Saga Review – Image Comics by Dante M. Serrecchia : Pop Culture Leftovers

Saga Review – Image Comics by Dante M. Serrecchia

October 17, 2014 2:44 pm | Leave your thoughts

If there is any crazier comic on the shelves right now that has equal parts romance, secrets, humanoid TV people, hybrid animal people, political drama, and that classic cat and mouse chase that is soaked in sexy and bloody violence, it’s Saga. Saga is a story written Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Fiona Staples. The series has a lite Romeo and Juliet meets Star Wars meets Game of Thrones space opera tone that follows Alana and Marko as narrated by their grown up daughter, Hazel. New parents with their little one freshly born follows the husband and wife team formed of two warring extraterrestrial races who are on the run from both sides. Prince Robot IV is on the hunt for them both for creating the “abomination” that is he believes Hazel to be.

This series has literally everything you can ask for and not ask for. Vaughn and Staples’ teamwork on each issue brings extraordinary imagination and flawless art and colors to create something special every month. With twenty three issues on the shelf, each character introduced has had some pretty wild turns. Relationships made and destroyed with heart wrenching endings, allies and enemies changing sides and/or taking new paths. Giant troll NUTS, and graphic orgies, Saga has it all. For how weird this comic is in idea and design, it’s one of most refreshing and clever new concepts in the comic shop.

No other book has created a better working (and not working) relationship than the one Vaughan writes for Alana and Marko. From start to current the reader is falling in love with both characters and their ideas about the love that they feel for one another. Their love and affection pulls the reader right in like they could be read. Alana and Marko’s actions and the words that they share from their most intimate times to the fights that lead to making up really make your heart sing and tighten nearly simultaneously. If any relationship in comics is the most identifiable with real people, (minus the wings and the horns of course) this couple takes the cake.

Saga, however, isn’t only about Alana and Marko. There are a slew of other wild characters in this elaborate tale, such as the main antagonist, Prince Robot IV. IV, who is allied with Alana’s winged people, is one of those humanoid TV persons that was earlier mentioned. With a television screen as a head and gray toned body to match, this prince is on a mission ordered by his father, King Robot, to hunt and capture the little baby Hazel for disposal and bring her parents to justice for their crimes, all while leaving his pregnant princess behind. And to make things worse for Hazel’s parents, there are a few bounty hunters on their tail as well. The prominent one being a man called The Will, who has been called in by private sources to do the worst to the family once found. Accompanying him is his large turquoise cat creature. The Will has a leg up, for his cat is a truth cat. Lying Cat knows and is inclined to tell you (out loud) if you are lying or not. He’s the best friend to have on bounty jobs such as the one The Will has accepted. This book has mutated humans and animals alike. No one creature is the same. Not even the people Marko and Alana originate from. It’s a gorgeous ballet of diversity through and through that spans the entire universe. It’s even got rocket ship trees!

From space trotting and visiting different worlds and cultures, battling moons run by pimps, and smalls worlds that are actually giant eggs about to hatch, any reader is bound to have a blast reading this series. Sexy art filled with curvy body parts and the most unique monsters you’d never ever think of, drug taking vine people, and pink hipster ghosts, this comic is a trip beyond trips with laughs and amazingly written quote that will make you want to memorized and repeat them to your closest friends or even a post to your Facebook wall. This comic isn’t for everyone, but it damn well should be. If you’re looking for something weird, funny, loving, charismatic, heart wrenching, surprising, and down right cold-hearted, than this is book that you should pick up. There are to many other words and feelings that comes to mind when I think about Saga and it would be a long long review to name them all. Tell me and the Pop Culture Leftovers crew what you like or dislike about Saga in the comments below and share your deep thoughts. For me, Saga is a beautiful experience that is nothing like your average big 2 superhero comic, or horror story, or any other indie title that you might be reading. Give Saga a shot. You wont be disappointed.

“…never worry what other people think of you, because no one ever thinks of you.” – Alana from Saga issue #22

Thank you for reading.

Dante M. Serrecchia