Alana and Marko are starcrossed lovers on the run. Each from an opposing, warring side, the two have committed treason in fleeing together, a fact made worse upon the birth of Hazel, the first interracial child of her kind (or at least that anyone knows about). Saga, narrated by a grown up Hazel, is an emotional, thrilling epic tracing a small family's journey to freedom, and their fight to exist in a universe that doesn't want them to.
Oh, man, it's hard for me to even talk about this series. Beautifully put together, beautifully told, beautifully illustrated, it's everything I've ever wanted in a graphic novel, in a science fiction story, in a story. Brian K. Vaughan has such a handle on narrative and dialogue, never revealing more than he has to, but basing simple lines and moments in deep, human truths. It's pretty hard not to fall in love with everything he touches. (Y: The Last Man is pretty A+ too, y'know). Fiona Staples, the artist, operates beyond most graphic novel illustrators too, lending such emotion and richness in her work. She gives life to the characters written by Briank K. Vaughan, and the way they work together is close to seamless.
This is a science fiction story that doesn't lose itself in it's own myth, but, rather, in its characters. Alana and Marko, The Will, Gwendolyn, Prince Robert, Klara, are all such fully formed characters, relatable beyond their function in the story that even if you don't necessarily like all of them, you feel for them on such a human level. They're fully realised characters, and that's such a rare, important thing.
I love this series, having inhaled book one and two in an afternoon and pre-ordered the third. It's close to a perfect series, and I'm pretty damn excited to see where it goes next.
5 out of 5 heartbreakers.
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