From Vertigo Comics, Paul Cornell, Ryan Kelly, Giulia Brusco, Sal Cipriano, Mark Doyle, and Will Dennis

 

The last issue of Saucer Country ended on a cliffhanger! Governor Alvarado had been shot…or so we thought. Turns out, the bullet didn’t actually hit her, just an unfortunate wall. The immediate impact on the reader is that she has this election in the bag, so much so, that her competition, Senator James Kersey, comes to her in this issue and asks her to toss in the towel and join him as a Vice Presidential running mate.

Issue #9, as with the rest of this series has shown that this title can handle multiple pov’s, allowing it to tell a great story, addressing many key subjects in one issue, vital to telling THIS story. Michael’s role in this tale is particularly important as he may be in deeper than initially thought. Ryan Kelly does a fantastic job this issue with the little nuances that make people recognizable. Could the shooter be Michael in a mask? Possibly, we know that he has a few spots of amnesia (“The Reticulan Candidate”).

Kelly also shines with Professor Kidd’s end of this story, as he continues to explore the men in black further. He has help along the way, but traces Mrs. Bates’ “men” back to military personnel. Just when you thought the men in black were real, it turns out they’re a hoax, a form of hazing for rookie officers…until two actual men in black agents show up and escort the soldiers into a white light. Kelly depicts these men expertly; human, but looking so alien it’s hard to tell.

The issue wraps up as it began, with another shooting. This time, it’s Arcadia’s security team, coming out of a bar. The end of this issue has me guessing; where it’s going. How certain elements will fit in to the story. We’re in the swing of election season in Saucer Country. The road is long, but the stakes are high and what comes next is worth it…so worth it.