Wow, I’m managing to do more than one review in a week! Woo! Who knows, I might be able to catch up sometime soon…maybe…possibly…

okay, probably not…

On to another graphic novel:  Saga: Volume Four by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples.  If there is any new graphic novel or comic series you start reading this year, SAGA should be it.  Image Comics is producing some stellar work lately (This is Robert Kirkman’s label, of Walking Dead fame) and Vaughan’s work is among the best.  Beautiful art, classic story (lovers from opposite sides of a galactic war), intertwined with some twisted characters, difficult decisions, and a strange, ever growing intergalactic system.

The comic is ongoing, and each volume collects 6 issues into one collection.  The world keeps growing, and sometimes the characters can be difficult to keep track of.  However, if you were to read them more regularly, as each serial came out, it might be simpler to track.  Likewise, you could just wait until more of the series is developed. I’m sure we’ll see these volumes turned into larger compendiums.

Volume 4 lost my interest a bit in part because it introduced addiction and infidelity into the main characters’ relationship.  I understand the desire to add a personal struggle into the already existing universal issues, but it felt almost forced.  However, Vaughan and Staples have a strong track record, and I think they’ll use it to build the adventure part of the tale (which seems to always seems to be expanding).

If anything loses your interest in the series, it might be the constant action and jumping between our characters.  While there is depth and beauty and violence, and LOTS of action, the story could do with a big more grounding.  However, we’re still early on in the series. There is so much potential and so much to enjoy in Saga that I’m not ready to give up on it yet. Instead, I’ll impatiently wait for the next one, just like everyone else.