[1] He had met aspiring writer Garth Ennis (who had previously had a readers' letter printed in Battle Picture Weekly in 1979, at the time subedited by MacManus[2]) on the Crisis launch signing tour in Belfast.

Contact with Crisis assistant Igor Goldkind was encouraging, and Ennis was briefly considered to co-write some episodes of "Third World War" set in Northern Ireland with Pat Mills until the latter met Malachy Coney first.

[1] MacManus contacted Ennis about his outline – and after the writer turned in a spec script for the opening episode in two days, and seeking feedback from Mills – commissioned him to write the full story.

[3] To get the correct local detail Ennis wanted an artist familiar with Belfast, and the experienced Will Simpson was strongly considered; however, he was committed to "Rogue Trooper" in 2000 AD.

Instead, Ennis' good friend John McCrea, who had provided art for tie-in media and made some small contributions to 2000 AD, was given the job of painting the story.

He is unpolitical and largely views the presence of the British Army as a mildly curious part of life, and enjoys visiting pubs with his friend Dougie, who attempts to set Tom up with Liz, a girl he knew in school.

He and Dougie visit Ivor, a friend who has recently returned from jail after being caught with a gun after signing up for the Ulster Volunteer Force, but panics after realising Liz might be in the path of the explosives.

[7] Jack Kibble-White rated the collected edition two stars out of five for Slings and Arrows, feeling that while it had some positives it was more "an antiquated early work for creators just on the cusp of becoming ready to produce far better things".