Saucer Country #10

Written by Paul Cornell
Art by Ryan Kelly

This issue of Saucer Country has a couple of terrific moments in it that make it clear to me that this is a book that is designed to last for a while, and really explore more than just the alien-abduction aspect of its story.

Governor Arcadia Alvarado is in Las Vegas for a Democratic primary debate.  She's just been shot at, and now, after a separate shooting incident, two of her security staff are dead.  Michael, her ex-husband and fellow alien abductee, believes that he may be the person responsible for this, as does the reader.

The debate, which happens this issue, promises a couple of surprises, and we also learn what happened to the woman that Professor Kidd has been looking for.  The word 'conspiracy' gets tossed around this issue a fair amount, and it's beginning to look more and more like multiple forces are working behind the scenes to control or influence Alvarado's campaign.

Cornell has a complex plot working here, but what makes this book work is the strength of the characters.  From Michael's self-doubt to her female advisor's skill at planning the campaign, this book is pretty memorable, and with Ryan Kelly drawing the hell out of it, absolutely gorgeous.