HOUND is an award-winning graphic novel trilogy set in Ancient Ireland that retells the myth of Ireland’s greatest hero, CÚ CHULAINN. Written and drawn by Paul Bolger and co-written by Barry Devlin HOUND from the perspective of the villain, MORRIGAN – the war spirit of pre-Christian Ireland.

Is MORRIGAN telling the truth or is she an unreliable narrator?

What some of our well-known fans have said:

‘Really enjoyed reading HOUND. Paul Bolger and Barry Devlin have done a great job with re- imagining the story of the Irish mythical hero, Cú Chulainn. Looking forward to the next instalment.’ — Aidan Turner, Actor (The Hobbit, Poldark)

“Hound is a stunning example of comics storytelling being used to reinvigorate ancient legends for a modern audience. Paul Bolger utilises a dynamic drawing technique that echoes both Mignola and Frazetta yet has a look that’s uniquely his own, the pages fairly zing with personality, wit and style.” — Tomm Moore, Director (Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea)

‘I thought this was a bloody marvellous book: magical, violent and visceral but with a glorious seam of comedy and irony to bring light to the spectacular Celtic landscapes of Paul’s imagination.’ — Peter Lord, Director (Chicken Run, Wallace & Gromit) Founder of Aardman Animation

After running two previously successful Kickstarters for Books 1 and 2 of the trilogy we are now in the throes of our third and final campaign to complete the epic conclusion of the saga by Halloween 2017 – or as it was originally known in Ireland, Samhain (the Gaelic harvest festival where darker half of the year starts).

THE STORY

A baby boy is given super strength, agility and speed by the Celtic war goddess MORRIGAN and when he kills a huge Blacksmith’s guard dog, at the age of twelve, he becomes the most famous warrior in the ancient world – CÚ CULLAN, The Hound of Ulla.

Ten years later during Games thrown to celebrate KING CONNOR’s wedding Cú Cullan, now the King’s bodyguard, defeats a Hurling team fielded by King Connor’s oldest enemy, QUEEN MAEVE, and is given the job of collecting the King’s young bride to be, EMER, as his prize. On their return trip the couple fall in love. When King Connor discovers them together Cú Cullan is banished forever to THE ISLE OF SKYE and Emer is sent back to her father’s farm in disgrace.

Cú Cullan leaves the King’s hillfort city promising to return to Emer one day. Morrigan tries to stop Cú Cullan leaving ERIN (aka Ireland) but he rebukes her and travels to Skye where he is attacked by a young warrior woman named EVA and her band of seaweed-clad warriors, THE KELPIES. A strange old man draped in straw, rescues and guides Cú Cullan to Skye’s school. Cú leaps a bridge of living rock and demands that Skye teach him. It is here he meets FERDIA, Queen Maeve’s champion. They became firm friends where after finishing training, they swear never to fight each other.

Eva attacks the school and Cú singlehandedly stops the battle. He learns Eva is Skye’s estranged daughter. Mother and child reunite and Cú and Eva have an affair. Eva falls pregnant but Cú Cullan’s heart is in Erin. Cú leaves Eva heartbroken and returns to Emer. He turns his back on the warrior’s life and hangs up his blade for love and hides his terrible secret. Morrigan is enraged at Cú Cullan’s quest for peace and coaxes Queen Maeve into starting a war against King Connor.

Morrigan poisons King Connor’s army, forcing Cú Cullan to singlehandedly face the invasion horde. He becomes a living weapon and wears down the invaders guerrilla style but the relentless bloodletting is taking its toll on him. Morrigan is having the time of her life until Cú Cullan kills four boys, stops marauding and challenges Maeve’s champions to single combat to slow down the carnage. Queen Maeve uses this against him and asks King Connor for single combat between Cú Cullan and Ferdia to end the war. The blood-brothers are set against each other and Cú kills his best friend. War is over. Cú curses Morrigan and breaks his blade. An uneasy peace is agreed between King Connor and Queen Maeve and Cú Cullan returns to Emer.

10 years of delicate harmony follow. Morrigan and Maeve lick their wounds and bide their time. All is well until a young boy arrives to challenge the champion of Ireland and he defeats many of King Connor’s finest until Cú is called. He stops the teenage with his deadly spear. With his dying breath the boy reveals he is Eva’s son. Cú goes berserk and Morrigan works her dark magic again. She draws THE HOUND into her lair – the stone age tomb NEWGRANGE. “Mother and son” fight and Cú is mortally wounded defeating the goddess to be remembered forever as the one who faced down the one true enemy – our own spirit of war; and won.

TEAM HOUND

Paul Bolger (Writer/Artist/Publisher) is one of Ireland’s homegrown internationally acclaimed animator/directors (his credits include The Land and Before Time, All Dogs Go To Heaven, The Thief & The Cobbler, Cool World, Felidae Pippi Longstocking, Happily N”Ever After and Pirates: Band of Misfits, Shaun The Sheep and Arthur Christmas).

Barry Devlin (Co-Writer) is a screenwriter of note (A Man of No Importance, The Darlings Buds of May, A Kiss for Jed, My Mother & Other Strangers). Barry is also the director of several music videos for U2 and is something of an Irish rock legend himself from his days as the front man of Celtic Rock heroes, Horslips.

Hugh Welchman (Editor/Publisher) is an Oscar winning film producer (Peter and the Wolf) and Creative Director of BreakThru Films where he has just completed the world’s first painted animation feature, Loving Vincent.

Dee Cunniffe (Lettering) is a comic book colourist who has worked on Comic colours for various publishers including DC, Marvel, Archaia and 2000AD.

Contact Information:

Email: paul@pillarstoneproductions.com
Website: www.kickstarter.com