Once & Future #3: Galahad & the Holy Grail

Actions by members of this Nationalist Group backfired through the impurity of their bloodline. Killed and turned into zombies for the king’s bidding, they stagger towards Duncan. He wildly shoots and impresses Granny. Of course, she takes defense strategy to home with high explosive ingredients. Granny knows this is only a temporary containment and out to seek a doctor of history, which so happens to lead them to Duncan’s date from the first issue. Coincidence, maybe, but I think not.

Surprisingly, Rose joins the quest of the “Odd Couple”, which I find highly improbable in reality. Unless you are attracted to the weird side of danger, but hey, who are we to question the motive? The trio go scavenger-hunting for something from Granny’s past, which leads them back to stop Arthur’s reckoning. This is where I need to step back for the sake of those unfamiliar to the “magical” baths. As they enter the Bath Abbey, Granny tells a short story of Theseus and the string. At the end of this issue, I chuckled, because Theseus was separated by the string. You have to read the issue to fully comprehend the joke.

Duncan and Granny sneaked up on the re-arising dead king just in time to see Arthur about to pull a sword from a stone. Now, don’t jump the gun here, Granny knows best, so let’s stick with The Sword in the Stone. Once and Future #3 concludes with Elain, the only living member of the group of Nationalists as she reveals her purpose.

Kieron Gillen continues to intrigue the imagination through fantasy mixed with realism. Some of the dialogue will have you sit back and say to yourself, “Damn, I can see a person saying that.” However, I find the dialogue for Duncan’s character-building is quite irritating. Then there are Granny’s comments, which I find funny; like a George Carlin kind of comedy. Gillen’s character building is more defined in this issue and the reader understands each relationship and/or purpose. The art and colors continue to be excellent, especially in the Bath Abbey. Gothic architecture is notoriously demanding in details.

Once and Future #3 continues the previous two issues well. Team Granny plots to stop the evil that could destroy many lives. Sir Galahad embraces his purpose to become the king’s best knight! And, the readers are left excited to see more psychodynamics between King Arthur, what the Holy Grail means in this fantasy story, and how it all plays out!