Review - Saga #2

Saga #1 was simply phenomenal. A great start to what is sure to be a great series. A lot of that hype came with it being the first issue and now that the first issue is behind writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Fiona Staples, it's time to see if the second issue maintains the momentum.

In short it does. Very much so.

Marko and Alana are still fighting to get off the planet Cleave and to a safer world. A world where their child can grow up without the threat of war, dignitaries with TVs for heads or an array of assassins seeking her demise. The duo are faced with Stalk, an assassin with a reputation for death and penchant for completing her assignments.

Stalk is the reason that another assassin--the freelancer named The Will--is having second thoughts about his contract to find the traveling family. Not only that, but Prince Robot IV is also after them, seeking to delve deeper into their pasts to get a better understanding of their future.

Vaughan's dialogue is very polished in this issue, which shouldn't come as a surprise at this point. Somehow he blends regular, day-to-day speech with his idea of what these characters would really be talking like, giving them their own dialect and tone that works really well. It draws the reader into the world and immerses them, ensuring that you're not just a spectator but sort of a participant in the story.

The thing about this issue is that The Will is scared of The Stalk, but The Stalk is scared of The Horrors. There's an impending evil lurking throughout the book that gets seemingly scarier and scarier, with the final panel payoff being very rewarding. You have to be concerned for Marko, Alana and Hazel (Marko especially) because the characters are organic. They fear things just like everyone else. And if a galactically renowned assassin is scared of something you'd best be too.

Staples' art steals the show here (again!). Her portrayal of Stalk manages to be both equal parts haunting and alluring, which is saying alot for a half-woman, half-spider hybrid. There's a beauty in her imagination that really shows on the pages and--like Vaughan's words--really works to draw the reader into the world. The pages just ooze imagination and creativity, both of which are welcome in any medium of storytelling.

Saga #2 is a great second issue and keeps the story moving at a solid pace. The one drawback is that it's not double-sized like the first issue, so it felt like it was done all too soon. Honestly though, that's a good thing. This issue has definitely maintained the bond between the characters and the reader and you'll definitely want to come back for the third issue.

Saga #2 is in stores now with interiors below.






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