Saga #62

Saga (Single Issues)

by Brian K. Vaughan (Writer), Fiona Staples (Artist)

While Hazel and her family fight for scraps to survive, the rich and powerful make their move.

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

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 22, 2023

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]

(A-) 81% | Very Good
Notes: Unconcerned with what was learned last issue (at the end), not intrigue-free: shock butchery, returns of prior friends.

*Progress update

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all]]

Whew, issue 62 is short and abrupt…

‘...but it ain’t nothing.’

Been glad to see a revisit of characters that we haven’t seen in awhile continuing here, with a nod to Upsher who I kept meaning to flip back and check if he was still alive or not, but we also get a shoutout to D. Oswald Heist. It’s used in a scene that I think captures a lot of what Saga has been fairly keen on lately, which seems like it is making light of progressive stances on issues but then manages to handle it effectively nonetheless? I don’t know, I think Hazel’s rebuttal was good here. Oh and if you were wondering how the issue of the last episode was going to progress, Saga is here to subvert your expectations every time (though seems like the issue is still progressing?). This series rules. I love waiting a full month and setting alarms for the release of a new issue for it to only be 5 minutes of reading that leaves me yelling “goddammit!” because it is A. so short and B. going to fuck me up and show me the sudden, gratuitous violence and deaths we all know is part of the reason we keep coming back. Good work B.K.Vaughn, ya bastard.

[Eva B.]

Yeah it’s official—any middling feelings I had in regards to the return have been completely undone by 61 and 62. I’m so excited to see where this goes next! I am anticipating complete and utter agony! And as an autistic and otherwise neurodivergent person, I also really liked the way that the series touches on its past use of the word “retarded” and lampshades that yeah, connotations shift and it’s now seen as a slur and not just a synonym for “dumb” and that they don’t use it anymore without feeling like an out-of-place grovel for forgiveness.

[Shamila]

It was okay. Too short. We need more. We want more. We want Marco and the Robot back💜

[Peter Looles]

Saga #62

In this issue of "Saga" we start by seeing what happened when Alana found Marco's dead body. Petrichor wanted to seek revenge, while Alana decided to take care of her daughter and Squire, Prince Robot IV's son. In the present, Alana declines the offer of the woman who wanted to bring Marco back to life, because she thinks it's not realistic. Also, Gale continues his journey to find Alana and Hazel, buy paying a bloody visit to Ginny.
This was a very good issue. Both the main story and the subplots seem to be getting progressively more interesting. Personally, I'm very curious to see what's gonna happen to The Will's story, because even though he's one of the "bad guys", he's a very well written and interesting character. Also, it's nice to see Hazel's character development and how she slowly becomes her own person, while Alana seems to be getting older and more mature.
9/10

[Krystal]

I don't know if I'll ever get over the artwork of this story. It's just so visually stunning.

I do kinda want to re-read though because I've forgotten so much already.

There wasn't really a lot of development through this issue, but still some really beautiful thoughts and ideas explored.

Also really enjoying the letters at the end! Some really beautiful words.

A great series for sure and no complaints from me at all, but just not a lot happening in this one.

[AleJandra]

Que hermosa portada, por mucho que odie a Gwendolyn, esa portada parece una pintura barroca.

[Fiona Knight]

Oof. The action is ramping up, and I feel like we've covered more ground in the last two issues than we did from the entire 2022 storyline. Not going to lie, I'm more than a little worried about what comes next.

[Leia]

Oh god

[Alexandra Elend Wolf]

“Nothing in this universe will bring the dead back to us. But we can start to make things right again.”

Well, that took a turn I was not expecting, and I'm quite glad about it.

As, satisfying as it was to see this whole she-bang being closed before it could develop into a complete can of worms I'm afraid we've not seen the last of it. If there's one thing you can trust kids to do is not doing the reasonable thing.

On the other hand, the whole thing with Squire is seriously making me nervous and I don't like it one bit. I wish things could ever be less complicated in this world but, then again, where would the fun be there?

It's quite nice to slowly explore the time that has been left between volumes. Just, snippets of heartache and sorrow to color the present time, I think it works quite well.

The artwork of this series is one thing that will never stop being marveling to me. Seeing the details in the faces of the characters that speak of kinship and hardships and time is quite surreal.

“I learned a very valuable lesson that day. The knowledge that someone who grievously wronged us had been snuffed from this mortal coil doesn’t exactly bring one peace – but it ain’t nothing.”

[Siona Adams]

My boy Squire 🥺🥺🥺 also, Alana’s talk about liars spoke to me. I don’t want to ascribe to a belief that everyone bullshits you cause I find that to be myopic, however my personal experience in life is saying she’s right lol

[Brooke]

3.5
This was fine nothing really happened. I do appreciate the discussion about how we shouldn’t use the “R” word anymore.

[Mery ✨]

4/5

[Shannon]

A short little update but the plot is starting to finally pick up in this latest volume in the Saga series. Loving the hints of what's to come and I can't wait for the next episode to drop!

[The Wintermute System]

Shit is going down. Always make sure the kids don't overhear the juicy stuff...

[Jess]

Okaaay we're getting back into it!!! Gasp count for this issue: 3. First segment didn't really surprise me too much but then we got into some juicy bits. Alana and The Will are OPPOSITES and I would love to flesh this out but I'm not going to.

Sorry I get to add this to my book count, but when you read a monthly serialized comic book it is indeed a perk :)

edit: I changed it from a 4 to a 5 because I think there are some beautiful and disturbing parallels in this issue and I keep thinking about it!!!

[Jassmine]

1. Gwendolyn on the cover 🔥🔥🔥 Still hate her, but... 🔥🔥🔥
2. Some backstory on the feud between Alana and Petrychor! Thank you for letting us know!
3. The pumpkin lady is sketchy... 🎃
4. The saga of Gwendolyn and The Will continues and I'm just... ugh... It just stings so badly, you know? This is such brilliant writing...
5. I really hope special agent Gale will burn in hell for... everything he done... 🔥🔥🔥

[Evan Scarborough]

Picking up speed towards a crash course I do not want! There is hate in my heart

[Minette Bosman Minazarova]

Oh it feels like I'm seeing all my family members again!!!!! I can't wait for Moore 😳👌👌🤩👍🎯

[melhara]

Read as part of Volume 11. Refer to Volume 10 (which consists of issues #61-66) for my full review.

Some preliminary thoughts (before I write my full review for the volume):

- Seems like The Will and Gwendolyn's relationship is getting pretty serious!

- Gwendolyn looks stunning in the cover of this issue

- I also really like Sophie's look and style

- Special Agent Gale is on the hunt for Upsher

- This issue ended with a bang.

[steph]

4.5 stars

[ari ୨♡୧]

[4/5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆] “That's how liars work, sweetheart. They earn your trust by giving you truth after truth. And then, one day, they tell you something you really, really want to believe... and that'll be the whopper that does you in.”

Qué eternidad leer de poco en poco pero con Saga es imposible esperar hasta que salga el volumen completo porque con estos dos pinta a que se vienen cosas buenas (ojalá Marko 🤞🏼)

[Ashley Chang]

It's interesting how the things u grew up reading u sometimes almost grow out of before it finishes...

(I say "grew up reading" as if I read this when I was ten. No, I read it when I was a college sophomore, hahahaha)

[breads]

Shorter than expected but still very SAGA ya know

[Anna Quilter]

I guess they were just teasing with the resurrection.
Liars!
Kind of short...and I feel impending doom.

[India♡]

And just like that, my dreams…CRUSHED! I have a strong feeling this storyline isn’t over though so I am seated and waiting to see what happens next.

[Jack Humenay]

This issue takes itself down a much better, cleaner path than the previous issue. Usually, the first issue of a new arc can be pretty cluttered and get lost in the quagmire of set up. This one starts of with yet another reminder that Marko is dead...dead dead. It truly makes sense why BKV went to great lengths to show us the corpses of Marko and Sir Robot multiple times last arc in preparation for this one, where resurrection appears to be on the table. It makes sense why Petrichor is interested in revenge, being that she has the ability to track down those responsible. In addition, this scene shows Alana's character development. She begins the series as very chaotic and being against the notion of "settling down." Now, with Marko dead and two kids to suddenly care for, she's keenly aware of risk and seeks to avoid it (before then getting involved in drug smuggling with Bombazine, but only to provide for them).

Meanwhile, it seems like Alana has completely internalized Marko's philosophy. As she tells Petrichor, she isn't interested in getting committed to blood feuds. As Hazel hints at later, Alana tries to indoctrinate the two of them away from revenge, and away from taking unnecessary risks based in violence. As unfortunately foreshadowed, Squire may already be at a revenge stage. Also, the meta commentary regarding the r-word, paired with the brief inclusion of "unhoused" discourse from last issue, shows that BKV is introspective about things he has written in this series prior, which is interesting to see play out.

In regards to the scene with The Will/Gwendolyn/Lying Cat/Sophie, there's not a whole lot to comment on, since it's brief and ends with an abrupt cliffhanger. Good to see Sophie adding on to the revenge contemplation, that even the death of someone who has wronged you doesn't really heal you. Though..."it ain't nothin'."

I still hate Agent Gale, and I was pleasantly surprised to see Ginny had some fight in her. Very sad character death, honestly.

[David Miles]

Wow, that opening panel! And that closing panel! I love this story and Fiona's art rules.

[Tanvi]

God I miss Marko. ++ for neurodiv rep and character development, - because I'm slightly (just a tad) bit bored.

[Cait]

Not as good as last issue - how could it be after THAT bombshell - and maybe tries to cover too much ground, but still solid. Totally learning through these reads I prefer binging comics since these build-up issues always have me restless for more.