Short Version
Days Missing returns with the Steward trying to prevent another historical catastrophe this time it’s as Rome attacks the Egyptian city of Alexandria. The Steward is forced yet again to make pleas to both sides before damage is done to the progress of man. With everything happening around him so fast the Steward must make sure to save one little girl.
Long Version
We last left the Steward thwarting the plans of Kestus’ army
as a very sad and lonely Kestus road away. Now in Egypt we find the Steward on
a Roman slave ship that is barreling down upon an Egyptian sea fleet. The
Steward is trying to convince them that they will destroy a lot more than just
the ships by throwing their lives away. The Stewards convinces two of the
Romans not to go through with the plan when it’s revealed to be a suicide
mission, but that doesn’t stop their third companion. He lites the ship on fire
causing an explosion that no one other than the Steward can escape.
He washes to shore and is rescued by a little girl. The girl
is a slave to one of the learned minds of the Alexandria library. The Stewards
requests an audience with her master and the head of the library to warn them
of their impending doom. Once inside he tries to convince them that the fire
buring on the sea will carry across the sea and burn down the library and
everyone in it and around it. As smart as the group is they do not understand
how the fire can carry across water. They finally give the Steward an audience with
their Goddess.
Low and behold it’s Kestus and she couldn’t be happier to see him. The two exchange dialog as they attempt to learn about each other. The Steward only has until the catastrophe ends to be in that time line. Once he leaves he will only be a feeling of a memory left behind to everyone there… except for Kestus. She wants to go with him since they are so similar. He explains that it’s his curse to only observe and that he can’t take her with him any more than he can stay with her. Finally Kestus helps him and they abandon the library. The Stewards may not have saved the scrolls, but he’s saved the people who wrote them insuring that the knowledge would not be lost.
Phil Hester continues to be amazing on this title. If you break down the comic there is very little character development for Kestus or the Steward, but when the share a scene together it’s great. Hester really allows the characters to pour themselves out to one another during these scenes. What’s also great about this series is that you don’t really have to have read the first issue to understand what is happening in the book and what you’ve missed. The issues are written so well that they almost stand on their own. Granted, it’s far more rewarding to read the entire series.
David Marquez really is the perfect artist for this title. His ability to draw not only era believable clothing, but also the setting is outstanding. It really shows his range as an artist to be able to change the settings for an issue and have it look just as strong as the previous issue. Marquez also captures Kestus quite well. Since she is always era appropriate it’s important to recognize her off the bat without a character shouting her name.
This is another great book by Hester and Marquez as they take on the classic Roddenberry material. Days Missing is not only interesting in its concept, but it’s presentation itself. I love the fact that there is some disaster that’s going to screw up the evolution of the human race if the Steward doesn’t stop it. It really makes me interested in seeing what it is the human race becomes at the end of the story.
Overall Score - 9.2/10
If you’d like more info on the title stop by Archaia’s home
page or read the review for the first issue.