Irish Comic Spotlight: The League of Volunteers

For this week's Irish comic spotlight I'm casting some well deserved attention on Rob Curley's and Barry Keegan's League of Volunteers!

The League of Volunteers is one of Atomic Diner's newest publications and is currently 3 issues in with one nicely honed arc under the belt.
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The title follows a band of Irish heroes and is set during the 1940's and the turbulent events of World War II.
The league consist of 6 main members so far: (In order of appearance in the above pic from left to right) The Archer, Blood Rose, Glimmer Man, Fionn Mac Cumhaill, The Emerald Lady and The Druid. Some of these heroes are taken from Irish Mythology and Paganism while others are Curley's and Keegan's own iteration on comic hero archetypes e.g The Archer = Hawkeye/Green Arrow. The origins and inspirations for this eclectic group is an enjoyable mix of mythology, pulp and superhero but better yet is the character design and outfits which are simple but sharp and very distinct again drawing from the time period and myths of Irish lore, all of this results in a bunch of comic characters that are accessible, stand out and are, most importantly, memorable.
On top of the main caste of protagonists is Ireland's own Nick Fury; Lee Thompson the eye patch sporting commander of G2's Meta Human division who makes for a great supporting caste member and the Leagues first main villian; The Bocanah, a Celtic demon of Battle with the body of a man and a goat skull for a head.
The demon is brought forward by Nazis (who else!) but immediately turns on his summoners and enacts his plans to summon a demon horde and lay waste to the mortal world!!
Through Druid's foresight and Lee Thompson's instruction, the League come together to stop The Bocanah and save the world! Classic.
The fast pace and action orientated panels set an exciting tone matched with clear dialogue and pencil work that never gets muddled making a thoroughly enjoyable book. Curley's use of celtic mythology and Irish/World History give the book depth and bring a smile to the face of anyone with half an interest in either one. Above all, this titles greatest strength is the potential it alludes to, the potential of a new Mythology born of Curley's and co.'s imaginations, one of Irish heroes and villains, a modern mythology and an Atomic Diner shared universe that is just starting to connect and expand.

Bonus!: The League of Volunteers was listed as #5 in The Irish Times top 50 Things to love about Ireland right now!! It's a bloody national treasure!