The war for Excalibur begins in Hyde Park as Mary, Galahad, and Lancelot try for the Grail in Once And Future #27, by writer Kieron Gillen, artist Dan Mora, colorist Tamra Bonvillain, and letterer Ed Dukeshire. This issue feels stuffed with events but in the best possible way.

This issue is deceptively simple. At Grail Castle, Galahad tries to get Grail every day, while Lancelot questions Mary on why he keeps going. Meanwhile, Excalibur shows up in Hyde Park, drawing everyone to fight. Gran, Duncan, and Rose meet up with a resistance led by Hempleworth, and the war begins as Galahad keeps trying to get the Grail. Gran figures out a way to pause the war for one more day while developments at Grail Castle change everything.

Somehow, Gillen and company make this issue seem like it’s double-sized even though it isn’t. A lot of stuff happens in this comic, but Gillen is a master of pacing. It never seems overstuffed, and everything has the room it needs to breathe. Many important events happen in this issue, from the war for Excalibur to the ending, but there are also nice little character moments and a pretty fun joke that should tickle readers.

This issue takes a less is more approach. Gillen doesn’t show readers every event in the war or every moment of Galahad trying for the Grail, but the way the issue is set up and paced makes it feel that way. In many ways, it feels like it exists to whet readers’ appetite for what’s coming next. This isn’t the final battle; it’s a prelude, and what comes next is going to be big.

Mora and Bonvillain do a spectacular job, but that’s to be expected. Much like Gillen, they’re working with the less is more approach, and it works brilliantly. From the Hyde Park warzone to Grail Castle to quiet conversations between Lancelot and Mary, there’s so much to love about the art of this book. They do a fantastic job with Galahad. There are a lot of scenes with him, so instead of the slavering monster of the previous issue, Mora and Bonvillain render a pathetic monster, one who keeps working to fulfill a hopeless task. They put an incredible amount of emotion onto his inhuman face, and there’s a scene between him and Lancelot that is wonderful. They make readers feel bad for this monster that has been so badly used and abused by everyone.

Once And Future #27 is fantastic. The creative team does a remarkable job throughout. The writing and art are expert-level, and the story has some surprisingly poignant moments that will stick with readers. Once again, this book manages to surprise in the best ways.

Grade: A