Originally published in 12 separate issues in 1988, Camelot 3000 is a futuristic take on the classic tale of King Arthur and his knights of the round table. DC Comics creators Mike W. Barr and Brian Bolland, who also worked on comics such as Green Lantern, The Outsiders, and Batman, constructed this comic in such a way that is true to many of the original 12th century stories.
The story of Camelot 3000
The year is 3000 and the Earth is being attacked by aliens led by the powerful sorceress, Morgan LeFay, King Arthur’s half sister. Our accidental hero Tom Prentice stumbles upon King Arthur’s grave and awakens him from his slumber. After freeing the wizard Merlin from beneath Stonehenge, a chain reaction is set off where important characters from Arthur’s time are reincarninated into the bodies of others. With many of Arthur’s greatest knights of the round table restored, he vows to destroy the alien threat and save Earth from destruction.
Camelot 3000 introduces Queen Guinevere
One of the most interesting things done in this comic is the creative freedom Barr and Bolland take when creating their characters. Queen Guinevere, Arthur’s soon to be wife, is reincarnated into the body of a very powerful woman, named Commander Joan Action. Even her name, “Action,” portrays the female character in a much different light than her former self, when women were not looked on as “military figures.”
Camelot 3000 introduces Sir Tristan
One of the best choices Barr and Bolland make is putting Sir Tristan, the 2nd greatest knight of all time, into the body of a woman. He struggles throughout the entire story with his sexual identity. He is in love with the beautiful reincarnate of Isolde, but feels that she deserves a man, which he cannot give her.
Camelot 3000 goes easy on amateurs
Many of the stories that a great deal of people may not have ever heard before, are explain very well within Camelot 3000. The reader is able to learn how Arthur became king, the love triangle between Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot, background history of Mordred, the history of the Holy Grail, etc. Even if the reader has not been introduced to these events in texts prior to reading Camelot 3000, they won’t be completely lost.
Camelot 3000 repeats history
Camelot 3000 also holds thematically to the idea that history always repeats itself. The biggest example is Lancelot and Guinevere’s affair. It had destroyed the round table in the past and shattered many strong relationships between characters, yet they insist on their affair once they are reincarnated. Tom, having read up on his Arthurian literature, knows this and constantly asks the characters why they are setting themselves up for the same downfall again. They are all powerless to love.
A DC Comics first
Camelot 3000 was the first comic to reach out to older audiences and that dealt with mature themes. Many of the female characters in the comic are depicted as seductresses. These women like Morgan LeFay, Nyneve, and Tristan use their sexuality to ensnare the weaker-minded male characters.
Other King Arthur's texts of interest
Some texts to read if interested in the original stories of King Arthur:
History of the Kings of Britain by Geoffrey of Monmouth
Romance of Tristan by Beroul
Knight of the Cart by Chretien de Troyes
Le Morte d’Arthur by Malory
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