It’s about time we checked in again with Prince Robot IV, and it’s a neat little issue that sees him facing off against famed author D. Oswald Heist. The emotional roller coaster of the last few issues has come to an end. And now the time has come for the overall story to move forward, and this makes for a nice little opening chapter. We finally meet Heist, who seems like a pretty cool dude. And Prince Robot IV continues to prove why he is the most villainous out of the main characters. Will he be the actual villain in the end? Maybe. It’s hard to tell at this point. I don’t think anybody is truly evil, but that just makes for a better story overall.

Saga #12

Saga has a lot of story to tell, and it’s hard to believe we’re only at issue #12. So much has happened so far, I can’t even begin to wrap my mind around what might come next. I’m just glad I’ll be along for the ride.

Also, Brian K. Vaughn hits us with another awesome final page cliffhanger.

Comic Rating: 4/5: Good!

The action and excitement of the past few issues is gone, replaced with what amounts to nothing more than an extended conversation between Heist and the Prince. Vaughn is a master of dialogue, and the conversation serves to reveal so much about each character. It’s also just generally entertaining. I can already tell that Heist is going to be a fun character. And Prince Robot takes a step towards diabolical, which only serves to make him a more interesting character too. There is also the promise that he is on the verge of finally confronting Marko and Alana, which should be a pretty big moment.

Fiona Staples’ art is once again simply fantastic. Her characters are clear and well drawn, their emotions obvious, and the weird nature of their bodies made believable. This issue is all about a conversation between a bearded Cyclops and a robot with a TV for a head, yet it comes off as perfectly normal. I love that about her art. Everybody just looks so believable and human, even when they’re walking, talking TV sets or giant mouse people, it’s all so nice and normal. And seriously, the last page of this issue is just badass.

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Watch out for Sexy Alana everybody, she’s crazy! She sure is sexy though, for a comic book character. But we’ll get to that in a moment, just know that this issue of Saga points out how comics aren’t just for kids anymore. As if we needed such an example. The ongoing story pauses for an issue as everybody reacts to the galaxy-shifting events of last issue, but not in the ways you might expect. The chapter begins with sex and ends with a death, in true Saga fashion.

Saga #11

Saga is in a good place right now. All of the characters are together, there’s drama, action and family. And when it wants to pack an emotional wallop, Saga can do just that. Though I must say, this character went too soon.

Comic Rating: 4/5: Good.

There was one major misstep in this issue, and I’ll get to it in the synopsis. Otherwise, this was a fine chapter. It’s an action-heavy issue, so there isn’t a lot of time to just stand around talking, unfortunately. Those are becoming my favorite scenes. Everyone is in a hurry, the dialogue is quick, and basically we’re just moving on from one moment in space to the next. I imagine the story is going to pick up a lot with the next issue, but right now, there are a few things Saga needs to deal with, and it deals with them well. Not as shocking or powerful as the cliffhanger ending of last issue, but strong nonetheless.

I also want to say how fantastic Hazel’s narration is in this comic. The whole future Hazel recounting the story of her childhood thing is working like gangbusters. It adds such a subtle, emotional punch to even the simplest scenes. Writer Brian K. Vaughn uses that narration like a master craftsman at work.

Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review!

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I was disappointed with the last issue of Saga because writer Brian K. Vaughn took us away from the main characters at a very entertaining part of their story, choosing instead to focus on some of the side characters. And while I don’t take back my disappointment, I am definitely glad he did that, because Vaughn set up one of the most emotionally powerful scenes in the series yet. I cried out loud when I turned to the final page! Damn you, Brian K. Vaughn! Why must you hit us with all the feels? We’re only human. We can’t be put through an emotional wringer like this!

Saga #10

Saga #10 is absolutely perfect in every conceivable way. Vaughn brings together both groups of characters in an issue that brings to a head the various plot threads we’ve been reading over the past several issues. He does this by first showing us true love and then later breaking our damn hearts.

Comic Rating: 5/5: Great!

Vaughn should be teaching some kind of class on creative writing. The man is a master of building up characters and putting them together in highly entertaining and emotionally fulfilling ways. We only met Marko’s parents a few issues ago, but I love them already, and I love how they have quickly become such a warm and important part of the cast. A writer should be able to tell he’s got good characters when all I want to do is read them sitting around and talking about their lives. We get some of that in this issue, as well as some more parenting advice from Barr, but there’s also a lot of action, which is good too. If you can’t tell by the cover, we finally get Izabel back into the cast and everyone returns to the spaceship tree. Those are some very entertaining scenes.

The art by Fiona Staples is, of course, absolutely top notch. I can only hope she becomes one of the greatest artists in the industry after this series. The characters all look great, and she brings a real coziness to their confines. Staples also draws one incredible splash page that I’ll post later that is simply stunning. There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that she is perfect for this series after seeing that page.

And then when it comes time to break our hearts on the last page, Staples is more than up for the challenge.

Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review!

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No Brian K. Vaughn, why would you do this to us? You take two issues to really get the momentum going on Marko, Alana and their family, only to suddenly throw us this curveball with an entire issuing focusing on The Will? What the heck, man? I like The Will as much as the next reader. And Gwendolyn seems cool. But their stories could have waited until you were done rocking our socks off with the real stars of this comic. I was in no rush to watch The Will rescue that little girl from Sextillion. That could have happened at any time. But not in the middle of you delivering some of the best characterization in this series to date.

Saga #9

Saga #9 is a sad disappointment, interrupting a great storyline to bring us only a mediocre one. The Will and Gwendolyn fight a bunch of weird mole people to rescue the little girl from a few issues ago, whose name is apparently ‘Slave Girl’. Please, as if Sextillion isn’t full of underage slave prostitutes.

Comic Rating: 3/5: Alright.

Sagas #7 and #8 were a great two-parter, introducing Marko’s mom and dad and really ingratiating them in the family. Saga #8 was the best issue of the series so far, in my opinion, and I was definitely looking forward to seeing what happens next. So why, oh why, did Vaughn change gears completely and switch to this other story? It’s not like Marko and the gang had reached a natural conclusion. Their stories are still ongoing. We haven’t even caught up to Isabel yet. But nope. Vaugh introduced Gwendolyn at the end of the last issue and he’s apparently very eager to start using her.

I swear, the next issue better not just be about Prince Robot IV.

Anyway, this issue isn’t terrible by any means. The Will is a pretty cool character, and his rescue of Slave Girl is pretty noble. Gwendolyn also needs a chance to grow as a character, though I think she could have benefited from staying in the shadows for a bit. Let her mystique build. But in the end, Vaughn is creating an epic saga, and the story isn’t just about Marko, Alana and Hazel. So I guess it’s warranted to have a few issues starring the other characters. I just think this one came at the worst possible time.

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This issue perfectly captures the fun and personality of a Brian K. Vaughn book, and shows us exactly why Saga is one of the very best comic books on the stands these days. You don’t need superheroes to make a comic book good. You just need fun characters, fun adventures and apparently a rocket ship made out of a tree. Fortunately, Saga has all of those things.

Saga #8

Everything I wanted to happen last issue happens in this issue. Characters have meaningful moments and conversations. We learn new and interesting things about nearly everybody. And everything seems to really mean something.

Comic rating: 5/5: Great.

It turns out that last issue was all just st up for this issue. And while that definitely counted against last issue, we can still celebrate this issue! Last issue introduced Marko’s mom and dad, then paired them off with either him or Alana, but did nothing with them. Well, did very little. This issue has all of the emotional moments, conversations and twists that I could have hoped for, and all written with Vaughn’s typical wit and charm. It makes Barr and Klara worthwhile additions to the cast – especially Barr, who has some excellent moments – and it truly propels the ongoing story into its next chapter.

After a disappointing previous issue, Saga is back on course, as far as I’m concerned. The immediate danger has passed, and Vaughn is ready to start spending time with these characters and getting to know them. I couldn’t be happier with this issue.

Join me after the jump for a fully synopsis and more review.

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