Once Upon a Time at the End of the World Book Three: Not Even if You’re the Last Person on Earth
Jason Aaron, writer; Nick Dragotta, illustrator; Rico Renzi, colorist; with Alexandre Tefengi & Leila Del Duca, illustrators; Lee Loughridge & Tamra Bonvillain , colorists
Boom! Studios, 2024

After the fall of the paradise community of Golgonooza in the last volume, we find Maceo and Mezzy still apart. But we learn more about how they both reacted to the fall, and are reminded that the narrative included forecasts of their alienation since the first collection. Mace and his companions have confronted Mezzy’s new Rangers, the Red Bikers. Mace’s friends head for the mountains, but he realizes that the Rangers have taken one of his Golden Gadgets, which would give them a map to Golgonooza and access to his powerful Engine — a tool they intend to use to destroy the world.

He goes after them, and so does Mezzy, because they both feel responsible for the forces they have set in motion. Mezzy has a new set of Rangers: Fire Rats, who adopted her when she was in despair. There is an epic final battle, which somehow leaves Mace and Mezzy standing, and the world in one piece. The couple was forced to collaborate to save the Engine. They again face each other across a chasm, but now there is a bridge–and they might yet reunite.

It is a satisfying conclusion, even though it is open-ended. A happy ending might be too much to ask for at the end of the world. The artist credits are interesting: they put the “present” team of Dragotta and Renzi in first place, while reuniting all of the past artists in the flashbacks (the opposite of the previous collection’s credit listing). The series uses disparate artistic teams to good advantage. A reader can immediately see the time frame from the visuals. The collection ends with several examples of “Script to Page,” plus character designs by Nick Dragotta and alternate covers by Ariel Olivetti.