Search
Resize text+=

‘Once & Future #17:’ Advance Comic Book Review

Quick recap: While running away from Lancelot, Duncan and Bridgette encounter a sleeping dragon. Meanwhile, the real world came head to head with the story, and things seem to be getting kind of messy. Oh, and Galahad is finally back in the mix, and oy… he’s mixed up all right. So much for the Mary/Elaine/Nimue blend-up being weird…

Merlin’s devious plan comes to a head and woof… it’s a cunning plan to get all of the players of the Holy Grail story back together. Too bad for Merlin, the McGuires also picked up a big ally along the way. While the issue is great, it definitely feels like it’s mostly setup for the arc closer. Kieron Gillen has really mastered the art of the gonzo “action flick;” even with such a crowded field, his deft handling of each character keeps the story fluid, while never forgetting the cardinal rule of action stories: Keep things fun! Gillen’s writing never lets us forget that this is still a pretty deep dive into the King Arthur mythos, but he keeps things tongue-in-cheek quite a bit. #StoriesMatter because a fresh take on a known quantity can totally reinvigorate the tale and its commentary.

Dan Mora’s artwork seems to be the perfect companion to Gillen’s script. His pages have elements of a traditional action comic, but his character designs always seem to have a fresh element about them. Tamra Bonvillain’s colorwork remains crisp and fresh, as always, and is always a feast for the eyes. Ed Dukeshire’s lettering is as textured and expressive as it usually is, making the book a joy to read.

Overall, with every arc, Gillen et al. seem to aim for bigger and more epic, and things look to make good of that promise once more.  

Creative Team: Kieron Gillen (writer), Dan Mora (artist), Tamra Bonvillain (colorist), Ed Dukeshire (letterer)
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Click here to purchase.

Wenxian Tan, Fanbase Press Contributor

ad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536?s=150&d=mm&r=gforcedefault=1

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top