Well, Saga looks like it might be the exception to the rule. I borrowed the first two volumes from someone and within the first couple of pages I was completely hooked.
So the action starts on Cleave, a planet that has been co-opted into a galaxy-wide war between a planet, Landfall, and its moon, Wreath, where two soldiers from opposite sides of the war have fallen in love and deserted their armies. In the opening scenes they become parents and immediately have to go on the run to protect their newborn daughter because it seems the entire galaxy is after them.
This book honestly had it all. Action, plot, characterisation, humour, great art ... Colour me completely impressed. The whole world (galaxy) that Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples have created is unbelievably creative - every few pages I was wowing over another really cool thing they’d produced. The worldbuilding gives you a perfect amount of insight into the galaxy without it feeling infodumpy.
Despite the fact this volume is quite short and you’re only learning about stuff with pictures and dialogue, I thought there was masses of action and a well developed plot. And the characterisation is brilliant. Ask me how much I love Alana and Marko. The answer is: a lot. And I liked that the whole thing is narrated by Hazel, Alana and Marko’s baby, memoir-style.
The story is a perfect balance of humour and emotion with some bizarre, crazy-imaginative inventions. My highlights: tree spaceship, lie detector cat, dismembered ghost babysitters, seahorse people, assassins and the coolest husband and wife team ever.
5 stars