Once And Future #26
Gran, Duncan, and Rose come up with a plan that could solve everything as Mary tries to recover the Grail in her own way in Once And Future #26, by writer Kieron Gillen, artist Dan Mora, colorist Tamra Bonvillain, and letterer Ed Dukeshire. This book is always impressive and this issue is yet another example of why.
After confronting the Green Knight at Margate, Gran informs Duncan and Rose of her new plan to end the whole situation. At Grail Castle, Mary tries to make a Galahad and send them after the Grail but Lancelot saves them before agreeing to go on a mission for Mary, retrieving their son. The story skips to December, with Duncan and Rose reminiscing on the first date they’ve been on in over a year. Gran tells them that in a few days it will all be over, unless Robin can find a king to follow and mess everything up.
Most issues of Once And Future are masterpieces of multiple entwining plot lines. This one is surprisingly bare on that count. It feels like Gillen is allowing everyone a breath before throwing them into the breach again, and it works that way for readers as well. The Otherworld issues so far have been masterpieces of pacing, and this one definitely slows it down, giving readers time to appreciate everything they’ve seen up to this point before Gillen throws it all into the fire.
The end of the issue leaves no doubt about how at least one thing is going to turn out, but the way it does so, and what it will mean for the plan and the book, is quite intriguing. If this is the penultimate story arc of the entire book, this is the best way to end it: a quiet issue that shows everyone what should happen before it all gets blown up and the heroes have to figure out how to pull victory from the jaws of defeat. Gillen has crafted a wonderful little modern fantasy tale with this one and where it goes next, especially with this issue’s set-up, is going to be a treat.
Mora and Bonvillain are an amazing team. That goes without saying. This book has been one of the best looking books on the market since it started, with the only competition being whatever other book these two were doing. This issue is no different. It’s a quiet issue, but the art brings the whole thing to life. The pages are detailed without being busy, the character acting is impeccable, and the colors are sumptuous. The flashback scenes during Duncan and Rose’s date are a highlight and do exactly what they should: make readers wish they were getting more than a glimpse of them.
Once And Future #26 takes things slow and is better for it. Gillen doesn’t jam the book with plot, but gets across everything that it needs to in the most entertaining manner. It’s a good breather before the coming storm. Mora and Bonvillain are the best art team in comics and this issue again proves why. This is yet another banger of an issue.
