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Once Upon a Time at the End of the World
Once Upon a Time at the End of the World #1
In this epic post-apocalyptic tale, Maceo and Mezzy have never met anyone like each other, and they'll need all the help they can get to survive a planet ravaged by environmental catastrophe. This epic trilogy -- each issue overflowing with 30 story pages -- spans a lifetime as philosophical differences tear at the threads holding Maceo and Mezzy together. Will they, and the earth beneath their feet, ultimately be torn apart?
33 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 23, 2022
15 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
About the author
Jason Aaron
2,408 books1,664 followersJason Aaron grew up in a small town in Alabama. His cousin, Gustav Hasford, who wrote the semi-autobiographical novel The Short-Timers, on which the feature film Full Metal Jacket was based, was a large influence on Aaron. Aaron decided he wanted to write comics as a child, and though his father was skeptical when Aaron informed him of this aspiration, his mother took Aaron to drug stores, where he would purchase books from spinner racks, some of which he still owns today.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 29, 2022
I picked up this title because Jason Aaron”s name. I thumbed through it quickly and wondered if it was worthwhile.
Bringing it home and reading it, I can say it’s definitely worthwhile. I will say some of my initial hesitation was also correct. This is a text heavy intro and as talented as Aaron is, it really feels like he’s overexplaining.
But if you can get passed that, you will discover a really great story. I also admit that I was hesitant for another apocalypse tale (the cover bringing to mind Ready Player One) but this one really grabbed my attention
The hook is those two main characters - Mezzy and Maceo— but in these days of “seen it all before” - Aaron really impressed me.
The flash-forward ending didn’t do anything for me (the Mark Millar style ultraviolence seems at odds with the majority of the book.
But I’m definitely hoping for the best. I love the art by Tefenkgi et al and really fits well as a Boom book- it’s very much a mix of Vertigo and indie comic feel, which is definitely where Aaron’s story seems to also draw from.
I have since read some reviews after reading mine and with a few exceptions, the response to this is really negative. I can definitely see where this might not be everyone’s cup of tea, still if your tastes tend away from capes, then hopefully you will enjoy it as much as I did.
Bringing it home and reading it, I can say it’s definitely worthwhile. I will say some of my initial hesitation was also correct. This is a text heavy intro and as talented as Aaron is, it really feels like he’s overexplaining.
But if you can get passed that, you will discover a really great story. I also admit that I was hesitant for another apocalypse tale (the cover bringing to mind Ready Player One) but this one really grabbed my attention
The hook is those two main characters - Mezzy and Maceo— but in these days of “seen it all before” - Aaron really impressed me.
The flash-forward ending didn’t do anything for me (the Mark Millar style ultraviolence seems at odds with the majority of the book.
But I’m definitely hoping for the best. I love the art by Tefenkgi et al and really fits well as a Boom book- it’s very much a mix of Vertigo and indie comic feel, which is definitely where Aaron’s story seems to also draw from.
I have since read some reviews after reading mine and with a few exceptions, the response to this is really negative. I can definitely see where this might not be everyone’s cup of tea, still if your tastes tend away from capes, then hopefully you will enjoy it as much as I did.
December 29, 2022
I know, I know another single issue review and not waiting for the trade.
But it turns out this comic was exactly my kind of book. The story is in a post_apocalyptic setting that just drops you in the story (in a good way). We have two main characters, one is a world wise and weary wanderer of the wasteland and the other is a pampered child genius who lived in a safe shelter with little danger. This was just issue #1.
But it turns out this comic was exactly my kind of book. The story is in a post_apocalyptic setting that just drops you in the story (in a good way). We have two main characters, one is a world wise and weary wanderer of the wasteland and the other is a pampered child genius who lived in a safe shelter with little danger. This was just issue #1.
November 17, 2023
“Once Upon The End of the World” – Jason Aaron, etc
Post-apocalyptic (of course!) polluted Earth, an epic odyssey story which has many mixed ingredients, such as: right-wing matriarchal dictatorship, Boy Scouts turned religious death cult, prophecy of a Promised Land, fantasy fairytale horror rom-com; with influences from ‘Lord of the Flies’ and the comic series ‘Big Trouble in Little China’ and ‘East of West’.
#1 – The Tower in the Sea – “She’d been sailing … past glaciers of melted plastic.” – “Maceo and Mezzy. To the ENDS OF THE EARTH!”
Post-apocalyptic (of course!) polluted Earth, an epic odyssey story which has many mixed ingredients, such as: right-wing matriarchal dictatorship, Boy Scouts turned religious death cult, prophecy of a Promised Land, fantasy fairytale horror rom-com; with influences from ‘Lord of the Flies’ and the comic series ‘Big Trouble in Little China’ and ‘East of West’.
#1 – The Tower in the Sea – “She’d been sailing … past glaciers of melted plastic.” – “Maceo and Mezzy. To the ENDS OF THE EARTH!”
November 25, 2022
best debut comic of the year, this and Behold the Behemoth. Boom Studios is on fire.
December 8, 2022
Great first issue!
January 3, 2023
I'm interested. I don't love a time jump, though.
January 25, 2023
Great artwork. I enjoyed the dichotomy of the two characters. Definitely interested in where the story goes.
February 3, 2023
LOVE the story idea and the art! Really enjoyed this first issue. I look forward to reading more!
April 22, 2023
Pretty good. Jason Aaron is one of my favorite writers, so I'm going to see where this goes.
April 27, 2023
A 3.5 really. Mace a little too annoying for me. Should be very much my thing, but suffers in comparison to the other books I bought.
May 22, 2023
Great start to the end
I really liked the sampler which got me to try the series so here I go. Wish me luck ha.
I really liked the sampler which got me to try the series so here I go. Wish me luck ha.
August 19, 2023
3.5. There just wasn’t enough there to make me want to continue reading.
December 28, 2023
Maceo, a boy who hasn't been on the outside in years since the apocalypse. Mezzy, a badass girl that runs into Maceo's fortress.
It's the end of the world, baby!!
It's the end of the world, baby!!
February 5, 2024
I look forward to finding out what else Mezzy and Maceo get up to; and how those creatures in the scenes from the future came into being. Beautiful art style and attention to detail
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2025
This was a nice story that kept my attention with twists and turns seasoned with the right amount of emotion.
August 7, 2023
why the time skip [tearing up emoji]
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews