What do you think?
Rate this book
Once & Future (Collected Editions)
Once & Future, Vol. 3: The Parliament of Magpies
The next chapter in the critically acclaimed and Eisner Award nominated series as Bridgette, Duncan, and Rose must find a way to stay one step ahead of Merlin and keep things secret, but it’s a modern era and secrets never stay hidden very long…
THE WORST OF BOTH WORLDS.
Although the monsters of Beowulf may have been defeated, the convergence of stories means the tether between our world and the Otherworld grows dangerously thin. Determined to stay one step ahead of Arthur and Merlin’s plans, Bridgette and Duncan start with what they know, tracking down the last connections Nimue had: the Nationalists she used to resurrect Arthur, and Lancelot. But finding the legendary knight may not be enough, Merlin has found his last piece of the puzzle and it goes all the way up to the highest reaches of British government. In order to prevent more chaos, Bridgette, Duncan, and Rose must fight harder than ever to keep things secret, but it’s a modern era and secrets never stay hidden very long…
New York Times bestselling writer Kieron Gillen, joins Russ Manning Award winning artist Dan Mora, and colorist Tamra Bonvillain present the next chapter in the critically acclaimed and Eisner Award nominated series.. Collects Once & Future #13-18.
THE WORST OF BOTH WORLDS.
Although the monsters of Beowulf may have been defeated, the convergence of stories means the tether between our world and the Otherworld grows dangerously thin. Determined to stay one step ahead of Arthur and Merlin’s plans, Bridgette and Duncan start with what they know, tracking down the last connections Nimue had: the Nationalists she used to resurrect Arthur, and Lancelot. But finding the legendary knight may not be enough, Merlin has found his last piece of the puzzle and it goes all the way up to the highest reaches of British government. In order to prevent more chaos, Bridgette, Duncan, and Rose must fight harder than ever to keep things secret, but it’s a modern era and secrets never stay hidden very long…
New York Times bestselling writer Kieron Gillen, joins Russ Manning Award winning artist Dan Mora, and colorist Tamra Bonvillain present the next chapter in the critically acclaimed and Eisner Award nominated series.. Collects Once & Future #13-18.
161 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 27, 2021
About the author
Kieron Gillen
1,368 books1,821 followersKieron Gillen is a comic book writer and former media journalist.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
May 22, 2022
My goal in life is to be exactly like Bridgette when I'm old and gray.
I love her flaws and all because she's just such a no-nonsense badass.
The story expands further and Rose gets to play an even bigger part. Duncan is starting to get the hang of the hero-ing gig, but all the ladies in his life (including his mother?) seem to be padding his falls for him quite a bit. It's hard to say who the man character is, as everything started with Duncan learning about his heritage. But Bridgett is still running the show, and this volume proved that Rose is going to be more of a power player in the overall story than originally thought.
The same old villains are lurking around every corner and Merlin is still pulling everyone's strings. This volume digs a bit deeper into the mystery surrounding Duncan's mother, but for every answer, two more questions pop up.
The biggest difference includes the addition of a special agent who liaisons with the UK government and a new recruit that is sent in to spy on his operation by a higher up in British politics.
This politician looks suspiciously like Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The ending is a HUGE cliffhanger that seems to change the rules of the game further than anything so far.
This gets better and better with every issue. Once & Future is one of those comics that just holds my attention from start to finish. Interesting characters, fast-paced plot, interesting world-building, and lovely art.
Highly Recommended!
I love her flaws and all because she's just such a no-nonsense badass.
The story expands further and Rose gets to play an even bigger part. Duncan is starting to get the hang of the hero-ing gig, but all the ladies in his life (including his mother?) seem to be padding his falls for him quite a bit. It's hard to say who the man character is, as everything started with Duncan learning about his heritage. But Bridgett is still running the show, and this volume proved that Rose is going to be more of a power player in the overall story than originally thought.
The same old villains are lurking around every corner and Merlin is still pulling everyone's strings. This volume digs a bit deeper into the mystery surrounding Duncan's mother, but for every answer, two more questions pop up.
The biggest difference includes the addition of a special agent who liaisons with the UK government and a new recruit that is sent in to spy on his operation by a higher up in British politics.
This politician looks suspiciously like Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The ending is a HUGE cliffhanger that seems to change the rules of the game further than anything so far.
This gets better and better with every issue. Once & Future is one of those comics that just holds my attention from start to finish. Interesting characters, fast-paced plot, interesting world-building, and lovely art.
Highly Recommended!
July 31, 2021
The deeper this series wades into Arthurian lore, the more delightful it gets.
September 19, 2021
Duncan, Rose and Granny Bridgette face more nightmarishly warped Arthurian legends - it’s the Green Knight, Lancelot and Galahad’s turns - as Merlin continues his plan to take the Grail and return Arthur to the throne of England… with bloody consequences!
Once & Future is an ok series but it’s gotten a little too action heavy in this third book for its own good. I didn’t mind it so much in the second book with Grendel and co. but it’s pushing it a bit to have another book of the gang fighting monstrous characters almost the entire time AGAIN.
I’m not totally sure what Duncan’s mum Mary/Nimue’s motivations are or why she’s “bad”, and the concept of “being” a story is really underdeveloped to the point of confusion - how does Duncan saying he’s Gawain mean anything? You just tell yourself you’re a character in a story and then… you become it, or something? Instead of just non-stop action, expanding on these core concepts of the series would’ve made this book better.
As it is, I wasn’t that taken with watching people fighting the big bads of this book. The familiar characters all look really interesting as reimagined by Dan Mora, whose art is once again superb, particularly Lancelot who looks very striking in bright blue. The opening scene with Gran and the magpies is fantastic and the ending is a great cliffhanger but most of the middle didn’t do much to grab me. Lots of noise, little meaning.
If all you want in this series is flashy action, you’ll enjoy this book, but if you’re after anything slightly deeper than superficial, you’ll be let down with Once & Future, Volume 3: The Parliament of Magpies.
Once & Future is an ok series but it’s gotten a little too action heavy in this third book for its own good. I didn’t mind it so much in the second book with Grendel and co. but it’s pushing it a bit to have another book of the gang fighting monstrous characters almost the entire time AGAIN.
I’m not totally sure what Duncan’s mum Mary/Nimue’s motivations are or why she’s “bad”, and the concept of “being” a story is really underdeveloped to the point of confusion - how does Duncan saying he’s Gawain mean anything? You just tell yourself you’re a character in a story and then… you become it, or something? Instead of just non-stop action, expanding on these core concepts of the series would’ve made this book better.
As it is, I wasn’t that taken with watching people fighting the big bads of this book. The familiar characters all look really interesting as reimagined by Dan Mora, whose art is once again superb, particularly Lancelot who looks very striking in bright blue. The opening scene with Gran and the magpies is fantastic and the ending is a great cliffhanger but most of the middle didn’t do much to grab me. Lots of noise, little meaning.
If all you want in this series is flashy action, you’ll enjoy this book, but if you’re after anything slightly deeper than superficial, you’ll be let down with Once & Future, Volume 3: The Parliament of Magpies.
May 2, 2021
'One for sorrow...'
Volume 3 of Once & Future and it's really heating up now. This book, with its wonderful mix of Arthurian legend, Beowulf and 21st Century Britain, is rapidly becoming my favourite comicbook in my monthly haul... and I probably shouldn't say this but I found that ending very cathartic so a big thank you to the whole creative team for that one!
Oh, and for the dragon-lovers out there, and I know you're there, there's a really great dragon in this volume. Great stuff!
There's no doubt I could have finished this book in one sitting but I deliberately chose to spread it over three days to prolong the enjoyment, it's that good.
My next book: Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil vol. 12
Volume 3 of Once & Future and it's really heating up now. This book, with its wonderful mix of Arthurian legend, Beowulf and 21st Century Britain, is rapidly becoming my favourite comicbook in my monthly haul... and I probably shouldn't say this but I found that ending very cathartic so a big thank you to the whole creative team for that one!
Oh, and for the dragon-lovers out there, and I know you're there, there's a really great dragon in this volume. Great stuff!
There's no doubt I could have finished this book in one sitting but I deliberately chose to spread it over three days to prolong the enjoyment, it's that good.
My next book: Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil vol. 12
August 4, 2021
We return to the Arthurian legends in this arc, with two more rearing their heads. The book is packed with action and humor. Gillen ups the ante with that ending. Wow! Can't wait for the next arc.
Dan Mora's art sings. Tamra Bonvillain's colors pop off the page. One of the best looking comics out there.
Dan Mora's art sings. Tamra Bonvillain's colors pop off the page. One of the best looking comics out there.
July 16, 2021
The third arc of Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora's Arthurian epic continues to impress just as much as the first two. The art's still top notch, the humour's on point, and the story shows no sign of slowing down. I was worried that O&F would fall prey to Boom!'s usual 12 issues and done type deal, but it looks like we're in for the long haul, and I couldn't be happier.
April 21, 2022
"The stories become legends when everyone knows them and when everyone believes in them the legends become real"
The best way to describe this volume as we finally understand what happening and yeah its kind of a RPG except as you take on a role, you then have to fulfill it as it becomes a reality and here we see whatever happened to Mary/Elaine and how it came to be that she had Galahas and yeah fun twist and then the thing with Rose vs Green knight which was so good and I love the concept and it elevates her character and what else?? Umm Grandma being a badass but isn't she doing that every volume now which is awesome.
Just fantastic stuff and I love the thing in the end with what happens with Arthur and the new status quo of England and this is gonna change a whole lot of things and I can't wait to read it. Plus this volume had dragons aka why I loved it a whole lot more and the art by Mora just gets better and better! <3!
The best way to describe this volume as we finally understand what happening and yeah its kind of a RPG except as you take on a role, you then have to fulfill it as it becomes a reality and here we see whatever happened to Mary/Elaine and how it came to be that she had Galahas and yeah fun twist and then the thing with Rose vs Green knight which was so good and I love the concept and it elevates her character and what else?? Umm Grandma being a badass but isn't she doing that every volume now which is awesome.
Just fantastic stuff and I love the thing in the end with what happens with Arthur and the new status quo of England and this is gonna change a whole lot of things and I can't wait to read it. Plus this volume had dragons aka why I loved it a whole lot more and the art by Mora just gets better and better! <3!
August 12, 2021
3.5 stars. I was a little shaky reading this having a hard time trying to remember what went down in the last volume. This has me a bit lost in the beginning. Luckily, as the book progressed, it got away from the connections to the last book and started to blaze a trail ahead dealing with what’s going on now and on the horizon. The fast pacing continues as it was a mad dash for the opposition to get what was needed to the fading king. Big action and a pretty good sense of adventure with an ending that will have you wanting to check out the next volume.
May 1, 2021
4.5 stars
Probably my favorite of the series so far. I enjoyed vol 2’s diversion into a different English myth, but also felt it confused the narrative drive that vol1 set up, so I’m glad to see vol3 focused so entirely on Arthurian stories again. And wow are there a bunch of new Arthurian bits brought in here in interesting (and visually stunning) ways; thankfully they all cohere nicely, and pretty much exhaust the named knights that I’m familiar with. The reveal of the knight Bors (and his place in the story) is devilishly clever by Gillen. The supernatural plotting also takes a big leap forward without feeling too rushed or unnatural, ratcheting up the consequences and fleshing out the world-building at the same time.
It’s still not a book I’d describe as characters-first, but this is definitely the most I’ve cared about these characters yet. The trio of Rose, Nemue, and good old Granny Bridgette all get great moments and added nuance I appreciated; Duncan is still a bit of an empty snooze as the apparent protagonist, but he’s mostly backgrounded in these issues.
Burying the lede, these are also some of the prettiest issues of an already spectacular looking series. The new Arthurian inclusions all have eye-catching designs and Bonvillain’s coloring throughout remains astounding.
“You can’t stop the story. You just have to hope for a better ending.”
Probably my favorite of the series so far. I enjoyed vol 2’s diversion into a different English myth, but also felt it confused the narrative drive that vol1 set up, so I’m glad to see vol3 focused so entirely on Arthurian stories again. And wow are there a bunch of new Arthurian bits brought in here in interesting (and visually stunning) ways; thankfully they all cohere nicely, and pretty much exhaust the named knights that I’m familiar with. The reveal of the knight Bors (and his place in the story) is devilishly clever by Gillen. The supernatural plotting also takes a big leap forward without feeling too rushed or unnatural, ratcheting up the consequences and fleshing out the world-building at the same time.
It’s still not a book I’d describe as characters-first, but this is definitely the most I’ve cared about these characters yet. The trio of Rose, Nemue, and good old Granny Bridgette all get great moments and added nuance I appreciated; Duncan is still a bit of an empty snooze as the apparent protagonist, but he’s mostly backgrounded in these issues.
Burying the lede, these are also some of the prettiest issues of an already spectacular looking series. The new Arthurian inclusions all have eye-catching designs and Bonvillain’s coloring throughout remains astounding.
“You can’t stop the story. You just have to hope for a better ending.”
September 23, 2023
WELL. I was not expecting the ending of this AT ALL. I dare say no one in the book was, either.
Also, while I do feel back for both Galahad and Nimue/Elaine/Whatshername . . . BABE, YOU BROUGHT THIS ON YOURSELF.
Also, while I do feel back for both Galahad and Nimue/Elaine/Whatshername . . . BABE, YOU BROUGHT THIS ON YOURSELF.
November 26, 2021
My review of this crazy good book is available on No Flying, No Tights here. This was really a great culmination of the first 2 volumes and this particular story arc. Definitely recommended.
September 20, 2021
I like the story, I like to concept, I like the characters the only reason I could not hive this five stars is a few of the action panels and dialogue is a bit too confusing.
I am glad that Rose got a bigger part in this book as she only really had a cameo on the last book. Gean is awesome as always. Duncan is great fighting monsters, but not so much in dealing with people in any level.
Merlin's plan is revealed and players lear their real roles. This is a great action packed volume after this everything has changed. All round great book. It includes an a4 cover gallery at the back. I can't wait for volume 4.
I am glad that Rose got a bigger part in this book as she only really had a cameo on the last book. Gean is awesome as always. Duncan is great fighting monsters, but not so much in dealing with people in any level.
Merlin's plan is revealed and players lear their real roles. This is a great action packed volume after this everything has changed. All round great book. It includes an a4 cover gallery at the back. I can't wait for volume 4.
Read
May 7, 2021What better day to finish a story about Britain's enduring susceptibility to dangerous old stories? Gillen has pitched Once & Future as being the Matter of Britain played as The Mummy, but while admittedly I've never seen (nor ever plan to) the Tom Cruise version, and for all that mummies generally creep me out far more than skeletons or vampires or whatever, most takes on The Mummy come out far more pulp adventure than this, far less gory, maggoty horror. The last volume's final tease is left in the background for a while, though it's interesting that they take the old Marvel approach to depicting real-world politicians: obscured by convenient shadows even when the dialogue &c make abundantly clear who it is, the Prime Minister talking about tearing up old rules while dropping schoolboy mannerisms – and this aside from the Bors/Boris pun with which he was initially thrown into the mix. Other than that – more backstory is unveiled, repercussions of the chaos in the story so far unfold, and another key Arthurian figure comes into play. Lancelot, being a later addition to the myth, is a little less primal (and horrific) than most of the Otherworld inhabitants we've seen thus far – though of course aspects of his stories are plenty gruesome nonetheless, and threading that through your family history, well. It's just a shame that, as ever in the 2020s, reading stories of what are meant to be stranger and darker worlds ends up feeling like a glimpse of somewhere slightly better instead. [SPOILER] After all, at least in this Boris Johnson faces some personal consequences for the dark and atavistic forces, the chaos and death he's so wilfully yet carelessly unleashed, instead of getting a resounding vote of support from a populace apparently delighted with serfdom.
January 8, 2022
This series keeps getting better. I still think Gillen's plotting is too dense for its own good––he even has his character remark on how confusing the story is!––but this volume is the best balance of deep-cut lore and character-fueled story beats. The genre/history/fantasy mashups are the best they've been, and as confusing as some of the plots are, it really is a treat to see Gillen and Mora and Bonvillain cause a ruckus in the world they've concocted together.
And yeah, the series is gorgeous to look at, too. Mora is a stellar artist, and he has a firmer grasp of body language, facial expressions, and visual pacing than a lot of his peers. The comic's visual language occupies this delightful place between realism and anime, and I'm all for it. The exaggerated reactions, exuberant gore, energetic layouts; every page is a feast. Bonvillain's colors are once again a major selling point, as she injects a brilliant vibrancy to the pages that makes the visuals come alive in a striking, often shocking way. I will note that some pages are a bit too chaotic, which isn't uncommon for the series, with both Mora and Bonvillain's work sometimes coming off as muddled.
But really, this still far and away one of the best-looking comics on shelves. This arc had me in the palm of its hand from the first panel to the last, and I'm thrilled to see how the team builds off the bonkers ending they wrapped this up with.
And yeah, the series is gorgeous to look at, too. Mora is a stellar artist, and he has a firmer grasp of body language, facial expressions, and visual pacing than a lot of his peers. The comic's visual language occupies this delightful place between realism and anime, and I'm all for it. The exaggerated reactions, exuberant gore, energetic layouts; every page is a feast. Bonvillain's colors are once again a major selling point, as she injects a brilliant vibrancy to the pages that makes the visuals come alive in a striking, often shocking way. I will note that some pages are a bit too chaotic, which isn't uncommon for the series, with both Mora and Bonvillain's work sometimes coming off as muddled.
But really, this still far and away one of the best-looking comics on shelves. This arc had me in the palm of its hand from the first panel to the last, and I'm thrilled to see how the team builds off the bonkers ending they wrapped this up with.
September 7, 2021
With the tone and direction fully established through the previous two story arcs, this latest volume embraces its action-packed and zany story-telling with more classic references while pushing its cast into unconventional and over-the-top adventures.
Let there be more chaos!
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
Let there be more chaos!
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
September 11, 2021
5* for decapitating boris johnson
August 9, 2021
Every bit as action-packed as before if not quite as funny, but this is still a super read. The art by Dan Mora continues to impress and makes all the over-then-top craziness work somehow. Gillen’s set-ups and call-backs are on point throughout, something that rarely happens in comics. I’ve always liked his other writing, such as on Star Wars: Doctor Aphra and the WWII superhero series Uber, Volume 1, and liked it enough to keep reading, but with this he’s really hitting his stride and despite the fact I’m not much interested in King Arthur tales I impatiently wait each new installment. I’m eager for the next.
May 16, 2022
We return, for the third time, to this retelling of the Arthurian legend, combined with fantasy, magic and the modern world altogether in a mix that, plotwise, is starting to become way too complicated for my taste and a lot of the events and characters' actions have yet to be explained.
I think it can be quite enjoyable if you read this ongoing series in small fixes (one volume at a time), as I do. However, if you binge-read it, you will most probably get tired really soon.
Dan Mora has, yet again, done a fantastic job with his illustrations and is probably the best reason to keep reading the rest of "Once & Future". Especially Green Knight, Lancelot and the dragon are splendidly drawn.
I think it can be quite enjoyable if you read this ongoing series in small fixes (one volume at a time), as I do. However, if you binge-read it, you will most probably get tired really soon.
Dan Mora has, yet again, done a fantastic job with his illustrations and is probably the best reason to keep reading the rest of "Once & Future". Especially Green Knight, Lancelot and the dragon are splendidly drawn.
Read
June 15, 2023Still loving this series! Green Knight makes an appearance in this one, as well as Beowulf, Grendel, and Merlin.
April 29, 2021
Still fun :D
Read by issues, but will be using volumes for ratings, that's why I rate even though the 'book' is not out yet.
Read by issues, but will be using volumes for ratings, that's why I rate even though the 'book' is not out yet.
August 25, 2021
For the first time in this series, I really felt like I didn't have enough background in the myths and legends to quite grasp everything that's going on. But even so, this is a blazing action story that throws a couple of new elements into the mix (expanding on the government aspect that Bridgette had been sorely hoping to keep out of things) and does some complicated things with the characters and the archetypes they portray. A fair bit of it feels like it's getting pieces into place for the next volume, but it does so in a way that is a pretty fulfilling story on its own. The interactions between our main trio get increasingly complex, with a dark humor that feels very familial.
The art is still stunning, especially in its color usage. The story is still fascinating, even as it gets increasingly convoluted. I look forward to seeing where it goes.
The art is still stunning, especially in its color usage. The story is still fascinating, even as it gets increasingly convoluted. I look forward to seeing where it goes.
November 22, 2021
Just when I think the series cannot get gorier, bloodier, and more vicious … BAM! It can! With this issue, Brigdette- the-bad-ass grandma, get tougher and sassier. I cannot decide if Duncan is reluctant or a whimp – but I’m glad Rose is finally joining the game in a bigger way. I’m certain I’d be getting more out of this story if I had read King Arthur legends and/or Beowolf. But I haven’t read them … and I’m still loving the brutality of this series!
March 18, 2022
This is a great series--fun and light, with lots of Arthurian legend worked carefully into the story (not to mention Beowulf and other similar legends). And the artwork is great. It's too bad Gillen's Die didn't follow this particular model--that one should have been fun, too, not as dour and depressing as it turned out...
May 19, 2021
Consistently amazing. Love this book!
August 17, 2021
Still enjoying this. Lots of old English legends and stories having an impact on the present. Arthur coming back as a villain. New heroes rising. A fun time and the art is great
January 20, 2022
S každým ďalším bookom je to väčšie a väčšie potešenie. Príbeh sa krásne rozvíja a nezamotáva do komplikovaného bullshitu, kresbe je totálna slasť. Give me more.
October 6, 2021
Oh waaay to make the comic incredibly relevant for the times Mr Gillen.
Ahead of watching Green Knight the release of this was perfect timing! The story picks up a little bit after Vol 2. and the only reason I haven't given 5 stars is because the stories can be hard to keep up with BUT I like that this is acknowledged by the characeters too. I love how clever this is - bit like the early issues of Wicked and the Divine. Always poking fun and satirising our myths and legends. The series has definitely upped the ante with the ending of this one - which was gloriously relevant to anyone in the UK at the moment.
I would also like to point out that we have main characters - one of whom is an elderly lady (a badass tbh) and an intelligent love interest who is very clearly a woman of colour! *SQUEE* this makes my day everytime I open up this series because Gillen shows how it easy it is to not just a white man front and centre. (Some written fantasy series could benefit from this tbh).
Can't wait for the next one.
Ahead of watching Green Knight the release of this was perfect timing! The story picks up a little bit after Vol 2. and the only reason I haven't given 5 stars is because the stories can be hard to keep up with BUT I like that this is acknowledged by the characeters too. I love how clever this is - bit like the early issues of Wicked and the Divine. Always poking fun and satirising our myths and legends. The series has definitely upped the ante with the ending of this one - which was gloriously relevant to anyone in the UK at the moment.
I would also like to point out that we have main characters - one of whom is an elderly lady (a badass tbh) and an intelligent love interest who is very clearly a woman of colour! *SQUEE* this makes my day everytime I open up this series because Gillen shows how it easy it is to not just a white man front and centre. (Some written fantasy series could benefit from this tbh).
Can't wait for the next one.
June 8, 2022
I read this graphic novel because it was in the Hugo voting packet. It was very definitely in the fantasy-horror genre of graphic novels. There are lots of fantasy aspects, since the whole story seems to be about a family who is linked to story traditions of England. ("Seems to be" since this is volume 3 and I haven't read 1-2.) I did enjoy picking up on the folklore and Arthurian legends that I know about. However, the art is on the gory side to fit with the horror aspect, and the plot has plenty of killing and pain. Definitely preview this one before jumping in with both feet (the way I did) but if this is your kind of story, it could easily hook you. It's not really my kind of graphic novel (too much horror) and yet I still was interested enough to finish the volume.
August 29, 2023
After spending a lot of time recently reading the A.X.E.: Judgment Day event on Marvel Unlimited (spearheaded by Kieron Gillen) and absolutely loving Dan Mora's artwork on Batman/Superman: World's Finest, I decided it was time to dive back into this series where they are the creative team (along with colorist Tamra Bonvillain). You've got horror, the power of stories, some dark humor, interesting characters, and fantastic visuals. I dig it. Of course, reading this out of context will make zero sense. I will move to the next volume soon, for sure.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews