Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.35 AVERAGE
4.35 AVERAGE
I was really excited to get to read this. I love every single one of the other series Brian K. Vaughan has created. But: I haven't actually read him in about five years. I haven't completely finished a couple of those series. I've seen several comments in recent years that indicate his cultural touch got a little tainted. Or a lot tainted. (One of Punk's reviews explains it all, IMO.) So he has a new blockbuster here -- which is it going to be?
Well it's not perfect, but I'm in for now. It's too unique not to be curious about it. One of the blurbs on the cover says the story is a perfect blend of sci-fi and fantasy, and weirdly that is exactly accurate. Mystical creatures in intergalactic war, spaceships that grow in forests, ray-guns that break hearts. It has a few too many harder edges, and many of the characters are too hard to love right now, but I'm willing to work with this. I will read the next one, eventually.
We're dropped right into the middle of all the crazy action -- the illicit lovers are in childbirth on page one -- and that's probably intended to sweep us right along, but I felt it would be easier with more clues. Stop one second and tell us why. You must intrigue us about your great multi-generational war in some way. You must tell us what these people are -- they're not human because they have wings and horns and sometimes powers, so y'know, you must tell us how come. You must tell us what the fuck with those robots.
But it's funny, to me, that this is striking new notes, for real. I rather like that it appears the major themes are driven by parenting, becoming a parent. (Shocking no one, BKV is a new one.) It could easily become gross and sentimental or preachy, but somehow it's about the adults, and what it means to start this new life when also you have a ton of shit to deal with, but you know it means a lot, you're ready for it. You expect the star-crossed lovers story to mostly cover the "lovers" part, because isn't that how everyone writes stories? But it's not, it's about the actual grown-up part. For the good guys and the bad guys both. I'm not entirely sure why but it's okay.
Little things I really like: Izabel the hilarious teenage ghost, who finagles her way into staying with them to be indispensable and creepy and funny and annoying. (She is clearly straight out of the pen that wrote Molly of the Runaways and I was really glad for a familiar, awesome type.) The Stalk is ridiculously creepy in a gratuitous but great way. The Lying Cat, who can only say the word, "lying." J'accuse.
Rounding up to four stars, because I'm watching for volume two on the horizon.
Well it's not perfect, but I'm in for now. It's too unique not to be curious about it. One of the blurbs on the cover says the story is a perfect blend of sci-fi and fantasy, and weirdly that is exactly accurate. Mystical creatures in intergalactic war, spaceships that grow in forests, ray-guns that break hearts. It has a few too many harder edges, and many of the characters are too hard to love right now, but I'm willing to work with this. I will read the next one, eventually.
We're dropped right into the middle of all the crazy action -- the illicit lovers are in childbirth on page one -- and that's probably intended to sweep us right along, but I felt it would be easier with more clues. Stop one second and tell us why. You must intrigue us about your great multi-generational war in some way. You must tell us what these people are -- they're not human because they have wings and horns and sometimes powers, so y'know, you must tell us how come. You must tell us what the fuck with those robots.
But it's funny, to me, that this is striking new notes, for real. I rather like that it appears the major themes are driven by parenting, becoming a parent. (Shocking no one, BKV is a new one.) It could easily become gross and sentimental or preachy, but somehow it's about the adults, and what it means to start this new life when also you have a ton of shit to deal with, but you know it means a lot, you're ready for it. You expect the star-crossed lovers story to mostly cover the "lovers" part, because isn't that how everyone writes stories? But it's not, it's about the actual grown-up part. For the good guys and the bad guys both. I'm not entirely sure why but it's okay.
Little things I really like: Izabel the hilarious teenage ghost, who finagles her way into staying with them to be indispensable and creepy and funny and annoying. (She is clearly straight out of the pen that wrote Molly of the Runaways and I was really glad for a familiar, awesome type.) The Stalk is ridiculously creepy in a gratuitous but great way. The Lying Cat, who can only say the word, "lying." J'accuse.
Rounding up to four stars, because I'm watching for volume two on the horizon.
4.5
It's really interesting revisiting this after 7 years. I have always loved the way the story unfolds in his series. It's definitely an all time favorite.
The realness of a story set in a place far away is intense at times.
CW: slurs, ableism
It's really interesting revisiting this after 7 years. I have always loved the way the story unfolds in his series. It's definitely an all time favorite.
The realness of a story set in a place far away is intense at times.
CW: slurs, ableism
⭐️ 3.5 stars ⭐️
Saga was an epic start to what I’m sure is going to be an equally epic series.
The sci-fi visuals mixed with the fantasy elements were absolutely stunning and eye-catching.
Even if these kind of graphic novels aren’t my forte, the explosive sceneries and action-packed plot kept me intrigued and excited for more.
Others described it as a blend of Romeo and Juliet and Star Wars. Accurate, but this had more of an edge to it, a bit of a darker nuance. For adult eyes, for sure.
I’m very curious to see how this star-crossed lover’s family will manage to survive the battle between their worlds.
I received a free copy of this book from Edelweiss, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
CWs (spoilers):
- Gore & violence
- Nudity and sex
“It was a time of war.”
Isn’t it always.
Saga was an epic start to what I’m sure is going to be an equally epic series.
The sci-fi visuals mixed with the fantasy elements were absolutely stunning and eye-catching.
Even if these kind of graphic novels aren’t my forte, the explosive sceneries and action-packed plot kept me intrigued and excited for more.
Others described it as a blend of Romeo and Juliet and Star Wars. Accurate, but this had more of an edge to it, a bit of a darker nuance. For adult eyes, for sure.
I’m very curious to see how this star-crossed lover’s family will manage to survive the battle between their worlds.
I received a free copy of this book from Edelweiss, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
CWs (spoilers):
- Gore & violence
- Nudity and sex
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
The illustrations were brilliant and so was the story. Will for sure continue reading.
I think my expectations were a bit too high. I've seen so many people saying how great this graphic novel series is and I think I've slowly raised my expectations to a level it could never reach.
Through out the novel we are following Marko and Alana, two soldiers from different sides of a never ending galactic war who feel in love, and now they are running away from everything with their daughter.
The premise sounded so cool, but while reading I just foudn myself bored. I didn't expected for the characters to be fully fleshed out so fast or the plot to be set up so soonI've read a lot of manga and I got used to waiting a bit more for the actual plot to be set up, but for some reason i was still really bored while reading. It's been a few weeks since I read this and I still cannot pinpoint what hadn't worked for me.
The artstyle was really beautiful and it's pretty much the only reason I rated it 2 stars. I loved the way the characters were drawn and their expressions and just everything. The author clearly knows what he is doing here.
Even though, I didn't really like this one, I still plan on eventually continuing the series and seeing how things will work out for Hazel and her oarents, although I'm not sure if this will happen or not in the near future.
2 stars
Through out the novel we are following Marko and Alana, two soldiers from different sides of a never ending galactic war who feel in love, and now they are running away from everything with their daughter.
The premise sounded so cool, but while reading I just foudn myself bored. I didn't expected for the characters to be fully fleshed out so fast or the plot to be set up so soon
The artstyle was really beautiful and it's pretty much the only reason I rated it 2 stars. I loved the way the characters were drawn and their expressions and just everything. The author clearly knows what he is doing here.
Even though, I didn't really like this one, I still plan on eventually continuing the series and seeing how things will work out for Hazel and her oarents, although I'm not sure if this will happen or not in the near future.
2 stars
Empieza interesante. Ahora que lo voy a intercalar con Inuyasha para no leerlo todo de corrido y sufrir una sobredosis.
Wildly imaginative and definitely for adult readers only. Saga has fantastic characters, a strong story, and a mix of scifi and fantasy where anything's possible.
My favorite read so far this year, and I'm going to binge read the rest of this series just as quickly. So under a spoiler cut, some of the reasons I think this volume of Saga is so awesome (mostly so I can remember what happens when)
This issue:
* breastfeeding on the cover! and a birth in the first few pages
* Alana and Marko are adorable together. I rarely fall in love with a couple this quickly
* I love how the robot prince's TV-head flashes images of disruptive thoughts, or static when he loses control. I haven't figured out how it works exactly, but it's fascinating
* A ghost babysitter, who's half a torso of an indigenous resident, slaughtered in their war. And sassy and wise, and very much a teenager.
* Ships that grow in a forest, and take you where you want to go only if they like you.
* Sextillion is horrifying, but even freelancers have their limit. Plus, The Will's presence there is made more tolerable by the fact that it's to avoid/get over his ex-girlfriend.
* The Will + The Stalk = who else could be a match for each other?
* Lying Cat!
Reviewed at Come Hither Books
My favorite read so far this year, and I'm going to binge read the rest of this series just as quickly. So under a spoiler cut, some of the reasons I think this volume of Saga is so awesome (mostly so I can remember what happens when)
This issue:
Spoiler
* breastfeeding on the cover! and a birth in the first few pages
* Alana and Marko are adorable together. I rarely fall in love with a couple this quickly
* I love how the robot prince's TV-head flashes images of disruptive thoughts, or static when he loses control. I haven't figured out how it works exactly, but it's fascinating
* A ghost babysitter, who's half a torso of an indigenous resident, slaughtered in their war. And sassy and wise, and very much a teenager.
* Ships that grow in a forest, and take you where you want to go only if they like you.
* Sextillion is horrifying, but even freelancers have their limit. Plus, The Will's presence there is made more tolerable by the fact that it's to avoid/get over his ex-girlfriend.
* The Will + The Stalk = who else could be a match for each other?
* Lying Cat!
Reviewed at Come Hither Books
?file=Runaways_Vol_2_21_Textless.jpg){kind=link}
Saga is def worth the hype. The first volume does great world building without sacrificing action. I reeaaally could do without the child sex slavery though which is why it isn’t a five star book for me.
I am intrigued. It does some of the things I really hate in comics, but I think for now I can ignore those and continue with my curiosity for this series.