Welcome to an all new edition of Parlay Points, the complementary blog to the ODPH Podcast. For this edition, we’re checking out the latest Once & Future by Kieron Gillen & Dan Mora for BOOM! Studios. This book really has a cool concept to it: A retired Monster hunter is brought back into action after a villain from King Arthur mythos has been resurrected in present time. This is very unique & I finally got a chance to check it out. Issue #20 is hitting the shelves this week. Lets see what its all about.
ONCE & FUTURE #20 - BOOM STUDIOS (On Sale Sept. 22nd, 2021)
Creative team: Kieron Gillen, Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain, & Ed Dukeshire (Cover by Dan Mora)
Credit: BOOM! Studios
ONCE & FUTURE #20 - BOOM STUDIOS (On Sale Sept. 22nd, 2021)
Creative team: Kieron Gillen, Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain, & Ed Dukeshire (Cover by Dan Mora)
Credit: BOOM! Studios
*** Possible SPOILER Warning ***
The story is driven by Bridgette (our retired Monster Hunter) & her team setting up shop in her family’s castle. With everything going on in their world, it appears to be a safe place but not without it’ own secrets. There are great scenes where Bridgette talking to her grandson Duncan about her past. Very solid cliffhanger ending for our team’ saga.
The other portion of the book is the battle of two “King Arthurs.” One has an undead army at his disposal. Th other Arthur has Lancelot. Great fight sequences end that saga…for now. It felt like the first round of a big fight. I can’t wait to see where this goes.
ONCE & FUTURE #20 - BOOM STUDIOS (On Sale Sept. 22nd, 2021)
Creative team: Kieron Gillen, Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain, & Ed Dukeshire (Cover by Dan Mora)
Credit: BOOM! Studios
ONCE & FUTURE #20 - BOOM STUDIOS (On Sale Sept. 22nd, 2021)
Creative team: Kieron Gillen, Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain, & Ed Dukeshire (Cover by Dan Mora)
Credit: BOOM! Studios
There’s a lot of win in this book. Gillen balances out both portions of the book very flawlessly. Bridgette’s return to Grail Castle is a nice change of pace from the high-octane action of Lancelot vs. the undead army. Both stories kept me intrigued about the characters. Being a new reader to the series, I never felt lost about the characters or story once diving in.
The art is incredible & pairs well with the story. Lancelot’s fights jump off the panels. The undead army LOOKS amazing & the one panel featured here had Jon Snow standoff vibes from Game of Thrones. Even the quieter moments with Bridgette spoke volumes.
ONCE & FUTURE #20 - BOOM STUDIOS (On Sale Sept. 22nd, 2021)
Creative team: Kieron Gillen, Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain, & Ed Dukeshire (Cover by Dan Mora)
Credit: BOOM! Studios
ONCE & FUTURE #20 - BOOM STUDIOS (On Sale Sept. 22nd, 2021)
Creative team: Kieron Gillen, Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain, & Ed Dukeshire (Cover by Dan Mora)
Credit: BOOM! Studios
ONCE & FUTURE #20 - BOOM STUDIOS (On Sale Sept. 22nd, 2021)
Creative team: Kieron Gillen, Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain, & Ed Dukeshire (Cover by Dan Mora)
Credit: BOOM! Studios
Overall, Once & Future #20 was a very cool read. It has great action plus solid character moments. Being the first time I’ve checked out the book, I definitely want to go back & see how it all begins. Make sure to check out this issue when you hit your Local Comic Shop for NCBD this week.
Let me know what you think of Once & Future #20 on Twitter. As always, Thanks for reading!