I have been a devoted fan of Saga since issue #1. I still remember reading that first issue in my car and being blown away and wanting more, but knowing I’d have to wait a full month before I could have some. Since then, whenever a new Saga issue comes out, it is the first book I read. While I am still loving the book, I have to admit that I am even more lost than ever.
Now please don’t misunderstand, I have every confidence in Brian K. Vaughan. A quick look at the treasure trove that is his body of work makes it obvious that Vaughan writes a series, not just short, disconnected stories. There is no reason to doubt that by the time Saga finishes, the direction of the story will be clear, but at the moment it is impossible to tell where it is heading. However, for the sake of amusement, I’m going to give it a try anyway.
The first eighteen issues of Saga really formed a cohesive, if not a bit confusing story of two lovers and their newborn on the run from a society that thinks their relationship and their child are abominations. Starting with issue nineteen however, while the cast remains the same, circumstances have changed. It seems that while the “star crossed lovers” have eluded their captors (at least for the last three issues) they are drifting apart. By now, I have absolutely no idea where the story is going and very little understanding of where the story has been. I just can’t seem to make the new plot line mesh with the previous one. Given that Saga #21 is only the third issue in this season, there is a distinct possibility that it will all come together in the next several issues, but I just wish I could grasp it now.
I was also a little disappointed with Fiona Staples’ art this issue. Her amazing pages are one of the huge draws for this book and this issue didn’t live up to its predecessors. One sequence in particular involved a love scene between Alana and Marko and I was surprised at how blocky the characters—especially Marko—looked. If I were looking at Chris Bachalo or Humberto Ramos, I’d have been pleased, since that’s the style I’ve come to expect from those artists, but it is very much the opposite of how Staples normally draws. Her art is typically so organic, which fits the book to a tee, and I felt let down a bit. It’s also worth noting that the reason Saga takes long breaks every six issues is to allow Staples to stay on as the artist and I’m perfectly fine with that as long as the book keeps looking like it has. If the quality slips, I may start getting grumpy.
After that whole rant, I still feel the need to say that Saga is one of my favorite books currently being printed. I also have faith that Vaughan and Staples will get this all to make sense, even if it takes to the end of the series for it to happen. Having said that, I really hope they don’t wait that long. 3.5/5 Death Stars.
Therefore I Geek 