Saga (edition 2012)

Summary: For as long as anyone can remember, there's been war between the technologically advanced people of Landfall, and the magic-wielding people of their moon, war that has since spread out to encompass their entire planetary system. But there are two soldiers that are fighting back - Alana (a Landfallian) smuggled the Moony Marko out of the prison they were guarding, and the book starts with them on the lam on a planet named Cleave, in the middle of the birth of their first child. Their unusual family is being hunted by operatives from both sides, including some of the deadliest bounty hunters the galaxy has to offer. All they want is to find a way off Cleave, and find a place where they can live in peace, but accomplishing those things will be difficult in a galaxy that views them as traitors and their daughter as a miscegenated abomination.

Review: Oh, this one was good. This is exactly the kind of graphic novel I shouldn't read, because it is funny, and in a cool world, and with interesting characters and a palpable sense of danger and really appealing artwork... and because this is only the first volume, which means I'm going to have to wait! Argh!

I think one of the things that appealed to me from the very first pages of the book was its similarity to Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone books. I mean, two peoples locked in a seemingly eternal war, with two soldiers from opposite sides falling in love with the enemy... it's just in this case, the girl's the one with the wings, and the guy's the one with the horns. But this series is more adult, and has a much more twisted sense of humor - I mean, the first line of dialogue is "Am I shitting?" But Alana and Marko are extremely interesting characters - good people, but with their fair share of flaws and bad decisions - and their relationship is interesting to watch develop. And I think Vaughan did a nice job of balancing the main story with the subplots, and providing enough details about the secondary storylines to keep me from feeling lost without distracting too much focus from the main action. The whole thing feels wonderfully epic and imaginative while still being relatable, and I can't wait to read more. (But I will have to wait. Argh, self, why do you keep starting awesome series before they're complete?) 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: Not - repeat, NOT - for the kiddos. There's swearing and violence and some graphic sex. But for grown-ups, it's got a lot of elements that I think would make it appealing to fans of sci-fi/fantasy. (In particular, I'm getting a Whedon-esque vibe from it, although I can't put my finger on exactly why.) ( )

Would rate it lower because I don't like the profanity, but the story and the characters are so great. A really inventive universe. Hope to see more stories in this same "universe". ( )

I read "Saga" because Calico Reaction recommended it as one of her favorite comics, and she has not lead me astray comic-wise, yet :)

I am so glad I did. Saga is soo awesome! Alana was kick-ass, and so was Marko (and not only when he forgot that he was a pacifist) :)

The story was engrossing, and the art was awesome. Can't wait to read vol. 2 when it comes out in July! ( )

Alana and Marko are semi-human people whose worlds have been at war since time immemorial. So the fact that they just had a baby together makes them very dangerous to both of their leaders. The story concerns their desperate flight from Landfall, fighting against bounty hunters, robot princes with TVs for heads, and ghosts known as Horrors. The story is ultimately about family--what makes it, and the lengths that people will go to in order to protect it.

This is kind of shockingly adult. Brian K. Vaughn wrote Runaways! That's teen appropriate, right? How much different can this be?

The answer is a lot. A lot different. Saga is an intriguing story, and the characters are well-fleshed-out (often literally) and sympathetic. But the nudity, sexual content, and general Body Horror of some of the scenes puts this clearly in an adult category. Not recommended if you flinched at Doctor Manhattan's blue nudity in Watchmen. ( )

Had me giggling on my commute home. Better than some, not as good as others. Worth the read. ( )