With a book sometimes described as “Romeo and Juliet meets Star Wars”, you expect great things from it. Saga is a book about lovers from two warring races and their struggle to keep their newborn daughter alive in a galaxy that seems intent on killing them. With the fourth issue about to come out, Saga is already generating significant buzz. Does it live up to the hype?
Starting off with The Will’s arrival at Sextillion, which seems to be something of a Red Light District, we start one of the parallel narratives of this issue. After a couple of pages, we cut back to Marko and Alana as Alana waits rather impatiently for Marko to heal so she can learn more about his past bride. We cut back to The Will on Sextillion, where things just aren’t living up to his expectations, so the manager takes him to see a Slave Girl. Marko wakes up and explains himself to Alana and makes things a little better. The Will is displeased with what he sees and takes it out on the manager of Sextillion. Back with Marko and the gang, we see Marko doing something he swore to never do again: draw his sword.
I’ve always thought the little journal-entry-type narration from Hazel’s perspective was such a nice touch. It adds a little something extra to the story, and is greatly appreciated. It’s just another thing that Brian K. Vaughan does that adds depth to the story and makes it truly great.
Brian K. Vaughan is a phenomenal story teller. He’s been crafting these characters and this story so well in this book so far. I mean, ghost baby-sitter? Who would’ve seen that coming? BKV made it happen though. And made it belong. He sold the oddness of it all. With this issue, the planet of Sextillion is so odd and out there, but it makes sense, especially in the universe that BKV has been constructing. His characters, like The Will, are both odd and fascinating. You can’t help but be drawn to them. His dialogue is wonderful as well. Even though Alana is mad and her husband has just recovered from a mortal wound, she’s still worried about being the hottest girl he’s slept with. It’s just little touches like this that make the comic so wonderful, and make BKV such a great writer.
Fiona Staples’ does the art for this book. That alone should sell people on the title. Her art is fantastic. Expressive, deep, defined, and many other things I couldn’t put into words. Staples’ art helps make this book amazing. It helps ground this space epic in a way that other artists may not be able to. I know BKV gets a lot of credit and hype, but Fiona Staples deserves just as much credit for helping make this story so successful.
Overall, this is another wonderful, wonderful installment in what is shaping up to be one of, if not, the best new series of the year. Pick it up, people. Buy two copies! It’s that good.
Art: 10/10
Script: 10/10
Parental concern: Considerable. A guy’s head explodes. If that’s not enough, tons of cartoon nudity and sexual content.
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