I learned of this series in a comment from emmalita and I’m very grateful! I TORE through Volumes 1-5 last year, trading volumes with my best reading buddy. It’s the last time I remember staying up until 2am to read. This is my first time reading a graphic novel series, and I’m still blown away by the art and the ability to convey so much story in each frame.
I reviewed Volume 5 before diving in, which was a good idea after a long break. This is a space opera, continuing the tale of lovers from warring worlds, Marko and Alana (#MarkoandAlana4EVA !!), and their daughter Hazel. When we last saw the family, Marko and Alana had been reunited, but had lost Hazel, and in Volume 6 they are tirelessly searching for their girl across a huge, weird universe. Marko and Alana are better together, so there’s such joy and power in their union, even though they are in a dark time. It never fails to delight me that Alana is typically presented as brave and Marko is more sensitive, gender roles that are typically reversed in fiction.
I don’t want to give too much away, so I’d just strongly encourage starting with Volume 1. (Fair warning that adult content abounds.) The hardest thing for me to do is to take my time. I want to speed through the story, but I have to remind myself to savor each page and glean the depth of the plot from the art.
My criticism probably has more to do with my inexperience in the genre. The story is getting so big now that it’s a bit hard to keep track of all the subplots. And it’s hard to fit all the characters in one volume while maintining a cohesive narrative. Plenty of Saga’s many characters make an appearance in Volume 6 but there is NARY A MENTION OF LYING CAT. Still loved it, but I’m gonna need more Lying Cat.
Lying Cat was there! Blink and you miss it, though. Definitely need more of him/her? next time.
That was my secret, narfna! I worried it was giving too much away to discuss my chief complaint, so I left that tidbit out for fun :)
What it’s out?!?! TO THE AMAZON!
I agree that there was a disturbing lack of Lying Cat, but in the grand scheme of things, this book made me so happy. They’re finally reunited! That reveal on the very last page! Of course, I read the whole book in less than an hour, and now it’s what? Six or seven months until I get the next one? That’s the true tragedy.
That was a great reveal. I think I’m going to have to re-read all of them soon.
Ahhh I didn’t know 6 was out! Thanks!!!
Best reading buddy had it preordered so it arrived on release day. And of course, she read it in a day.
I hope this is a safe space to share (and I can’t BELIEVE I’m saying this) but…
I was underwhelmed. Primarily because I felt there wasn’t enough forward momentum and too much time was spent on characters I don’t care enough. They develop the nice teacher but I don’t care about her. The whole section on the reporter/photographer couple I could have skipped too. I felt there was a lot of “shuffling characters around the board” but not enough sizzle.
Maybe it’s because I have such high expectations for Saga. Sure the art is unbelievable and it’s hard to keep so many plot-threads moving forward. But this felt like a solid bridge book to me and I never expect to feel “meh” when reading Saga :(