to the Scottish race.<ref name="Book of Invasions"/>
*'''[[Mordred]]''' – Son of [[King Arthur]] and Morgana, who betrays and murders his father for converting to Christianity and renouncing the Goddess, but is mortally wounded with [[Excalibur]].<ref>treasures of Britain</ref>
*'''Hengwolf''' – [[Anglo-Saxon]] warlord and worshipper of Odin allied to Mordred, who transforms into the [[white dragon]] of the Saxons and battles Sláine<ref name="Treasures of Britain">Treasures of Britain</ref>
*'''Guledig''' – [[Cythron]] leader who orchestrated Arthur's downfall. He is worshipped by the Celts as a statue of a golden child called the [[Mabon ap Modron|Mabon]], but his real form is a green disembodied head with three arms<ref name="Treasures of Britain"/>
*'''Leystar''' – Evil [[Cathar]] magician who wears a bird mask and can transform himself into a [[Phoenix (mythology)|phoenix]].<ref>Grail War</ref>
*'''Sir Brian''' – Master of the [[Knights Templar]] who becomes possessed by a Cyth demon.

===Historical and mythical characters===
*'''[[Boudicca]]''' – Queen of the [[Iceni]], based on the historical hero of the same name<ref name="Demon Killer">Demon Killer</ref>
*'''[[William Wallace]]''' – Scottish rebel fighting against the English invaders
*'''[[Robert the Bruce]]''' – Assumes command of the Scottish rebels after Wallace is executed.
*'''[[Simon de Montfort, 5th Earl of Leicester|Simon de Montfort]]''' – Fanatical [[Crusades|crusader]] [[knight]] seeking to destroy the Cathars, and is revealed to be a reincarnation of Niamh.
*'''[[Esclarmonde de Foix]]''' – Leader of the [[Cathars]], and one of the few remaining [[pagan]] [[witch]]es in France.
*'''[[St Patrick]]''' – A priest Sláine encounters in ''Demon Killer''. He tries to convert Sláine to Christianity before threatening him with damnation. Ukko is interested in his valuable gold cross.<ref name="Demon Killer"/>
*'''[[Robin Hood]]''' – [[Saxons|Saxon]] outlaw and leader of the last pagan coven, tortured to death by the fanatical [[Sheriff of Nottingham]]. Sláine replaces Robin as the [[Lord of Misrule]].<ref>Lord of Misrule</ref>
*'''[[King Arthur]]''' – Legendary British ruler killed by Morded and Hengwolf. Sláine takes Arthur's place and breaks the curse over the [[Ancient Briton]]s.<ref name="Treasures of Britain"/>
*'''[[Sir Lancelot]]''' – Arthur's former champion, now living as a monk to atone for his betrayal.<ref name="Treasures of Britain"/>
*'''[[Guinevere]]''' – Arthur's wife who is possessed by a [[Cythron]] priestess.<ref name="Treasures of Britain"/>

===Celts===
*'''Roth Bellyshaker''' – Sláine's father. Once a proud warrior, he becomes an obese braggart. He is killed by Slough Feg when attempting to avenge Slaine's apparent death<ref name="Slaine: Warriors Dawn"/>
*'''Macha''' – Sláine's mother. Roth was responsible for her death when he bragged she could outrun the king's chariot and made her enter the race.<ref name="Slaine: Warriors Dawn"/>
*'''Mongan Axe-head''' – Sláine's foster-father who headbutts enemies with his spiked helmet<ref name="Slaine the King"/>
*'''King [[Ragnall]]''' – Sláine's foster-brother who tries to appease the Fomorians with tributes. When he is publicly humiliated by Balor, Ragnall commits [[ritual suicide]] with assistance from Cathbad so Sláine can replace him as king of the [[Sessair]].<ref name="Slaine the King"/>
*'''King Grudnew''' – Ragnall's predecessor and husband of [[Niamh]] who ran over Sláine's mother with his chariot. He was thrown off a cliff by his own tribe for failing to prevent a [[famine]].<ref name="Slaine: Warriors Dawn"/>
*'''Blind Bran''' – An old [[beggar]] and ally of Sláine who fought alongside him during his time as a mercenary.<ref name="Slaine: Warriors Dawn"/>
*'''Cuan''' – A warrior sacrificed by the druid priestesses to enable them to foretell the future. His torture and disembowelment is similar to the injuries inflicted on [[Lindow Man]].
*'''Madad the Quarrelsome''' – A warrior who insults Sláine and questions his right to be king. His nose is chewed off in a fight.<ref name="Slaine the King"/>
*'''Gurg of the Three Fingers''' – Sláine's [[chariot]]eer, recognisable by his three-[[horned helmet]].<ref name="Slaine the King"/>
*'''Dundan Skullsmasher''' – A Sessair warrior killed in a fight for the best cuts of meat<ref name="Slaine the King"/>
*'''Gwalchazad the Ram''' – The warrior who challenges Dundan Skullsmasher for the [[hero's portion]]<ref name="Slaine the King"/>
*'''Fergus the Brave''' – A warrior a bored Sláine accuses of cowardice<ref name="Slaine: Demon Killer"/>
*'''Diarmid the Foul-Tempered''' – Sláine claims to have slept with his wife and daughter, only for Diarmid to offer his attractive sister.<ref name="Demon Killer"/>
*'''Conal the Handsome''' – A warrior Sláine punches in the face in an attempt to start a fight. Despite losing all his teeth, Conal is more concerned about the damage to Sláine's hand.<ref name="Demon Killer"/>
*'''Madog Stag-shanks''' – Village headman who shelters Sláine in return for his [[mammoth]].<ref name="Warriors Dawn">Warriors Dawn</ref>
*'''Caw Sheaf-hair''' – Madog's son, who is murdered by Slough Throt's skull-swords<ref name="Warriors Dawn"/>
*'''Cullen of the wide mouth''' – Classmate jealous of the young Sláine's skill in battle. Tries to murder Sláine but is killed with a [[gae bulga]].<ref name="Warriors Dawn"/>
*'''[[Conn of the Hundred Battles]]''' – [[Red Branch]] warrior and father of Cullen, who tries to avenge his son's death but is also killed by Sláine.<ref name="Warriors Dawn"/>

===Others===
*'''Blathnaid''' – Former lover of Sláine, who used to rob horse-drawn carriages and was a regular runaway bride. Later on after they had parted ways, she was devoured by a giant serpent summoned from [[hel (location)|hel]] by the Drunes, after which it was able to take her shape.<ref name="Warriors Dawn"/>
*'''Lauretta''' – French female mercenary who becomes Sláine's lover
*'''Guild Master''' – An old dwarf who invites Ukko to join the Guild of [[Pickpocket|Cutpurse]]s, [[Rogue (vagrant)|Varlet]]s and [[Mendicants]]
*'''Kyot''' – A medieval [[troubadour]] who allies with Sláine.
*'''Medrawd''' – Farmer who lives alone with his mother, who is actually a shape-shifting [[shoggey beast]] responsible for devouring many passing travellers.<ref name="Warriors Dawn"/>
*'''Mor Ronne the Dung Collector''' – One of the few dwarves more repulsive than Ukko. Nest has to sleep with him as part of her initiation ceremony<ref name="The Horned God">The Horned God</ref>
*'''White Tusk''' – King of the [[Orc]]s with the head of a [[Wild boar]] who presides over a court of [[Jester|fools]]. Ukko steals his tusk for a potion to save King Arthur.<ref name="Treasures of Britain"/>
*'''The Knucker''' – An ageing dragon used as aerial transport by Sláine<ref name="The Horned God"/>
*'''Nidhug''' – A fierce dragon that killed Tlachtga in Grimnismal's tomb.
*'''Pluke''' – A [[Angel|light El]] who helps Sláine rescue Nest and Myrddin from the Cythrons

==In other media==
'''<big>Tabletop miniature wargames</big>'''

* Sláine (by Warlord Games)

===Video games===
*''[[Sláine, the Celtic Barbarian]]'' (by ''Creative Reality'', [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Commodore 64|C64]] and [[ZX Spectrum]] graphic [[adventure (genre)|adventure]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/zx-spectrum/sline-the-celtic-barbarian/ |title=Sláine, the Celtic Barbarian for ZX Spectrum – MobyGames |website=mobygames.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229064542/http://www.mobygames.com/game/zx-spectrum/sline-the-celtic-barbarian |archive-date=2008-02-29}}</ref>

===Role-playing games===

''2000 AD'' RPG appearances:
* ''Tomb of Terror'' (2000 AD Progs 447–461, illustrated by Glen Fabry)
Solo RPG appearances:
* ''Cauldron of Blood'' (''[[Dice Man (comic)|Dice Man]]'' No. 1, illustrated by [[David Lloyd (comic artist)|David Lloyd]]).
* ''Dragoncorpse'' (''Dice Man'' No. 2, illustrated by [[Nik Williams]]).
* ''The Ring of Danu'' (''Dice Man'' No. 4, illustrated by [[Mike Collins (comics)|Mike Collins]] & [[Mark Farmer]]).
* ''The Invulnerable King'' (by Ian Sturrock, [[Mongoose Publishing]])<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.2000adonline.com/?zone=prog&page=specials&choice=d20slaine3 |title=Mongoose Publishing |access-date=15 October 2006 |archive-date=30 October 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051030230342/http://www.2000adonline.com/?zone=prog&page=specials&choice=d20slaine3 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* ''[[Sláine: The Roleplaying Game of Celtic Heroes]]'' (by Ian Sturrock, Mongoose Publishing)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/home/detail.php?qsID=1426&qsSeries=%2039 |title=Mongoose Publishing |access-date=24 March 2007 |archive-date=27 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927051047/http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/home/detail.php?qsID=1426&qsSeries=%2039 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* ''[[Sláine (RuneQuest)|Sláine]]'' (2007, [[Mongoose Publishing]], published under [[Issaries, Inc.]] license with the ''[[RuneQuest]]'' game system)

===Novels===
The first Sláine novel was released at the end of 2006:
* ''Sláine: Sláine the Exile'' ([[Steven Savile]], [[Black Flame (publisher)|Black Flame]], December 2006, {{ISBN|1-84416-387-3}})
* ''Sláine: Slaine the Defiler'' ([[Steven Savile]], [[Black Flame (publisher)|Black Flame]], September 2007, {{ISBN|1-84416-493-4}})

===Music===
* The metal band [[Slough Feg]] (originally named The Lord Weird Slough Feg) named themselves after the character of the same name.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Mills, Pat, ''Kiss My Axe! Slaine the Warped Warrior: The Secret History,'' Millsverse Books, December 2021, {{ISBN|978-1-7399580-0-8}}

==External links==
* [http://www.2000adonline.com/?zone=thrill&page=profiles&choice=SLAINE 2000 AD Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040907074055/http://www.2000adonline.com/?zone=thrill&page=profiles&choice=SLAINE |date=7 September 2004 }}
* [http://www.2000adonline.com/?zone=thrill&page=thrillviewer&choice=time Sláine – "The Time Monster"] (requires registration)
* [http://www.sffworld.com/interview/226p0.html Interview Steven Savile]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070506174944/http://www.2000adreview.co.uk/reviews/extra/2006/books/slaine/exile.shtml Review of Slaine The Exile]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130402000335/http://upcoming4.me/news/book-news/review-slaine-grail-war Review of Slaine The Grail War]
* [http://www.sffworld.com/brevoff/355.html another review] of the novel made by Saville

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