Time is running out – the last copies of the iconic Judge Dredd board are 75% off in the 2000 AD webshop … for one week only!
This is your last chance to buy a copy of the refreshed and updated game, designed by legendary Fighting Fantasy author and Games Workshop founder Ian Livingstone, as well as copies of the Block Mania game and Mega-Mania expansion box!
The sale ends 25 September and once they’re gone, they’re gone – make sure you don’t miss out and grab yours at an unbelievable 75% off, citizens!
Mega-City One. A vast 22nd metropolis of 800 million citizens, each one a potential criminal. Under the watchful eye of the Judges no one escapes justice, whether their crime is littering or murder. And now, YOU ARE THE LAW!
Head out onto the streets of Mega-City One and prove you are worth of the badge. Bring the Angel Gang, Judge Death, Orlok the Assassin and other notorious lawbreakers to justice! But be warned – they won’t go down without a fight, and even a lowlife sugar-addict can take you out if they get lucky.
Designed by legendary Fighting Fantasy author and Games Workshop founder Ian Livingstone, Judge Dredd is an iconic British game of crushing crime and/or your friends. This new edition offers the ultimate Judge Dredd experience with updated cards, revised rules for faster play, and newly recoloured artwork from iconic 2000 AD artists Brian Bolland and Ian Gibson. This edition also introduces the Specialist Judges expansion, letting players choose between six unique Judges from across the history of Mega-City One. Each Judge has a special ability that will change how players approach the game, be it the brute strength of the Mechanismo droid, the innate abilities of the Psi Judge, the unrivalled authority of the Chief Judge, the added support available to the fresh-faced Cadet, the brutal methods of the Special Judicial Squad, or the… unique skills of the undercover Wally Squad! Order from our webstore to receive a free copy of the exclusive Judge Fish promo!
BLOCK MANIA
A Soviet bio-weapon has caused entire city blocks of citizens to declare war on their neighbours. You are those citizens. Bring out your Spugs, your Juves and your Fatties, and burn those other blocks to the ground! Designed by cult designer Richard Halliwell (Space Hulk, Warhammer), Block Mania pits two players head to head in an all-out war of attrition. In classic Judge Dredd style there is no glory in war – the player with the fewest defeat points at the end of the game will be declared the winner. Block Mania includes two boards, each a separate block, 54 cards, dice, and a stack of counters including mobs, bat suits, buzz saws and Kleggs.
MEGA-MANIA Expansion Box
Mega Mania expands Block Mania with two new Blocks and sets of counters, allowing up to four players to join in the chaos at once. This limited edition reprint also includes the hard-to-find Happy Hour expansion, introducing sucker-guns, robo-dogs and more. A copy of Block Mania is required to play the game.
With 40 years of storytelling as its core, it only makes sense that you might be wanting to know just who’s who in the world of Sláine!
Slaying ancient evils, swinging axes, ruling kingdoms, and conquering invaders might seem like any ordinary fantasy tale from the past few centuries, but with the help of some truly top-tier writers and artists, and real-life Celtic mythology to draw from, Sláine and his band of characters are far from run of the mill. If you’re looking to catch up on just who you’ll be dealing with when it comes to Warlord’s new skirmish game, there’s no better place to start than the heavy-hitters of Sláine’s own pantheon.
SLAINE MAC ROTH
Armed with his stone axe Brainbiter, a lust for blood, and the ability to channel the power of the very Earth itself into his “warp spasm” – the ability to transform into a near-unstoppable monstrosity – Sláine Mac Roth is a mighty dark-haired warrior of the Sessair tribe in ancient Ireland.
Exiled as a teenager following the discovery of an illicit affair with the chief’s fiancee Niamh, Sláine’s adventures have brought him face to face with dragons, time travel, gods and goddesses, and a world full of blood-splattered adventure alongside trusted sidekick Ukko. As if that weren’t enough, he has also been sent across time by the Earth Goddess Danu to defend his homeland against various historical threats, including invading Roman, Viking, and Trojan armies; at some point during all of this, he also became the first High King of Ireland as well as the mythical Horned God himself.
It’s not all been threats that we mere mortals can’t relate to, however. During his 40 years in the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, he’s also found time to marry Niamh and become a father. Don’t worry; they didn’t keep him back from warping out and slaughtering all who stand before him when necessary.
UKKO THE DWARF
While Sláine’s world consists of any number of heroic warriors, beautiful damsels, or unworldly threats, his most loyal companion manages to be exactly none of these things. Instead, Ukko is, to be blunt, Sláine’s cowardly dwarf companion and sidekick.
Named after the Finnish god, Ukko is anything but godlike, instead acting, most times, as a contrast to Sláine’s bravery and cunning with lecherous commentary and a business-mind that’s greedy for gold; he is, however, appointed as royal jester or “Royal Parasite” upon Slaine’s reign as King of Ireland. Technically the property of Sláine — he was “won” by the hero in a board game — the relationship between the two is closer to one of unspoken respect masked by public contempt and mockery, on both sides.
Despite his shortcomings, Ukko is tasked to record and chronicle Slaine’s adventures and mishaps, and is responsible for the majority of the strip’s narration. That’s not to say that he doesn’t have ambitions of his own, whether its to amass as much wealth as possible through whatever means possible (preferably thievery) or to own and manage his own tavern, giving him access to as much drink and women as he can handle.
THE LORD WEIRD SLOUGH FEG
Ruler of the mythical land of Tir Nan Og, the Lord Weird Slough Feg was a ruthless beast that resided in the underground Cave of Beasts and fed on children offered by the four tribes of man as tribute for keeping them safe.
A rotting and decaying figure known as the Horned God and leader of the Skull Sword army, Feg appeared to be a figure none would dare cross… making it all the more notable that Sláine would repeatedly — intentionally and otherwise — stand in the way of his ultimate plan to destroy Tir Nan Og entirely, whether it was preventing a sacrificial killing in Feg’s honor or fighting back the Fomorian Sea Devils working in Feg’s name.
Feg would be killed by Sláine, who had successfully united the four tribes to claim power for themselves, with the hero claiming the title of the Horned God for himself. That wouldn’t be the last the world would see of him, however; he would eventually return, reborn in an alternate timeline to try one more time to destroy his accursed foe.
NIAMH
Despite originally being destined to be the wife of Grudnew, the chief of the Sessair tribe, and kept in a guarded hut so that she may not be seen by other men, the Warrior Queen Niamh is anything but a damsel in distress.
After a youthful dalliance with Sláine — the act that would both see him banished from the Sessair for years, and see her bearing his child — Niamh was left to raise their son Kai alone in the prison of her solitary hut until Grudnew’s death. Upon Sláine’s return, Niamh eventually softens to him once again despite her anger at his abandonment of her and their child; the two eventually marry and raise Kai together, even if they disagree about whether or not their son should follow in his father’s warrior footsteps.
Despite being raped and murdered by Moloch, an evil commander of the Fomorian Sea Devils, Niamh is still present in the strip after her death, often through Slaine’s time traveling adventures, or her apparent constant reincarnations as figures of English myth and history, including Sister Marian, the love of roguish hero Robin Hood’s life.
DANU
The Earth Goddess worshiped by all four tribes of Tir Nan Og, Danu rewards the unwavering faith of her warrior subject Slàine in a number of ways — most notably, by giving him the power to warp into a stronger, more invulnerable form in the heat of battle by channeling the power of the Earth itself.
One of the true constants in Sláine’s life, Danu doesn’t just watch over him but pushes him through time in order to defend Ireland from numerous threats as her champion. She rarely acts directly in such conflicts, but has on occasion possessed those around Sláine in order to get the job done.
This month we’re celebrating 40 years since the first publication of Sláine in the pages of 2000 AD Prog 330. Created by Pat Mills and Angela Kincaid, the Celtric Barbarian is one of the most enduring characters in our history. But who is Sláine anyway? Here’s our ultimate guide into the Horned God, and his lasting legacy within the pages of The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic..
What exactly is Slaine?
A barbarian fantasy rooted in Celtic myths, fables, and history, the first Sláine strip appeared in 1983’s 2000 AD Prog 330, created by writer Pat Mills and his then-wife, illustrator Angie Kincaid. Inspired as much by the high fantasy of writers such as Robert E. Howard – whose Conan the Barbarian had already demonstrated the potential for comic book success of fantasy material – as real-life and mythical and figures, Sláine was named for the first high king of Ireland, Sláine mac Dela, although his adventures went further than historical re-enactments; Mills and Kincaid’s axe-swinging hero would face off against dragons and gods alike, fueled only by his righteous anger and ability to “warp spasm,” transforming himself into an unstoppable warrior monster.
An immediate hit with readers, the series quickly became a regular fixture of 2000 AD throughout the 1980s, with artists including Ace Trucking Company’s Massimo Bellarinelli, Judge Dredd’s Mike McMahon, and Preacher cover artist Glenn Fabry following Kincaid in subsequent runs, as Mills continually upped the ante in terms of adventure and mayhem told through a mythological lens. It was the epic 1989 Sláine: The Horned God run, which featured fully-painted artwork from ABC Warriors’ Simon Bisley, that transformed the strip’s fortunes forever, though; the combination of Bisley’s beautiful, Frank Frazetta-inspired artwork and Mills’ ambitious writing combining to create one of the most successful and critically acclaimed stories in 2000 AD’s history to date.
Even as The Horned God revolutionized what readers expected from 2000 AD as the anthology headed into the 1990s – Bisley’s painted artwork spawned countless imitators and followers, attempting to scale the same heights he’d seemingly effortlessly reached – it redefined what Sláine could achieve. Subsequent series, which featured painted and digital art from the likes of a returning Glenn Fabry, Clint Langley, Simon Davis, and — most recently — Leonardo Manco maintained the epic scope of what Bisley and Mills had managed, with Mills taking his warrior king deeper into Celtic myth and beyond.
At its best, Sláine offers something more than the traditional high-fantasy sword and sorcery stories that had become prevalent in comics before him: a foot in the door of real — and truly magical — mythology. Researched and molded by Mills to reflect genuine myth as well as the adventure and fantasy readers craved, Slaine finds itself nestled among the best when it comes to historical fantasy in comics history.
Sláine the character himself, however, has become far larger than just his creators…
What is Sláine about?
The saga of Sláine captures the stories of warring Celtic tribes and their people in Tir Nan Og — the ‘Land of the Young’; one of them being the Sessair, Sláine Mac Roth’s tribe that is as brutal in battle as they are unmatched — all of whom worship the earth Goddess Danu. Like many of his kind, Sláine possesses the power of the “warp spasm,” or the ability to channel the powers of the earth to become a monstrous, and wildly powerful berserker… a power that drives much of the tales of Sláine’s battle endeavors.
The stories themselves, however, are narrated by Sláine’s companion: a surly, cowardly dwarf by the name of Ukko. While Ukko is often a thorn in Slaine’s side, his recountings lay the groundwork for the Sláine we come to know: an arrogant but proficient warrior, whose banishment from his tribe – he is sent away as the result of his romance with the Sessair king’s wife to-be – would begin a series of adventures unlike any the world had ever seen before.
Not everything can be wandering and wildness though, as the land of Tir Nan Og is fraught with dangers, including dragons, mercenaries, and the wrath of a disappointed sacrificial maiden. Sláine eventually returns to Sessairian land to find his wife and lover, Niamh, the woman for whom he was banished, had given birth to his son Kai in his absence. Family life wasn’t the kind of thing to settle him down, however and Sláine becomes king of the Sessair and leads them to rise up against their oppressors, sea demons who call themselves the Fomorians (based on the supernatural race of Irish mythology). As if that revolution wasn’t enough, his victories continued as he soon united the Earth tribes against his primary foe, Lord Weird Slough Feg, whose reign of ancient evil has hovered like a cloud over his adventures. Upon Slough Feg’s death, Sláine’s devotion to the goddess of Earth leads him to become the new incarnation of the Horned God – a variation of Cernunnos in the Gaulish pantheon – and the first king of Ireland.
That wasn’t the end of the story, however; with a reign that ends with the Earth Goddess sending him traveling through time to fight alongside Celtic legends such as Boudicca and William Wallace, it should come as no surprise to discover that Sláine’s adventures didn’t simply stop when he became a god. From the search for his son and recovering treasure stolen by Slough Feg’s son to facing down a Trojan army and joining arms with a mind-altering druid, the saga of Sláine not only continues to surprise and ignite only the best of barbarian fantasies, but endures as a testament to the lasting Thrill-power in the art of mythical storytelling.
As part of 2000 AD‘s 45th birthday celebrations, graphic novel editor Oliver Pickles spoke with Pat Mills about the saga of Sláine, one of his most famous creations…
Newcomers lured into the historical, myth-filled lands of Sláine might be forgiven for being overwhelmed by the expansive fantasy realm of Tir-Nan-Og first created by Pat Mills and Angela Kincaid in 1983. Sláine is a vast and magical series filled with breath-taking art from visionary talents including Massimo Bellardinelli, Mick McMahon, and Simon Bisley. Where to start, though? If you’re wanting to slash and burn your way through time with the Celtic Barbarian, here are four collections which should have you fully immersed in Sláine’s world in no time!
This first collection, which features the first ten stories ever published for the strip, is essential reading when it comes to diving into the mythical world of Sláine.
Setting the stage for decades to come, Tir Nan Og (“the Land of the Young”) is a violent, malicious place where the Earth Tribes worship their gods and fight amongst each other. Among those tribes are the Sessair — the bravest and most skilled warriors of all of the tribes; but none so skilled as the young and arrogant barbarian by the name of Sláine MacRoth. This first collection sees Sláine, newly banished from the tribe, discovering the horrors of the world alongside his dwarf companion Ukko, including dragons, the wrath of a scorned druness, a burning wicker man, sky chariots, and the introduction of none other than the evil Lord Weird Slough Feg.
Written by Pat Mills and illustrated by a host of incredible and iconic artists (including Angie Kincaid, Ace Trucking Co.’s Massimo Bellardinelli, and The Last American’s Mick McMahon), the classic tales of Sláine’s origin not only offer a look back at the story’s humble beginning, but act as a cornerstone for everything awaiting down the line.
Above all else, Sláine: The Horned God is still, nearly 30 years later, regarded as one of the most impressive and masterful works of British comics — and for good reason! Fully painted by artist Simon Bisleyin a way that can only be described as awe-inspiringthrough a combination of kinetic photo-realism and exaggerated perspective, The Horned God has the wonderful benefit of standing alone in all its glory while not requiring its readers to have prior knowledge of the Sláine back catalogue.
Originally spanning three volumes, this Sláine collection is true fantasy from start to end, with Slaine first overcoming the Formian sea demons threatening Tir-Nan-Og and the Earth Goddess; only to face his greatest challenge that, if successful, would give him control of nature itself and become the new Horned God — a prominent figure among Gaulish and Irish mythology.
Far beyond the previous stories of fighting dragons or escaping death at the hands of a simple foe, The Horned God broadens the cast of Sláine characters — including its villains— into something larger than life and utterly engrossing. To say you should read The Horned God may be a misnomer, as many would agree that it’s not so much a book to be read, but one to be experienced.
Demon Killer sees Pat Mills taking Sláine in an entirely unexpected direction, as Earth Goddess Danu sends the hero through time to defend the future Tir-Nan-Og – or Ireland, as we know it – from the threat of Roman invasion, with his old foe Elfric leading the charge on behalf of Caesar. Reinventing the strip while maintaining the magic of what came before, Demon Killer is a bold step that broadens the definition of just what Sláine could be, even as it similarly expands the appeal of the strip to readers of all kinds.
Mills doesn’t manage this amazing trick alone, of course; he’s aided by a rogues gallery of some of 2000 AD’s greatest artists in the process, with Glenn Fabry, Dermot Power, Judge Dredd’s Greg Staples, and even V for Vendetta co-creator David Lloyd all providing breathtaking fully-painted artwork on this time-bending trip that rewrites history to make it that much more exciting – and far more filled with gods, demons, and axe-centric carnage, as well. Destruction on this kind of mythical scale has rarely looked better.
In a way that feels almost a little too timely, the collection of Sláine: Dragontamer is at heart a story about rebellion and pushing back against oppression. Delving into new parts of history previously left untapped within the ever-expanding Sláine universe, Mills continues to stretch the reign of Sláine across the European map in a way that feels like fierce and fantastical alternate folklore, made possible by artist Leonardo Manco, whose line-work and attention to detail brings dynamic new life to the stories of old.
Now facing off against the Trojans, it’s up to Sláine to lead the revolt against the tyrannical Emperor Brutus, whose rule over the people of Albion (which is to say, Britain) has gone on far too long. After traveling to New Troy with his companions and bringing the fight to Brutus’ door, Sláine discovers — after dealing with both fire breathing dragons and a dungeon filled with unspeakable secrets — that Brutus’ plague of terror is far worse than even he imagined.
Good Shepherd, a Devolver Digital company, and Rebellion (Sniper Elite) have entered into a groundbreaking partnership for Good Shepherd to develop and publish video game adaptations based on stories from the beloved 2000 AD universe, the home of Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper, ABC Warrior and more, as well as Rebellion’s other comic IP, including Roy of the Rovers and Battle Action.
Though Good Shepherd has been producing games since 2011 with runaway hits like Monster Train and the Transport Fever franchise, the label has seen strong growth in the adaptation space in recent years propelling the label’s new dawn of marrying top-class, worldwide publishing services with sought-after entertainment brands like John Wick Hex and Hellboy.
“We are huge fans of Rebellion and 2000 AD” said Amanda Kruse, head of business development and publishing for Good Shepherd. “It’s still early days, but building this out with partners who understand the art of adaptation across mediums has been incredible. We are excited to bring fans the hits they are expecting, but even more excited to play with the deep cuts in the library.”
Rebellion is the custodian and rights holder for a huge number of the British comics created throughout history. Alongside the legendary Judge Dredd, Rebellion owns iconic British comics characters like footballing legend Roy of the Rovers, the original action detective Sexton Blake, supervillain-turned-hero The Spider – famously written by Superman co-creator Jerry Seigel, Romans-in-space epic The Trigan Empire, Alan Moore’s celebrated heroine Halo Jones and it also contains incredible curiosities such as Gorillaz artist Jamie Hewlett’s surreal graphic novel collaboration Hewligan’s Haircut.
With comics from throughout the history of the medium, Rebellion’s catalog features countless characters and strips from every genre; from sci-fi, sports, westerns, war, espionage, horror and mystery to adventure, humour, historical, super-heroes and villains, and dozens more.
“We are honored to be the foremost custodians of the rich history of the British comics industry, and as we aim to preserve these legacies. Rebellion is proud to bring these stories to entirely new generations who will experience them for the first time through our partnership with Good Shepherd,” said Jason Kingsley OBE, CEO and co-founder of Rebellion. “My brother Chris (co-founder of Rebellion) and I have read 2000 AD from issue 1, and we look forward to seeing some of these stories brought to life with Good Shepherd.”
The new agreement includes game adaptations of stories from 2000 AD, the long running beloved comic anthology purchased by Rebellion in 2000. 2000 AD has published countless iconic stories in comics, such as Sláine, Judge Dredd and Rogue Trooper, and is currently on issue number 2,334.
Judge Dredd first appeared in the second-ever issue of 2000 AD in 1977 and his appearance would kickstart a massive, globally recognized franchise spanning two films (Judge Dredd, 1995, and Dredd 2012), five video games and numerous novels.
Rogue Trooper first appeared in 2000 AD in 1981, portraying the adventures of a Genetic Infantryman named Rogue as he searched for the Traitor General. These bloody, sci-fi adventures have turned Rogue Trooper into a recognized franchise featuring three novels, two board games and three video games, including 2006’s Rogue Trooper developed by Rebellion for PC, Xbox, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Wii.
THE REBELLION NAME AND LOGO AND ALL ASSOCIATED NAMES AND LOGOS ARE TRADEMARKS OF REBELLION AND MAY BE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS IN CERTAIN COUNTRIES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
About Good Shepherd Entertainment
Good Shepherd’s mission is to pair world-class developers with beloved IP, giving them unprecedented access to create memorable and impactful game adaptations in fan-favorite worlds. Through strategic partnerships with some of the industry’s most notable names, including Lionsgate, Dark Horse, Disney, MGM, and Epic, GSE leverages publishing resources on a global scale to punch above its weight. Notable games and franchises published by Good Shepherd include John Wick Hex, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, the Hard West series, Monster Train, and the Transport Fever franchise, and the upcoming Hellboy Web of Wyrd. Get in touch at www.goodshepherd.games
About RebellionFounded in 1992, Rebellion is one of the world’s most successful independent studios. Its flagship Sniper Elite series is renowned for its authentic stealth and sniping gameplay with more than 20 million players worldwide. The latest game in the franchise, Sniper Elite 5, was released in May 2022 to critical acclaim. 2000 AD is synonymous with the absolute finest in British comic book art. With the acquisition of a $100m film studio and the world’s largest archive of English language comics, Rebellion continues to grow from strength to strength.
Rebellion now operates across books, comics, TV and film, but at its core it’s still a leading developer and publisher of games. Whether it’s the breath-taking intensity of the Sniper Elite, the face-hugging terror of Aliens vs. Predator or the grindhouse frenzy of the Zombie Army series, the Oxford-based studio is revered for creating stand-out games designed to thrill.
No matter which Block you’re fighting for, the Block Mania Ultimate Bundle brings you the mayhem of Mega-City One in both comic and board game form– for a fantastic price!
This bundle includes our limited-edition reprint of the classic Block Mania board game and the MegaMania expansion, as well as a copy of Essential Judge Dredd: The Apocalypse War, which gives you the full Block Mania storyline from the 1980s.
Whether you have been a fan of 2000 AD for decades or are new to the world of Judge Dredd, this Ultimate Bundle gives you an incredible slice of Judge Dredd history. Let the Block Wars begin!
Block Maniabrings the manic destruction of Mega-City One to your tabletop, with each player controlling the citizens of an entire Mega-City Block as they attempt to destroy their neighbours!
This limited-edition replica printing brings the classic work of Space Hulk designer Richard Halliwell back to print for the first time in decades. See how much carnage you can cause before the Judges unleash the riot foam to shut you down.
Mega Maniaexpands the game to allow up to four players to join in the chaos at once, but that’s not all… For the first time, the Happy Hour expansion is also included, adding Robo-Dogs, Sucker Guns, and more to the fray!
Essential Judge Dredd: The Apocalypse Warbrings you the mother of all ‘epic’ Dredd storylines. Acknowledged as one of the greatest Judge Dredd stories of all time, The Apocalypse War and its prologue, Block Mania, are an epic of war and order – a titanic struggle by the despotic and authoritarian Judges to overcome an even greater threat from outside the walls of their city.
Don’t launch yourself into the toxic mists of Nu Earth without it – the soundtrack to the Rogue Trooper video game is now available to stream, own and download thanks to the team at Rebellion Music!
One of Rebellion’s most beloved and requested in-game soundtracks, the music for Rogue Trooper, is available now on Spotify, Apple Music & iTunes, Deezer, Amazon (UK, US), YouTube Music and other platforms.
Rogue Trooper is the latest soundtrack to be released by Rebellion Music, joining Zombie Army4, Evil Genius 2 and Battlezone, which were released earlier this year. More releases are planned for the near future so be sure to follow the Rebellion social channels for all the details.
Who is the Rogue Trooper?
Bred for war, but living for revenge – he is the last of the Genetic Infantrymen … he is Rogue Trooper! After his comrades are wiped out in the devastating Quartz Zone Massacre, Rogue goes on a quest to find the general who betrayed them, carrying the consciousnesses of three of his fallen brothers as biochips implanted into his equipment. Created by Gerry Finley-Day and Dave Gibbons, he’s the ultimate war machine!
Coming in November, the game sees players take on the role of Judges competing to prove themselves the greatest crime fighter in Mega-City One. Each turn they patrol the board and bust Perps, using their action cards to gain crucial advantages or sabotage their enemies. It’s a cut-throat world on the mean streets of Mega-City One, and if you want to reach the top you can’t be too worried about who you stand on to get there!
This new edition introduces the Specialist Judges expansion, casting players as one of six unique characters from across the history of Judge Dredd. Each has a special ability that will change how players approach the game, whether that be the brute strength of the Mechanismo droid, the innate abilities of the Psi Judge, the unrivalled authority of the Chief Judge, the added support available to the fresh-faced Cadet, the brutal methods of the Special Judicial Squad, or the … unique skills of the undercover Wally Squad!
Alongside the expansion, the game features new and updated cards, revised rules for faster play, and recoloured artwork from iconic artists Brian Bolland and Ian Gibson, giving players the ultimate Judge Dredd experience!
Designer Sir Ian Livingstone said, “I’m thrilled that Rebellion Unplugged is publishing my Judge Dredd board game. It’s 40 years since players first had the chance to drive around Mega-City One to arrest the Angel Gang, Judge Death and other perps for their various crimes. The additional rules, action cards and recoloured art combine to make the new edition a game that I hope every Dredd fan will want to play.”
Duncan Molloy, Head of Rebellion Unplugged, commented “It’s a delight to be working with Ian, and a real treat to revisit one of the true classics of British board-gaming. We’ve kept the gonzo spirit of the original while giving it a fresh look and adding new characters like the Specialist Judges, to make this edition a real celebration of the last 40 years.”
Mega-City One. A vast 22nd century metropolis of 800 million citizens, each one a potential criminal. Under the watchful eye of the Judges no one escapes justice, whether their crime is littering or murder.
And now, YOU ARE THE LAW!
Head out onto the streets of Mega-City One and prove that you are worthy of the badge. Bring the Angel Gang, Judge Death, Orlok the Assassin and other notorious lawbreakers to justice. But be warned – they won’t go down without a fight, and even a lowlife sugar-addict can take you out if they get lucky.
This new edition of Ian Livingstone’s iconic game offers the ultimate Judge Dredd experience, with updated rules, refreshed graphic design and the introduction of the Specialist Judges – unique playable characters equipped with powerful abilities to help keep Mega-City One in order!
About Sir Ian Livingstone
Sir Ian Livingstone CBE co-founded Games Workshop in 1975, launching Dungeons & Dragons in Europe. In 1982, he co-authored TheWarlock of Firetop Mountain, the first Fighting Fantasy gamebook in the series which has sold 20 million copies worldwide. Since then he has written 17 Fighting Fantasy books and designed several board games including Judge Dredd, Battlecars and Boom Town.
He moved into video games in the 1990s as Executive Chairman of Eidos plc, launching Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Hitman and Deus Ex. In 2000s he became an angel investor in video games studios and served as Chairman of Sumo Group plc until 2022. He is currently a General Partner of Hiro Capital.
About Rebellion Unplugged
Founded in 2019, Rebellion Unplugged is the Tabletop Gaming division of Rebellion, one of Europe’s largest independent creative studios.
Rebellion operates across books, comics, games and film, from BAFTA-winning videogames, through the beloved and prescient sci-fi universes of 2000 AD, and now safeguarding over a century of historic British comics.
The Unplugged team brings this energy to the tabletop, creating fast, fun and immersive games.
About 2000 AD
2000 AD is the legendary weekly British anthology comic – the home of Judge Dredd and a galaxy of original sci-fi, fantasy, and horror action stars. Producing innovative and provocative comics for more than four decades, it has brought the industry some of its biggest talents, from Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, and Mark Millar, to Jock, Brian Bolland, Dave Gibbons, and many more. Published in print and digital every Wednesday, 2000 AD is the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic and remains at the industry’s cutting edge. www.2000ADonline.com
Sláine: Kiss My Axe! is the brand new skirmish tabletop miniatures game, set in the world of Sláine – out this week from Warlord Games! Based on the legendary comic book by Pat Mills and Angela Kincaid, axes and swords clash whilst Earth and Sour magic lash out across the Land of the Young, as the Earth Tribes of the goddess Danu battle the decaying Drune Lords and the relentless Fomorian Sea Demons.
Newcomers lured into the historical, myth-filled lands of Sláine by this new game might be forgiven for being overwhelmed by the expansive fantasy realm suddenly available for exploration. With all of Tir-Nan-Og open to them, and the conflict between the Earth Tribes and demonic forces at play, perhaps it’s time to learn some important backstory.
And here are five of the best collections in which to find it:
This first collection, which features the first ten stories ever published for the strip, is essential reading when it comes to diving into the mythical world of Sláine.
Setting the stage for decades to come, Tir Nan Og (“the Land of the Young”) is a violent, malicious place where the Earth Tribes worship their gods and fight amongst each other. Among those tribes are the Sessair — the bravest and most skilled warriors of all of the tribes; but none so skilled as the young and arrogant barbarian by the name of Sláine MacRoth. This first collection sees Sláine, newly banished from the tribe, discovering the horrors of the world alongside his dwarf companion Ukko, including dragons, the wrath of a scorned druness, a burning wicker man, sky chariots, and the introduction of none other than the evil Lord Weird Slough Feg.
Written by Pat Mills and illustrated by a host of incredible and iconic artists (including Angie Kincaid, Ace Trucking Co.’s Massimo Bellardinelli, and The Last American’s Mick McMahon), the classic tales of Sláine’s origin not only offer a look back at the story’s humble beginning, but act as a cornerstone for everything awaiting down the line.
Concluding stories found in the second collection in the series, Time Killer, Sláine The King looks deeper into the depths and breadths of Mills’ worldbuilding when it comes to Tir-Nan-Og and its tribal inhabitants. With Sláine and Ukko now travelling with a druidess named Nest, the group finds itself heading back to the Slaine’s tribe, the Sessair, who are now under the thumb of conquerors from the North. After a ritual that chooses Sláine above all else to rule as King, he prepares his people for the battles ahead, ridding their land and their people of their oppressive invaders.
With Glenn Fabry, David Pugh, and Mike Collins at the artistic helm, the story is anything but slow-moving. Accompanied by Mills’ skilled mixture of fantasy and Celtic lore, the gods and goddesses — good, bad, and everything in between — are further fleshed out and present in such a way that makes the world in which we know Sláine to be a part of just that much more real as a reader.
Above all else, Sláine: The Horned God is still, nearly 30 years later, regarded as one of the most impressive and masterful works of British comics — and for good reason! Fully painted by artist Simon Bisleyin a way that can only be described as awe-inspiringthrough a combination of kinetic photo-realism and exaggerated perspective, The Horned God has the wonderful benefit of standing alone in all its glory while not requiring its readers to have prior knowledge of the Sláine back catalogue.
Originally spanning three volumes, this Sláine collection is true fantasy from start to end, with Slaine first overcoming the Formian sea demons threatening Tir-Nan-Og and the Earth Goddess; only to face his greatest challenge that, if successful, would give him control of nature itself and become the new Horned God — a prominent figure among Gaulish and Irish mythology.
Far beyond the previous stories of fighting dragons or escaping death at the hands of a simple foe, The Horned God broadens the cast of Sláine characters — including its villains— into something larger than life and utterly engrossing. To say you should read The Horned God may be a misnomer, as many would agree that it’s not so much a book to be read, but one to be experienced.
Demon Killer sees Pat Mills taking Sláine in an entirely unexpected direction, as Earth Goddess Danu sends the hero through time to defend the future Tir-Nan-Og – or Ireland, as we know it – from the threat of Roman invasion, with his old foe Elfric leading the charge on behalf of Caesar. Reinventing the strip while maintaining the magic of what came before, Demon Killer is a bold step that broadens the definition of just what Sláine could be, even as it similarly expands the appeal of the strip to readers of all kinds.
Mills doesn’t manage this amazing trick alone, of course; he’s aided by a rogues gallery of some of 2000 AD’s greatest artists in the process, with Glenn Fabry, Dermot Power, Judge Dredd’s Greg Staples, and even V for Vendetta co-creator David Lloyd all providing breathtaking fully-painted artwork on this time-bending trip that rewrites history to make it that much more exciting – and far more filled with gods, demons, and axe-centric carnage, as well. Destruction on this kind of mythical scale has rarely looked better.
In a way that feels almost a little too timely, the collection of Sláine: Dragontamer is at heart a story about rebellion and pushing back against oppression. Delving into new parts of history previously left untapped within the ever-expanding Sláine universe, Mills continues to stretch the reign of Sláine across the European map in a way that feels like fierce and fantastical alternate folklore, made possible by artist Leonardo Manco, whose line-work and attention to detail brings dynamic new life to the stories of old.
Now facing off against the Trojans, it’s up to Sláine to lead the revolt against the tyrannical Emperor Brutus, whose rule over the people of Albion (which is to say, Britain) has gone on far too long. After traveling to New Troy with his companions and bringing the fight to Brutus’ door, Sláine discovers — after dealing with both fire breathing dragons and a dungeon filled with unspeakable secrets — that Brutus’ plague of terror is far worse than even he imagined.
Sláine: Kiss My Axe! is the brand new skirmish tabletop miniatures game, set in the world of Sláine – out this week from Warlord Games! Based on the legendary comic book by Pat Mills and Angela Kincaid, axes and swords clash whilst Earth and Sour magic lash out across the Land of the Young, as the Earth Tribes of the goddess Danu battle the decaying Drune Lords and the relentless Fomorian Sea Demons.
With nearly 40 years of storytelling as its core, it only makes sense that you might be wanting to know just who’s who!
Slaying ancient evils, swinging axes, ruling kingdoms, and conquering invaders might seem like any ordinary fantasy tale from the past few centuries, but with the help of some truly top-tier writers and artists, and real-life Celtic mythology to draw from, Sláine and his band of characters are far from run of the mill. If you’re looking to catch up on just who you’ll be dealing with when it comes to Warlord’s new skirmish game, there’s no better place to start than the heavy-hitters of Sláine’s own pantheon.
SLAINE MAC ROTH
Armed with his stone axe Brainbiter, a lust for blood, and the ability to channel the power of the very Earth itself into his “warp spasm” – the ability to transform into a near-unstoppable monstrosity – Sláine Mac Roth is a mighty dark-haired warrior of the Sessair tribe in ancient Ireland.
Exiled as a teenager following the discovery of an illicit affair with the chief’s fiancee Niamh, Sláine’s adventures have brought him face to face with dragons, time travel, gods and goddesses, and a world full of blood-splattered adventure alongside trusted sidekick Ukko. As if that weren’t enough, he has also been sent across time by the Earth Goddess Danu to defend his homeland against various historical threats, including invading Roman, Viking, and Trojan armies; at some point during all of this, he also became the first High King of Ireland as well as the mythical Horned God himself.
It’s not all been threats that we mere mortals can’t relate to, however. During his 30+ years in the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, he’s also found time to marry Niamh and become a father. Don’t worry; they didn’t keep him back from warping out and slaughtering all who stand before him when necessary.
UKKO THE DWARF
While Sláine’s world consists of any number of heroic warriors, beautiful damsels, or unworldly threats, his most loyal companion manages to be exactly none of these things. Instead, Ukko is, to be blunt, Sláine’s cowardly dwarf companion and sidekick.
Named after the Finnish god, Ukko is anything but godlike, instead acting, most times, as a contrast to Sláine’s bravery and cunning with lecherous commentary and a business-mind that’s greedy for gold; he is, however, appointed as royal jester or “Royal Parasite” upon Slaine’s reign as King of Ireland. Technically the property of Sláine — he was “won” by the hero in a board game — the relationship between the two is closer to one of unspoken respect masked by public contempt and mockery, on both sides.
Despite his shortcomings, Ukko is tasked to record and chronicle Slaine’s adventures and mishaps, and is responsible for the majority of the strip’s narration. That’s not to say that he doesn’t have ambitions of his own, whether its to amass as much wealth as possible through whatever means possible (preferably thievery) or to own and manage his own tavern, giving him access to as much drink and women as he can handle.
THE LORD WEIRD SLOUGH FEG
Ruler of the mythical land of Tir Nan Og, the Lord Weird Slough Feg was a ruthless beast that resided in the underground Cave of Beasts and fed on children offered by the four tribes of man as tribute for keeping them safe.
A rotting and decaying figure known as the Horned God and leader of the Skull Sword army, Feg appeared to be a figure none would dare cross… making it all the more notable that Sláine would repeatedly — intentionally and otherwise — stand in the way of his ultimate plan to destroy Tir Nan Og entirely, whether it was preventing a sacrificial killing in Feg’s honor or fighting back the Fomorian Sea Devils working in Feg’s name.
Feg would be killed by Sláine, who had successfully united the four tribes to claim power for themselves, with the hero claiming the title of the Horned God for himself. That wouldn’t be the last the world would see of him, however; he would eventually return, reborn in an alternate timeline to try one more time to destroy his accursed foe.
NIAMH
Despite originally being destined to be the wife of Grudnew, the chief of the Sessair tribe, and kept in a guarded hut so that she may not be seen by other men, the Warrior Queen Niamh is anything but a damsel in distress.
After a youthful dalliance with Sláine — the act that would both see him banished from the Sessair for years, and see her bearing his child — Niamh was left to raise their son Kai alone in the prison of her solitary hut until Grudnew’s death. Upon Sláine’s return, Niamh eventually softens to him once again despite her anger at his abandonment of her and their child; the two eventually marry and raise Kai together, even if they disagree about whether or not their son should follow in his father’s warrior footsteps.
Despite being raped and murdered by Moloch, an evil commander of the Fomorian Sea Devils, Niamh is still present in the strip after her death, often through Slaine’s time traveling adventures, or her apparent constant reincarnations as figures of English myth and history, including Sister Marian, the love of roguish hero Robin Hood’s life.
DANU
The Earth Goddess worshiped by all four tribes of Tir Nan Og, Danu rewards the unwavering faith of her warrior subject Slàine in a number of ways — most notably, by giving him the power to warp into a stronger, more invulnerable form in the heat of battle by channeling the power of the Earth itself.
One of the true constants in Sláine’s life, Danu doesn’t just watch over him but pushes him through time in order to defend Ireland from numerous threats as her champion. She rarely acts directly in such conflicts, but has on occasion possessed those around Sláine in order to get the job done.
