Brian K. Vaughan

I almost gave this 4 but I can't honestly give it that high of a rating. I didn't "really like it" but I did "like it". There isn't much new here: forbidden love story, space epic, couple on the run, etc. What I did like was the different races...very creative and something new in the fantasy/sci-fi landscape. Some of the writing felt gimmicky, but maybe that is par for the course in a graphic novel. I'm new to this genre so I never know what to expect.

Overall, I liked it and the end had me wanting to continue reading. The artwork was beautiful and the story is pretty interesting even if it isn't that surprising.… (more)

Note: Some spoilers within for previous issues in this series.

Saga tells the continuing story of the little family of (the late) Marko and his wife Alana - a mixed-race couple - and their daughter Hazel. The family struggled to stay together in spite of a war between their two races.

Alana was from the planet Landfall, where inhabitants have wings on their backs, and Marko was from its moon, Wreath, where all people have horns on their heads. The two defied all convention (and propaganda, viz: those people have horns on their heads!) and fell in love. Hazel was born with both horns and wings, and it is Hazel who narrates the story.

Marko and Alana just wanted to find a way to be safe and happy and live in peace, but it wasn’t possible. The three of them were pursued throughout the galaxy by a number of beings trying to exploit them or kill them (or first one, then the other).

In Volume 9, however, both Marko and Sir Robert - once an enemy but eventually an ally - were murdered. It is at least three years later, and Alana, Hazel and Sir Robert’s son Squire are trying to make their way through the universe, surviving on scraps and barely escaping all those who still want to kill them.

Hazel is now 12 years old, and begins by telling us she has never felt more alone. It has been six months since her family traded life in a camping tent for careers in the big top. She and her brother Squire merely tolerated it, but Alana seemed to have found her calling. (Hazel notes: “Apparently, raising two kids is the ideal training to become a glorified bouncer.”)

Alana directs the performers, who are “supposed to go out there, bonk each other on the head, and give customers a safe outlet to process the absurdity of war or whatever. What you don’t do is drag real-worlds politics into the job, onstage or off!”

Someone makes a play for Alana, but she resists. Hazel observes, “It had been years since we lost my father, and Mom had yet to so much as shake hands with anyone new.” She adds, “Despite what you may have heard, there are some wounds for which time does jack shit.”

Someone calls The Will to ask if there is still a bounty on Alana, but The Will is still in mourning for Sophie, the little girl he and Gwen lost, and isn’t interested. Gwen begs The Will for heroine so she can see Sophie again. Hazel says, “People always talk about turning to a ‘crutch’ after tragedy, but crutches are for broken bones. Hearts require something stronger.”

Squire spends his time watching shows with an Open Circuit helmet, which their mom doesn’t want them using until they are teenagers. He insists the shows are “educational.” But Squire wasn’t fine, and he wouldn’t tell Hazel what was going on. In the meanwhile, however, Hazel managed to find her best friend for life.

Evaluation: This issue is all about mourning the ones you have lost, and what a long and difficult process it is. As usual, Vaughan’s text is full of astounding insights into life that will have you coming back for every new issue. Illustrator Fiona Staples is outstanding.… (more)