One word sums up this issue – escalation.  And for those that thought that the heroes would have a quick turnaround after their predicament in the previous, there is no satisfaction here.  Instead this issue proves that the government of the other Earth has everything in their power to take on the heroes and more.  With the looming threat of the planetary collision, Aisa discovers that she has her powers back, but this can also mean only one thing.  Her reconnection to the goddess comes because of Terza’s barrier being broken down.  While the heroes remain trapped on their homeworld, Aisa is faced with the difficult choice of who to help first, the world that she hates but which will be obliterated, or to help her allies.

For those that have been reading this series throughout, it would surprise them to think that this is the same series as the one which was launched in the first issue, but the evolution of this engrossing tale has taken the characters this far.  This particular issue focuses on Aisa, and while other issues have done the same, this one focuses on her after she has learned the truth of what happened to her, her family and her friends.  It is compellingly written how she manages to go from anger to heroics once she realizes what is at stake.

This series continues to be successful and specifically for issues like this one.  It is the kind of issue that the reader consumes impatiently, with each page hopefully coming to some alleviation of the problems faced by all.  In so doing, this shows off the synergy of the creative team, as well as their ability to put together a coherent and well-paced story.  As the middle of a story arc there is still more story to be told here, and the cliffhanger ending which might seem over-the-top in other cases fits perfectly here.  This series is one of the best mixes of the ingenuity that is consistent with the independents with the superhero world that is popular at the big two, and there is really something for every comic reader here.

Story: Mike Carey  Art: Elena Casagrande
Story: 8.9  Art: 8.9 Overall: 8.9 Recommendation: Buy

 BOOM! Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review