From the Bookshelf of SpecFic Buddy Reads…

Saga, Volume 1

Brian K. Vaughan (Writer),

Fiona Staples (Illustrator)

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May 01, 2018 Dennis rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels-comics-manga, fantasy, favorites

Recommended to Dennis by: Trish (to be perfectly honest, it was more blackmail than a recommendation)

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suggested I should read this. Because apparently I would risk the nerd police coming after me to arrest my stupid little ass if I didn’t. This may or may not have something to do with them receiving an anonymous call by (view spoiler)

I’m always open to friendly suggestions, of course. So I decided to give it a try.

Honestly, I don’t know a f------ thing about c ...more

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Mar 29, 2020 Di Maitland rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: children, fantasy, humorous, swords, war, action-girl, future, magic, non-humans, sci-fi

For all intents and purposes, this is the first Graphic Novel I've ever read. It makes me nervous about writing a review as I clearly have little expertise in the area. However, as this came recommended to be on the basis that I hadn't read any Graphic Novels before, I don't imagine I'll be the only one in this boat.

I read Saga Vol. 1 in a single sitting. Granted, it's not long, but it is very compelling. The story begins with the birth of Hazel, the progeny of a man and a woman from opposing wa For all intents and purposes, this is the first Graphic Novel I've ever read. It makes me nervous about writing a review as I clearly have little expertise in the area. However, as this came recommended to be on the basis that I hadn't read any Graphic Novels before, I don't imagine I'll be the only one in this boat.

I read Saga Vol. 1 in a single sitting. Granted, it's not long, but it is very compelling. The story begins with the birth of Hazel, the progeny of a man and a woman from opposing warring species who fell in love - think Romeo and Juliet but with a happier ending. On the run from the authorities of both sides, Marco, Alana and Hazel must make their way across Cleave to where they hope is a spaceship to take them off-planet. Along the way they bump into a few interesting characters, including Izabel, the torso of a ghost whose lower half was blown away by a landmine. It makes for some great imagery as you can imagine.

Fiona Staples did a wonderful job illustrating the series. Marco's curved rams horns made me want to go away and write a book about people with spectacular head ornaments. Alana's pixie wings and pixie haircut just made me want to be her. The Horrors were wonderfully horrific and The Stalk, bare-breasted and shoulder-stumped, nightmarish. I struggled to take Prince Robot IV and his ilk seriously, but considering you first meet them in flagrante I imagine that's rather the point.

Brian K Vaughan's dialogue was sharp, witty and, at times, laugh out loud funny.

"So noble" "Yeah" "You're not ditching your rayon, are you?" "Not a fucking chance"

"This is what I get for marrying a vegetarian! Even the goddamn plants want us dead!"

Alana, a strong, independent woman, is wonderfully balanced by Marco, a berserker trying to outrun his violent history and never quite managing it. They mock and banter but they're also soft and tender with each other, and welcoming to their new half-formed, night-only nanny. The Will, too, is seen to have a soft-side when he tries (and fails) to rescue a young sex worker. Only The Stalk is left to her evil ways and doesn't she get the end she deserves.

With all of these positives and few negatives springing to mind, it is perhaps harsh of me to award only 4*s. However, I can't escape the fact that I wanted more. The story had such potential I desperately wanted to keep reading; to get insight into their thoughts and feelings; to get backstory. In other words, I wanted a book not a Graphic Novel. But that's my problem, not theirs. All in all though, a fantastic read, and on Kindle Unlimited too! ...more

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May 19, 2019 Alexis rated it really liked it

Shelves: science-fiction, graphic-novels

4.5/5. Officially joining onto this bandwagon. I bought the first volume, and I suspect the following ones will be appearing on my shelf in short order.

I loved the characters. I loved the imagination in the designs (although the ties to clearly contemporary Earth style puzzled me a bit in a story that's taking place across the galaxy).

I adored the plot, although this did suffer from classic "first book in the series syndrome," wherein there are a lot of unanswered questions in the background, si ...more

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