After a controversial sequel trilogy, both The Mandalorian and the final season of The Clone Wars have received an incredible reception, and Star Wars fans are looking forward to the future of the franchise, eagerly anticipating the new shows announced for Disney Plus and fresh stories set in the new High Republic era. But aspiring Jedi, Rebels, and Imperials who are getting impatient with the wait should turn their attention to another comic series that is well worthy of their attention.
Saga, an ongoing comic series by writer Michael K. Vaughn and artist Fiona Staples tells a story about a young family searching for its place in the universe amidst an interstellar war. The central conflict between technologically advanced Landfall Coalition and the magical moon of Wreath has metathesized, with both sides outsourcing their conflict to countless planets and worlds. When two combatants on opposing sides fall in love and conceive a child however, they unwittingly becoming a disruptive symbol of forbidden peace. Harried by bounty hunters, former allies, and other parties trying to capitalize on their sensational story, Marko and Alana have no choice but to flee for their lives. Like Star Wars, the scene is set for an incredible, family-driven adventure.
Since its initial release in 2013, Saga has made major waves in the comic book world, winning a literal dozen Eisner Awards, as well as numerous Harvey awards, and Staples has claimed the Joe Schuster and Inkwell All-In-One awards for her artwork. But sci-fi fans could be forgiven for never having heard of the comic, as the creators have declined offers from studios to adapt the comic for the screen, as Vaughn feels the necessary technology and production capabilities aren't quite there yet.
A Universe of Possibilities
The story of Saga is narrated in retrospect from Hazel, the daughter of the titles' star-crossed lovers, Marko and Alana. While the comic's initial arcs read like a romance, the narrative quickly grows complicated. The core cast grows to include Izabel, an alien ghost who acts as a baby sitter; Prince Robot IV, royalty from a race of television-headed droids; a bounty hunter, The Will, who has been hired to catch the couple, and his partner, Lying Cat; an enormous green sphinx, with the inherent ability to announce when people are lying.
This ensemble, which shrinks, expands, and changes over the course of the comic, allows the creators to tell a multifaceted story that hits many Star Wars bases. Hazel has the makings for a Skywalker-like child of destiny, on a collision course to alter the fate of the galaxy, while Marko and Alana are the perfect parents, which is to say they are deeply flawed, totally human, and desperate to protect their child and each other, offering a glimpse of what Han and Leia's post original-trilogy relationship might have looked like. Mandalorian fans will love to follow The Will as he tracks down "the good guys." And while he lacks the gravitas of Darth Vader, Prince Robot makes a compelling, chilling antagonist.
Above all though, Vaughn and Staples' world is brimming with potential. Anything feels possible, but the lasting consequences of characters' actions makes everything feel grounded and believable despite the often-surreal scenarios and settings. Marko's race has access to a form of magic that requires interesting payments, including vocally expressing secrets. Prince Robot, apart from projecting images on his monitor that betray his thoughts, has a personality as rich as any droid in Star Wars, and the ability to form a Mega Man-esque cannon in place of his hand. And Lying Cat even addresses the essential, cute-companion component of Star Wars, as represented by The Mandalorian's Grogu, Ewoks, BB-8, and R2D2.
Pushing Boundaries
It must be said that Saga is not Star Wars, nor does it attempt to be. The series deals with sex and sexuality in a way that is often explicit, occasionally heartbreaking, and always brutally honest. In comparison, Star Wars seems somewhat prudish. And while Star Wars has had some legendary character deaths, Vaughn kills off beloved characters with an abruptness and savagery to rival George R.R. Martin. Saga's antagonists are also extremely nuanced and possess relatable motivations, as opposed to the stark morality of Jedi vs. Sith and Rebel vs. Empire. And Saga also has mild, slice-of-life elements that explore family dynamics and the trials of parenthood—things that would feel bizarrely mundane in an average Star Wars property.
These elements serve to make Saga considerably weirder than Star Wars, both for better and for worse. At its most sedate, Saga is as strange as Luke and Obi-Wan's initial arrival at Mos Eisley's cantina where the tough-looking crowd is brimming with bizarre aliens. There is always an awesome sense of wonder, in both the art and world-building that suffuses Saga. But at its weirdest, the series only resembles Star Wars if it were dragged through a horrifying funhouse mirror of bizarre Skyrim mods.
The Long Wait
As a result of these surreal qualities, and the near-constant circulation of characters, there are moments in Saga where it feels like Vaughn and Staples may have lost the plot or jumped the shark. But it is also readily apparent that the creators are playing a very long game, and when the story seems to meander or threatens to lag, everything comes full circle and propels the characters into the next arc. Saga is planned to run for 108 total issues, and only 54 have been published to date. And the unfortunate catch is, the series has been on hiatus for nearly three years.
Luckily, there is no risk of Staples and Vaughn abandoning the project. Earlier this year, Vaughn stated that the series would be resuming soon, and that it would be well worth the wait that fans have endured. New readers who jump into Saga now will likely only have to wait a few scant months before the series resumes. And even if Vaughn's estimation is overly optimistic, a three-to-four year wait for new blockbusters—or high profile game releases—is nothing new to life-long Star Wars fans.
Saga is available now at comic shops and bookstores everywhere.