Rewards, Reunions And Redemptions: Reviewing ‘Once & Future’ #30

As the curtain falls on this particular story and this particular series there is still plenty of reward, reunions and redemptions to be had in Once & Future #30 from Kieron Gillen, Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain and Ed Dukeshire. The once and future king has risen and she certainly wasn’t what many were expecting. And that includes the readers too. But, for me, this final issue’s heart and soul is to be found in the story of Mary and her mother. A final showdown, one last chance at a familial forging, a reunion of mother and daughter with all things forgiven and forgotten. And while there is certainly forgiveness, there is even more forgetting as Mary’s grand plan comes to fruition, with a little help from Lancelot.

Over the course of thirty issues Gillen has taken a much loved legend and turned it on its head. Right up to the last with Rose being anointed the true ruler of Britain. But, he has also explored the nature of stories and the character we find, sometimes trapped, in these stories. Ultimately while many could not, or did not, want to escape their destinies, many rewrote their stories and became stronger, more rounded characters as a result.

Dan Mora’s art has been nothing short of spectacular. And while its great to see him soar on such titles as Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, I do hope he and Gillen find time to return to these characters somewhere down the path. Here, as ever, his art is sensational when it sees to be, but emotionally impactful in the more personal moments too. Bonvillain’s colours, so integral to the establishment of the fantastical in this issue once more full back as the Otherworld disappears and a more mundane reality returns. For now, magic has been put back into its box, but for how long? Well, that, as they say, is a story for another day. 

Once & Future #30 is out now from BOOM! Studios