Review: Graphic novel breaks the norm
Originally launched by Image Comics in 2012, Saga is a visually striking series with a story that will make you re-think your views on war, love and what it is to be alive.
This series is written by Brian K. Vaughn, famous for the series The Walking Dead, but be assured if you’re not a fan of gutting zombies, you’ll still like this book. The art by Fiona Staples, a master in her own right, is what truly sets this piece apart. It is currently in its fourth volume with 23 issues released as of its date. Additionally, it is the recipient of many Eisner awards for creative achievement as well as critical praise across the board.
Saga is a blend of everything a reader could ask for: spaceships, magic, bounty hunters and a romance comparable to Romeo and Juliet. The story is excellently written and paints a vivid, exciting world for the reader. Set with the backdrop of an eternal war, two soldiers from different sides fall in love and have a child as the series begins. The story is told in past tense, narrated by the child, Hazel. As the story continues, you discover more and more about these young parents and the people hunting them down. The father, Marko, is a pacifist drafted into a war he didn’t believe in, but he will do anything to protect his new family. A strong contrast to Marko is Alana, a tough-as-nails solider with a chip on her shoulder. Defensive of her new daughter and husband, she struggles to adjust to living on the wrong side of the law. The dialogue between the two is great and establishes a more realistic relationship than most graphic novels, as it is strained at times by outside influences. The family grows as the series goes on, with Marko’s parents joining the cast as well as the ghost of a war victim who ends up playing nanny to Hazel.
Chasing this new family is a cavalcade of loveable bounty hunters. This includes a prince from a race of robotic televisions, a spider-like humanoid with a heart of gold and Marko’s ex-fiancée. Out of all their pursuers, I should mention a bounty hunter called “The Will,” a character as merciful as he is ruthless. He and Sophie, a child he saved from a prostitution ring and adopted, are so likable they’ll make you cheer against the protagonists of the story.
As you can infer from my description of the series, this story is different from anything you’ve ever read. If you want a more grounded story, I wouldn’t suggest picking it up. Another drawback of this series is that it sometimes has explicit content so it’s more R-rated than PG-13. If you are sensitive to violent situations and other content of that nature, I would stay away. The last thing working against this title is that it is not released on a monthly schedule; the extended time between issues can be frustrating to any reader.
That being said, I would highly recommend this graphic novel to anyone who wants to escape into a good story. Action, mystery and intrigue can all be found within the pages of this series. This series can be found locally at Hastings, Heebegeebez and Death Ray Comics, or the collected volumes at Amazon.com.
— Riley is a senior in marketing. He enjoys everything related to pop culture and has a show on Aggie Radio about the subject. His love for comics has always been strong and he will discuss them with you any time. Email him at rileymcmurdiethompson@gmail.com.