Review by Karl Verhoven

One primary character from Descender has been missing from Ascender. Tim was reintroduced on the final page of Digital Magic, and Star Seed begins with him explaining what he’s learned about the duality of the universe. The opening chapter encompasses quantum theory, but never named as such in order that Jeff Lemire can reduce complex possibilities down to simple explanations.

The ethereal nature of Tim’s questioning is ideally suited to Dustin Nguyen’s art. He supplies a precise human form among abstracted colour shapes and lines to indicate the immensity of the experience. Very early in Descender Tim was seen to have experienced dreams, and the meaning of them are clarified in this sequence. “There should be balance” about sums up what needs to be achieved.

Of course as over three volumes we’ve also been following powerful people invested in ensuring that’s not the case, this is no easy task.

For all the thrills of the space action, Lemire has ensured human emotion and capabilities are at the core of Ascender throughout. Loss, resentment, adaptability, change, arrogance, joy and friendship have all been themes, but perhaps sacrifice outweighs them all. All those themes recur in a finale living up to the expectations of anyone who’s reached Star Seed. A particularly clever element to the plotting is the way Lemire makes readers fear for the fate of individuals in turn, and with the immensity of the threats that’s no idle concern.

While the resolution is great, the complete weight of the drama isn’t apparent from Star Seed alone. You have to have lived through events with the cast to fully appreciate their emancipation, so Ascender is best experienced as complete in the single book. Your options are the paperback Compendium, or if you can afford it, the hardcover Deluxe Edition.