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COMIC BOOK REVIEW: Saga #31

 
Saga 31
Saga 31
Saga 31

 
Overview
 

Story by: Brian K. Vaughan
 
Art by: Fiona Staples
 
Publisher:
 
FG RATING
 
 
 
 
 
4/ 5


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To sum it all up..

A GOOD STARTING POINT Alan Moore recently mentioned on what comics he is taking seriously. And his reply was a bit astoundingly astonishing: Brian K. Vaughan’s SAGA. Speaking of this sprawling, intergalactic, space soap opera and familial epic series, Brian and Fiona Staples return from their “hiatus” and deliver another heartwarming and excellent opener of the […]

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Posted November 28, 2015 by

 
FULL REVIEW
 
 

Saga 31A GOOD STARTING POINT

Alan Moore recently mentioned on what comics he is taking seriously. And his reply was a bit astoundingly astonishing: Brian K. Vaughan’s SAGA. Speaking of this sprawling, intergalactic, space soap opera and familial epic series, Brian and Fiona Staples return from their “hiatus” and deliver another heartwarming and excellent opener of the sixth story arc in SAGA #31. On that regard, I can partly comprehend why the great Nottingham comic mage favors this award-winning masterpiece…it is simply what a great comic book series should be! Indeed, Brian and Fiona fulfill their promise to center their latest story on the series’ great narrator, HAZEL! Yes, we are finally treated to her past, especially during her kindergarten years and some answers that made our heads once scratching from last issue’s surprising end page finale. In Vaughan’s mastery of subtle foreshadowing, we can now rest assured that our beloved narrator was in somewhat in “good hands”. Plus, readers can be equally thrilled on the return of one of the creative team’s creations which was totally absent/omitted in the last arc. However, expect some surprises, if not shockers, from the comic’s best indie tandem so far, like what they did in the last pages.

Not only the narrative is superb, but surely many readers will be left misty eyes for the writer really knows how to make the audience so emotionally invested and sympathetic with the characters, most particularly with our tender Hazel around when a book that reminisced her the years in-between in fulfilling the explanation of gaps, which is actually logically sound and believable, unlike some lazily made and/or convoluting plot twists or storylines to answer the unresolved parts. Here, themes of brutal war treatments and even survival skills are explored with the language so accessibly universal, one can immediately dive in to this to this latest story arc without being confused or left behind. True, this new chapter truly serves its purpose for newcomers and potentially new Vaughan-Staples audience without being intimidated or pretentious at all.

What is a Saga review without delving into the continuing artistic evolution of Fiona Staples? It seems she is not resting her laurels even she, in my humble opinion, shockingly won the Eisner’s award as Best Artist. Even so, she continues to do the most demanding and the heavy lifting part of all: to present Hazel in her most memorable, emotional, and a bit shocking illustrations yet. “Yet” is just an understatement for we are only witnessing an opening, and what more with the rest of the series! Her characters are drawn consistently, moreover with the emotional and quirky levels. She also draws some shocking illustrations that surely make SAGA a highly controversial visual literary masterpiece. In short, Fiona’s Hazel is simply stunning in the visual illustrations and characterization.

Quite true, there is something more to be desired here. One, some of Fiona’s arts are a bit rushed or drawn so simplistic, most probably due to her tremendous tasking responsibilities. But her sequential paneling command compensates these shortcomings. Two, her inking is visibly inconsistent in some panels, particularly the long angular perspectives to be paradoxically consistent with her minimalist artistic approach. Yet to casual readers, this one is hardly noticeable. Three, the graphic imageries are aplenty here, may cause some narrow-minded readers to cry nonsense critical rhetoric. But those “violent” and “mature” moments are integral components of the story, not just for shock value rubbish. And on the personal level, I miss Ghüs! Nonetheless, Saga #31 starts nicely, having Hazel on board in full. And to give a proper sendoff here, I have to quote Alan Moore here whenever he finishes his appraisals, “HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!”


Paul Ramos

 


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