My biggest (only) problem with Saga is that it is SO GOOD that I am draaagging out reading it by waiting weeks between moving onto the next installment, but then I have to go back to the previous to remember what was happening. I guess it isn’t really a problem, because then I get to skim the previous volume and remember how awesome it was. So, scratch that. Instead of a problem, I’m going to say this is my prescribed and suggested reading method. Read one, wait a month, skim the previous, and continue onward. That’s also my problem with reviewing, how do you effectively review a graphic novel? So in this installment, I just settle on trying to sell you on it by telling you why I like it.
What struck me as interesting, and what I really like about this series, is how many boxes it can tick. Allow me to take you on a short journey. I contend that Princess Bride is one of the best movies ever because it has everything in my personal trifecta of film awesomeness: romance, action, and humor, and thankfully not in that order. Princess Bride is a funny movie with good bits of action and a gooey romantic core. A film with a big heart that makes me smile.
It may seem a strange analogy to compare the two, but Saga is also satisfying in the way that it can appeal to a wide audience by covering lots of categories. It is a story about star-crossed lovers, romantic in its roots, but it’s also a story of family and war. And at the core is the narrator, a child born of the star-crossed love, who has a unique viewpoint as she is the center of intergalactic conflict. Sprinkled on top is (really) graphic violence and nudity, great dialogue, and humor. For me, that is a winning combination. And enough ground is covered that if you prefer one theme or the other, there is probably something for you in there, as long as you aren’t bothered by the clearly adult bend of this series.