Maura, Stephen & Robert at the Róisín Dubh signing.

This is a photo from the Róisín Dubh signing in the Central Hotel last Friday. As you can see, signing can be thirsty work!

Thanks to all the people who turned up to buy copies or brought along their copies to be signed. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone and chatting to you about the comic book. There was a constant ebb and flow of people throughout the evening, and the room didn’t empty until close to midnight.

The next day the three of us hit the road to Maynooth for Epic Con. Ashling O’Neill, the director of the convention, greeted us with charm and enthusiasm, and the three us of were treated very well by the rest of the staff and the fans throughout the event.

Stephen, Robert & Maura back in the classroom at Epic Con

We enjoyed our panels and the interaction with the audience.

Thanks to everyone who supported the comic, and we hope we’ll meet you again at future events!

Don’t forget, Stephen Byrne, Robert Curley and Maura McHugh will be signing copies of Róisín Dubh in the Library Bar in the Central Hotel, Dublin from 7pm onwards today, Friday, 17 February.

The team also be at Epic-Con in Maynooth tomorrow, so you’ll have plenty of chances to get comics signed and meet the creators.

Stephen Byrne, Robert Curley and Maura McHugh will be signing copies of Róisín Dubh in the Library Bar in the Central Hotel, Dublin from 7pm onwards on Friday, 17 February.

We look forward to meeting the fans of our comic book!

Hopefully, we’ll also see many of you at Epic-Con in Maynooth the following day.

Stephen Byrne, Robert Curley and Maura McHugh have been invited to Epic Con in Maynooth as guests.

The event is run by the Omega Society, NUI Maynooth’s sci-fi, anime and fantasy organisation, and 2012 marks the society’s ten-year anniversary.

It will be going on from 18 – 19 February 2012, and the Róisín Dubh trio will be on site all day on Saturday, 18th of February.

There will be a variety of events going on throughout the weekend ranging from panels, workshops, cosplay and screenings.

We look forward to meeting new and old fans of our comic!

A comprehensive Review of Irish Comics in 2011 was published on the ComicBuzz web site this week. It included an interview with Rob Curley and a discussion of all the Atomic Diner titles, including Róisín Dubh.

Our thanks to Jason Franks for his review of issue 2 of Róisín Dubh at Tastes Like Comics.

Here’s an amuse-bouche:

Róisín Dubh is something rare: a comic based on myth and legend that remains true to the period in which it is set. It’s refreshing to see a heroine who is both tough and vulnerable, presented without the standard hyper-sexualization we have come to expect from today’s comics and films. McHugh and Byrne have produced a terrific book that doesn’t pander, doesn’t sugarcoat, and retains its capacity to surprise. Seek it out; it’s well worth your time.

Here’s a snippet:

The funeral scene itself is the unquestioned highlight of the issue. Artist Stephen Byrne beautifully captures the isolation of the grieving Róisín, staring upward into the sky at free-flying birds while the hands of well-wishers grope at her, depicted in a series of inset panels. She is earthbound, trapped by her sadness, and even the supernatural Fainche is unable to give her any solace, admitting that it has no idea what waits after death. This is all powerfully delivered by the team of writer and artist.

It’s written by David O’Leary and can be read on ICN or Comicbuzz.

Here’s a taster of what he says:

Another great issue from Ireland’s leading publisher of indy comics. It really hits all the right notes visually and with its involved, layered story.

Róisín Dubh, issue 2, is on the shelves of SubCity in Dublin, and already selling well.

Issue 1 and 2 together make a perfect hoiday gift for the comic-loving person in your life!

Get it now while it’s still available.

Irish Comic News has initiated its inaugrual ICN awards.

For the next two weeks it will be taking nominations for each category of award, which will be followed by a vote on the short-list.

The winners will be announced on ICN and will recieve web badges to show their victory as well as a printable certificate.

Nominations end on September 30th 2011 for comics that were published in 2011 – except for the HALL OF FAME section.