This arc of Nowhere Men has given readers insight on the humans at the heart of the science, leaving flawed but extremely well-developed characters at the center of the story. The creative team, consisting of Eric Stephenson, Dave Taylor, Emi Lenox, and Jordie Bellaire, really manage to keep each issue balanced in terms of both art and story.

This arc has focused on the aftermath of the World Corp disaster, specifically on the scientists involved. However, it has also introduced a number of unknown variables, including Simon Grimshaw and Thomas Walker, as well as the mysterious physical transformations of Susan Queen and Kurt McManus. The story has followed a natural progression that leaves the fate of many characters hanging in the balance as they all come to terms with what has happened. Nowhere Men #10 hints at answers and ends with the biggest cliffhanger of the arc so far.

One of the greatest accomplishments of the series is Stephenson’s ability to write all of the (numerous) characters in a way that doesn’t leave any neglected. They’ve all been developed with distinct personalities, through their interactions with each other (the World Corp crew), the insert advertisements and interviews (the World Corp founders), and the supplementary visual diaries (Monica Strange). This method is particularly effective, as it allows for both character and cultural background within the story without getting too much dialogue and exposition-heavy.

The narrative balance is met with visual balance from Lenox and Taylor. Lenox’s guest artist spots give a voice to Monica Strange, who is developed through her sketch diary entries. In the rest of the issue, Taylor’s art captures the larger-than-life characters perfectly. The panel layout and two-page spreads emphasize characters who appear in the story more infrequently, and boast some impressive visuals. Pages 22-25 are especially noteworthy, with some incredible colors from Jordie Bellaire.

Overall, this is another well done issue from a fantastic creative team. It is both thought-provoking and entertaining, and will make readers glad its publishing break is over.

Story: Eric Stephenson Art: Dave Taylor, Jordie Bellaire, Emi Lenox
Art: 9.5 Story: 9.5 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review