GothamGal On:

GothamGal is a devoted comic fan. Reading comics from an early age (TinTin, Archie, Katie Keene and much more), she has recently revisited her old interest and is branching out into the streets of unread comics and graphic novels! While she favors DC Comics, Marvel is slowly winning her over—but Vertigo, Image and IDW have so many new things to offer, she might just say she’s a comic fan—with no labels. She fights for literature, education and the right for ALL to read comics!

As a self-confessed fan of fairy tales and comics, Marvel’s Once Upon a Time series has been a treat (Check out my review of the first book, Once Upon a Time Shadow of the Queen here), so when I heard about the second book in the series coming out, I knew I needed to pick it up.

Once Upon a Time: Out of the Past contains four chapters, each following four different characters from the television series. Captain Hook, Belle and Rumplestiltskin, the Evil Queen and the Mad Hatter are the featured characters in each of the chapters. Each of them are captured at a critical period of their experiences, that shape them into the characters we know (and sometimes love) through the tv show today.

One of my favorite stories featured Captain Killian Hook. I love seeing Killian as a multifaceted character, especially on the Jolly Roger. He has a great rapport with his first mate, and it was hard to make the decision he had to make—but it was done in a believeable manner.

One of my least favorite stories was the one featuring the Hatter. I loved the CONCEPT of Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, but I felt like the series missed the mark—and it was cancelled within the first season. While I feel like the writers and artists did well within the Hatter story in this, I wish they would have picked someone else to feature. There is no problem with the execution of the story.

The hardcover volume contains a fully-covered dust jacket. Underneath the jacket is a really nice book, similar to Henry’s storybook featured in the tv show. There was a great bonus section featuring costumes and concept art.

Once Upon a Time: Out of the Past is available  as of this week from your favorite retailer in hardcover or eformat.