Exiled long ago, the Mac Tire Clan was amongst the most fearsome clan of warriors in all of Ireland. Now in Ireland’s darkest hour the last of the Mac Tire Clan, Rogan, has returned to his home to defend it against enemies new and old.
Basically, Rogan is a bad ass. Seriously, not only is he the last of the Mac Tire Clan, a master swordsman, but he has a giant shield and cape to back it up.
As the story unfolds we learn Rogan is respected by a great many warriors for his skill with a sword but hated by others for his heritage. Despite questions of his loyalty he has earned the trust of the Chieftain. Rogan is sent with the beautiful Saoirse and his band of twenty soldiers to track a group of raiders. Along the way he meets surviving solider that who reveals the raiders are not the only danger that lies ahead. The soldier tells tale of savage men who fight like demons. Rogan believes the threat to Ireland may be greater then the war they face and that the mysteries that lie ahead may in fact reveal truths about his clan, Ireland, and these demonic men.
The story is solid and provides enough extra juice to make you want to read the next issue and find out where its all going. Rogan and Saoirse are both interesting characters. While Rogan is obviously a character archetype we see time and time again he is done very well. Personally I’m a huge fan of “the last of whatever” lone wolf character type, so Rogan is right up my alley. Saoirse is presented in a way that makes you wonder if she will be a love interest or will she betray Rogan and become one of his enemies. She contrasts with Rogan in the sense that we know all about Rogan from the moment we meet him. We know and love characters just like him, its part of why he is such a badass. Her mysterious personality adds depth to the story.
The real strength behind Rogan isn’t the lore but the art itself. Even in black and white the panels have a great amount detail. There are a number of full on battle scenes and they are drawn exceptionally well. The armor, the helmets and spears are look great in these scenes. I found myself looking through those large battles to see if I could spots where the detail dropped off. Maybe in the background or something I thought, but I wrong. The close ups, dialogue shots, even the shot of Rogan surveying the field of battle are all drawn well. The expressions match the dialogue and emotions of the character.
All and all Rogan is a short comic that packs a punch. If you like the epic fantasy theme or you just really love Ireland, Rogan is worth a shot.
