Old friends return in Ascender #10, by writer Jeff Lemire, artist Dustin Nguyen, and letterer Steve Wands. This is yet another wonderfully crafted issue, closing out volume two of the book in masterful fashion.

As Mila, Tesla, and Helda head to the island where Tesla and Helda stashed their ship, Mother’s forces prepare a blood spell to find Mila using Andy’s blood. Andy appeals to Effie, trying to remind her of their life together. She attacks the magician readying the spell, drinking his blood. Mila, Telsa, and Helda find the ship and something else. She explains to Andy that Mother keeps the vampires starved so they can’t think and asks Andy for a terrible favor. After helping her, Andy escapes Mother’s forces. Back at the ship, a ghost attacks the three escapees. Helda lures it off the ship to give the other two time to escape… when an old friend shows up to help.

Lemire crafts this issue perfectly. It begins with a narration from a Mila in the future, talking about change. It sets the tone of the chapter- how nothing can ever stay the same. However, Lemire words it in such a way where it’s not ominous or anything like that. It’s quite matter-of-fact. Things change, and it’s exciting and scary. That’s life. From there, he takes readers to Andy and what is probably one of the hardest moments in his life. Change strikes again- he thinks that he can maybe have his old life back at some point, his family, but change won’t allow it. Things are different now. As many times as he and Effie have beaten the odds, the road they find themselves on has gone too far in a direction they have no control over. Sometimes, the odds hit back.

This moment also casts a pall over the rest of the issue, one that makes readers think that the events are going to go one way. Helda lures the ghost away from the ship, and it feels like history is about to repeat itself. Sacrifices must be made… then the day is saved because of, well, change. That’s the brilliance of this issue- Lemire starts out the installment talking about change, throws a big moment at readers, setting a tone, which makes them think that the next moment is going to be similar… and then he changes it up because that’s what this issue is about. Change. It’s subverting expectations at its finest.

As usual, Dustin Nguyen’s art is pitch-perfect. His character acting kills it as always, and it makes what happens between Effie and Andy that much more powerful. The splash page is the culmination of their exchange, and the proceeding pages capture the power of Andy’s resolve and anger perfectly. The ghost that haunts the ship looks great thanks to Nguyen’s amazing watercolor art.

Ascender #10 is a perfect example of both setting a tone and subverting expectations. Lemire sets out what the issue is about on the first page, then uses one shocking moment to seemingly get readers ready for another one… before reminding readers what the comic is about. He’s very subtle with it as well, and that makes it work that much more. Dustin Nguyen’s art is amazing, as usual. He and Lemire deliver a fitting capstone to volume two of the book.

Grade: A+