Recently I was sent the first four issues of Archaia Comics’ series Days Missing, a mini-series from this year that has yet to wrap up but has been developing increasing buzz with each passing issue. This title is a collaboration of Roddenberry Productions and Archaia and features a rotating cast of creators within the five issue mini-series.
I had never heard of this title before the release of issue four just a few weeks back, but I can honestly say that this is one of the most underappreciated gems of recent years and assuredly a frontrunner for my favorite mini-series of 2009. This is a fantastic addition to my Small Press Spotlight series, and you’ll see why I think so exactly after the jump.
Days Missing is an extremely unique story conceptually. Basically, it theorizes that there is an unknown and eternal benefactor to the world that ensures the survival of humanity and helps it down a path of self-actualization and away from one of self-destruction. This benefactor, known as The Steward, exists in a state of limbo in an epic library that works in many ways as his own personal hell. From there, he observes humamity and takes action only when necessary, carefully manipulating situations to work as they should and then “folding” time to let the day play out without his involvement.
In the four issues that have been released so far, we’ve been blessed with wildly disparate stories from four fantastic writers – Phil Hester, Matz, Ian Edginton, and David Hine. These creators have crafted unique tales of self-preservation, desperation, belief, humility, and a deep seeded sense of humanity.
While all four issues have been exceptional, Ian Edginton’s story in issue three has been the apex so far. He tells the story of a doctor named Dr. Kate Prosper, a woman working on the Large Hadron Collider project for CERN that happens to be on the verge of a breakthrough. A breakthrough that would reveal The Steward’s hand in the legacy of mankind. Another plot within the story is one of utmost sincerity and touching emotion, as a French truck driver named Alain Maurais watches helplessly as his son dies of Leukemia. While The Steward’s involvement in this story is less selfless than other issues, the conclusion of the story is expertly told by Edginton in such a manner to maximize the emotional weight without sacrificing any storytelling ability.
It is an utterly exceptional story, although after reading the four released issues, it’s safe to say that this is not a title that touches on less than extraordinary.
The artists all put in solid work as well, as Lee Moder, Hugo Pietrus, Frazer Irving, and Chris Burnham all have massively different artistic styles but all seem to work for what they are going for. While the visual storytelling is not quite on par with the work from the writing side of the arena, it never hinders the production and often accentuates the power of the tale. Silent War artist Irving is particularly exceptional in the first issue, especially in the flashback sections in which we learn of The Steward’s history. That he’s returning with creative partner Phil Hester for issue five is a boon to the series and to readers alike.
All in all, this title is an out of left field grade A accomplishment from all involved. The more I read from Archaia, the more I fall in love with their uniformly superb productions. Thanks so much to the team at Archaia for sharing this with me, and I can say as a reader I am already eagerly anticipating issue five’s release.
