Once & Future

When a group of British nationalists perform a supernatural ritual in order to resurrect King Arthur, they discover that Arthur has his own agenda. As Arthur leaves a trail of death and destruction in his wake, octogenarian Bridgette McGuire — a retired monster hunter — and her grandson Duncan must try to stop him before other creatures from stories begin emerging as well.

The first Once & Future trade paperback (Once & Future: The King is Undead, comprising issues #1-6) was a finalist for the 2021 Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story,[1] the third trade paperback (Once & Future: The Parliament of Magpies) was a finalist for the 2022 award,[2] and the fourth trade paperback (Once & Future: Monarchies in the UK) is a finalist for the 2023 award.[3]

Screen Rant calls it "(t)he best modern King Arthur adaptation", because it is set in the present day and "explores the power of stories" rather than "the myths themselves".[4]

Comic Book Resources considers it "a more successful adaptation [of Arthurian mythos] than most", and posits that this is because Gillen "plays fast and loose with Arthurian legend" and acknowledges that there is no single canonical version.[5]

Boom! Studios has collected issues of Once & Future as trade paperbacks:

• Once & Future - Volume One: The King is Undead (ISBN 978-1684154913)
• Once & Future - Volume Two: Old English (ISBN 978-1684156375)
• Once & Future - The Parliament Of Magpies (ISBN 978-1684157037)
• Once & Future - Monarchies In The UK (ISBN 978-1684158294)
• Once & Future - The Wasteland (ISBN 978-1684158621