Saga: Compendium One

Rated R Star Wars

The first time I saw a cover for one of the Saga comics I thought there would be an epic story played out on those pages. Years went by before I finally picked up the compendium. It was worth the wait. Every chapter packs a punch and pulls you further in. I didn’t expect something so adult in nature but that same edginess allows for the creators to explore subjects Star Wars would never go near.

The sprawling list of characters, species, storylines, and adventures are a simulacrum for ideas and themes in the real world. From transgender experiences, species/race mixing, false wars, and income inequality, and hate crimes. The pages of Saga use fantasy and space adventure as a backdrop to some of the heaviest subjects. That’s what all great science fiction and fantasy does; Saga does it better than others.

Fair warning, it is a lot to take in and some of the material is definitely rated R. But if you can handle Game of Thrones and similar shows you will be rewarded with some gripping entertainment. More importantly, you’ll find some brilliant commentary on life, politics, and ideology woven in between the space high jinks and crushing moments. All of it vividly brought to life by the skillful hands of Fiona Staples and writing of Brian K. Vaughn.