If you haven't heard of Once and Future by Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora, you will soon. Boom! Studios has a certifiable hit.
Fortunately, I have friends with great taste. The most recent suggestion from one was Once and Future. I'm usually hesitant of new comics, but I was strapped in for the ride within the first few pages of the series.
Once and Future
As the title references T. H. White's The Once and Future King, you guessed it. The series deals with the late King Arthur and all sorts of other English myths. I don't want to give too many details about the plot and characters because I'd really recommend the read. (The series is currently only up to 9 issues).
What's the speculation on the series? Well, besides it being wonderfully written by Kieron Gillen and masterfully drawn by Dan Mora, it's just a matter of time before this gets adapted. Given the depth of mythology in English/Welsh/Irish/Scottish culture, the series won't have an end in sight. This could be the next big Netflix series, or it might even be its own film. These comics all have pretty good values for a series that's only a year old, but they're only on their way up from here.
Standard Cover
This is the bread and butter. If you aren't into the whole variant game, but want a solid investment at an accessible price point, then this is the one for you. FMV for a 9.8 comes in at $65, although recent sales have been creeping up to $80 and $90. Not bad!
One Per Store Variant
Of all the variants for this book, this seems to be the safest. If only one of these books went to each store, then there just aren't that many out there. The cover art is very cool and should hold its value as time goes on. FMV on a 9.8 is currently at $130. Another affordable price for a solid and rare comic.
Ultimate Comics Edition Variant
I love this cover. The virgin black and white version of the standard cover really pops and this could be one of those sleepers that come up in value later on. Current 9.8 FMV is $85. Just a little bit more than the standard, although they aren't that easy to find graded.
Convention Edition
Next on our list is a cool crowned cranium convention virgin variant. With a 9.8 FMV at $95, we're slowly creeping up the ladder in terms of value. Compared to the standard cover, an extra $30 might not be a bad investment. One note of caution: some of these listed for sale are mistakenly listed as the NYCC Convention Edition so be sure to mind the color.
NYCC Convention Edition
While we're on the topic, we can take a look at the very cool black and white convention edition exclusive coming out of the New York Comic Con. These are the most expensive books out there for Once and Future pulling in a 9.8 FMV of $250. Even the 9.6 FMV pulls more than the standard cover at $75. If you want to go all in on this series, then this is the comic for you. It could be one of those books that quadruple when a big announcement comes out.
Other Printings
The 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th printings don't hold much value at the moment. FMV for any of these books at a 9.8 is less than $30. (For some reason the 3rd printing is currently at $60 for a 9.8 FMV) You could grab these if you're a serious fan, but considering the amount of solid variant covers already at stable prices, I'd probably pass them up. While there is the SDCC Advanced reader copy, it doesn't have enough transactions to warrant a FMV, making it a volatile investment for now.
If you're a fan of mythology and wonderfully written and drawn comic books, then you'll understand the appeal. Even if you don't feel like investing in the series, you should definitely give it a read.
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