Saga #68

Saga (Single Issues)

by Brian K. Vaughan (Writer), Fiona Staples (Illustrator), Fonografiks (Letterer)

The show must go on, right?

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Adult, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction

31 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 28, 2024

About the author

Brian K. Vaughan is the writer and co-creator of comic-book series including SAGA, PAPER GIRLS, Y THE LAST MAN, RUNAWAYS, and most recently, BARRIER, a digital comic with artist Marcos Martin about immigration, available from their pay-what-you-want site www.PanelSyndicate.com

BKV's work has been recognized at the Eisner, Harvey, Hugo, Shuster, Eagle, and British Fantasy Awards. He sometimes writes for film and television in Los Angeles, where he lives with his family and their dogs Hamburger and Milkshake.

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

(A-) 81% | Very Good
Notes: On social skills, re: teen free will, autonomy asserted: one's tribe extends by making friends, one's firmly introverted.

*Progress update

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy NEW SAGA for all those who celebrate!
Okay I am REALLY liking this arc so far. We get some cool flashbacks to Alana's childhood, Hazel's new friend sort of rules and seems like she's going to be chaos, ro-bro is all emo now and we have a potential Ro-proletariat uprising coming? Count me all the way in. I love this series and you never know what to expect.

[María · Rating 3 out of 5]

Squire :'(

[Alexandra Elend Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

"There were many lessons my mother learned at a young age that she chose not to impart to me. Mom didn't give a shit what kind of crowd my brother and I ran with. All she cared about was that we never felt alone."

Well, if I thought I could stop worrying about Squire I was sorely mistaken.

This issue has left me with a heavy, chilled heart. It definitely isn't an easy thing to see or stomach, not that this is the first time this series has tackled something like that before. In any case, while it certainly doesn't make it any easier, I am grateful for the attention this will bring into the real issues.

Of course, because the story must go on, there is a very tense and unnerving atmosphere building, one that I'm sure does not bring good omens.

"Mom didn't let many folks inside her own inner circle, but once she did, they were almost always welcome back. No matter how much time or space had passed between them. No matter what mistakes might have been made."

[Samhain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Petrichor is still the absolute queen of this series, and I'm so happy we'll finally explore the consequences of her choices. And, cherry on top, she's also mindbogglingly sexy! Her scenes in this issue were the absolute best, both visually and story-wise.

I know some people are getting tired of how dark things have been ever since Marko's death but, to be fair, Saga has always been a "pools of sorrows, waves of joy" kind of story, and its willingness to represent even the most painful and taboo subjects is part of what makes it so powerful (in this issue, infanticide and a child self-harming because he's watching unfiltered content & opinions waaayyy too young and his brain can't protect him from them). The only change I'd want is for Alana and the kids to get some real friends in their corner asap because it's true that it's been some time since they last met someone who didn't have an hidden agenda... Hazel foreshadowing Petrichor returning to stand at Alana's side makes me very hopeful a bit of comfort and softness is coming their way.

[Shamila · Rating 1 out of 5]

This 2nd half of the Saga series is painfully boring. This had to be my least favorite one so far. -_-

[Amina (ⴰⵎⵉⵏⴰ) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've never felt bored while reading a Saga issue, yet this one didn't add much to the story, but that last page though...

[Peter Looles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saga #68

In this issue we see a little bit of Alana's past and the issues from her father that she refuses to pass along to her children. In the present, Hazel has found a new friend in the circus, the guy who was hitting on Alana, unbeknownst to her, seems to be unworthy of her trust and Squire's depression is getting worse and worse.
Yet another great issue! It's interesting to see a bit of Alana's past and how her father has affected her. For better or for worse (usually for worse) we simultaneously reflect and reject the things our parents passed onto us and it's great to see Brian K. Vaughan explore that through Alana's relationship with Hazel. On the subject of Hazel, it's nice to see her make a friend, even though her past is still preventing her from fully opening up, despite her supposed openness. Furthermore, it's devastating to see how the loss of his father, as well as the protests against his family, have affected Squire, leading him to what seems to me as self-harm.
10/10

[mooniepal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Saga so much 🥲❤️‍🩹 Every new issue keeps me enthralled ! Living for this circus ark; but I'm worried some pain is unavoidable 😶‍🌫️ Wouldn't be the first time (or last) I've cried over this series

[Jassmine]

Pretty amazing issue!

We get:

- Bits from Alana's childhood
- Cool spidery new friend
- Robo-angst
- Petrichor in a bad place

Starting the next issue immediately!


No stars, per my rule, no rating of single issues...

[ari ୨♡୧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extrañaba mucho Saga, siempre hay algo bárbaro pasando que te mantiene enganchada. Yo solo quiero que al fin Alana tenga una vida tranquila, pero siempre todo se le complica a la pobre 😭

Me leí del #67 al #70 pero sólo voy a contar este (porque es la portada mas linda) para el reto 🤓☝🏼

[David Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75*

Getting more setup for the arc. Seeing Alana's past, Hazel making new friends, Squire struggling mentally, and our old friend Petrichor (who has some PTSD to deal with).

[Sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

These are the volumes I hate. I feel like they don’t add anything to continue on with the story. It’s so annoying because this is such an amazing series.

[Brujaxa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Qué cortitos se me hacen, pero estoy emocionada con esa sorpresa final.

[Elizabeth A · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this single issue better than the last one. New adventures for some of my fave characters, new friends, and flashbacks. Not as powerful for me as the earlier installments, but this was good.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a good series!!!!!

[melhara]

We meet Hazel's best friend - Emesis! Something seems off about Feld. Petrichor is suffering from PTSD. And Squire is not ok... (poor Squire!!!)

I read this as part of Volume 12 (full review here).

[BooksTraveler · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Babs · Rating 4 out of 5]

OmgtheTENSION and the THREAT that SOMETHING is coming omggggg

[Tayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always left wanting more!

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know were this is going. I enjoyed this, but nothing happened. I also am forgetting characters and events which is not good.

[Zafra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how the structure of the base Saga story is so strong, even with such huge gaps in reading time, I feel caught up immediately!

[Xiomara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Squire 😭😭😭

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saga #68 has one of Fiona’s best and most collectible covers that reminds me a bit of Dorothy falling down to Oz in the tornado. It's a metaphorical image of growing up, this cover, as Haze and Dorothy do, in a kind of tornado. So the Oz we are in for this arc is this wild circus world, where Haze and her bro navigate their teenage wasteland in different ways. Hazel gets a new promisingly cool spidery friend to be bad with, and brother may be a bit lost in another way without friends, drawing into himself. But the best thing about this issue is the focus on series fave Petrichor, who we hope will be aligning herself with Alana again soon. She’s great, though what she sees near the end bodes ill I fear for the next issue.

New world, new people, new opportunities to do new characters, invent new creatures, new shapes, new colors, so this is a Fiona fest. Endless joyful imagination, though the threat of darkness is always present. . . so yeah, it’s as always a fun, breathlessly wonderful effervescent circus-world set-up for. . . the next tragedy. May I please have some more, sir?

[Wesley Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a while since I’ve read a comic. They are short and sweet but reading that also means I like to write up a review quick before I read the next issue, so I don’t mix things up. I didn’t realize how much I missed Saga. I loved reading this. We have our main characters and a fave who we get a glimpse of. And possibly some new friends (or foes) too?!

I liked that it started with a little bit of Alana’s childhood, which we haven’t learned much about yet. She is such a strong, driven woman that it was insightful to see where some of that may have come from. I am very concerned for Squire. I know what this series is capable of and my heart is in my stomach.

There are a couple more issues out now, so I am excited to read those beauts’!

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A meatier issue where things are starting to move and set up for serious movement over the next few issues, it's palpable!

A brief flashback to Alana's childhood was sentimental and of course always recentering on Hazel's overarching narrative-- now they're on a ship circus and the characters are just as vivid in this issue as in every past issue with Hazel's new friend Emesis and Squire wallowing in his feelings. Then the sexy little sideline with Petrichor at a rave threw back in some old baggage. It's a toxic brew of elements that will be epic as it unfolds.

[Kayla Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so interesting. I'm eager to see how Emesis plays out as a character in the course of the story and if she can be trusted fully. It is also fascinating to watch the different paths Hazel and her brother are going on and to see the slow descent into struggle for the both of them. It is actually really heartbreaking to watch but I think it is going to add a really unique element to the story as it continues to unfold.

Content Warning: drug use, sexual content

[Yolanda Sfetsos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I'm already getting a bad feeling about some of the new characters. As much fun as Hazel's new friend seems to be, I think Emesis is going to get her into a lot of trouble. And the emo kid is going down a dark path, too. 😳

Anyway, I'm really enjoying this. It's always great to catch up with Petrichor!

One final note: as usual, the artwork in this series is FANTASTIC! So colourful. Just stunning.

[Vijaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart is always with Hazel and Alana but sometimes Squire creeps in there and the last page of this issue broke my heart for him. The boy definitely needs help but since this is Saga I feel like his situation will become more tragic before it gets better...if it ever gets better.

I continue to enjoy the illustration of war in Saga because it so appropriately depicts war and its consequences IRL.

[Lilybeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved getting a glimpse into Alana's childhood. It was unexpected yet reinforced how strong Alana is to stand against what she's known.
Our boy, Squire, is going through it and my Hazel is stuck somewhere in the middle just trying to figure things out.
Ugh! This is seeping in melancholy. All I want to do is hug these 3.