Review: Saga, Vol. 8 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Posted January 3, 2018 by Jessica in Graphic Novel, Jessica, Reviews, Science Fiction / 1 Comment

Saga, Vol. 8 by Brian K. Vaughan
Series: Saga #8
Published by Image Comics
Published on: December 27 2017
Genres: Graphic Novel, Science Fiction
Pages: 152
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased

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After the traumatic events of the War for Phang, Hazel, her parents, and their surviving companions embark on a life-changing adventure at the westernmost edge of the universe. Collects SAGA #43-48

So here’s the deal: I binge read the first six volumes of SAGA, and it was gutting. Then like the long term SAGA fans, I had to endure the eight month wait for the next volume, which was also gutting.

The point being, I’ve never had a SAGA reading experience that didn’t involve an intense emotional response.

Until now, that is.

And it’s messing with me.

Overall, this was still a good edition in a series that is mind-blowing . . . But it still feels less.

If it was just an issue of nothing horrible (or worse, tragically realistic) happening, I would probably brush it off as my own adrenaline junkie tendencies being unsatisfied, but that’s not the case. There was definitely a situation meant to continue the grand shred-your-heart (b/c adulting is HARD) tradition that is this series.

I mean, come on . . . It’s called SAGA, a title as simple as it is portentous.

BUT.

For whatever reason, this situation read as less genuine and more convoluted. Or maybe it was just so awful that my mind refused to accept it.

And now that I’ve been able to put the above sentiment into words, I’ve found the core of my issue: rather than this volume’s gutting being the result of events that are painfully REAL, portraying life’s joys and miseries as a seamless tapestry, as beautiful as it is hideous, for the first time . . . It felt a bit contrived.

In a pain-for-pain’s-sake kind of way.

I bloody hate that.

Then to add insult to injury, the unnecessary pain was ultimately rendered pointless. View Spoiler »

The pointlessness cheapened the loss this family was dealt in volume seven.

So yeah, like I said, this one’s messing with me.

But moving on from that, there was still a lot of awesome. I found the whole “monsters” plot line particularly gratifying. Hindsight is indeed 20/20. View Spoiler » <———exactly the kind of thing I’ve come to expect from SAGA. SO. Not terrible, but not as epic as Vaughan has consistently proven himself capable of.

Saga:

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Jessica Haluska

My name is Jessica and I live in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I’m trying my hand at writing, but mostly I read. My favorite genres are Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, and the YA versions of those genres, but if there is a book of a different color getting lots of buzz, I’ll read it too, just to be informed. If I’m not reading or writing, I’m probably on Goodreads or Pinterest or baking blueberry pies because I love them.