Monday, March 7, 2022

Saga #55 (and #56) Dramatis Personae

This year witnesses the return of several independent series, among which is Saga by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples. The failure of the television adaptation of Y: The Last Man may allow Saga to arise to greater heights. I must confess that I did not read all issues of Staples' interim project about magic and sisterly betrayal.
 
Saga is the story of Hazel, the child of two races whose war has consumed the galaxy, enlisting the other races to whom this did not matter. Elsewhere I have compared this to the genesis of Peloponnesian War, and perhaps it will have a similarly devastating end; but this is unlikely to occur until our protagonist is older. The purpose of a first issue, especially after such a gap, is to reintroduce the themes and characters; as a wise man once since, every story is someone's first story. Thus Saga #55 reintroduces our protagonist Hazel, a blasphemy according to both races, a bit older and in denial of some of the trauma she carries (but with a sweet hat); Squire, the former heir of the Robot Kingdom (which is a kingdom of humanoids with televisions for heads), who has obvious trauma; Alana, Hazel's mother and provider, although she is not doing a particularly good job at it; and a newcomer, Bombazine, her employee who looks like a refugee from a stage play of Oz. The rocket tree which they call home also makes its return. The bounty hunters The Will (the article is mandatory), Gwendolyn, and fan favorite Lying Cat also appear.

Saga, as with many works focused on an underage protagonist, may lead the unwary or simple-minded to believe that this comic is "safe" for children. Although each child is different, this reintroduction goes out of its way to include suicide, police brutality, coition, adverse childhood experiences, a false accusation of child abuse by a child thief, as well as smuggling of adult "food". The greatest potential of preadolescent protagonists are adventures in the 'real' world, but that does not mean the audience is children.

Update:
Saga #66 is now out. This issue introduces new characters and a new setting. The dreams of the new crew are not what one would have expected. The colors are bright, but the content is fairly dark.

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