Advance Review: Trouble In Paradise In ‘Once Upon A Time At The End Of The World’ #8
by Tom Smithyman
Overview
Poor storytelling choices and inconsistent artwork have sent this series spiraling once again. The script reads like a post-apocalyptic orgy waiting to happen. Most of the illustrations are very basic, a few pages shine – which makes you all the more upset that the creative team couldn’t get its act together.
Overall
6.5/10We’ve seen the rise of Golgonooza, now it’s time for the fall.
Over the last few issues, the creative team behind Once Upon a Time at the End of the World, has shown readers how Mezzy and Maceo created a paradise in the middle of a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Now the two young lovers are questioning whether they want to stay there.
A mysterious gas has seeped into the community, driving certain inhabitants paranoid to the point of violence. That has some questioning whether the place is still worth fighting for.
If only that were where writer Jason Aaron placed most of his emphasis, then the story would be more interesting. Instead, that story is practically relegated to the background as Aaron continues his obsession with the sexual exploits of Golgonooza’s (named after William Blake’s city of imagination) residents.
The free love motif needlessly dominated the first chapter in this story arc, and now it has again reared its ugly head. We get it. Young people are horny and want to experiment sexually. We don’t need the characters talking about those choices page after page.
The only good thing about the kids sexcapades is that is gives artist Leila del Duca and colorist Tamra Bonvillain the chance to do their best work. It’s not the occasional nudity or anything prurient but rather those infrequent moments of lovemaking when the boundaries between two people melt away and they merge into one. Those few pages are beautiful. The rest of the panels, unfortunately, are pretty pedantic.
This series was always billed as a love story set after the apocalypse. Focusing more on the end of the world and less on lust would be a much better choice so readers to enjoy the book.
Once Upon a Time at the End of the World #8 will be available for purchase on Wednesday.