The Good
SAGA exploded onto the scene and made an immediate, massive impact not just as a quality book, but a precedent setting, career-making one. It’s the first book I can recall with built-in hiatuses between story arcs so unexpected delays are not a problem as well as many interesting behind-the-scenes details, but most importantly: the book was incredible from top-to-bottom, making an impression in record time. Brian K. Vaughan has crafted an incredible universe, seamlessly blending fantasy and sci-fi (while having them go to war) with images of incredible comedy and grotesqueness. This issue, for instance, features a rather...intimate look at the Will and the Stalk and, as usual, there’s a cavalierness to the bizarreness that makes it all the weirder, and I mean that in the best possible way. We get to see what Sophie and Gwendolyn are up to, catch up with the Will’s sister and see a whole new freelancer animal sidekick to join Lying Cat. The thing that never fails to impress me is how well Vaughan somehow throws out all these bizarre ideas and concepts, but never loses the reader nor does he really explain much. When everything is strange, strangeness doesn’t really need explanation. It’s a brilliant tactic and it continues to work here.
Fiona Staples’ art is, in a word, awesome. And I mean that in the traditional sense of "inspiring awe." It’s got a style that’s smooth in the coloring but jagged around the edges, allowing for a lot of interesting nuance when it comes both to design (the trolls in this issue being a great example of that) and emotion. The fact that she handles all facets of it and the book still faces no major, unexpected delays is absolutely crazy in-and-of-itself. There’s no filler, the backgrounds look as great at the characters and do just as much, if not more, to establish the universe these characters inhabit. The colors are dark, but not dreary and the whole tone of the issue is one of ultimately hope, but infused with a dour pessimism.
The Bad
The actual characters are unique and interesting, but the arc of the issue and the story beats will be very, very familiar to series fans. We’re getting into some tropes for this book alone, and while they’re not really bad by any means, they’re becoming more and more clear.
The Verdict
Another agonizing wait to be salved by a new trade paperback release AND a hardcover collection of the first three volumes. This is such a wonderfully unique and strange world that’s been created around these characters that it’s not JUST the plot that keeps interest, it’s seeing what on EARTH is going to be on the next page. From the first splash to the last and everything in between, I can’t remember a book that more exemplifies the notion of being a “page-turner.” The final image of this issue also brings up SO many more questions that I’m sure we’ll get answers to...BUT NOT FOR AWHILE! This is a perfect opportunity to catch up with one of the most unique books in the medium of comics.