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.
Saga #29 by Brian K Vaughan is simply awesome! What a gore filled fast paced episode... The artwork of Fiona Staples steals everything about #29. Our heroes take the back seat to some action and some visuals.
I have to say that after 28 editions I have really come to love how this story comes alive due to the graphic novel format. I read each page over and over again before turning it as the artwork demands your attention. Many times the manner in which Staples portrays our heroes tells even more about the story than the actual words do. I simply love it. The story rocks out. Vaughan's no fear of pushing things too far really works. And the artwork...Oh boy the artwork is unvielablly awesome. I love this series and thanks to Vaughan and it, I am now a fan of the graphic novel.
1. This series literally has the best covers. 2. It's like fantasy/superhero/love story/sci-fi/drama/comedy. All genres in one. 3. The art is captivating and tells a story. 4. The little side frames of Hazel's narrations is pretty great. 5. I feel like people will soon have Alana's haircut. And grow horns like Marko. 6. Basically all of the first and last pages of these are genius. 7. So there's Prince IV who they call Four (IV like Four from Insurgent) and there is a lottery for the war (like Hunger Games.) 8. WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!? Gwen. Big Sophie. But. But. 9. The dragon and his penis. Whaaaa. 10. IV hands can like be machine operators?! Pretty cool!! 11. “No cunting shit, Marko.!” Haha 12. When Dengo shoots the snakes head off. YESSSSS. 13. Poor sweet Hazel, “Stop! No more bangs!” 14. I liked that the dragon’s semen was like lava.
Damn, there shure is a body count in this issue. Another element that makes this comic great: Staples can really make exploding heads (and other body parts) look gross and beautiful at the same time.
Prince Robot IV’s robot pursuers have CRT heads — at one point featuring a grainy guillotine.
What really pushes this issue over the top, as usual, is Hazel’s narration - in this one, a riff on the sacrifices parents make for their children, giving up everything…except the right to complain about everything they give up.
Dengo no doubt takes the most improved character award for this issue. Finally seeing through the lies of the Last Revolution and doing what's necessary. Marko and Prince Robot and Ghus teleport to a distant planet, almost immediately running into danger. And Sophie, precocious little fuck up that she is, won't help but get everyone hurt in the process. I hate her for this. I like her for this.
Packed full of tensions snapping. What a vicious and cruel issue.
Thankfully there was a tiny bit of happiness after the end with that shout out to librarians defending the inclusion of criticized books like Saga in their libraries.
Just when I think I've seen it all, BOOM. Another double page spread from Staples that makes me spit my lunch out. When will I learn to stop reading these while eating? Probably never, because they are AWESOME!