Saga #30

Writer: Brian K. Vaughn
Artist: Fiona Staples

**IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITHOUT SPOILERS...SO SPOILERS.**

It's that time again, the last issue of Saga is upon us before the desolate three month break before production resumes. This issue was full of satisfying moments including reunions, departures, and deaths (wouldn't be Saga without them)! As always, I'll try my best not spoil anything.

Saga #30 moves at a pretty fast clip and plays almost like a Scooby Doo joke. “You went looking for me, I was looking for you!” It actually works on a dramatic level considering those involved as the tension and the stakes haven't been much higher. Even characters who act mostly as a plot device is given treatment to make them feel worthwhile.

Surprisingly, this issue is almost devoid of jokes. It takes it's time to focus on the drama at hand, and tying up lose ends. There are no double page spreads of dragons sucking their own dicks here. This works to its advantage. A lot is happening in this issue for all of the characters and as much fun as jokes are they take up valuable page space that this issue just didn't have room to give.

It's a bittersweet issue, featuring one of my favorite one page splash that Fiona Staples has ever done. But surprisingly, despite it all at the end when the cliffhanger comes (there's always a cliffhanger), I didn't feel as devastated as I expected to feel. Possibly I'm being desensitized, but possibly it was the way the story unfolded. As far as we know, despite the once again dramatic changes in grouping, all of the characters alive feel somewhat safe. There isn't any immediate danger lurking around the corner.

**SUPER SPOILERS, SERIOUSLY, IF YOU DIDN'T LISTEN BEFORE: TURN BACK NOW **

One gripe I have, and this is totally personal and doesn't affect the quality of the book, is that BKV seems intent on making us dislike The Will. It's hard to like someone who lashes out at a kid and calls her a cunt. Especially considering the bond they had been building before he entered a coma. Clearly, he's under a lot of duress upon immediately waking up from his coma, but it's still a strong stroke to take on the character. What'll be most interesting is hopefully seeing the relationship of The Will and his recently deceased sister, The Brand. Despite the distance that was apparent in their relationship, there was a deep bond that connected them. I hope that is explored in more detail.

Saga #30 ends it's fifth arc with a strong landing. It's heartfelt and dramatic leaving our characters in new situations with dramatically different dynamics, especially for our narrator, Hazel.