Sci-fi time travelling fun is the order of the day in Days Missing: Kestus #3 as the Steward and Kestus face off once again amidst the backdrop of the Apollo 11 launch.  

The Steward watches on as mankind’s greatest accomplishment launches into the atmosphere. That sense of excitement is soon replaced with dread as the shuttle explodes, hurtling back to Earth as a screaming pile of flaming metal. What went wrong and how can the Steward put it right? 

Days Missing: Kestus’s strongest point is the focus on different periods in time that are seen as landmark moments in humanity. Seeing them play out is exciting and the ‘what-if’ nature of the events i.e. what-if it didn’t happen how it does in history, sends the sci-fi nerd in me into overdrive. It also means that anyone can pick up an issue and read it without needing much knowledge of the back story. The problem I’m having with the series is the Steward almost seems too powerful. We need to believe that Kestus can succeed and there’s nothing the Steward can do about it to stop her every now and then otherwise every time we see something happen we’ll know the Steward will rush in, time travel back and save the day. So far each issue has seen the Steward succeed in some way.  

Apart from that this issue really delved into the relationship and purpose of both the Steward and Kestus. It had already been established that the Steward’s role was to shepherd the development of humanity towards greater goals and Kestus was simply an object in his path but issue 3 fleshes out her role. The Steward is able to look down upon humanity and is almost blind to the evils of man but it is Kestus who lives among us, among the brutality and with the memories of every terrible act committed by man. She is the flipside to the Steward. When the two meet again we are also treated to some great dialogue between the two as they argue basically for who is right and who should be able to have the final say on humanity’s progression. Kestus’s dialogue actually makes you question the Steward and his acts.  

The art is good; in particular the explosion at the beginning of the book is quite spectacular. It also captures the feeling of the 60’s easily without it being too over the top and in your face. David Marquez uses strong lines in a style more like the hero comics of Marvel and DC but it does suit the comic and the strong onomatopoeia punctuates the action without taking over the focus of the panel.  

Days Missing: Kestus #3 is a strong piece of sci-fi writing. Focusing on different points in history gives the series a constantly fresh feel and I can’t wait to see where the series will head next, especially with the way this issue ends.