Graphic Novel Review: Saga, Volume One

April 20, 2014 5 stars, Book Review, Comics, Science Fiction 31 ★★★★★

Graphic Novel Review: Saga, Volume OneSaga by Brian K. Vaughan, Fiona Staples
Series: Saga Volume #1
Published by Image Comics on October 23, 2012
Genres: Adult SFF, Comics & Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Romance, Science fiction
Pages: 160
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Buy on Amazon

When two soldiers from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war fall in love, they risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous old universe.

From New York Times bestselling writer Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina) and critically acclaimed artist Fiona Staples (Mystery Society, North 40), Saga is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the worlds. Fantasy and science fiction are wed like never before in this sexy, subversive drama for adults.

This specially priced volume collects the first six issues of the smash-hit series The Onion A.V. Club calls "the emotional epic Hollywood wishes it could make."

five-stars

Now that I’ve been everywhere and seen everything…
No really, that’s pretty much how I felt after I finished enjoying Saga, Volume One. It’s as if the writer decided to give me a heaping dose of everything I love about SFF fiction. It was science fiction, it was fantasy, it was horror – hell it was even erotica and romance. What more could I possibly have wanted? Lie detecting cats? Oh wait yeah it has that too. Saga was ultimately a whole helluva lot of WTF in only the best ways.

Thus begins our story
We are immediately introduced to the couple Alana and Marko. They are from opposing sides in an ever ongoing war between two worlds, Wreath and Cleave. These two races couldn’t settle on just fighting each other, no no sir, they dragged the entire galaxy into their war and have been slowly destroying other planets by pulling them into the fray as well. So how did these two lovers end up together? Don’t you know the prisoner always falls for their captor? As they are star crossed lovers Alana broke Marko out of lockup and they went into hiding to have their baby. The plot thickens because the two opposing factions aren’t going to just let these two and their little baby go. That could very well jeopardize the way people think, others might decide it’s ok to fraternize with the enemy and what government would possibly stand for losing control of the way their populace thinks? Pretty much everyone is after them. Each of their races, free lance bounty hunters, weird robotic nobility and who the hell knows who else. It makes for a serious mad-cap dash across an entire planet and into the stars.

Let’s talk about sex and violence, we’ve got it in spades
The violence in Saga is gruesome and yet so much fun. There is just something to be viciously enjoyed about disemboweled monkeys not to mention a ghostly half girl with her intestines floating forever beneath her. Too sick for you? Well then this might not be for you. You should also know there are several graphic scenes that involve all the naked tasty bits of not just humanoids but some various many limbed aliens. I don’t consider this an erotic graphic novel but there are very adult scenes and themes so just bare that in mind if you are offended by that sort of thing this might not be your cup of tea.

Really tho, there is so much I could say
But I can’t! I won’t! I don’t even want to ruin it by giving anything away. You just have to know that this graphic novel is a face punch full of whicky in the wacky woo awesome. Not only is the dialogue highly entertaining (a delicious brand of humor here I say!) – but if you haven’t noticed that cover art – all of it is just that amazing. Sometimes I find that cover art on graphic novels is better than the overall quality of art you’ll get throughout the novel. But not so here, every freaking panel is that good. Believe it. The storyline manages to be touching, hilarious and gruesome. How the hell did they pull that off? Someone laid a golden egg in this writer/artist duos brains because the work they’ve accomplished together on this some of the best I’ve not read. Read it or we can’t be friends.

Stalk me!

Tabitha (Pabkins)

When I'm in the zone I can flip book pages faster than the eye can see - screaming "More Input!" I'm a book, yarn, & art supply hoarding goblin who loves to draw, make toys and craft all sorts of creepy cute things. My current habit is to listen to audio books while I'm arting it up!
Stalk me!

Latest posts by Tabitha (Pabkins) (see all)

Related Posts

31 Responses to “Graphic Novel Review: Saga, Volume One”

    • Tabitha (Pabkins)

      haha – there really isn’t horror in this. I guess I always equate a lot of ‘gore’ with horror. So this has a lot of gore but isn’t scary in any way – so probably horror might have been the wrong word.

      You will LOVE this!
      Tabitha (Pabkins) recently posted…Fairy Tale Fortnight Giveaway HopMy Profile

  4. Jon

    I’m glad you enjoyed this. I’ve read all TPBs out for this and now buy individual issues. It’s so much awesome.

    • Tabitha (Pabkins)

      You don’t!? Oh you don’t know what you are missing then! This would be an excellent one to start with – I know a few people who got hooked on graphic novels because of this one which makes me wonder why I waited to long to read it.
      Tabitha (Pabkins) recently posted…Fairy Tale Fortnight Giveaway HopMy Profile

  7. kindlemom1

    I have never read a graphic novel before but my girls both love them. I really should give them a try one day, they look like a lot of fun.
    kindlemom1 recently posted…The Sunday PostMy Profile

  14. Nikki

    I loooove Saga. I’ve only read the first two TPBs — I should get the next one ASAP. It’s just amazing how it pulls you in, and there’s so much going on, and the romance even works despite being both a bit of a cliché and seeming strange when you see how they interact and… it’s so funny!
    Nikki recently posted…Review – House of MMy Profile