The Days Missing: Kestus mini-series concludes this month with issue 5.

The fifth issue of this historical adventure takes place in 2008. Both Kestus and The Steward are keeping an eye on the Cern Super Collider. Usually the precursor to some horrible event The Steward has instead come to witness what should be a landmark in humanities development, but things soon take a turn for the disastrous with the events of that day having implications for the entire universe.

While issue 5 concludes the Kestus mini-series the story is used superbly to set-up the next series. From the get go we are introduced to a new, mysterious narrator who already knows how this fateful day plays out. This foreshadowing of the story just helps to build up the tension. Issue 5 also maintains a good pace. I was expecting it to be all frantic and hard to follow, but time is taken to build up to catastrophe and then Hester allows things to slow down again to explore its ramifications.

As much as issue 5 is about the potential end of life as we know it, it is also about the relationship between Kestus and The Steward. Throughout the series the two have become more dependent on each other and have even grown to love each other. It is The Stewards intimate knowledge of Kestus, built up over the course of the series, that tips him off and the nine panel page of Kestus and The Steward deciding what to do after the disaster is a rather touching, dramatic moment. I hope that when Days Missing returns the effects of the Kestus mini-series are evident in The Steward as it could open up a new layer to the character. 

The art is superb once again. In particular the colorings of the pages that represent the birth of a new universe are quite stunning, while also capturing the beauty of the relationship between Kestus and The Steward.  The only issue with the art is the fight between The Steward and one of Kestus's security guards didn't really flow well. For instance he has his arm up but then in the next panel when he strikes The Steward he struck him in an uppercut motion.

Issue 5 is a brilliant way to finish the Kestus storyline. The relationship between Kestus and The Steward comes full circle and is given as much attention as the main storyline while Phil Hester sets up the next series quite well. A great series that you should definitely buy in trade form if you haven’t got it already!