Once & Future #1

Once & Future (Issues)

by Kieron Gillen, Dan Mora (Cover Art), Tamra Bonvillain (Colorist)

When a group of Nationalists use an ancient artifact to bring a villain from Arthurian myth back from the dead to gain power, ex-monster hunter Bridgette McGuire escapes her retirement home and pulls her unsuspecting grandson Duncan, a museum curator, into a world of magic and mysticism to defeat a legendary threat. Bestselling writer Kieron Gillen (The Wicked + The Divine, Star Wars) and Russ Manning Award-winning artist Dan Mora (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Klaus) explore the mysteries of the past, the complicated truths of our history and the power of family to save the day…especially if that family has secret bunkers of ancient weapons and decades of experience hunting the greatest monsters in Britain’s history!

Genres: Comics, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Arthurian, Comic Book, Comix

33 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 14, 2019

About the author

Kieron Gillen is a comic book writer and former media journalist.

Reviews

[Tawfek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plenty of things that are real are nonsense luv.

I am in love with this old woman, she is over 70, but age is just a number, and i feel like i am 100 anyway.
So my new comic crush, used to hunt vampires, but she stopped because she ran out of vampires!
She has a weapon storage that would put John Wick to shame!
She used her grandson to distract a big ass horrific monster, and if that wasn't cruel enough, she shot the tip of his ear with a pistol.
Love at first sight right there 😍
This woman is fucking crazy, and the world she is speaking about is even crazier.
And it's only the first issue, first comic with Keiron, and it looks like it will be a great experience.
Also the grandson is such a kind person, but people like him get used and thrown away in this world.
Was Recommended to me by Sam Quixote!

[Rosemary Standeven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was supposed to be working - read a review of Vol 2 of this series, it sounded interesting, so I bought the first book in Vol 1 as a taster AND LOVED IT. Great art, great characters (especially the grandmother - ex-vampire slayer). I am now officially hooked, and must get the rest of the series (but not today as I must get some work done - and the temptation will be too great). Thanks Paul for the review - but please, stop reading such interesting books!!!!

[Whitney (The Cover Collector) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damn, Grandma’s got it going on. Is that Michael Shanks?

[Maksym Karpovets · Rating 3 out of 5]

Відразу помітно, що дуже перехвалена й перехайпена серія. Перший номер подолав межу в шість перевидань, що для незалежного видавництва є хорошим результатом. Звідки такий запит — без поняття. Так просто стається, що комікс раптом стає популярним, ламаючи все на своєму шляху. Так було, наприклад, із «Сагою», яка є непоганим, але не геніальним коміксом. Ну геть як цей.

Маємо круту бабцю, яка раптом телефонує своєму внукові, щоб той миттю приїхав. Внук був на побаченні, пригледівши собі (нарешті) справжню та єдину. Бабця відкриває внукові очі на світ, де живуть чудовиська, існує меч Екскалібур, в якась таємна організація хоче оживити короля Артура. Такий сюжет, який зовсім не перевантажений сенсами. Можливо, така простота й переконала читачів масово читати цю роботу. Можливо, малюнок Дена Мора (того, що малював «Клауса») припав до душі. Як би там не було, цей комікс у центрі уваги читачів, критиків і, звісно, видавництва. Як на мене, можна читати, можна не читати. Нічого геніального, але похмурий вечір прикрасить однозначно.

[David Dalton · Rating 3 out of 5]

i love King Arthur stories. Looks like magic, vampires, and possibly werewolves will be involved.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good first issue. Very quickly we learn the premise of what’s going on and it’s pretty good. Looks like we are about to play around with the story of the sword King Arthur used. The only thing that bothered me was how Grandma pulled a gun on her grandson and blew a piece of his ear off, which was ridiculous, and he just seemed cool about it. Then she preceded to ride with him holding him at gun point. Like damn what kind of grandma does that?

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a lot of fun and I can't wait to see where it goes next. Killer art.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing start to a new take on Arthuriana. In the prelude, an archeologist uncovers an old 5th century scabbard in a dried-out lake, and is promptly murdered by a bunch of men in black. It turns out they are apparently British nationalists who think the return of King Arthur will help them expunge Saxons foreigners from their soil.

Then we are introduced to the main character, who is a hapless if handsome dude with an octagenarian grandmother. Who is actually the real main character. Turns out grandma used to be a professional vampire hunter and monster slayer. Now she has to recruit her grandson to stop the bad guys from bringing back King Arthur, who may be the real bad guy.

The setup is interesting enough to see where the story goes. The art is okay, nothing special, but clean and professional looking. Who doesn't want to read about an octagenarian vampire slayer?

[Mr. Cody · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m sorry y’all, but that old lady is completely unlikable.

[Jacob Mendelsohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest, I only grabbed this because the speculators drove the price up and I wanted to see what the hubbub was all about. Even having read most of Gillen's work at this point I was pleasantly surprised. An ancient sheath is uncovered in England and shady organization immediately recovers it. Turns out it once belonged to King Arthur and was what allowed him to recover from any wound. This leads to a grandmother bringing her grandson into a mission to stop the resurrection of Arthur. Since he might not be the guy the legends make him out to be. The story was way more action packed than I anticipated and the art is off to a good start. Problems arise in that it feels a bit too light in the characterization and the humor didn't really land for me. I'm interested to see where it foes though.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this comic! Arthurian/urban fantasy with awesome characters and some pretty cool action so far. I love reading all things Arthurian, and this was a total win. Can't wait to read issue #2!

[Jenn Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much. It's like if Buffy retired and had to come back to stop a prophecy.

[Liz (Quirky Cat) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out my review over at Monkeys Fighting Robots

[Oneirosophos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantasy VS Brexit 5-0.

Killer start, must read!!! Gillen you madman!

[20hrsinamerica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I'm intrigued. I love me a fiesty old woman. Plus supernatural things beyond a prophesy? Exciting.

[Lindsi (Do You Dog-ear?) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving this series -- hooked from the very first page! The first issue sold out waaaay before it's release date, and they ended up doing three or four additional printings (which also sold out). This all happened before the first issue was actually published! I was fortunate enough to snag a first printing, but only because I pre-ordered this one in advance (yay newsletters!). After reading the synopsis, how could I not? However, all of the other covers are amazing, and I was tempted to buy one of each!

If you like fantasy or retellings, Once & Future is definitely worth reading! There's also a badass grandma barely blinking at monsters, which I thought was a wonderful addition to the story. Her grandson, Duncan, has no idea what's happening, or who his grandmother really is. Their relationship is realistic and also hilarious. She has no problem tossing a spear at him, or telling him to run and run fast, while she looks for something. I really like this duo, and I'm so happy they decided to make this an ongoing series instead of a mini. I cannot wait to see what adventures they go on!

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[Roman Colombo · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this series is off to a damn good start. We have a secret society, an ancient prophecy, and the most badass grandma you've ever seen. It's going to be a great ride, and I expect nothing less from Gillen.

[Jennifer Freitag · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS. All of this. I hope issue 2 is just as amazing!!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Alexa Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING!
I am absolutely inlove with everything about this comic book.
The story of King Arthur is a favorite of mine and seeing it inserted to our time, with so many fantasy elements is truly incredible.
Short summery: A group of people who want to bring the greatest king of Britain back to life has stolen a scabbard to do so. Gran, once a monster hunter, calls Duncan, her grandson, to help her stop them. A lot of crazy things happen on the way. What would you do if you suddenly discovered your grandma was a monster hunter?
The characters in this are so fun to watch - Gran in an absolute firecracker and everything she reveals made me giddy with excitement on what's to come. The writers of this take some favorite myths and redo them so well that I was flipping through this VERY fast, wanting to know what they will come up with next. Duncan is such a scardy cat, it felt like watching the epitome of Courage the Cowardly Dog but in human form. LOVED IT.
Also, adore the art. Such beautiful colors and style, I am completely obsessed.
Make sure you have all the issues before you start, because you won't be able to stop!

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

If my nursing home dwelling grandmother shot me in the ear, I would not volunteer to drive her around so she could hunt monsters.

This has some potential. I like the Brexit-King Arthur cross over. I'll read another.

I did hate the protagonists beard. Was the artist trying to challenge himself? I think a stubbly beard on a redhead is probably a really hard think to get right in a comic. He doesn't quit do it and it was a little irritating.

[Doug Turner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, it's nothing special. Its biggest fault is the expanded storytelling style that plagues the industry. Why must all modern comics take 5 minutes to read and offer so little plot? BID... The characters are paper thin and only exist to move us toward the action. If it wasn't for [random thing A] leading to [random thing B], these characters wouldn't have any reason to exist.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once and Future King, Gillen
Never underestimate the grey-haired grandma with a history of hunting monsters. Great humour and dialogue. ****
"1- "What is it for?" "Well, I used to hunt vampires." "You USED to hunt vampires?" "Yes I used to. Then I ran out of vampires."

[Warren Jackter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the story and amazing art

[Arsnoctis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Le premesse sono ottime, il resto si vedrà solo se e quando riuscirò a mettere le mie zampacce sul seguito.

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now that's how you hook a reader.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.

[Roy Cortez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard this title is very good so I tried to read it. So far, so good.

[Jodi_ice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cawpile: 7.00 4*

I love Arthurian legend things so am hoping this new series from the writer of The Wicked & The Divine will live up to that same quality.

[Phil Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strong start to the story and Dan Mora's artwork is dazzling from the off