Saga, Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan (Writer), Fiona Staples (Artist)

Publication Date: October 10th, 2012

Publisher: Image Comics

Genre(s): Graphic Novel, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Adult

Series Status: Collects Saga issues #1 to #6

Pages: 160

Format and Source: Paperback, Bought

Rating: 5 out of 5

 

Synopsis from Goodreads:

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 bestselling writer Brian K. Vaughan, 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.

Collects Saga issues #1-6.

 

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I have never read anything as incredibly diverse as this. I don’t know whether that’s due to the genre or the setting or the era, but there were so many different sorts of characters from age, species, beliefs, ages, personalities, genders, everything! This is probably one of the main factors that made this so bloody weird as this is mainly based on the interspecies relationship of Alana and Marko, who also fought on opposing sides of an intergalactic war – this sounds quite Romeo and Juliet but don’t worry, it’s so much better.

Speaking of weirdness, there were other things about this novel that made it almost weirder than The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. One of the things that also makes this novel weird is that there are beings that have televisions for heads, and the first time they were introduced they were having sex. Yes, it is as weird as it sounds. The mixture of strange creatures, a dramatic plot, and casual sex and nudity gives an air of ‘anything can happen’ – and it literally can. I mean there’s a sex planet, a strange woman-spider being, and ghosts!

With so much craziness going on the plot could have been easily lost, but due to the focus on Alana and Marko it was actually not too hard to follow. Alana and Marko are an incredibly realistic couple who bicker and bitch, but do love each other. I particularly love Alana who is an incredibly strong female character who does not take crap from anyone. I was worried that they were going to be a very soppy couple who were all ‘love at first sight’ and live up to the Romeo and Juliet cliché. Luckily I was entirely wrong and they made the novel so amazing. 

I cannot forget the artwork for this. The art was amazing and filled with so much detail. Each character was easily recognisable and every scene was portrayed so well that you didn’t question what was going on unless it was intentional. And the action scenes! Well they were masterful! The artist didn’t wimp out on the blood and gore, though I’m not surprised about that at all as all naked characters were fully drawn in, if you catch my drift…

Overall this was an outstanding, hilarious, dramatic, downright weird graphic novel which I believe all graphic novel lovers should read – but only the adult ones as I think some parents may be horrified if they found out what’s depicted in this book.

You can find Saga here.

 

 

 

Guest review contributed by Caffeine and Books. This blog contains book reviews, book hauls, book tags…basically a lot of bookish things, all fueled by caffeine.