Once & Future #1

Writer: Kieron Gillen Artist: Dan Mora Publisher: Boom! Studios Release Date: August 14, 2019 Cover Price: $3.99 Critic Reviews: 30 User Reviews: 45
9.0Critic Rating
8.8User Rating

     * 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 more

  • 10
    ComicBook.com - Matthew Aguilar Aug 14, 2019

    Once & Future storms out of the gate with gorgeous visuals, a delightful cast, and an intriguing central premise, so do yourself a favor and jump on in because you won't regret it. Read Full Review

  • 10
    Comics Bookcase - Jarred A. Lujn Aug 13, 2019

    Gillen and Mora have something very, very special on their hands and I am absolutely dying to already read issue two. Do yourself a favor and put this on your pull list IMMEDIATELY. Read Full Review

  • 10
    Horror DNA - James Ferguson Sep 7, 2019

    Once & Future is most definitely a comic to watch. This first issue is already on its way to a fourth printing, so it looks like people are taking notice. You do not want to miss this. It's a solid tale of monsters and folklore mixed with great character work and some of the best art in the business. The creators set a pretty high bar with this debut issue and I cannot wait to see where this goes next. Read Full Review

  • 10
    AIPT - Ritesh Babu Aug 14, 2019

    An exhilarating and kinetic debut full of adventure, Once and Future is a ride that is as prescient as it is fun. Gillen, Mora, Bonvillain and Dukeshire make a lovely team. Read Full Review

  • 10
    But Why Tho? - CJ Aug 14, 2019

    Though Once and Future #1 is light on action, it immediately hooked me due to its snappy dialogue, well fleshed out characters, and a fresh twist on an old legend. Gillen and Mora are crafting quite a tale and I can't wait to see what future issues bring to the table. Read Full Review

  • 9.7
    Sequential Planet - Ryan Easby Aug 13, 2019

    Simply Incredible. Read Full Review

  • 9.6
    You Don't Read Comics - David Harth Aug 14, 2019

    Once And Future #1 is a fantastic beginning for an intriguing new series. Kieron Gillen takes a myth that exemplifies Britain and mixes it with the ugliness of a movement that talks about keeping the country as British as possible. He also introduces two great protagonists, giving readers a throughline into the story that isnt just about the antagonists. Dan Moras art makes the whole thing pop. His detailed, expressive pencils are just what Gillens script needs, and they dont disappoint. Even before being released this book already sold out two printings and if this first issue is any indication, this series will be stellar. Read Full Review

  • 9.6
    The Super Powered Fancast - Deron Generally Aug 14, 2019

    Dan Mora's art is brilliantly detailed and every panel perfectly complements the pace and tone of the story. The characters look fantastic and the Questing Beast is amazing. Read Full Review

  • 9.5
    The Pop Break - Rachel Freeman Aug 14, 2019

    Magic, mysticism, and familiar names from old stories fill you with curiosity and just enough nostalgia to bring you in, but not so much that it's the same old story you read before. Read Full Review

  • 9.5
    Pastrami Nation - Nolan Smith Aug 18, 2019

    I love this debut issue. Once & Future takes the fantastic mythology tied to King Arthur and infuses it with the family monster-hunting legacy hijinks we know and love from shows like Supernatural. Gillen, Mora, and Bonvillain have kickstarted something special here, so make sure to get in on the ground floor of this one. Read Full Review

  • 9.4
    Graphic Policy - Logan Dalton Aug 15, 2019

    Once and Future #1 modernizes and humanizes the classic Arthurian legends by making the protagonists of the story that kind of nerdy, cute guy who says smart things in the back of a college class and his tough, no-nonsense grandma that's been through some stuff. Kieron Gillen bolsters his quest plotline and monster fights with character-based humor and sociopolitical commentary while Dan Mora and Tamra Bonvillain bring an infectious energy with just a touch of darkness to the visuals. To cut it down to its core, Once and Future #1 entertains as just as well as it enlightens and uses myths and legends to bring hope to a world in need of salt of the Earth heroes like Bridgette and Duncan. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Graphic Policy - Brett Aug 14, 2019

    Once & Future #1 is a solid debut. The comic has a fun vibe about it and is able to blend a serious subject with comic fantasy. The characters all stand out and the pacing is amazing. It's one hell of a beginning that shows off why it's already into four printings and expect many more. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    The Brazen Bull - Dave Robbins Aug 14, 2019

    Once & Future is unlike any other Arthurian Legend, and adds a level of intrigue and suspense to a modern retelling that is thrilling from the very beginning. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Big Comic Page - Craig Neilson-Adams Aug 14, 2019

    Honestly, this is a fantastic start. Gillens confident structure and snappy dialogue paired with Mora and Bonvillains lively, expressive visuals make this a book that you simply cannot afford to miss. Mixing humour and earnest, high-concept fantasy into a heady potion and pouring it right into the modern world, Once And Future is a new series that comes highly recommended. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Monkeys Fighting Robots - Cat Wyatt Aug 14, 2019

    Once & Future #1 was a brilliant start to a new and dramatic story, exactly as advertised. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Comic Crusaders - Johnny "The Machine" Hughes Aug 14, 2019

    Boom! Studios have gotten their mix of books just about right, probably after seeing how Dark Horse manged their own licenced and original material back in the day. By tempting creators of the calibre of Keiron Gillen and Dan Mora, along with a very talented colorist shows just how diverse Boom! Studios line of books is. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Major Spoilers - Ingrid Lind-Jahn Aug 16, 2019

    Duncan McGuire finds out that his grandmother is a lot more than a sweet, independent old lady as he gets dragged into high adventure! Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Newsarama - Forrest C. Helvie Aug 16, 2019

    Mora and Bonvillian's art comes alive and creates tension and excitement throughout the issue while Gillen's wit and sense of pacing set readers up to want more just as the issue comes to a close. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Doom Rocket - Lauren Fernandes Aug 16, 2019

    Writer Kieron Gillen teams up with artists Dan Mora and Tamra Bonvillain to give us a new take on an olde world in Once & Future. Duncan McGuire discovers that his little old lady grandmother, Bridgette, is a retired monster-hunter. The action-packed pages that follow are but a taste of the world this team will unfold for us, one that blends a modern 2019 with one of the greatest legends in Western culture. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Razorfine - Alan Rapp Oct 8, 2019

    I may have been late to the party, but I'm fully on-board now. Let's see where this goes! Must-read. Read Full Review

  • 8.8
    Geek'd Out - Jim Allegro Aug 14, 2019

    I also thought the artwork was enjoyable. Dan Moras (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) facial expressions add to the characters. Examples include the taut faces of grim nationalists or the astonished looks of Bridgettes unsuspecting grandson. He creates a sense of excitement in the action sequences, which involve a famous monster of medieval legend. Tamra Bonvillains (Rat Queens) selects a palette of pinks and blues to compliment the entertaining touch that Gillen puts on serious subjects of history, myth, and politics. Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    Beyond The Panel - Jideobi Odunze Aug 14, 2019

    By the end of this first issue, I could tell that Once & Future was going to be one of the most entertaining stories of magic and mysticism we were going to get this year. This one gave the impression that it was actually going to be a mix of a lot of things, which is not a bad thing at all. Who doesn't love a book that is able to get different reactions from you? I'm almost certain you might have a few issues where you will go “Oh ****”, others where you might get hit in the feels, and somewhere you might get a good laugh out of it. Though more importantly? I think this one will have you coming back for more because there is a sense of wonder to uncovering hidden truths and histories. Read Full Review

  • 8.3
    IGN - Jesse Schedeen Aug 14, 2019

    With a fun twist on the saga of King Arthur and a superstar creative team, Once & Future is a must-read comic. Read Full Review

  • 8.3
    Comic Watch - Nicolas Duncan Aug 16, 2019

    Once & Future #1 may be light on action, but it is well put together with realism, mythology, and a fresh twist on an old legend. Read Full Review

  • 8.2
    Word Of The Nerd - Brent Jackson Aug 13, 2019

    Once & Future #1 is a pretty solid start to this six-issue mini-series. The story has a solid premise and delivers some great action, intrigue, and chuckles along the way. I do wish this first issue did slow down just a tad bit, though. The art is, once again, spectacular; you really can't go wrong with Dan Mora and Tamra Bonvillain. If you are looking for a fun new series to jump into this is a fantastic choice! It seems pretty popular already going into its third printing before release. Read Full Review

  • 8.2
    GWW - Brian Villar Aug 14, 2019

    Once & Future has a lot of potential and is hitting the marks to be an impressive story. One of the more cautionary notes is to not overload with myths and legends; as they should only use them to progress the storyline. With such a huge wealth of them, it would be an easy cop-out as a story filler instead of creating natural conflicts and revelations. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Comics Bulletin - Daniel Gehen Aug 20, 2019

    Once & Future #1 is a solid first issue that shows much promise. While there is nothing within its pages to indicate why there was a frenzy in the speculator market, it sets up a story for which many (including myself) have high hopes. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    On Comics Ground - Elizabeth Fazzio Aug 14, 2019

    I am feeling distinctly cheated in the grandmother department"neither of mine could hold a candle to Bridgette. She is an EPIC character already, and we're only one issue into the story. She's fierce and spry and takes no nonsense from anyone"or anyTHING, if her and Duncan's run-in with the Questing Beast is anything to go by. Her world view is delightfully and decidedly skewed and I anticipate that her patented brand of reality will serve as the lynch pin of this whole adventure. There is a fantastic brains/brawn dichotomy visually in Bridgette's reliance on Duncan for the heavy lifting, though we know that he is a historian, so it's likely that his knowledge and access to resources will become a major plot-advancer as well as we continue this series. Read Full Review

  • 7.5
    Multiversity Comics - Michael Govan Aug 15, 2019

    It's strange to say (they do fight a giant monster after all) but #1 feels like it's just scratching the surface of magic here. I'm eager to see the series go deeper into Bridgette's strange, twisted world. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    Flickering Myth - Calum Petrie Aug 14, 2019

    I very much look forward to finding out where this story goes and what is in store for this odd couple of hunters. Read Full Review

Reviews for the Week of...

May

1st

April

More