In the last issue, Tim’s journey to find out what the Great Machine was keeping from him brings a surprising revelation—it wanted Tim to defy it and search for the truth himself. What Tim found was a duality that co-exists together: man and machine alongside magic and data. The Great Machine gifts Tim with all the data and all the magic, allowing Tim to change into something else if he desires. But what really changed him was meeting the humans who became his family and, finally, Mila.  

Having brought them back to the former mining colony, Dirishu-6, he reconnects with Driller the Killer, Dr. Quon, and Telsa. But their happy reunion is short-lived as a Ghiashian ship has tracked them to the planet. Now, it’s time to prepare for battle. Meanwhile on Sampson, Andy and Effy may have won the battle, but not the war and must find some way to escape or risk being cannon fodder for Mother’s forces. Also, there’s a cool surprise on Sampson which I won’t spoil for you.  

I’m happy to see Driller the Killer back. The homicidal robot has been gone too long. (I like to think of it as Murderbot with simpler programming and less self-awareness.) I’m also glad Bandit hasn’t been destroyed yet. Maybe both of them will make it to the end, but we’ll have to wait and see.

As the series comes barreling into its last few issues, you definitely get a sense of the impending conflict that’s coming. This has been a great ride with terrific characters, but you have to wonder which part Mila will play in all of this. And has Tim found his duality in Mila?

Creative Team: Jeff Lemire (writer), Dustin Nguyen (artist), Steve Wands (letterer)

Publisher: Image Comics