Cold Iron

Cold Iron #1-4

by Andy Diggle, Nick Brokenshire (Illustrator), Triona Farrell (Illustrator)

Celtic folklore and modern moxie collide as an ancient pact between worlds is broken. The sinister forces of Faerie have slipped their shackles, and the Black Dog walks abroad this night…

On the rural Isle of Man, aspiring singer-songwriter Kay Farragher dreams of escaping her humdrum life. But she’s about to get more than she bargained for—and some bargains are not to be trusted...

Cold Iron is supernatural thriller from Andy Diggle ( Green Arrow , The Losers , Hellblazer ) and Nick Brokenshire ( Star Wars , Amelia Cole , The Once And Future Queen ).

Collects Cold Iron #1–#4.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy

152 pages, Paperback

Published July 25, 2023

About the author

Andy Diggle is a British comic book writer and former editor of 2000 AD. He is best known for his work on The Losers,Swamp Thing, Hellblazer, Adam Strange and Silent Dragon at DC Comics and for his run on Thunderbolts and Daredevil after his move to Marvel.

In 2013 Diggle left writing DC's Action Comics and began working with Dynamite Entertainment, writing a paranormal crime series Uncanny. He is also working on another crime series with his wife titled Control that is set to begin publishing in 2014.

Reviews

[Alex Sarll]

Kay Farragher is a musician feeling trapped on the Isle of Man, and who can blame her, given it was once summarised as "80,000 alcoholics clinging to a rock". But then she picks up a young woman who seems to have been in an accident, and who's even confused about stuff like what century it is...except, of course, that the answer is nothing so comforting as a bump on the head, as the title would have made clear from the off even if it weren't for the wisdom of Kay's superstitious gran, and the shapes lurking in the shadows. This was all rattling along pleasantly enough, helped by the purchase Brokenshire's art and Farrell's colours have on the countryside and the sea's bleak charms. But with the third issue, when it became clear the factions at play were more tangled than the rather straightforward situation in which we seemed to be working, things stepped up a gear. I'm still not convinced it does anything quite new, but it tells the old story with fire and enough little tweaks along the way, and for four issues, that's enough.

[Cornerofmadness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cold Iron in one way is your typical fae folk tale but in another is a bit different in that instead of our usual suspects of say Ireland or England it's set on the Isle of Man, using their folklore. Kay is a young woman working in a rather rough bar, dreaming of making it off the rural island to the bigger cities, hoping her music will take her there. Her boyfriend is pretty much a loser and her parents are gone. She's been raised by her grandmother who is one hundred percent invested in the idea that the fae folk are very real, insisting on Kay touching the iron horse shoe every time she goes in and out.

I like granny even though her main purpose is to inform the reader about Manx folklore as she lectures Kay, even including the fact the island takes its name from Manannán mac Lir, a god-hero who now resides inside the fae realm. Kay, naturally believes none of it until she nearly runs over a young girl one night. Mona is on the run from a Glashtyn.

Mona was given to the fae -and to The Widower, Manannán's title as names have power - by someone in exchange for his wish, nearly 200 years ago. Determined to keep Mona safe and out of faerie hands, Kay is unafraid to take the fight to them.

The story ends with a prose epilogue about ten years down the road which was an interesting edition.

I love these kinds of faerie tales, the reminder they were not considered nice and cute in the past (though hot fae folk stories are fun too) I thought the story was well done and well paced. I also very much like Brokenshire and Muller's art. The one detail that stood about about granny, the hands. Hands are hard in general but they managed to capture that weathered skin, atrophied muscled hands down to the knobby arthritic knuckles. That really pleased me.

[Maraya21 (The Reading Dragon) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Rory Wilding · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fairy tales are known for their wonder, but they also have a dark side, as exemplified in some of the best Disney movies like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Fantasy stories are often seen as a way to escape reality, but they also serve as a means of preparing for the challenges of adulthood. Andy Diggle and Nick Brokenshire’s Cold Iron, originally published under the ComiXology Originals banner and now released by Dark Horse, aims to capture this essence.

Please click here for my full review.

[Metabull · Rating 3 out of 5]

A not so fresh take on folklore meets modern day. It had all the necessary elements, brought in a decent way. Not bad at all, not stellar either. The character of Gran was nice though.

The art is okay. Lean and clean lines with some dynamic panels. Some pages were less well done with some flaws. Not bothersome, although a consistent style would have been better.

[Glen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid

A strong story about a rural rebel who uncovers a plot between the human world and the fairy world. The mystic aspects are fun but never overwhelm the main story. Carefully rendered artwork, excellent pacing, great characterization... A really enjoyable book.

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Authentic

Good color artwork, and well researched. The story of a Welsh bard and a girl kidnapped by fairies. Has room for a sequel?