Saga #20

By Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

There aren’t many series that come with as much anticipation on a monthly basis than Saga. It’s just one of those rare books that, at least after 20 issues, haven’t dipped in quality in an area. While there is the occasional hiatus here and there, it’s all forgivable for a great story.

One of the best things about this series is the fact that Brian K. Vaughan can take a random character and make them awesome in only a few panels. In fact, it happens in this very issue with a lowly custodian on the robot planet, which we instantly root for and like. These are not coincidences; Vaughan is just a great writer with the chops to make readers care about his story and the people in it. We can also start to see some seeds as to what could possibly split up Marko and Alana as drugs and flirting could potentially turn out to be a disaster for the couple. Vaughan may pull something out of left field though and just have those seeds stand as red herrings. While this issue was a bit slower for the most part, it was still a well written issue that will no doubt leave you with a grin on your face.

The artistic stylings of Fiona Staples on this series has been great, and this issue is also nicely drawn. Her attention to detail is what separates her from many of the other artists today. The little images on the screens of the robots that show up as they tell a story or the few trippy panels of Alana as she descends into a drug induced state make this issue just a little bit more special than your typical artist for hire book. Staples continues to draw new and interesting creatures that make the book more enjoyable too. Her creativity allows Vaughan’s writing to shine and vice versa. They are truly a well oiled machine at this point, and the readers reap the rewards.

Saga continues to impress by doing things the right way and developing interesting characters. While this was a slower issue that wasn’t action packed, it was still very entertaining because the people behind it care about what they are doing. At this point, Staples and Vaughan seem as if they can do no wrong, and until proven otherwise, it’s probably true.