Saga, Vol. 1
Ratings567
Average rating4.4
Reviewing the series as a whole, Saga is an excellent story with an unexpected ton of heart, lots of twists and turns, plenty of imagination and so many I-have-to-keep-reading-to-see-what-happens-next moments. Highly recommended even if you don't think you like comics.
Like this review if Catriona from a little book owl was the reason you picked up this series.
That was pretty interesting. Issue 2 was so damn good! I hope volume 2 is awesome too.
4.5 stars. Engrossing. I have to wait until my Hoopla allowance resets in March so I can read more!
Most of the time when a book is categorised as both sci-fi and fantasy, I roll my eyes because I'm tired of the two getting lumped together. But this really has elements of both, which is interesting. Unlike many readers coming to this series, I'm not familiar with Vaughan's work; I'm not yet sure how I feel about some of the elements in these first issues, but I like the story enough to keep reading. There were some moments that made me laugh out loud, which is always a promising start.
And, even if I didn't, I would probably still keep reading, because Staples's artwork is beautiful. In fact, visually, there's just so much to like about her art and Fonografiks's lettering:
- The expressions aren't overly exaggerated, they're exaggerated just the right amount. Which shouldn't make sense, but it does.
- Lines and colouring are brilliant in both senses of the word, practically leaping off the page (screen) so my eyes can devour them.
- Speech bubble placement is great, but what I like even better is the bubbles themselves. I love that the speech bubble belonging to the person you can't see is drawn differently from the one belonging to the person you can see.
- The lettering might just be one of my favourite things.
* All-caps lettering in comics has always irritated me. In Saga, all-caps lettering is used when people are actually, y'know, shouting. WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE READING AN ENTIRE SERIES SHOUTING AT MYSELF MAKES MY BRAIN-EARS SORE AND IS VERY TIRING.
* The practice of randomly bolding words in comics has always irritated me. In Saga, words are bolded when they are meant to be, y'know, emphasised. Which is great, because now I don't have to read the whole series in the voice of Daria's Mr. DeMartino.
* Different fonts and colours, as appropriate. Not one per character, that'd be a bit much. But like one per race(ish). Luuuuurve.
I'm just getting out of a long-term rel—er, I mean, I've just finished reading a series I started reading in 2010, so I'm still a little bit steeped in that world. It amuses me when the universe creates connections between completely unrelated things. That series also had a being that could detect lies, of whom The Will's lying cat reminded me, and that series also had a precocious, cheeky teenager, of whom Izabel reminds me. I didn't have to read Saga right after I finished Fever, that's just the way it worked out. ¯_(ツ)_/¯
It's interesting that Freelancers have their own honorific: “The”.
I love Izabel.
Whoa! Once I started the first issue, I couldn't stop. Great story, mind-blowing art, couldn't expect less from the 2013 Hugo Award winner. I'm definitely moving forward to the next volumes. Major kudos to Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples.
Holy crap this book is beautiful. This is the first graphic novel I've ever read all the way through (not usually my speed) but this was BEAUTIFUL and I finished it in one sitting. Every character is captivating, and I was drawn in immediately. I was honestly surprised at how quickly I became emotionally invested in all the characters, not just the main duo. Truly spectacular.
Wow! There is a whole lot of wonderful weird in this graphic novel, but I LOVE it! So imaginative and so interesting, I'm not sure I've read anything quite like it. What makes it even more awesome is how among all the the strange characters and weird worlds, there is a whole lot of heart. A young family just starting out, but with a hell of lot on their plate since they're from opposite sides of a waging war and have brought a child into the world that is a mix of them both. Their family dynamics is really what caught me up in this. They love each other and their child and it is SO wonderful to see this play out in a fantasy/sci-fi setting. The artwork is amazing and the dialogue snappy and real. I just loved it and look forward to reading more!
Maybe a 3.5. I will certainly continue reading. I enjoyed the world. I'm fine with some gore and splat, since I have a predilection toward splatterpunk. The art was great. I've encountered Ms Staples thrice now, and I've enjoyed her art immensely. I loved the absurd/weird character designs and the overall story of this book. My main contentions would be–how the deuce did Marko and Alana fall for each other so quickly (unless this is a plot point later), and the fact that Alana says things that made me cringe sometimes. In the context of some of the other characters, I understand the reasons they would use derogatory language toward Alana, but it was annoying from our heroine.
On the whole though, I was excited about this one. The art, the story, the grotesque bits, the oddballs, the world itself–all of it. Yes, I will be excited to read more.
My first dive into comics and I couldn't be more pleased. Saga was action packed, emotional, a great story, inventive, and so beautifully illustrated. Can't wait to read Vol. 2.
This one of the first graphic novels I have read in a while. The artwork in fantastic and you can imagine the world as you are reading it.
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Really fun and interesting mix of science fiction and fantasy... and it also has a lot of smutty content, so this definitely isn't for the prudish. The narrative moves really fast, the characters are very fleshed out, and in particular the relationship between the two leads feels very real. Some of the designs of the other characters (particularly the TV-headed) robots, feels odd for aliens which are technically from a Science Fiction world, yet design wise they scientifically shouldn't work. This isn't a big problem (I was able to roll with FLCL), but it made the tone a little weird. Not bad weird, just weird.
Okay, I'm on the Saga bandwagon! To everyone who had been pestering me to read this, thank you. I'm officially hooked.
So although I don't generally compare things, this is definitely a Romeo and Juliet type story. Two star-crossed lovers, and their mad plan to escape the tyranny of their separate families. What is beautiful about this story though is how well balanced it is. There is your requisite drama, some action, lots of snarky humor, and the type of sweet moments that make you smile.
Fair warning, this story is also rather weird. After all, alien planets have alien inhabitants! If you aren't okay with tv-headed aliens having sex, well, you might want to find another graphic novel series. Still, I have to give massive kudos to Fiona Staples for her illustrations. These panels are gorgeous. While Brian K. Vaughn's story shines, it does it more effectively because of how lovely the panels are.
Love this! I'm glad there's more out there for me to devour.
Por Dios!!! Creo que estoy entrando en un nuevo mundo del que no podré salir.
No soy mucho de leer novelas gráficas, he leído alguna que otra y las he ido dejando. Pero esta llamo mi atención. Y desde las primeras páginas me quede embobada con cada una de las imágenes. La historia, los personajes, tiene de todo: desde lo más raro, perturbador y cruel; hasta lo tierno y dulce; y con su toque de humor. Que más se puede pedir?
Me ha encantado. Continuaré con esto hasta el fin.
The last book I finished, the day before beginning this one, was the Brothers Karamazov, so there is a bit of a clash. The artwork of Saga definitely wins.
I very much enjoyed this, and I plan to read the next volume, but I do get tired of books that take place far and away but which sound exactly like the people I listen to every day. I like my fantasy and science fiction books to take me away, and that includes the culture, the language, the whole feel. Sadly, Vaughan is firmly committed to sounding and being utterly and only a product of the decade. His writing will sound very dated soon. But it's a fun story!
My first graphic novel/comic book and I really enjoyed it! It only took me like 20 minutes to read, but the story already has me hooked. Will be buying Volume 2 asap.