Identity In Saltire

1 Articulation of Scottish Identity in Saltire

In the comic book Saltire’s preface, writer John Ferguson stresses upon Scotland’s richness of “myth and legend”, its “history and achievement”, as well as its “unique identity” (Ferguson 2013, 2). He writes “[i]t is remarkable that this ancient realm has had no champion within the modern comic book genre” (ibid). He then labels his main protagonist as “Scotland’s first superhero” (ibid). This essay will analyse the comic’s strategies of seizing upon Scottish identity.
On a visual level, Scottish identity is constructed by the use of Scottish iconography. First, the superhero Saltire, as well as several Highlanders, are depicted as red-haired, thus perpetuating the stereotype of the redheaded

In fact, there is an item of the same name linked to Scottish history. The Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone, was used in the coronation of the Scottish kings until it was captured and brought to England by Edward I. Thus, the stone that legitimises the royal sovereign of Scotland is also the source of Scotland’s protecting superhero. The summoning ritual of Saltire furthermore requires “the balance of light and shadow” (ibid). This is symbolised by the union of the “valleys of light” and the “highlands of shadow” (ibid, 12). Consequently, in order to summon Saltire and save Scotland, the Highlanders and Lowlanders have to work together. This can also be seen as a means of constructing identity and

First, the book entails Scottish iconography, such as the Flag of Scotland carried out by the character design of Saltire and the Stone of Destiny which is needed to summon the superhero. Additionally, red hair as a feature of Saltire and several other Scottish characters can also be seen as an icon of Scottishness. Next, the narrative is presented as a mixture of history and mythology. For instance, the entailed map of Scotland features fictional places and fantastical creatures and magic are key elements of the story. Thus, Scotland is presented as a place rich of myth and legend. The summoning ritual of Saltire, which requires the cooperation of the Highlands of Shadow and the Valleys of the Light, represents the need for a unity between the Highlands and the Lowlands in order to form a Scottish identity. Furthermore, myths such as the Loch Ness monster or the disappearance of the Ninth Legion as well as historic events such as the construction of Hadrian’s Wall are depicted in the narrative. Finally, the crucial element of the story is Scotland’s desire for freedom and independence, which is a prominent motive concerning Scotland throughout literary, film, and theatre history. In conclusion, Saltire corresponds to literary patterns and extensively articulates Scottish