Comic Review: Once & Future #6

Once & Future #6

BOOM! Studios

Writer: Kieron Gillen

Artist: Dan Mora

Once & Future was probably my favourite new series of the entirety of 2019. The combination of Kieron Gillen’s absolutely transcendent writing and Dan Mora’s utterly breath-taking artwork created something truly special. Once and Future #6 ending the first arc of this story. The next issue is not due for release until March. Can Gillen and Mora stick the landing and make the first arc of this tale something truly memorable and, in the vein of the old Arthurian tales, something worthy of a knight?

The answer is yes.

As I’ve mentioned previously in these reviews, Kieron Gillen has written some of my favourite comics of recent years. The Wicked + The Divine, Young Avengers, Darth Vader, Doctor Aphra and now Once and Future. His writing style just works for me, he writes every character with such weight. Within six issues he’s managed to turn one of the lead characters, Duncan McGuire, from almost cowardly and unlikeable to a protagonist I can root for, a hero worthy of the legendary and ancient sword Excalibur. Character arcs and development are both easy things to do, but they’re hard to get right unless you have a definitive plan, which is clearly what Gillen has here. Bridgette McGuire, the other lead character, is perfectly dislikable to an extent. Gillen has created a character that is easy to love and easy to hate simultaneously, and it’s amazing to witness. The villains could do with being fleshed out a tiny bit more, but the premise is so engaging and interesting that it becomes extremely easy to just forget about the issues.

Mora’s art is as breath-taking as ever. Unlike with certain other artists, where the art begins to become dull and generic after a few issues, Mora manages to make every page almost fizz and pop with a certain amount of flair. Props must be given to the colourist too, Tamra Bonvillain. Certain panels are just completely gorgeous thanks to the colour, in addition to the art obviously. It’s something special when a panel or splash makes you audibly gasp, and there are multiple times during this issue that I did just that.

So does Once & Future #6 stick the landing? The answer is an unequivocal yes, a resounding success in Gillen and Mora’s camp. I’m so insanely excited to see what comes next in this series from a pair of distinguished and excellent creators.

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