Tuatha (2025) by Gavin Fullerton

Welcome back to Collecting Issues, your monthly comic book club! To close out 2025, we are wading deep into the bog of Irish Myth to discuss Tuatha, the stunning one-shot from Irish creator Gavin Fullerton, published by IDW Comics. If Samurai Jack and Hellboy had a baby and sent it on a grim quest across a war-torn ancient Ireland, it would look like this. In this episode, Michael and Benjamin break down this largely silent visual masterpiece. We explore how Fullerton strips away the "Leprechaun Museum" version of folklore to reveal the gritty, bloody roots of Celtic legend. Join us as we decode the hidden mythological references scattered throughout the book; from the Brown Bull of Cooley to the Dagda, and discuss why this might be the best visual storytelling of the year. In this episode, we cover: Visual Storytelling: How Gavin Fullerton uses silent narrative and cinematic paneling to tell a story of grief and duty. Mythology Decoded: We identify the cameos from Irish Legend, including Queen Maeve, Cú Chulainn (maybe?), The Dagda, and Balor of the Evil Eye. The Vibe: Why this feels like "Dark Souls" meets an apocalyptic end to the Age of Myth. That Dog: Emotional damage and the fate of the protagonist's wolfhound. 2026 Reading Schedule: We’ve announced our lineup for the first half of 2026! Get your copies ready: Jan: 100 Bullets, Vol. 1 by Brian Azzarello & Eduardo Risso Feb: Absolute Martian Manhunter, Vol. 1 by Deniz Camp & Javier Rodríguez Mar: Bone, Vol. 1 by Jeff Smith Apr: Ultimate Spider-Man by Jonathan Hickman May: Assorted Crisis Events by Deniz Cam Jun: Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King & Bilquis Everly Join the Club: We want to hear your thoughts on Tuatha! Did you spot the references to the Red Hand of Ulster? Did you catch the flashback? Join the Discord and read along Read Our Substack Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Tiktok Watch us on Youtube If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps more than you know! Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction to Irish Mythology 00:37 Comic Book Club Overview 02:24 Engage with Us: Join the Discussion 05:22 Deep Dive into Tuatha Comic 07:49 Exploring Irish Mythological References 12:35 The Protagonist's Grim Mission 16:04 Mythical Encounters and Symbolism 29:34 The River Bandits and the Giant Deer 35:04 Irish Mythology and the Gay Bullock 36:09 Action-Packed Battle Scene 37:11 Encounter with WWE Superstar Finn Balor 38:04 The Forgotten God DDA 39:36 A Journey Through Irish Mythology 41:56 The Tragic Death of the Loyal Hound 44:37 A Vigil and a Journey Continues 50:15 Blood Magic and Mythical Struggles 55:48 The Island and the Final Resting Place 57:28 Reflections on Grief and Myth 01:00:25 Upcoming Comic Book Club Reads