Saga #1 – A Second Opinion

By: Brian K. Vaughan (writer), Fiona Staples (artist)

The Story: Well, an episode of How I Met Your Mother this ain’t.

The Review: Alex already made some excellent points about this issue, so I won’t go around stepping on his toes, but I do want to make a few observations of my own about this series that’s already received so much attention.  Obviously, a title like Saga comes attached with some pretty high expectations.  It means Vaughan must not only deliver a complex narrative with adequately vast scope, he must have enough material of sufficient depth and quality to do so.

In other words, you don’t make Star Wars by playing it safe, story-wise.  So it’s a pretty good sign that right off the bat, Vaughan throws in every sci-fi/fantasy feature you can think of into the series: opposing races, winged humanoids and bestial humanoids, robot third-parties, hulking creatures of implausible shape and anatomy, advanced technology and old-school magic, guns and swords—you name it, this issue has it.

Above all else, Vaughan gives us the very best kind of story of all: a love story, set between two members of opposing races fighting a fruitless war that’s been corrupted and prolonged beyond recognition.  This is classic stuff—and that is perhaps the one and only flaw with the tale Vaughan wants to tell here.  We can all recognize this story, and we can all sense its general direction, especially since a vital character reveals from the start a large chunk of the end game.

But again, even the oldest story in the world can be made like new by its execution, and Vaughan executes masterfully.  Despite the exotic, breathlessly imaginative world we’re dealing with, we recognize it because Vaughan starts us, appropriately enough, with the most fundamental, universal, human experience of all: the birth of a child of love.  That alone is not enough, however.  To immerse you into the scene, Vaughan does not spare you even from its less attractive parts (“It feels like I’m shitting!” mother Alana cries; father Marko cuts off the umbilical cord—with his teeth).

Saga #1 – Review

by Brian K. Vaughan (writer), Fiona Staples (art), and Fonografiks (letters & design)

The Story: Two lovers of warring races welcome a child into a futuristic world torn apart by strife.

The Review:   I read quite a few comics.  At least 9 new singles and a trade, usually more than that…  What Saga offers, however, isn’t just a comic or just another part of your weekly stack.  Rather, Saga is an experience.  In only one issue, it has introduced characters we care a great deal about by issue’s end, a fully realized and unique world, and the beginnings of what looks to be one massive story.  That latter point really is a Brian K. Vaughan hallmark and is readily seen in the first issues of Y: the Last Man and Ex Machina.

Vaughan elegantly balances introducing his narrative’s world, plot development, and character work; frankly, it’s amazing, even in a double-sized issue, just how much he gets done on all three fronts, which are, by issue’s end, equally well developed.  You will care about characters, their world, and be dying to get to the next episode of the plot.  Essentially, in one issue, Vaughan accomplishes what takes other new series up to a full arc to manage.

The world Vaughan creates is sure to please sci-fi fans and has all the hallmarks of an epic landscape.  It’s politically nuanced and well-developed and clearly a LOT of thought and world-building was done in the pre-release development of this title.  Different races, politics, military conflicts, racial tensions, it’s all there.  I especially love how between the two races at war, one is a sci-fi force with futuristic guns and robots while the other is a fantasy style group with mages and enchanted swords.  It’s a world that I loved spending time in.

Vaughan’s introduction of the two main characters is brilliant.  They’re instantly sympathetic and their relationship feels real.  Indeed, another hallmark of Vaughan: his lead characters feel distinctly human.  They’re personalities are realistic and sincere, natural, and yet they remain multi-faceted, compelling characters.  The supporting cast on offer are also nuanced, conflicted (or with the potential to be conflicted), and each is very cool in his or her own unique way and will leave you wanting to see more of all of them.

Story-wise, I enjoyed the air of tension and desperation throughout and the cliffhanger was perfect.  Moreover, I was surprised at how real and…conscious (?) the comic was.  It is far, far from being a “political” comic, and yet real world issues are there in the subtext if you pay attention.  It enhances the read overall and makes it feel smarter, denser, and more meaningful.  If you choose to read the book with an eye to these issues, you’ll find that Vaughan only asks questions, but never comes close to preaching.  Without fully going into what these issues are (word limit!), I’ll just say that I found the issues relating to race, gender, duty, war, and the detachment of the average Joe from his politicians to be nice little brainteasers here.

Dean’s Top Picks

Best of the past week: Rachel Rising #6 – Easy choice.  I love that the groundrules of Terry Moore’s super-natural, reanimation horror-story are becoming clear.  Something weird is clearly going on that makes all these ladies rise from the dead, but I’m also looking forward to learning what the story is about.  Moore is a rarely gifted storyteller in that he’s good enough that I don’t have any desire for him to hurry up.  Take your time, dude!  And keep drawing because the art is incredible.

Most anticipated this week: Saga #1 – Yippie!  A new Brian K. Vaughn comic series with art from the outstanding Fiona Staples.  That should be awesome!  But, selection #1(a) would be Saucer County #1 about UFOs by Paul Cornell and the also-outstanding Ryan Kelly.  It’s a great week for new, creator-controlled comics.

Other picks: Northlanders #49, The Unwritten #35, Blue Estate #10, Secret History of DB Cooper #1, Wolverine and the X-Men #7, Fantastic Four #604