It’s been over three years since ‘Saga’ went on indefinite hiatus with issue #54, and readers of the seminal space opera (including myself) are happy for its much anticipated return on January 26. So, on the eve of its return, I’m looking back on what the story of ‘Saga’ is about, and as to why it is one of the best pieces of recent comic book literature.
‘Saga’ is the story of two star-crossed lovers, Marko and Alana. These two come from warring races. Marko was born on Wreath while Alana was born on Landfall. Though they are rivaling races, they find an attraction to one another, fall in love, and are parents to their half-breed daughter, Hazel. These three form the central characters of the story with the narrations coming from the perspective of Hazel. In their adventurese across the galaxy, this family encounters racism, political maneuvering, social unrest, and religious fanaticism that have become the staple of ‘Saga’. Controversial from its first issue with Alana breast-feeding baby Hazel on the cover, ‘Saga’ has become critically acclaimed, and praised by a comic book community starving for material beyond the popular super hero tropes.
Though,there have been a lot of criticisms for this series when it came out. Nudity, violence, anti-family values, offensive language, and unsuitability to its age group are comments some critics throw at ‘Saga’. With those comments, they totally miss the point of the series. Comic books have long broken the boundaries of age, and cultural conventions that allow the medium to express mature storytelling. So, if you’re looking for a kid-friendly comic book, this isn’t it. However, to say that ‘Saga is NOT a family friendly comic book is an intergalactic crime.
In fact, ‘Saga’ is a comic book about family though not in a traditional sense. As Marko, Alana, and Hazel grow as a family, however criminal this might be to both Wreath and Landfall, they incorporate other races into their post-modern family which at one point included a ghost, and a seal-man. With this, ‘Saga’ presents a very relevant approach to what family is supposed to be. There is no specific formula as to who you count as family. This is a theme that is very relevant today at a time when traditional family compositions are challenged, and accepted.
Aside from that, the use of violence, nudity, sex and offensive language are used within the context of the story from the perspective of the characters. For example, the birth scene of Hazel, and the sex scenes between Marko, and Alana only underpins the personalities of the characters as uncensored as people normally do when others aren’t looking around (or even when they do look around). These scenes do not depict perfect characters, but rather layered characters with all their faults that readers are able to relate. Because of this, these characters of ‘Saga’, however flawed, have endeared themselves to its readers, and growing fandom.
![Saga Cover Photo](https://softplaces.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/sagacover.jpg?w=1024)
It is no wonder then that even after more than three years, Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples’s magnum opus remains as releveant (and maybe even more) today, as it did when it first came out. Great storytelling, great characterization, and social relevance are the mark of ‘Saga’ ; and we have its creators to thank for that. On a personal note, I’ve waited over three years to FINALLY find out the next chapter to that shocking cliffhanger in issue #54.
If you haven’t been reading ‘Saga’, now’s the time to catch up, and continue this beautiful space opera. The ‘Saga’ continues with issue #55 coming out on January 26.