Irish Conflict in Comics: Rebellion, Nazi Spies and the Troubles

By James Bacon. Published by Limit Break Comics. 

Softcover, 260 pages, Prose w/ B&W Comics, 2025. 

In 1943, Marvel’s Namor fought alongside the I.R.A to defeat Nazi spies in ‘The Green Island Menace’ in Sub-Mariner #9. Even more surprising is  a 1980s Spider-Man story featuring the I.R.A. resulting in a bomb threat against the Marvel New York offices, prompting their staff to evacuate onto the street. 

The presence of Irish elements persists throughout comic book history. ‘Rookie’ in Red Ryder and ‘Minuteman’ in Master Comics also fought against Nazi Spies and infiltrators in Ireland during the Second World War. Discover Irish characters in a variety of historical portrayals, such as in Prince Valiant and The Thrilling Adventures of Robin Hood, as well as Eamon de Valera, Hero of Ireland. 

In Ireland itself, Irish comics were produced to challenge the foreign imports in the 1950s. The Leprechaun, Sarsfields the Name, Sarsfields the Man, and Éire – Sean is Nuaprovided alternatives to the ‘avalanche of imported comic papers which are doing great harm to youth’.

American and European portrayals of Irish conflict expanded from the 1970s onwards, mirroring contemporary interest in the Troubles, and this book examines these portrayals, speaking to the very strong and disappointing stories, and considers the incredible underground works that came from Northern Ireland in the 1970s, such as The Hand by John Kindness, and then later seminal portrayals of the Troubles from Northern Ireland such as Troubled Souls and Holy Cross.  

Featuring commentary and contextualisation of over 150 comic stories and over 300 individual comic books, this is an invaluable reference work for those interested in Ireland, Irish history, and comics. 

James Bacon is an Irish train driver living in London. He is a comic fan from Dublin who has been active in the Irish comic book community and who has written about comics for over thirty years. James has won both a Hugo Award and an Alfie Award for co-editing the fanzine Journey Planet. 

Irish Conflict in Comics in the 20th Century: Rebellion, Nazi Spies, and The Troubles is his first book. His second will be the forthcoming Irish Hysteria over Horror Comics in the 1950s, which will also be published by Limit Break Comics. 

Cover art by John McGuinness and Tríona Tree Farrell.

Published by Limit Break Comics, Dublin Ireland, and Chickadee Comics, Gray, USA.