After the Squarebound event in Dublin recently Irish artist Tommie Kelly realised that the Irish comic book scene could use a central resource, especially to aid networking about comic book events in Ireland, and in a splurge of activity created a terrific site called Irish Comic News.

It describes itself as “…a website dedicated to the Irish comic Scene. It contains interviews, a forum, event guides, tutorials and all news related to the Irish Comic Scene.” Tommie is being helped in his efforts by Patrick Brown, Hilary Lawler and Gar Shanley, with contributions from David O’Leary.

For the past week ICN has been sending a standard questionnaire to Irish comic book creators and posting their responses online. You can read Robert Curely’s answers and  my answers on the site.

As well as this David O’Leary has kindly written a review of issue 1 of Róisín Dubh. Here’s a sampler:

The story is utterly enticing. If this is any indication of what is planned in the overall picture, then we are well placed. I love the period that the book is set in. I love the characters traits and how the time influences the thinking of them, particularly Roisin’s father. I love the attention to the little details that McHugh brings forth. This could be the beginning of something special. Keep your eyes peeled.

The art is also just as noteworthy. The black and white art is exactly what the tone of the story demands of it. There are some cool images in the book, one being the image of the Neamh-Mharibh’s position in the mound after being buried. Something about that panel was visually very catching. The clothes and time specific items must have took a bit of research and the look of the book looks as detailed as the story does. Also, the cover by Stephen Byrne is beautiful in its simplicity.