Once Upon a Time at the End of the World Vol. 2

by Jason Aaron

Leila Del Duca (Illustrator) and Tamra Bonvillain (Illustrator)

The star-crossed lovers of Maceo and Mezzy try… and fail to create their happily ever after at the end of the world!

In the post-apocalypse, paradise can’t last for long in… THE RISE AND FALL OF GOLGONOOZA! A secluded suburban community is the last thing Maceo and Mezzy expected to find, especially one so well-preserved and well-stocked. As more people come to reside in this settlement called Golgonooza, it flourishes, and becomes a home for Mezzy and Maceo, just as they become home to each other. However, the cracks in Maceo and Mezzy’s oasis turn to chasms as their relationship stability (and that of the community) faces its first disasters! What Maceo felt for Mezzy eventually turns to terror as he doubts if he ever knew her in the first place, and even begins to fear her. The chasm between them grows–quite literally–as Golgonooza’s foundation crumbles and bubbles with a strange poison gas… New York Times bestselling, Eisner and Harvey Award-winning writer Jason Aaron (Thor, Star Wars: Darth Vader) is joined by acclaimed artist Leila del Duca (Wonder Girl: Homecoming) in the second chapter of his ambitious post-apocalyptic original series! Collects Once Upon a Time at the End of the World #6-10.

• ISBN10: 160886152X
• ISBN13: 9781608861521
• Publish Date: 9 January 2024
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Boom! Studios
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 176
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Summary:

The world is coming to an end. Most of the time, that's a figure of speech. But that isn't the case here. The planet is dying, destroyed by an environmental disaster. The few people that survived are struggling to keep on going.

Against all odds, Maceo and Mezzy found each other. More importantly, they gave each other a chance. Now, they're working together to find paradise. Only, is there such a thing as paradise in a dystopian world? And if so, can it last?

Review:

Hooolly cow. There's a lot to process after finishing Once Upon a Time at the End of the World Vol. 2. First, let's just say that this series does not pull punches. Given that Jason Aaron is at the helm, that's actually not all too surprising. But it is worth noting.

Readers knew from the start that things would go bad – the multiple timelines aspect made that clear. That said, knowing and seeing it are two different things...and a lot goes down between those two points in time.

My heart hurt while reading Once Upon a Time at the End of the World Vol. 2. At times, it was good, but obviously, it got rough pretty fast. Even when it was good, there was that foreboding sense that just left me waiting (painfully) for the other shoe to drop.

This volume is really well-written and brilliantly illustrated. It's darker than the first volume, which is an impressive feat. It also pulls at the heart more, which is a whole different story. Readers diving into this series should mentally prepare themselves for a whole lot of nudity and violence. There's no need to shy away from either when the world is ending.

For now, I have to count down the days for the release of the third (and, I believe, final) volume in the series.

Highlights:
Dystopian Series
Twisted Boy Scout Vibes
“Love in the Wasteland”
Lovers-to-Enemies
Multiple Timelines

Trigger Warnings:
Graphic Elements
Graphic Deaths
Suicide

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