The Once and Future Queen #1
Written by Adam P. Knave, D.J. Kirkbride
Art by Nick Brokenshire
Colors by Nick Brokenshire
Letters by Frank Cvetkovic
Cover by Nick Brokenshire
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: March 1, 2017
Cover Price: $3.99

Every kid I knew grew up loving the Arthurian legends. I’m still a little enthralled by them, mainly because of the rousing adventures that dealt with swords and sorcery. From Sir Thomas Mallory to T.H. White to Mary Stewart to Marion Zimmer Bradley, these stories have been told and retold from a variety of viewpoints over the years. So it should come as no surprise that we now get an even more modern take in The Once and Future Queen #1.

In this newest incarnation from Dark Horse Comics, we are given what is possibly the most diverse cast to date. Strong characters of Asian, African, and British descent are just the beginning, as we see in this first issue. It seems that there is a wider range of sexual orientation than most of the books presented, as well. Fortunately, none of this is used to define the characters, they are merely characteristics, allowing the reader to focus on the story but with a more realistic touch.

The series is centered around a 19-year-old chess prodigy named Rani Arturus. We watch as she is slowly introduced to other characters and discovers that she has a lineage like no other. Subtle references throughout this comic book leave no doubt as to what’s going on in the plot. Startled but not frightened, she discovers that there is more steel in her than the sword she wields.

This five-issue miniseries is sure to please anyone with an inkling of interest in the old myths. I can appreciate the not-so-subtle changes as it gives this story its own uniqueness, especially in light of how many tales have been written over the years. I’ll be grabbing this first issue for my daughter, she’ll love the empowerment and asskickery of the protagonist.