Review: Saga, Vol. 2

Issues #7-12 of Saga
By Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples (Artist)
Available now from Image Comics
Review copy
Read my review of Vol. 1

SAGA, Vol. 2 continues the tale of Alana and Marko, lovers from opposite sides of an intergalactic war, as told by their daughter Hazel.  Vol. 1 ended with the cliffhanger of Marko's parents showing up armed for bear.

This really is one of the best current serialized comics.  Brian K. Vaughn's storytelling is at its best.  It's compulsively readable, with little hooks at the end of each issue and a big hook at the end of every volume.  It's complex, with a variety of fascinating settings and characters.  There's a lot of worldbuilding and character building going on.  Even the most villainous villain, the robot prince, has a family he wants to go home to.

Vol. 2 goes deeper into how Alana and Marko first met, and how they came to be so careless as to have a child while on the run from two armies.  I liked the role that a romance novel played in their courtship.  Books, even the most ephemeral ones,  affect the way we see our world and the people in it.  A modern beauty and the beast tale opened Alana up to the idea that Marko might not be so bad, despite having horns and lacking wings.  It also introduces Marko's erstwhile fiance, who is not happy he ran off with another woman - even worse, an enemy.

Then there's Fiona Staples' art, which is lush and gorgeous.  Her colors are bright, her lines clean, and the action fluid.  It's not as stylized as David Aja's art for HAWKEYE, the other title that's a possible contender for best current serialized comic.  But I think that's just fine.  Each of their art is perfectly suited for the title they're working on.  I can't imagine SAGA's words going with anyone else's art.

SAGA is a title for mature readers.  In this volume alone there is lots of violence (some of it against innocents) and nudity (possibly the only title I've ever read with more full frontal guys than women).  But I recommend it to anyone who is mature enough to handle it.  It has action, adventure, romance, philosophy, joy, despair.  Bring on Vol. 3!

Review: Saga, Vol. 1

Issues #1-6 of Saga
By Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (Artist)
Available now from Image Comics
Review copy

I first heard about SAGA through my dad, of all people.  I think the only graphic novels my dad has ever read are ones that I gave to him.  But he saved an article about the Wall Street Journal about the cover of the first issue for me, just because it sounded like my kind of thing.  Yep, my dad knows me.

Because SAGA is definitely my kind of thing.

Honestly, I'm hoping it's almost everyone's kind of thing, because it's fantastic.  The basic set up is very Romeo and Juliet-ish: Marko and Alana are fighting on opposite sides of a war when they fall in love and run away to start a family.  It's a war that spans several wars, having been outsourced from the homeworld of the original groups who had a problem with each other.  But now several freelancers and a prince have been set on the task of killing Marko and Alana.  And, fortunately, the actual story has little in common with Romeo and Juliet.  Marko may do some stupidly idealistic stuff, but both of them are willing to make hard choices to survive.  And they are very aware that they're parents and must protect their daughter.  Marko and Alana do not lack responsibility.

SAGA is narrated by their baby daughter Hazel once she's all grown up, which at least let's the reader know she survives the craziness of their lives.  The device is done very well, and I like that it gives Hazel a voice since she obviously can't talk as a baby.  Her narration promises lots of bad things to come, and I can't wait to read about them.

Fiona Staples art is colorful, clean, and dynamic.  The backgrounds are detailed by the characters still pop in the foreground.  Some of the designs are rather grotesque, and Staples' art really sells the images.  And for all the monsters on display, the creepiest-looking character (in my opinion) looks totally normal if you just look at her young, smiling face.

This is just the first volume of a comic that will hopefully live up to it's name in length when it's done.  But I have high hopes for SAGA, because the first volume is near perfect.  It's a family drama, a war novel, a romance, an action-adventure story, and probably more.  It's got layers, but above all else SAGA is extremely entertaining.

Thanks for putting this on my radar, Dad.