Saga # 12 Review (Mature Content Warning)

WARNING: MATURE CONTENT in Review. You have been warned. 

SAGA # 12
Written by Brian K. Vaughan
Art by Fiona Staples
Image Comics


FLIPPING THROUGH:

   While we don’t realize it at first, the book opens with a flash back of Robot IV when he was wounded. And OH MY GOD … is that … wow. Okay! Yeah. Robot IV has an interesting subconscious.

            After he wakes up from the flashback/dream, Robot IV gets hounded about finding his prey, Alana, hubby & child, or else. So, he goes to a backwards planet to talk to the author of a book that inspired Alana in the first place. And what starts out as an interesting talk about a writer throwing something together to get paid gets darker and darker as the discussion goes along.

  And as with the beginning of the issue, the end of the issue leaves us with a twist.


ART:

            Fiona Staples is one of the greatest artist of our generation and this issue continues to show why. From quiet, intimate moments such as Robot IV talking to the writer, Mister Heist to the grand opening which has … Robot IV’s television face showing a man …having vivid, oral sex with another man … to a mouse looking medic getting his head blown apart because of gas .. . Staples draws it all with class and style that few other artist I have seen.

            The pencils and inks are smooth. There is enough detail that everyone is distinct. The backgrounds are varied and lush, although a little lacking for this one issue when Robot IV visits Heist. There is emotion in the movements of Robot IV and the faces of Heist that encapsulate the emotions of the subject matter. And the colors just amplify Staples work even more. A wonderful job by Staples in this book.


WRITING:

            Vaughan writes a book that is full of multiple layers and wonderous characters and Saga is no different. This issue really spotlights a lot on Robot IV. We are finding that there is far more to him than we original suspected. From his discussion with Heist, to his dream/flashback of him nearly dying, to possible self loathing issues from his time in combat or even, as the 2 screens may hint, him being gay … Robot IV really shines as a character. He’s very easy to talk to. Intelligent. Feels very duty bound but at the same time, seemingly does not enjoy his station.

            Heist provides an eerie window to both authors who do stuff to get by while also making statements on parents of former soldiers who end up dying or killing themselves due to the horrors of war. Vaughan flawlessly brings about this conversation as it provides great exposition, rising tension, character focus and used to set up what is to come for the next issue.

            The pacing of the book is excellent and Vaughan really gives us a great book that stands on its own while being a part of a much bigger story.


OVERALL IMPRESSION:

            Well damn! I do not think I will forget this issue for as long as I live. It held that much impact on me. Great art. Superb writing. It builds upon what has gone before while really focusing on a character that we had less focus on with good character building, great dialogue and wonderful build up. This issue was AMAZING.


RATING:

            Saga # 12 gets a 9.5 out of 10.  A near perfect issue.

Image Comics NYCC Signing Schedule

Image Comics at New York Comic Con: Complete Signing Schedule

(From Image Comics Site)

Image Comics' complete signing schedule for New York Comic Con is now available! The schedule includes signings by top creators every day of the convention, October 11-14 in New York City's Javits Center. Signings will take place at the Image Comics booth, #1229.

Several creators will also be signing convention exclusives, which Image unveiled on September 19. Details on the exclusives, as well as the panel schedule, can be found at Image Comics' website.

	Thursday 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM
3:00-4:00	Haunt signing: Joe Casey and Nathan Fox
4:00-5:00	Not My Bag signing: Sina Grace
4:00-6:00	Think Tank signing/Talent Hunt: Matt Hawkins (Top Cow)
5:00-6:00	Mind The Gap signing: Jim McCann & Rodin Esquejo
5:00-6:00	Robert Kirkman signing (Skybound) (ticketed)*
6:00-7:00	Halloween Eve signing: Brandon Montclare & Amy Reeder
6:00-7:00	The Darkness and The Bulletproof Coffin signing: David Hine
7:00-8:00	Comeback signing: Ed Brisson & Michael Walsh
8:00-9:00	Great Pacific signing: Joe Harris
	Friday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
10:00-11:00	Pigs and Choker signing: Ben McCool & Ben Templesmith
11:00-12:00	Point of Impact signing: Jay Faerber
12:00-1:30	Mind the Gap signing: Jim McCann & Rodin Esquejo
1:00-2:00	Thief of Thieves signing: Nick Spencer, James Asmus, Shawn Martinbrough & Felix Serrano (Skybound)
1:30-3:00	Luther Strode signing: Justin Jordan & Tradd Moore (ticketed)*
3:00-4:00	Non-Humans signing: Glen Brunswick & Whilce Portacio
3:30-5:30	Think Tank signing/Talent Hunt: Matt Hawkins (Top Cow)
4:00-5:00	MacGyver signing: Lee David Zlotoff & Will Sliney
4:00-5:00	The Darkness and The Bulletproof Coffin signing: David Hine
4:00-5:30	Robert Kirkman signing (Skybound) (ticketed)*
5:00-6:00	D.O.G.s of Mars signing: Christian Weiser, Tony Trov, & Johnny Zito
5:00-6:00	Artifacts signing: Ron Marz (Top Cow)
6:00-7:00	The Manhattan Projects signing: Jonathan Hickman & Jordie Bellaire (ticketed)*
	Saturday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
10:00-11:00	Point of Impact signing: Jay Faerber
11:00-12:00	Halloween Eve signing: Brandon Montclare & Amy Reeder
11:00-12:30	Think Tank signing/Talent Hunt: Matt Hawkins (Top Cow)
12:15-2:00	Saga signing: Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples (ticketed)*
1:00-2:00	Witch Doctor signing: Brandon Seifert & Lukas Ketner (Skybound)
2:00-3:00	Severed signing: Scott Snyder, Scott Tuft, & Attilla Futaki (ticketed)*
3:00-4:00	Top Cow Universe signing: Jeremy Haun, Nelson Blake II, David Hine, Tim Seeley, & Ron Marz
4:00-5:00	Bedlam and Morning Glories signing: Nick Spencer & Rodin Esquejo (ticketed)*
4:00-5:30	Teen Wolf signing: Tyler Posey, Jeff Davis & David Tischman (ticketed)*
5:00-6:00	Great Pacific signing: Joe Harris
5:00-6:00	Thief of Thieves signing: Nick Spencer, James Asmus, Shawn Martinbrough & Felix Serrano (Skybound)
6:00-7:00	The Manhattan Projects signing: Jonathan Hickman & Jordie Bellaire (ticketed)*
	Sunday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
10:15-12:00	Happy! signing: Grant Morrison (ticketed)*
11:00-12:00	Super Dinosaur signing: Jason Howard (Skybound)
12:00-1:00	Black Kiss 2 signing: Howard Chaykin
1:00-3:00	Saga signing: Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples (ticketed)*
3:00-4:00	Great Pacific signing: Joe Harris (writer/artist)
3:30-5:00	Robert Kirkman signing (Skybound) (ticketed)*
4:00-5:00	Valentine signing: Alex de Campi & Christine Larsen

*Tickets will be available at the Image Comics booth (#1229) on the day of the signing. One ticket per person will be available for each ticketed signing beginning at the start of the show each day and only while supplies last. No purchase necessary.

First Impressions: Saga #1

Saga (2012) #1

Written by Brian K. Vaughan

Art by Fiona Staples

Published by Image Comics

Review by Eric McLeod

In an industry ruled by comic book properties that have lasted for decades, it’s always good to see a new comic with no connection to any previously established continuity. Brian K. Vaughan, creator of original comics such as Y: The Last Man and Ex Machina, has done it again with his new fantasy comic series Saga.

Summary:

In a galaxy full of people with wings, horns, and sometimes TVs for heads, a war rages on between a planet named Landfall and its moon Wreath. Two soldiers, Alana and Marko, desert their respective sides to get married and give birth to a daughter. Now everyone wants them dead. Being a parent is hard, but it’s certainly made no easier when the entire galaxy is after you.

Story:

What’s most notable about the story is the way it’s told. Throughout the story, a narration in sketchy text will pop up, occasionally explaining the story and even giving hints of the future. The narrator in question is Alana and Marko’s daughter, telling the story in the future. The reader is immediately aware that she will live, but the fates of Alana and Marko are left ambiguous.

The story starts with the birthing, which aside from one awkward line, is handled with much class and shows the closeness of Alana and Marko. Shortly afterwards, they’re forced to run from death, and even by the end of the issue, they keep finding trouble.  I have a feeling the daughter will eventually take over as the protagonist, but I’m happy with Alana and Marko. It’s rare to see a parenting couple as the leads in a comic, and they have been realistically portrayed as such.

There are also the two factions chasing after them, Landfall and Wreath. A bounty hunter known only as The Will is called to hunt them down and bring their child back as proof of their deaths, and he has a pretty sweet talking cat that can detect lies. The villains are looking as interesting as the heroes.

Art:

Brian K. Vaughan is an excellent writer, but Fiona Staples deserves just as much credit for drawing the book. There are your typical animal people, but the major characters are human-looking aside from having horns or wings. The most interesting designs are the TV people, the allies of Landfall. They look completely human aside from having old-fashioned TV sets for heads. Both the humanoid characters and bizarre characters are drawn with accurate proportions and realistic facial expressions (well, the characters with faces at least). There’s a two page spread of a battle that’s simply stunning, if only because of how fantastic the scope is.

There is a sex scene, but for a mature series, it’s pretty tame. There are exposed boobs and penis, but this is far from a porn. A lesser artist would draw more attention to this fact, but the only time exposed breasts are focused on are for breast-feeding.

Final Thoughts:

This is a strong start for what I’m sure will be a long fantasy saga. It says as much in the title, and the title so far does not lie. The world has been built up significantly for a first issue, and considering the sheer size of the galaxy, there’s more world building to be done. I might be jumping the gun here, but this may be the best new comic of the year. I was that gripped by the characters and the world they reside in.

Since I do not give a number rating for stories at the moment, I’ll just give this a strong recommendation for fans of large fantasy settings or strong family themes. I know I’ll be picking up the next two issues as soon as I can. Best of all, each comic is around 30 pages for 2 dollars on Comixology. In an age where Marvel is charging 4 dollars for shorter books, that is a great deal.