The fourth volume of Girl Genius recounts the first half of Agatha's adventures with Master Payne's Circus of Adventure. Agatha and Krosp crash their airship in the Wastelands and meet the various members of the Circus as a result — most importantly, Agatha meets Zeetha. After a pair of daring rescues, Agatha is taken in as a full-fledged Circus member, who put her on stage as her mother opposite Lars, and deceive a devastated Gilgamesh Wulfenbach and not-so-devastated Bangladesh DuPree. Back on the Castle Wulfenbach, Klaus reveals a surprising backstory twist as he recovers from Agatha's escape. This volume ends with Agatha having an unsettling talk with Othar Tryggvassen after a performance and with Jägers being assigned to follow her and keep her safe.