This has been on my shelves for a while, as have Volumes 2 and 3....

It starts with Alana (from the planet Landfall) giving birth to her daughter conceived with Marko (he from the moon Wreath) - they are from two opposing sides on a long running war, that noone really knows why the war is still going on. Both are soldiers, though Marko is really a vegetarian pacifist, who has a good line in healing powers.

They have to go onto the move almost immediately as they are being chased by their enemies, including Prince IV (a humanoid with TV for a head); The Stalk and The Will, the latter two being mercenaries who have been hired to track the two of them down. Alana and Marko are to be killed but their child (now being called Hazel) is to be brought in alive.

Alana, Marko and Hazel are guided to an escape point by Izabel, a ghost - a young girl who is presented as being cut off at the waist, her entrails hanging neatly below her torso.

This is the beginning of the story (there are another three volumes, with more likely) so there are plenty of threads being kicked off and none of them really being resolved. The story is narrated by Hazel whose voice is portrayed as writing in the cell, foreshadowing what's coming.

The artwork is thankfully away from that of the main houses, which allows for a more individualistic look, and where you rarely remember the wings or the horns of the two main characters. It has all the makings of a decent space opera and I can see why this, and subsequent volumes, are award winning. Certainly a set of books to keep an eye on.

This has been on my shelves for a while, as have Volumes 2 and 3....

It starts with Alana (from the planet Landfall) giving birth to her daughter conceived with Marko (he from the moon Wreath) - they are from two opposing sides on a long running war, that noone really knows why the war is still going on. Both are soldiers, though Marko is really a vegetarian pacifist, who has a good line in healing powers.

They have to go onto the move almost immediately as they are being chased by their enemies, including Prince IV (a humanoid with TV for a head); The Stalk and The Will, the latter two being mercenaries who have been hired to track the two of them down. Alana and Marko are to be killed but their child (now being called Hazel) is to be brought in alive.

Alana, Marko and Hazel are guided to an escape point by Izabel, a ghost - a young girl who is presented as being cut off at the waist, her entrails hanging neatly below her torso.

This is the beginning of the story (there are another three volumes, with more likely) so there are plenty of threads being kicked off and none of them really being resolved. The story is narrated by Hazel whose voice is portrayed as writing in the cell, foreshadowing what's coming.

The artwork is thankfully away from that of the main houses, which allows for a more individualistic look, and where you rarely remember the wings or the horns of the two main characters. It has all the makings of a decent space opera and I can see why this, and subsequent volumes, are award winning. Certainly a set of books to keep an eye on.

Ladies, if you've been wanting to read a comic this is the one. The art is amazing, from the creativity to the execution of a consistent likeness for each character (pet peeve!). And for women especially, it is refreshing to see female characters who are so fully formed and eight kinds of kick ass. Will definitely pick up the next edition of this series. ( )

“Saga Volume 1” is about as good a start you could ask for. All the puzzle pieces you need are here and we’ll just have to see where it goes.

Everything works in this introduction to the world of Saga, even if it doesn’t make a permanent impression. The art is probably its best aspect. The colors are vivid, well chosen, and beautiful. This goes hand in hand with the deigns that, from creature to character, are consistently appealing. The whole effect is that there is usually something of interest on every page. Though the framing and action are typical, there is enough world building on display to intrigue you.

The world is an excellent stage for a sci-fi fantasy. The idea of star crossed lovers has been overdone, but the fact that two main characters come from warring planets is just part of the equation. How those worlds fit into the galactic culture and what this means for their newly formed family is interesting. The heart of this story is the family dynamics and how the craziness around them bleeds through to their relationship. This personal focus feels fresh and grounds the universe they live in. Even if we all can’t relate to slinging magic, we understand falling in love and the terror caring for others can stir in us.

The characters are interesting, though not much happens yet to develop them. A lot of this volume is set up. The characters we meet are charming and human. None of them are saints and all have reasons for what they do. What choices they will make, and how they will react to the greater changes of the warring sides remains to be seen.

The style relies heavily on vulgarity in what appears to be an attempt at edginess. Whether this is a plus or minus is really up to you. Needless to say, the series is aimed at mature readers. Are the mature depictions of adult relationships and language in line with the fantasy cliches themes? Or is there dissonance between the maturity and immaturity inherent in the work? Only reading the further volumes can answer that question.

This graphic novel is engaging and fun. It is set in a war-torn universe and it presents plenty of tough emotions. The characterization and intimate focus might be right up your ally. This has all the right ingredients for an amazing series and though I was disappointed in later volumes, in terms of design and artwork, this is hard to beat.
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Amazing intro to this story ... just downloaded the next 23 issues! ( )