Once Upon a Time Machine #1

A glorious collision of fairy-tale worlds and science-fiction wonder, Once Upon a Time Machine #1 from Dark Horse brings together an astonishing cast of storybook figures — a lion, anthropomorphic pigs, a levitating luminous figure, and a crowd of characters both familiar and strange — all gathered around a bubbling, otherworldly contraption. The cover, a densely imaginative illustration credited to Andrew Carl and Chris Stiens, feels like a carnival of beloved archetypes reimagined through a fantastical, futuristic lens. At $24.99, this 2012 anthology-format volume promises a rich, expansive reading experience right from its breathtaking first glance.