Saga #9

I will never, in a million years get tired of reading Image Comic’s runaway hit, Saga.  I am just astounded by how quickly I have fallen in love with all of Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples’ characters.  Wait.  Scratch that.  I am not surprised one bit. 

There is a reason that after just nine issues this creative team has come up with a comic that is critically loved and just so, well, perfect.   BKV and Staples are absolute masters of their crafts.  From top to bottom, start to finish, there is not a single blemish in this issue.  I love the writing, I love the design, I love the layouts, I love the colors…

I’m in love, I’m in love, and I don’t care who knows it!

Issue nine gives us a brief respite from our main protagonists and instead focuses on the delightful rogue, The Will.  This issue begins to wrap up The Will’s early plot lines, and swings the door wide open for a new one.  I will refrain from spoiling anything (you’re welcome) but I will say this:  this sort of issue plays directly into BKV’s wheelhouse.  Right when you think you know where he is going, he turns you around in an entirely new direction.  One that you immediately sigh delightfully and think “Oh, that totally makes sense!”

The world of Saga is more organic than anything I have read in longer than I can remember.  I have no problem believing that these characters and worlds all existed long before I ever opened the pages of this book.  As I mentioned earlier, nine issues is a very short run to have already established characters that readers feel they know.  Perhaps even more important however, is the fact that this creative team gives readers new reasons to keep reading every time they publish content.

This issue continues in the wonderful absurdity that its predecessors established.  Whether it’s mole-esque gangsters or buff chests with eyes, the visual stimuli in Saga is so out there and so unique that its worth it just to flip through the comic to check out what BKV and Staples are up to this month. 

I won’t lie:  Brian K. Vaughn is my favorite comics writer of all time.  He just gets this medium.  The man can do more in under forty pages than most novelist can do in a whole book.  He and Staples let their characters act and the art breathe.  He could never, ever be accused of overwriting.  And, of course, BKV has mastered the cliffhanger.  There haven’t been such fantastic final pages in monthly comics since Y: The Last Man.  Vaughn writes comic books as comic books; sure, this reads great in trades, but it is absolutely meant to be read in issues.  There is nothing more enjoyable in this medium than a stunning last page reveal that leaves you wanting nothing more than the next issue for an entire month.  As I said, Brian K. Vaughn has absolutely mastered that little trick and issue nine is a near perfect example of it.

I cannot say enough good things about Saga.  Every month it is a treat to read.  I truly feel as if we are all witnessing something special here.

If you missed the first few issues and can’t track them down, do not worry about it.  Part of why I love Brian K. Vaughn so much is that he gives you such wonderful characterization and plotting every single issue that if you have missed something, you’ll quickly feel caught up and in the loop.  Start from here; even if it is your first encounter with the Will, BKV’s writing will have you well acquainted with the loveable mercenary by the last page. 

This is comic book history in the making folks, don’t miss out.