BY: John J. Gillooly

REVIEW: Saga #1

Writer: Brian K Vaughn

Artist: Fiona Staples

Publisher: Image

Release: March 14, 2012

 

After a long, terrible, gut wrenching amount of time, comic crafter extraordinaire Brian K. Vaughn has returned to the warmth that is the comic book world. The world-builder made famous for such nerd-worship glory such as Deus Ex Machina, Y: The Last Man, and cult Marvel hit the Runaways has return from his self-imposed exile to bring us the all-new glory of Saga, and it does not disappoint.

 

One of the big reasons that BKV is known and praised for his work that has been seen again and again in his ability to create whole worlds with rules and boundaries that makes it all so real. This is much the same with Saga where he created whole planets, races and creatures that populate them. Yet even in this wonder, we are  drawn into the very real and very human-like feeling that inhabits our two protagonists.

 

Many reviews have compaired the series as a cross between “Star Wars” and “Romeo and Juilet,” and I believe that is an apt comparison. The universe that populates Saga is very Star Wars-esque in the sheer amount of background aliens and creatures, and yet there is this very personal conflict with our two main characters, Marko and Alana, two “people” (for the lack of a better word) that runaway after seeing a war break out between their respective families. Sound familiar?

 

Bringing this from BKV’s glorious brain to to page is the criminally unknown product of Fiona Staples. Bouncing around independent comics for the past couple of works, Saga is by far her most high profile work to date, and she does not disappoint. A beautifully sketchy, light-ink style that invokes the kinetic linework of Francis Manapul, Staples brings some serious game to this large, almost daunting world. She absolutely has the chops for this undertaking, being able to render these gorgeous worlds, while also getting great “acting” from the characters and their very personable conflict.

 

Saga is simply put a figurative and literal beauty. This book absolutely lives up to the months of hype that has preceded it. Clear the red carpet comic book world, BKV is back for his throne.

 

Story: 5 of 5

Art: 5 of 5

Overall: 5 of 5