Saga, Vol. 3

When two worlds are at war for as long as Landfall and Wreath have been fighting, the wounds are almost impossible to heal. They fester and rot until everyone involved has suffered in some inconceivable way. In Brian K Vaughan's third volume of Saga, the two star-crossed lovers find themselves hurtling through the stars to find a safe place for to raise their child. Alana and Marko weren't sure where in the world it was safe to take Hazel, but they thought the man who was responsible for her even existing might be the place to start. D. Oswart Heist was an author who wrote the very book that made them think they could act on the chemistry between them. When they arrive, they are half surprised and half not, to find Heist drunk, disheveled, and blathering like an idiot. His planet of Quietus is even less warm and inviting, but they have no choice but to explore every option to keep Hazel safe. On Quietus they learn a lot about themselves. With Marko's mother still grieving the loss of his father and Izabel, their ghostly appendage, taking care of Hazel, they get to know Heist, the tortured literary genius with more darkness inside him than hope these days. Meanwhile, The Will is still hunting them, and the story of their marriage and their baby is still feared to be the catalyst for a revolution in a world where no one wants this war to continue. Hazel is a symbol of everything Wreath and Landfall have failed to do for the people of the universe, and too many people want that symbol gone. There is just something about this story that sucks me in with each volume. I recommended this series to a student recently, one who isn't an avid reader, and he was so into the story, he stayed up all night to read the first volume and couldn't wait to tell me about it. That is what I call one seriously awesome story! While Alana and Marko and the others are an interesting story arc, the other stories, like the Will and the two journalists, are just as interesting. I think each new story arc is so awesome, it could be its own complete series! But how they all tie in together and twist and turn is addictive. So give this series a shot if you haven't already. You won't be sorry! (unless you are dying for volume 4 like me!)

This was a lot better than the last volume. Volume 2 was sort of boring, but this one picked the action and intrigue up. It got a lot more intense than I was expecting from the last volume, and I was so happy. There were a ton of plot points that I did not see coming even a little bit. I was turning the pages so fast that I didn't even notice any time passing. It was just too good. The characters got so much more intense and important, and there were so many more characters that were introduced, and it was just too much for one book. I don't even want to have to wait for getting the next book because this one was magnificent. I haven't got a clue where this series is going from here because I don't know what the possibilities are. The story lines could go in so many different directions, and I don't know which one it is going to happen. This volume was just epic, definitely my favorite so far.

The Basics: Alana, Marko & co. are hiding out with their favorite author, D. Oswald Heist, while the hunt for their illicit fledgling family continues. The Will & co. debate their continued pursuit of the family on hallucination planet, Prince Robot IV is malfunctioning, and a pair of reporters of uncertain allegiances enter the search. The Downside: It would not be a stretch to call this arc a lull in Saga’s action. That said, action needs an occasional lull, and a lull with these characters remains more riveting than most characters at their best. The Upside: Novel lovers and especially writers will get a lot of private laughs out of the interlude spent hiding out with Heist, which are hopefully not too boring for everyone else. There’s a lovely skewering of the old adage “kill your darlings.” We’re introduced to several intriguing new characters, including the Will’s sister, the Brand, a fellow mercenary whose shadow he’s had to live in, and in spite of their estrangement, his closest family. Then there are Upsher and Doff, the journalist couple newly investigating the fugitive family, whose relationship is straining painfully under not only their planet’s anti-gay sentiment but their own conflicting interpretations of journalistic ethics. The lull in action is clearly not an accident or a simple matter of rhythm but a deliberate reflection of the way life is sometimes most difficult between catastrophes, in the day to day activities of getting by. Having made their escape for now, Alana and Marko have to figure out what kind of life they’ve escaped to, how to provide for their daughter, and how to balance being parents with being people. After losing her husband, Marko’s mother is living the bittersweet progression of falling in love again, if not in exactly the same way, and after being liberated from Sextillion, Sophie faces the monumental task of reclaiming an identity she barely had the opportunity to develop in the first place before having it taken away. That’s not to say that Vol. 3 is completely lacking in action. Marko and Gwendolyn finally have the confrontation he’s been dodging from the start, and The Will’s group’s encounter with mind-controlling hallucinogens spills characteristically way out of hand. It's a joy, as ever, that makes you want to turn the page even and especially when the pages run out.

Volume 3 of Saga continues the story of star-crossed lovers from enemy peoples caught in an endless, bitter war, with a step up in quality from the first two (already good) volumes. Back are ram-horned Marko and insect-winged Alana, along with their as-dangerous-as-an-idea child, Marko’s mother, and a ghost babysitter with no lower body; freelancer The Will and Marko’s ex-fiancée Gwendolyn, along with a rescued child sex slave and a Lying Cat; and the TV-headed prince of the robot kingdom. Newcomers include a pair of blue and green tabloid reporters and the writer D. Oswald Heist, briefly introduced at the end of the last volume. Things start off slow. We step back to see what happens before the robot prince arrives at Quietus, The Will et al. are temporarily sidelined on a planet more dangerous than it appears while he gets his ship repaired, and we get a new storyline of the tabloid reporters looking into Alana’s story. It’s good stuff in the interim, though (more on that in a bit), and things come to a head and get action packed as everyone converges toward the end of the volume. Saga has always had two central threads running through it: parenthood and war. And it has always dealt with the former much better than the latter. The addition of Heist who, along with Marko’s mother, acts as a wise, grandparently foil to Marko and Alana’s young person’s foolishness, is welcome. And this volume thankfully rarely ruminates on war (with one notable exception, which makes up for it with utter ridiculousness).

I really enjoyed Volume 3 of Saga, but honestly it's probably my least favorite of the books so far. The art and story is still absolutely amazing, but this time around the story takes place mostly during the time skipped within the second volume. As a result, by the end we're essentially right after where the second volume ended. Combined with this there aren't any huge awesome set pieces like in the previous volumes, and as a whole this volume is more depressing and grim. I'm still giving it 5 stars because it's an absolutely amazing graphic novel, and the whole time the creators are keeping you on the edge of your seat, where you don't know what's going to happen next and who is safe (although because of the narrator, we know that the child survives). Some new characters are introduced in this volume, including an entertaining gay couple that are news investigators asking too many questions about the "kidnapping" of Alana. We also get to see The Will's sister, who seems to be an interesting character, although not much is known about her, other than like The Will, while she's a contract killer, she is by no means heartless. Overall, almost everyone should be reading Saga, as the creators of the series are trying so many unique things in their books, and it's all held together by an enthralling story along with some of the best art that I've ever seen in a comic book/graphic novel. I would say that everyone should read it, but the book definitely has adult portions that might offend some of the more conservative populace of the world.

This just might be the best thing going on in the world of comics right now. There is nothing about this series that isn't top notch. The artwork is beautiful and original without being weird. The characters are interesting and fun, the dialogue is spot on and fun when it wants to be fun and sad and serious when it wants that. I'm continually shocked each time I finish a volume by just how short it was because Vaughan manages to cram just so much story in so few pages. This story picks up the cliff hanger ending of book 2 with the main characters trapped by the robot prince, it still amazes me that something so corny as a robot prince isn't at all in context of the story. This volume covers a lot of back story but still manages to advance the main story line quite a bit. I love the humor. I generally laugh out loud at least once a book and find a smile on my face throughout But when it turns serious you find tears gathering at the corners of your eyes. I haven't broken down just yet and started buying the comics as they come out but volume 4 will definitely be preordered. If you're reading this and haven't started the series do. If you have and are wandering if it's kept true to its beginnings it has.

I had absolutely zero interest in graphic novels before this. I would walk down the graphic novel aisle and look the over way, but after my sister recommended I read this, I caved in and gave it a go. This book is amazing! The artwork is beautiful and the writing captures the personality of each of the characters perfectly. I went out and bought the next few novels after finishing this one because I needed to know what happened next. There are a few odd moments in the book and quite a bit of sexual content, but it doesn't affect me at all. Just a warning for those of you who are purchasing this for a younger audience. If you're new to graphic novels, this is a great place to start!

Resisting the temptation to let the first two volumes of world-building simply put these rich characters on "astro-physiological" autopilot, Brian K Vaughan and Fiona Staples use Volume 3 of SAGA show our Space Opera Family got through some deeply consequential growing pains. In Chapter 13, Alana tells her disapproving step-mother Klara, "I want to do whatever's best for Hazel." This mandate drives the narrative. In Chapter 14, our journalists learn more about Alana's background from Even, her classmate and step-mother, "She joined the armed forces a few months after I moved in," because her dad was Robbing The Cradle. In Chapter 15, still guests at the author's house, Izabel tells Alana, "It's Marko. He's laughing," so his grief over his father's death is passing. Alana's self-assessment before returning to the job market is, "I'm a dishonorably discharged f*** up with zero marketable skills. Anything I've ever made has turned out like complete s***." In Chapter 16, Alana tries to convince Marko she's better off raising Hazel than working an outside job, "Besides, wouldn't you go insane being a stay-at-home dad all day?" SAGA is aware of who wears the pants in our Space Opera family, and it ain't Marko. In Chapter 17, Hazel points out, "Here's the thing, everybody loves babies... but only in very, VERY small doses," and this applies to immature behavior as well. Our Space Opera Family is learning that hard choices are required to remain fugitives in a hostile environment: their idyll is running out of time. In Chapter 18, Marko's ex-fiance Gwendolyn tells him, "The man I love has been hurt, and I need your help to make him whole again." Compromises ensue. SAGA ends this arc with Hazel standing on her own two feet with Alana about to exit the rocket ship; their idyll is over so they are off to infinity... and beyond :D

Dass Brian Vaughan und Fiona Stapels quasi Harvey-Seriensieger sind und den einen oder anderen Eisner abgeräumt haben, seit Saga läuft, liegt mit Sicherheit nicht daran, dass es so wenig Konkurrenz gäbe, sondern schlicht, weil die Reihe so verdammt gut ist. Saga Vol. 3 liefert zwar das bekannte Bild von erfolgreichen Comic-Reihen, die, um ihre großen Plots und Storylines nicht zu verpulvern, immer mal Abzweigungen von einer grandlinigen Handlung nehmen. Im Fall des dritten Bandes der Sage-Reihe geschieht dies vor allem über einen sehr in die Länge gezogenen Rückblick, der die Geschehnisse bis zum Cliffhanger-Ende des zweiten Bandes, als Prince Robot IV auftauchte, aufarbeitet. Im Gegensatz zu anderen Comics wirkt dieses bei Saga jedoch nicht unnatürlich aufgebläht, sondern dadurch, dass uns Hazel als Erzählerin weiter augenzwinkernd durch die Geschichte führt, immer fesselnd und man schließt die Figuren mehr und mehr ins Herz. So wird man also mehr als aureichend dafür entschädigt, dass der Comic diesmal die Entwicklung kaum voranbringt und auch den Konflikt nur am Rande weiter beleuchtet, sondern vor allem seine großartig geschriebenen Charaktere weiter in Szene setzt. Dass fantastische Art-Work von Fiona Staples ist dabei nach wie vor über alle Zweifel erhaben und bietet immer noch einen frischen, innovativen, einzigartigen Sci-Fi-Fantasy-Look, der einen als Betrachter manchmal an die Bilder fesselt, sodass man ob der Schönheit gar nicht weiter blättern mag. Saga bleibt daher auch im dritten Band eine großartige Comic-Reihe, die man auf jeden Fall weiter verfolgen sollte.

I picked up this series because Patrick Rothfuss wrote it a glowing review on goodreads and I grow bored waiting for the next Fables volume to be published. Oh boy I was not disappointed! I devoured all three volumes in 2 days - given that I have a nine month old baby I consider this a very fast read. I was very involved with the plot and the drawing style is just beautiful. I love, love, love this series. Cannot wait for the next volume! I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys a well thought out and developed plot in a fascinating world of conflict and beauty. Particularly if you enjoy being able to relate to all characters on all sides of said conflict. Absolutely stunning, yet another thing I owe to Mr. Rothfuss.

Love the art, story and characters…. the only thing I don’t like is knowing there is a finite number of these comics. Enjoying the story so much… stop reading this and go read the comic.

Having never read Graphic novels before, I was surprised how quickly I got hooked. Fantastic series and amazing artwork.

Brian K. Vaughan e Fiona conseguem manter o nível de qualidade em roteiro, arte e criatividade. A história avança e se desenvolve. Saga está a caminho de se consolidar uma obra de destaque na literatura de graphic novels.