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Once & Future (Collected Editions)
Once & Future, Vol. 5: The Wasteland
The Final Volume and Battle of the Iconic Arthurian Fantasy Series Where the Fate of Kings and England is Sealed!
It’s the day before Christmas and the Kings all converge on Excalibur, each determined to be the true ruler. Chaos arises! What if no one has the strength to take the sword? Will there finally be peace after so much conflict, or will an unexpected figure claim the throne? Rituals, bombs, and battles ensue, while the final fate of Mary, Rose, Bridgette, Merlin, and the rest awaits! The incomparable Kieron Gillen (The Wicked + The Divine) and Dan Mora (Detective Comics) deliver the long-awaited conclusion to their Hugo Award-nominated mystical modern take on Arthurian legend! Collects Once & Future #25-30.
It’s the day before Christmas and the Kings all converge on Excalibur, each determined to be the true ruler. Chaos arises! What if no one has the strength to take the sword? Will there finally be peace after so much conflict, or will an unexpected figure claim the throne? Rituals, bombs, and battles ensue, while the final fate of Mary, Rose, Bridgette, Merlin, and the rest awaits! The incomparable Kieron Gillen (The Wicked + The Divine) and Dan Mora (Detective Comics) deliver the long-awaited conclusion to their Hugo Award-nominated mystical modern take on Arthurian legend! Collects Once & Future #25-30.
160 pages, Paperback
First published December 28, 2022
About the author
Kieron Gillen
1,379 books1,830 followersKieron Gillen is a comic book writer and former media journalist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
July 24, 2023
Gillen did a fantastic job with the finale.
And while I'm sorry to see it go, I'm glad he didn't try to stretch the series out any further. It was time to wrap it up, as things were starting to get convoluted.
Also, for once I just really don't have any complaints as to how it all concluded.
I won't give any spoilers, but I think it all went down in a way that will make most fans of the title happy.
I'm happy, at any rate.
While this started out as a fantasy mixed with Arthurian legend, it morphed and incorporated everything from Beowulf to Robin Hood.
And I did get confused sometimes! <--because I didn't get who some of these characters were, so I didn't feel like I was getting all the references.
But in a way that made me want to go check out the source material, not in a way that made me want to toss the book.
Your own mileage will vary.
As a complete series, I'd give the whole thing 5 stars and it will go into my favorites pile to be re-read.
Highly Recommended.
Read digitally as single issues.
And while I'm sorry to see it go, I'm glad he didn't try to stretch the series out any further. It was time to wrap it up, as things were starting to get convoluted.
Also, for once I just really don't have any complaints as to how it all concluded.
I won't give any spoilers, but I think it all went down in a way that will make most fans of the title happy.
I'm happy, at any rate.
While this started out as a fantasy mixed with Arthurian legend, it morphed and incorporated everything from Beowulf to Robin Hood.
And I did get confused sometimes! <--because I didn't get who some of these characters were, so I didn't feel like I was getting all the references.
But in a way that made me want to go check out the source material, not in a way that made me want to toss the book.
Your own mileage will vary.
As a complete series, I'd give the whole thing 5 stars and it will go into my favorites pile to be re-read.
Highly Recommended.
Read digitally as single issues.
February 7, 2023
I'm very sad to see this delightful series end. It's been cracking.
Also cracking? My sanity. But that's unrelated.
Also cracking? My sanity. But that's unrelated.
January 6, 2023
It's sad to see this one come to an end. I kind of wanted it to keep going on forever. Apparently Gillen originally intended this to be a single volume book! So I'll be happy we got as much as we did. Man, Dan Mora just brings it on every page.
I will say I got lost and confused with all the twists and turns and literary references, but I'm accepting that as just part of the fun. The ending wasn't the most satisfying, I won't spoil anything here of course.
It's the first King Arthur related media that I've thoroughly enjoyed. I've been anti Arthur/Merlin my entire life for whatever reason. So I'll have this comic to thank if I do end up reading more about the mythos! On top of that I haven't exactly enjoyed any of Gillen's previous work. So there was a lot going against this series for me.
Overall I'll give the series a solid 8/10. I would give this another read in the future. Also, I'll read basically anything by Dan Mora now... maybe even the Superman comic he's been doing.
I will say I got lost and confused with all the twists and turns and literary references, but I'm accepting that as just part of the fun. The ending wasn't the most satisfying, I won't spoil anything here of course.
It's the first King Arthur related media that I've thoroughly enjoyed. I've been anti Arthur/Merlin my entire life for whatever reason. So I'll have this comic to thank if I do end up reading more about the mythos! On top of that I haven't exactly enjoyed any of Gillen's previous work. So there was a lot going against this series for me.
Overall I'll give the series a solid 8/10. I would give this another read in the future. Also, I'll read basically anything by Dan Mora now... maybe even the Superman comic he's been doing.
March 28, 2023
I really enjoyed the mix of stories in this book. I also like the mix of modern weapons in the legendary tales. I did like the twists in the final few issues/chapters.
If I had one complaint about this book it was a bit too rushed yes a lot was going on but I would have preferred it to be 32 issues instead of 30 but I guess it had to be fitted into the 30 limits.
There are reckonings for all the main characters as well as the world. On a personal note, I was happy to see two of my favourite English legends in the same book. The book finishes with a cover gallery.
If I had one complaint about this book it was a bit too rushed yes a lot was going on but I would have preferred it to be 32 issues instead of 30 but I guess it had to be fitted into the 30 limits.
There are reckonings for all the main characters as well as the world. On a personal note, I was happy to see two of my favourite English legends in the same book. The book finishes with a cover gallery.
October 24, 2022
Like some other series I'm going to wrap up everything up in one review (all 30 digital floppy issue).
Read this. Yep, cutting straight to the point. If you're a fan of, or have an interest in Arthurian legend, then the detail that Gillen pays attention to such matters is much appreciated, as are his twists on the tales. There are some well timed plot turns.
There is also, wait for it...character development. Perhaps the characters fall a little short of being fully three dimensional, but there is more depth than most limited run comic series. Duncan goes from being the typical shocked academic upon learning the truth about his grandmother Bridgette, to growing to be able to protect himself and others from the terrors being awakened.
And, then there is Bridgette. How often do readers get a an opportunity to have an elder person to identity witch and follow in any series (I mean an elder character who provides more tahn book knowledge/experience support).
Minor aside and spoiler, Gillen doesn't stop at Arthur's tales. He arguably pretty much runs the gamut of British folklore.
Read this. Yep, cutting straight to the point. If you're a fan of, or have an interest in Arthurian legend, then the detail that Gillen pays attention to such matters is much appreciated, as are his twists on the tales. There are some well timed plot turns.
There is also, wait for it...character development. Perhaps the characters fall a little short of being fully three dimensional, but there is more depth than most limited run comic series. Duncan goes from being the typical shocked academic upon learning the truth about his grandmother Bridgette, to growing to be able to protect himself and others from the terrors being awakened.
And, then there is Bridgette. How often do readers get a an opportunity to have an elder person to identity witch and follow in any series (I mean an elder character who provides more tahn book knowledge/experience support).
Minor aside and spoiler, Gillen doesn't stop at Arthur's tales. He arguably pretty much runs the gamut of British folklore.
November 20, 2023
Gillen did it. He brought it all together, and it worked beautifully. There were surprises, there were non-surprises of things that needed to happen, there were fighting dragons. It was glorious, and strange, and gross, too. I'm a little bereft that there will be no more, but at the same time I'm glad this didn't drag out until I got (more) confused by who was who and what they were doing and it all just sort of whimpered to a halt. No, here it goes out strong, with a bang! With a tear! With a little laugh! With . . . romance? And much feminine badassery!
May 30, 2023
You can find my full review for No Flying No Tights here. I actually wound up reviewing vols 4 & 5 there, but the short version is this is a very satisfying conclusion to what should have been a more bloated, chaotic tale. I know some folks have issues with it, but if you can read it close enough together to not lose all the threads that Kieron Gillen is weaving together, it really is a brilliant constructions. There were great callbacks here that I had forgotten about and I thought it was an earned, rewarding ending. If you haven't started these books I can now say you won't be disappointed by their (for now) conclusion.
January 14, 2024
A worthy ending to a high-octane, mythology-heavy, and wild adventure!
Dan Mora's art also makes this such a joy to read through.
Dan Mora's art also makes this such a joy to read through.
June 16, 2024
Once & Future is a jolly good time. Initially, it hinges on the idea that the Arthurian legend being true, but as it continues, it evolves into something being beyond that. It’s more so about stories as a collective and how we perceive those stories centuries after the fact. There’s even a plotline that explores how a certain character's story got altered completely due to a certain retelling being so publicly recognised. Despite the series having references to T. S. Eliot, Aruthiran Legends, Green Knight, Beowulf, Greek mythology, etc., the required knowledge is not necessary. I’ve read a decent amount of the source materials that the series references, and it didn’t dramatically change my reading experience. However, it is fun to see how Gillen alters certain stories. I really liked the characters in the series, which are Bridgette (Gran), Duncan and Rose. The writing is pretty good across the board. I really enjoyed Merlin, Mary, and other antagonists that pop up. The comedy is surprisingly effective, and Bridgette's dynamic with the cast is what makes this series work. The character arcs all feel appropriate. In terms of art, I thought Dan Mora did a stellar job. There’s some very fun panel work, the emotions especially convey that feeling of complete anguish, furthermore complimenting Tamra Bonvillain's excellent use of vivid colours. Now, lastly, the ending. I think regardless of your thoughts about the series or even this volume, as I would have to admit, certain aspects did feel rushed and should have gone on for longer however, the ending was beautiful. The last two pages wrap up the story in full circle, with just a brilliant note to end it on. I would definitely recommend reading this series.
8/10
8/10
January 17, 2023
In this concluding fifth volume of Once & Future, it is up to Gran, Duncan and Rose to save everyone from the deadly Otherworld that has now infiltrated the entire U.K. It all started when British academic Duncan and his monster-hunting Gran, Bridgette, fought off an un-dead King Arthur that some Nationalists had reanimated to keep Britain pure. Due to some magical treachery, the Otherworld is now out in the open, and reality and fantasy have become co-mingled. Our three heroes try to save their friends and family while battling new creatures, but Duncan’s mother Mary and his half-brother always complicate matters.
As with all the volumes, King Arthur and Merlin play a big part in the narrative. But there are several versions of them that have appeared, all believing themselves to be the true King and wizard. There are many twists and turns, and Rose’s adoption plays a pivotal part towards the end. There are sacrifices made, but Gran and Mary always know what to do and how to manipulate the situation in their favor.
Author Kieron Gillen is obviously an expert in English stories, but the average reader is not, so there were times the warped mythology became too confusing. Throughout the entire series, he threw in so many different characters and plots from English folktales and legends that it was hard to keep straight who was who and how they all connected to one another. However, I learned from his previous series, The Wicked + The Divine, that you can’t get caught up in the small details, as you have to step back and look at the big picture.
I really enjoyed the art by Dan Mora and how he drew the characters plus all the fantasy elements. Fond of many panels per page, the action flowed in cinematic-like sequences. Mora created amazing monsters and landscapes, and the coloring by Tamra Bonvillain was perfect. The floating orbs that were previously a clue that magic was moving into the regular world and they should be wary of are now everywhere, so on the flip side, when the story ended, I was sad to see the orbs disappear.
The concluding page points to the possibility of further adventures, which Gillen confirms in his farewell statement. The mythology in this series was deliciously warped, so I look forward to future adventures with hunky Duncan and his ass-kicking Gran if this creative team decides to reanimate the story in the future!
This review can also be found on my blog: https://graphicnovelty2.com/2023/01/1...
As with all the volumes, King Arthur and Merlin play a big part in the narrative. But there are several versions of them that have appeared, all believing themselves to be the true King and wizard. There are many twists and turns, and Rose’s adoption plays a pivotal part towards the end. There are sacrifices made, but Gran and Mary always know what to do and how to manipulate the situation in their favor.
Author Kieron Gillen is obviously an expert in English stories, but the average reader is not, so there were times the warped mythology became too confusing. Throughout the entire series, he threw in so many different characters and plots from English folktales and legends that it was hard to keep straight who was who and how they all connected to one another. However, I learned from his previous series, The Wicked + The Divine, that you can’t get caught up in the small details, as you have to step back and look at the big picture.
I really enjoyed the art by Dan Mora and how he drew the characters plus all the fantasy elements. Fond of many panels per page, the action flowed in cinematic-like sequences. Mora created amazing monsters and landscapes, and the coloring by Tamra Bonvillain was perfect. The floating orbs that were previously a clue that magic was moving into the regular world and they should be wary of are now everywhere, so on the flip side, when the story ended, I was sad to see the orbs disappear.
The concluding page points to the possibility of further adventures, which Gillen confirms in his farewell statement. The mythology in this series was deliciously warped, so I look forward to future adventures with hunky Duncan and his ass-kicking Gran if this creative team decides to reanimate the story in the future!
This review can also be found on my blog: https://graphicnovelty2.com/2023/01/1...
December 12, 2022
I probably should have just dropped this after volume 2 but I figured that WicDiv kind of became a confusing mess in the middle as well so maybe this would come around in the end too ...not so much. I did like what they did with Rose's character in the last few issues but for me this whole series just had way too much going on and I was so confused about who everyone was supposed to be and why and then there were like ...multiple different versions of a lot of people and ...idk it was just too much for me.
Maybe this would have been solved if I had more than a passing familiarity with Arthurian legend but I also feel like if you aren't able to dumb the story down enough for someone who doesn't know every single different variation of a story that's been told for hundreds of years ...maybe you just didn't do a very good job telling the story? The art and character designs remained incredible throughout the entire run of this series though. Honestly the third star in volumes 3-5 is probably for the artwork alone because god knows I wasn't getting much out of the plot at that point. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Maybe this would have been solved if I had more than a passing familiarity with Arthurian legend but I also feel like if you aren't able to dumb the story down enough for someone who doesn't know every single different variation of a story that's been told for hundreds of years ...maybe you just didn't do a very good job telling the story? The art and character designs remained incredible throughout the entire run of this series though. Honestly the third star in volumes 3-5 is probably for the artwork alone because god knows I wasn't getting much out of the plot at that point. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
September 8, 2023
OK, don't get me wrong this was a good story. But reading the afterword it was only supposed to be a six issue comic it could have been 12 issues. But this amazing story did suffer from going long. We had lots of "stories" show up. Lots of classic stories just used as filler. Lots of King Authors who turned out just get defeated one panel at a time. But even with all the 30 issues to tell the story it still ends with a whole ... but is it really over? Dun dun dun!
The ending was well done and asses were kicked so that was great. Lots of family drama. Eventually I'll have to get all the volumes together and read them in one go because I'm sure over 30 issues I have forgotten lots.
The ending was well done and asses were kicked so that was great. Lots of family drama. Eventually I'll have to get all the volumes together and read them in one go because I'm sure over 30 issues I have forgotten lots.
April 3, 2024
Raz i na zawsze to jedna z najlepszych serii komiksowych jakie czytałem. Zacznę od tego, że finał a raczej sama końcówka nie była dla mnie najbardziej satysfakcjonują. Mocą tej serii jest zabawa mitami, legendami i literaturą. W większości dotyczącej Wielkiej Brytanii.
Seria ta jest wyjątkowo imponująca - wypełniona znakomitymi bitwami, obecnością smoków oraz zaskakującymi zwrotami akcji. Gillen zdołał stworzyć postacie, które wybijają się ponad standardy komiksowe. Z biegiem czasu związałem się z wszystkimi trzema głównymi bohaterami. Z wielką chęcią wsiąknął bym jeszcze raz w ten świat. W tej serii kocham podejście do opowieści. Czym jest rola bohaterów w różnych legendach czy mitach. Bardzo spodobała mi się meta dyskusja na temat opowieści i naszej roli w nich, oraz tego, jak je kształtujemy, aby pasowały do naszych historii czy naszych czasów. Smutno mi, że ta seria się skończyła, ale cieszę się, że zakończyła się tak, jak się zakończyła.
Cała seria była doskonałą podróżą. Uwielbiam, jak te postacie dorosły w moich oczach i rozwinęły się na przestrzeni tych 5 tomów. Bridgette zasługiwała by na osobne omówienie. Uwielbiam jej podróż. Czy jest osobą, z którą chciałbym mieć do czynienia na co dzień? Absolutnie nie. Pewnie dlatego, że mam wrażanie, że mając jej lata będę taki sam. Jednak jest absolutnie fascynującą postacią, o której czyta się bardzo przyjemnie.
Rysunki Dana Mory to absolutny TOP. kocham to jak Mora rysuje uwielbiam jego styl. Czuje, że chłop mógł by rysować stojących ludzi w kolejce a ja i tak chciał bym na to patrzeć. Dan nadał tej serii niepowtarzalnego ducha. Chętnie po jakiś czasie wrócę do tej serii nawet tylko dla rysunków
Ten komiks to pożegnanie z tą wyjątkową serią. Wspomniałem, że końcówka mnie nie zadowala. Jednak jako całość uważam to za bardzo dobre zakończenie. Szczególnie przez jeden zwrot akcji którego cholera jasna się nie spodziewałem. Mimo wszystko zakończenie jest genialnym przemyślanym i wspaniałym hołdem dla najlepszych legend Wielkiej Brytanii. W pewnym sensie uważam, że nowy król Arthur jest pewnym symbolem nowej Anglii. Co mi się bardzo spodobało.
Raz i Na Zawsze to majstersztyk. Rewelacyjna seria komiksowa którą polecam każdemu. 5/5 ogólnie cała seria ten tom 4.75/5
Seria ta jest wyjątkowo imponująca - wypełniona znakomitymi bitwami, obecnością smoków oraz zaskakującymi zwrotami akcji. Gillen zdołał stworzyć postacie, które wybijają się ponad standardy komiksowe. Z biegiem czasu związałem się z wszystkimi trzema głównymi bohaterami. Z wielką chęcią wsiąknął bym jeszcze raz w ten świat. W tej serii kocham podejście do opowieści. Czym jest rola bohaterów w różnych legendach czy mitach. Bardzo spodobała mi się meta dyskusja na temat opowieści i naszej roli w nich, oraz tego, jak je kształtujemy, aby pasowały do naszych historii czy naszych czasów. Smutno mi, że ta seria się skończyła, ale cieszę się, że zakończyła się tak, jak się zakończyła.
Cała seria była doskonałą podróżą. Uwielbiam, jak te postacie dorosły w moich oczach i rozwinęły się na przestrzeni tych 5 tomów. Bridgette zasługiwała by na osobne omówienie. Uwielbiam jej podróż. Czy jest osobą, z którą chciałbym mieć do czynienia na co dzień? Absolutnie nie. Pewnie dlatego, że mam wrażanie, że mając jej lata będę taki sam. Jednak jest absolutnie fascynującą postacią, o której czyta się bardzo przyjemnie.
Rysunki Dana Mory to absolutny TOP. kocham to jak Mora rysuje uwielbiam jego styl. Czuje, że chłop mógł by rysować stojących ludzi w kolejce a ja i tak chciał bym na to patrzeć. Dan nadał tej serii niepowtarzalnego ducha. Chętnie po jakiś czasie wrócę do tej serii nawet tylko dla rysunków
Ten komiks to pożegnanie z tą wyjątkową serią. Wspomniałem, że końcówka mnie nie zadowala. Jednak jako całość uważam to za bardzo dobre zakończenie. Szczególnie przez jeden zwrot akcji którego cholera jasna się nie spodziewałem. Mimo wszystko zakończenie jest genialnym przemyślanym i wspaniałym hołdem dla najlepszych legend Wielkiej Brytanii. W pewnym sensie uważam, że nowy król Arthur jest pewnym symbolem nowej Anglii. Co mi się bardzo spodobało.
Raz i Na Zawsze to majstersztyk. Rewelacyjna seria komiksowa którą polecam każdemu. 5/5 ogólnie cała seria ten tom 4.75/5
January 9, 2024
Truly fantastic ride ended in a really satisfying way. The way they used legends and transformed them into something completely new and interesting and heartful, is extraordinary. I will definitely come back to this someday.
November 13, 2022
Probably one of my favorite indie series the last few years, but I'm a easy mark for Arthurian legends and interpretations. These final few issues cram a lot in a big conflict of kings, and there's a lot to wrap up. There's about 2-3 big story beats and twists that made me very excited, and even the ending is both hopeful and a omen of things that may never come to pass. I cannot wait to read all 30 issues together once the second deluxe comes out
January 11, 2023
Great series, rushed ending :/
February 15, 2023
All of England is trapped in Otherworld now that the Prime Minister announced the truth that myths like King Arthur are real on TV. Robin Hood gets involved too. And there's still the Green Knight to deal with at the end of the year. Through the course of the rest of the year, Rose, Brigitte and Duncan come up with a plan to save everyone while battling nonstop. Dan Mora continues to deliver eye-popping artwork while Tamra Bonvillain makes every page ooze with color. I dig how Gillen combines all this British mythology together into a cohesive whole. I also love how he ends the series while still leaving it open to return to in the future.
December 11, 2022
The ending for such a chaotic, free-wheeling series was bound to be a little messy. Gillen’s storytelling strains to wrap everything up in these final issues, and you feel the strain. Character arcs seem rushed, and major events don’t always have the gusto they maybe deserve. And yet, since this is Kieron Gillen (and Dan Mora and Tamra Bonvillain and Ed Dukeshire), it’s still a banger of a finale.
Like the rest of the series, a great deal of its charm and fun comes from that messiness and rambunctious, pedal-to-the-metal creativity. There are huge spectacles, exciting twists, and emotional payoffs that somehow manage to land in satisfying, appropriately inevitable ways even amidst the busy, breakneck pace. The whole creative team is having such a blast playing in (and messing up) this world, and it’s infectious. Gory, kickass, touching, deeply nerdy—the ideal ending for this series and, honestly, any series. I’m happy with how things end up, but I would happily take more if the team gets a hankering for more mythological adventure and bloodshed.
And, of course, the artwork is just unreal. Mora’s work is the comic equivalent of a heavy metal concert, with Bonvillain and Dukeshire backing him up with sweeping orchestral flourishes that elevate and complement all the wild swings Mora takes.
Like the rest of the series, a great deal of its charm and fun comes from that messiness and rambunctious, pedal-to-the-metal creativity. There are huge spectacles, exciting twists, and emotional payoffs that somehow manage to land in satisfying, appropriately inevitable ways even amidst the busy, breakneck pace. The whole creative team is having such a blast playing in (and messing up) this world, and it’s infectious. Gory, kickass, touching, deeply nerdy—the ideal ending for this series and, honestly, any series. I’m happy with how things end up, but I would happily take more if the team gets a hankering for more mythological adventure and bloodshed.
And, of course, the artwork is just unreal. Mora’s work is the comic equivalent of a heavy metal concert, with Bonvillain and Dukeshire backing him up with sweeping orchestral flourishes that elevate and complement all the wild swings Mora takes.
March 15, 2024
With (at least) three Arthurs now vying for dominance, Britain (still in the Otherworld) reels from it all. Bridgette, Duncan, and Rose enlist help from a surprising quarter to buy time, but this cannot last forever. Then, Excalibur appears in a stone . . . will the rightful king step forward? And what happens when he does? Will Britain be forever in this nightmare, or can something wipe it all away?
This conclusion was better than the previous volume, which muddied things a good deal. It was mostly satisfying, with interesting twists and good dialogue/art . . . but not entirely great. Reflecting on the series, I enjoyed:
- a unique take on the Arthurian legend ("what if Arthur did return . . . but he wasn't the good guy?")
- fun characters, occasional great dialogue, and solid art
- dabbling in the ramifications of the stories we tell ourselves and how we (perhaps unknowingly) live them out, over and over again
But the things I didn't care for:
- a mystifying volume 4 that introduced (and never answered) a host of questions and characters, ultimately adding chaos and making it hard to tie up loose ends
- the occult elements (though admittedly necessary for some aspects of the story)
- a shift in focus. From the author himself: "Family, the secrets they hold and the damage that causes was always in Once & Future, but the further I got in, the more that became central." I saw some of this early on, but the shift away from 'the power of story' to 'family/secrets can be deadly' was disappointing
- the conclusion was underwhelming. I don't want to spoil it here. It wasn't terrible, but disappointing.
Ultimately, I'm glad I read this, and happy to add it to my collection. It didn't end up being as stellar as its initial promise, but it is solid nontheless.
This conclusion was better than the previous volume, which muddied things a good deal. It was mostly satisfying, with interesting twists and good dialogue/art . . . but not entirely great. Reflecting on the series, I enjoyed:
- a unique take on the Arthurian legend ("what if Arthur did return . . . but he wasn't the good guy?")
- fun characters, occasional great dialogue, and solid art
- dabbling in the ramifications of the stories we tell ourselves and how we (perhaps unknowingly) live them out, over and over again
But the things I didn't care for:
- a mystifying volume 4 that introduced (and never answered) a host of questions and characters, ultimately adding chaos and making it hard to tie up loose ends
- the occult elements (though admittedly necessary for some aspects of the story)
- a shift in focus. From the author himself: "Family, the secrets they hold and the damage that causes was always in Once & Future, but the further I got in, the more that became central." I saw some of this early on, but the shift away from 'the power of story' to 'family/secrets can be deadly' was disappointing
- the conclusion was underwhelming. I don't want to spoil it here. It wasn't terrible, but disappointing.
Ultimately, I'm glad I read this, and happy to add it to my collection. It didn't end up being as stellar as its initial promise, but it is solid nontheless.
May 20, 2024
3.5, and don't get me wrong: this is probably a more than apt ending for the whole series, and a good conclusion to it (for now?). But I'm rating based on my lack of excitement when picking up this last volume, and getting to finally end the story. I guess there was a reason why it took me over two years to get there, even though it didn't feel that long (I was actually surprised to see it have been that much).
Anyway, Bridgette is a great character, and everybody loves a good Arthurian story, not to mention when other great works of literature, like Beowulf and King Lear, are added to the mix. But, for some reason, there wasn't much in the whole plot that felt particularly new and exciting for me, at least as of today (I certainly enjoyed this series more at the beginning).
All in all, very solid fantasy graphic novel series.
Anyway, Bridgette is a great character, and everybody loves a good Arthurian story, not to mention when other great works of literature, like Beowulf and King Lear, are added to the mix. But, for some reason, there wasn't much in the whole plot that felt particularly new and exciting for me, at least as of today (I certainly enjoyed this series more at the beginning).
All in all, very solid fantasy graphic novel series.
July 4, 2023
WHAT A FITTING END to this series.
(We're all grateful that Kieron Gillen *did not* drag this out Wicked + Divine style :D) .
The ending is super clever and a glorious homage to some of the best legends in England. I loved his take on Robin Hood aka 'the spirit of England that doesn't take too kindly to Kings asserting authority' and the multiple versions of Arthur. I'd like to think that T.H White would love this version of the Arthurian myth - all the versions of Arthur. The best version of Arthur tho? A woman of colour pulling the sword from the stone and becoming Queen. *so good*.
Aside from the incredibly bombastic panels of colour and fighting the very meta discussion of stories and where we fit in them, and how we mould them to fit our stories is worth a whole essay itself. I'm sad this series has ended but glad it ended the way it did.
(We're all grateful that Kieron Gillen *did not* drag this out Wicked + Divine style :D) .
The ending is super clever and a glorious homage to some of the best legends in England. I loved his take on Robin Hood aka 'the spirit of England that doesn't take too kindly to Kings asserting authority' and the multiple versions of Arthur. I'd like to think that T.H White would love this version of the Arthurian myth - all the versions of Arthur. The best version of Arthur tho? A woman of colour pulling the sword from the stone and becoming Queen. *so good*.
Aside from the incredibly bombastic panels of colour and fighting the very meta discussion of stories and where we fit in them, and how we mould them to fit our stories is worth a whole essay itself. I'm sad this series has ended but glad it ended the way it did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2023
Shockingly, this series is over!
The final Volume reads quickly and seems to wrap up all the plot points, while also leaving some ambiguity to provide a possible sequel.
As with most of Kieron Gillen's stuff, I really enjoyed this. Overall, I felt like the beginning of the story was very strong, and tapered off as the series continued, but I never disliked it.
I will be looking for more of Dan Mora's art.
Recommended strongly. Start at the beginning and read all 5 Volumes straight through.
The final Volume reads quickly and seems to wrap up all the plot points, while also leaving some ambiguity to provide a possible sequel.
As with most of Kieron Gillen's stuff, I really enjoyed this. Overall, I felt like the beginning of the story was very strong, and tapered off as the series continued, but I never disliked it.
I will be looking for more of Dan Mora's art.
Recommended strongly. Start at the beginning and read all 5 Volumes straight through.
March 21, 2023
It was time to end this, and I'm glad they did. The last several twists were several more than needed, and it gets lost in the woods for a while (pun intended.) But still 100% worth reading the whole series. And the art! Have I raved about the art enough? Mora! Bonvillain! Stunning!!
July 18, 2023
More like 4.5 if I'm honest.
Didn't expect this to be The End! A surprise, didn't even feel rushed, came to a good close.
Always love Gillen's work and themes of story, myth, hero's journey, and games. It works so well and he keeps finding new ways to spin it.
Didn't expect this to be The End! A surprise, didn't even feel rushed, came to a good close.
Always love Gillen's work and themes of story, myth, hero's journey, and games. It works so well and he keeps finding new ways to spin it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2023
Mit DIE aktuell meine liebste Gillen Serie weil alles gefühlt ein wenig chaotischer ist. Werd mir hier auf jeden Fall noch irgendwie einen Omnibus oder was schönes gesammeltes holen.
Read
August 7, 2023This ending ticked all the boxes for me. Very much enjoyed, and very much the needed escape from reality I was hoping for! Long live fantasy graphic novels and Arthurian adaptations.
January 10, 2023
Maybe this is a 3 ⭐️, I dunno. No, definitely just 2. I know this 30-issue epic was originally supposed to be just a 6-issue miniseries, but it feels like everything is rushed in these final issues, 25 to 30, like they were canceled and had to wrap it all up quickly and way ahead of schedule.
Things like the sudden forward time jumps don’t help with that. I’m also not entirely sure what happened to all the various Arthurs, or where Robin Hood went. The art is equally chaotic here, which lends to the confusion. All in all, not the most satisfying conclusion ever. It’s not Game of Thrones bad, it’s just not great, particularly when compared to what went before.
I really like the idea that different versions of myths are competing to see who will win, exemplified by the various Arthurs vying to be King, but it kind of breaks down when there’s only one Robin Hood and a single Beowulf. Oh well, most of the story was quite good.
Things like the sudden forward time jumps don’t help with that. I’m also not entirely sure what happened to all the various Arthurs, or where Robin Hood went. The art is equally chaotic here, which lends to the confusion. All in all, not the most satisfying conclusion ever. It’s not Game of Thrones bad, it’s just not great, particularly when compared to what went before.
I really like the idea that different versions of myths are competing to see who will win, exemplified by the various Arthurs vying to be King, but it kind of breaks down when there’s only one Robin Hood and a single Beowulf. Oh well, most of the story was quite good.
January 8, 2024
Some good art and stories here, th9ugh at times it gets so frenetic it is hard to see what is happening. A good conclusion to an epic story.
March 30, 2023
Great series. The stories converge, intertwine, change and end.
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