Yeah this ones pretty good.
We’re three issues into the radically hyped new series by Brian K. Vaughan and after reading and immersing myself in this new galaxy, I stand to question my outlook on the rest of my comic stack and the quality of their stories. Why? Because Saga is the kind of series that makes the majority of your stack look somewhat mediocre in comparison.
Vaughan, is a master storyteller with an expert sense in controlling the pace and tone of a comic book. With only three issues, the amount of content and world-building we have been exposed to is incredible. We have a firm initial grasp on the history, geography and cultural diversity of this galaxy and seen first-hand the habits and beliefs of the various different races. Despite this huge influx of information, the story never feels hurried or forced.
However, issue three slows down this new world construction and focuses more on our fascinating, array of characters. There is a huge range and depth to the characters in Saga and they just keep on coming! This issue introduces us to a new species of glowing ghosts that retain their appearance upon death, whether it be a bullet to the head or an ooze of intestines leaking from a stomach due to a landmine. The imagination and design that went into these characters is just one of the reasons why Saga is a cut above the rest.
Fiona Staples deserves so much credit for making these characters so memorable. With some ranging from glorious, terrifying and ghastly all the way to downright ridiculous, Staples’ skills are really put to the test as she makes each race completely their own. Her ability to convey emotion in these characters is a huge part as to why we feel so attached to them. Alana is the perfect example as we visually see the strain and fear in her face while she fights to save her family.
All these visuals are coupled with Vaughan’s energetic and genuine dialogue. The interplay between the characters is so smooth and real. A lot of modern comics suffer from stiff dialogue and narration which really affect the flow and feel of the story. Saga is very humane, where each character, and bear in mind there is a lot of them, has their own distinct voice and personality.
Saga is the best thing on the shelves at the moment and that’s saying a lot after three issues. It is a model for the fundamentals of good comic book storytelling. When I read about this world and these characters, I’m stunned with a great sense of adventure and unknown. This is the reason we read comics.
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