Komal's Reviews > Saga #1

This was my first experience with a graphic novel. I'd read several manga before, but to see huge, fleshy coloured pages with characters who, for once, are devoid of big eyes and huge grins was a gust of fresh air. Now, I don't know a thing about graphic novels and have little idea about what specific factors and particular issues to look for and comment on in one, therefore my review would be somewhat spontaneous and trying its best to tackle this new face of entertainment.

Saga opens with a dramatic stance and it guarantees that you read the whole issue in one sitting. It starts with quite an uncanny couple--Marko and Alana--who are lovers that have deserted their homelands and people for the sake of getting away from the never-ending war between their races and to find peace to raise a family. Both the characters are equally capturing and we're introduced to the rest of the Saga universe here as well.

Along with the traditional-clothed, magic-bearing horned species (from wither Marko comes) and the gunmen dressed fully in a scifi movie attire (Alana's people) we have a royal family of a human-bodied race with TV screens for heads, a cutthroat lone gunslinger (who appears completely human, thank god, for I thought there would be none in here) and huge flying monsters with red eyes and fire breaths.
Character interaction between the husband and the wife are quite enjoyable, speckled with humor, sarcasm and pure affection. Although, this was just the beginning issue, it could be safe to say that the series is at least partially character-driven, if not fully.

The story, so far, isn't anything new on the face of the earth from what I could tell. Two races, two wars, forbidden love, forced alliances, hired killer agents etc. Obviously, there's little to focus on the literature part, considering this is a comic. Brainless reading, dudes. Indulge yourselves in the little pictures.
Probably what drew me in was the interracial love since this topic of discrimination has been on my mind as of late. But there's a whole lot more to Saga than two star-crossed youths, with different-coloured skins, fighting a war of their own. I'm pretty sure we'll see whole new twists ahead as the plot thickens. I've only just begun, after all.

The artwork though... quite soft on the eyes. All the desired effects are present within the caricatures and I can see the characters in motion within my mind. It's a still movie, if you will. I loved the colours. Fiona Staples is a big name in the comic world, apparently.

Conclusion
I liked my first graphic novel experience. I'm going to read on.
It was a dilemma to pick between Watchmen and Batman, but in the end I just grabbed Saga. Superheroes can wait while I bite into this new, promising stuff.