Brian K. Vaughan is one of my favorite comic authors, perhaps because I encountered his work toward the beginning of my comic-reading career. Two Vaughan series in particular--Y: The Last Man, which follows the life of Yorrick Brown, last man alive after a virus targeting only males attacks the earth; and Runaways, charting the adventures of a group of teens who turn into superheroes after learning that their parents are super villains--top my list of comic favorites. Both series, as well as his Ex Machina series (review here) following Mitchell Hundred, architect-turned-superhero-turned-NYC-mayor by way of a freak accident giving him the ability to talk to machines which he uses to prevent the second twin tower from collapsing on 9/11, have concluded. So, when I learned that Vaughan had another series in progress, I knew I had to add it to my ever-growing list of comics to follow.
Not content to chart the lives of unusual humans in unlikely circumstances, in Saga Vaughan enters another world--or worlds, as the case may be--and introduces the plight of characters of a non-human nature. A never-ending inter-galactic war is taking place, in which beings from two worlds have taken their battle across the galaxy to involve other beings in the fight. In the middle of it are Marko and Alana, lovers from either side of the lines who have taken flight to give birth to Hazel, who has her mother's wings and her father's horns. Lest the precedent be set for cross-species love, the aristocratic caste from Landfall (who sport TV monitors as heads) send an envoy to the destroy the young couple; Freelancers have also been called to assassinate the couple--by none other than Marko's own people, in punishment for his betrayal of their kind.
So, Hazel and her folks clearly have the deck stacked against them from the start. It makes for a fast-paced race across space and time, with a whole cast of incredibly-imaginative species introduced. The first story arc does a good job introducing readers to this new world--enough so that I look forward to future releases with great anticipation.
Note: When adding labels to my post, I realized that Staples is the artist for another comic that I enjoyed. Entitled the Mystery Society (and reviewed here), it had only a 5-issue run. Here's hoping this collaboration lasts longer!
When the series opens, Nick Hammond--aka Nick Mystery--is on a mission to rescue two girls with the ability to harness the power of the atom who have been held in stasis by the government in a secret, high-security facility. While waiting for him at home, Nick's wife, Anastasia Collins, receives an unexpected visitor--a ghoul named Samantha Brooks/Secret Skull. Next on the scene is a robot containing the brain of Jules Verne.
Put this unlikely cast of characters together, and you have the Mystery Society--a group of eccentric idealists bent on getting to the truth of the matter and solving odd crimes. In this first trade, the society--fueled by Nick and Anastasia's sudden, immense wealth--dodges corrupt government officials and solves a case involving the disappearance of Edgar Allen Poe's skull.
Nicely drawn and witty, this isn't among the best of comic series I've read, but it's entertaining and it gets off the ground nicely in this opening trade. I'll likely tune in for later segments to see how the plot, the stylish couple, and their band of misfits develops.
