Kieron Gillen's 'Once & Future Vol. 1' is a Masterfully Mixed Arthurian Amalgamation

If you aren’t familiar with the countless legends and origin stories of King Arthur and his Knights of The Round Table, fret not. BOOM! Studios and writer Kieron Gillen are here to change all of that. Volume one of Once & Future contains the complete first arc of the series: six action-packed issues of old sorcery, undead knights, and forgotten folklore - all bound by bits of British nationalism and some not-so-social commentary. Bloody, funny, and authentic, Once & Future is the holy grail you’ve been chasing. Fans of monsters and myth pick this up immediately. Full disclosure, this comic is my jam.

The work of illustrator Dan Mora and Colorist Tamra Bonvillain is equally as responsible for my love of this first arc as Gillen’s story. From brutal beheadings to full-page psychedelic trips, the artwork stands alone as something to behold. The otherworldly settings crafted by Mora are arcanely accented by the Color Out of Space blends of Bonvillain. That being said, it is my opinion that any tale worth its salt is driven by the characters. Historically speaking, the occult team-up is pretty commonplace no matter where you look. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. If done correctly, a good team can drive a series. Going for a duo? How about Sherlock and Watson? Sam and Dean? Want more than two? Buffy had an entire entourage. Even self-proclaimed solo acts like John Constantine have momentarily alliances and a close chum or two. Ideally, your chosen ones are going to benefit and build from the other’s strengths and faults.

There is where Kieron Gillen knocks it out of the park with Once & Future. This time our destined duo has an interesting dynamic. Bridgette Mcguire isn’t just your average grandmother spending her days watching the news in a nursing home. Well, she is, but that’s part of the beauty. She has several secrets tucked away in her knitting bag. I want to keep this as spoiler-free as possible, but here’s a courtesy warning for some early, minor, and possibly obvious giveaways.

Gran has a history with the supposedly mythical menaces that once plagued the Island. She may or may not be the reason Britain is no longer trouble by the vampire. Perhaps she even has a hidden cache of occult relics, firearms, and explosives. The beauty that I mentioned earlier is how Gillen is able to take this near super-human grandmother and still humanize her- with a sharp yet loving tongue, Gran will drop some lines that will remind you of your own grandmother. However, Duncan Mcguire, her nephew, and comical counterpart is initially about as far away from a hero as you would expect. A rugby player and academic, Duncan does possess the physical prowess and mental capabilities to learn his grandmother’s craft.

I wouldn’t say it was a concern, but I was curious to see just how Once & Future would tackle the legend of King Arthur. Let’s just say there’s no lack of reboots, renditions, or re-characterizations in this myth cycle. Like a game of telephone that’s hundreds of years old, the story has changed again and again. Legends evolve, this knight becomes that knight, this relic is housed here, now over there! Kieron Gillen is very aware of all of these deviations and employs them all masterfully. The thinning and shifting of the dimensions of fact and fiction, of myth and truth, are integral to the storyline itself, and I’ll say no more about that (just read it).

And I’m aware I can’t mention the nationalism aspect without dropping a nugget. As you can probably tell by Dan Mora’s cover, Arthur is back and he’s not necessarily a nice guy. A group of strong, young Anglo-Saxons journey to the crypt of the fabled king in hopes of resurrecting him so that he may return Britain to her former glory. Unbeknownst to our stooges, however, Arthur the Celt was no fan of the invading Anglo-Saxons. Ouch. Needless to say, that interaction does not go as planned.

Honestly, Once & Future is one of my favorite new series that dove into recently. I’m definitely looking forward to keeping up with the adventures of Gran and Duncan! Do yourself a favor and head over to the BOOM! Studios Shop and pull this sword from the stone.

Once & Future Vol. 1 gets a 10/10 on the Madness Meter!

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