Image Comics' Saga #56
- WRITER
- Brian K. Vaughan
- Artist
- Fiona Staples
- Letterer
- Fonografiks
- Cover Artist
- Fiona Staples
- Publisher
- Image Comics
- Price
- 2.99
- Release Date
- 2022-02-23
- Colorist
- Fiona Staples
Last month, Brian K Vaughan and Fiona Staples' fan-favorite series Saga made its triumphant return after a long hiatus. The new arc of one of Image Comics' most critically and commercially successful series introduced plenty of new characters and ideas while reuniting fans with their favorite crew of interplanetary fugitives. Saga #55 introduced a new dynamic to the series without sacrificing any of the elements that made the first half of the story so entertaining. Now Vaughan and Staples are throwing Hazel, Squire, and Alana into a den of thieves who introduce the family to a host of new experiences and grave danger in the excellent new Saga #56.
Saga #56 begins immediately after Hazel's family's ship is abducted by pirates. Despite their rude greeting, the bandits are surprisingly friendly once they meet Hazel and Squire. They give the children ice cream and show them music from all over the universe. When Skipper, the pirate captain, discovers Alana and Bombazine's drug stash, he offers her a chance to go into a legitimate business in exchange for embarking on a dangerous smuggling trip. It soon becomes clear that the pirates aren't as friendly as they seem.
Vaughan does a masterful job luring the reader into a false sense of security before reminding them of the constant danger that has characterized all 56 issues of Saga. Hazel's narration is charming and insightful, making it easy to root for her. When it seems like she and her family might have finally had a stroke of good luck, the audience wants to believe it despite the red flags. Vaughan's impeccable pacing makes it easy for him to take advantage of fans' optimism to amplify the surprising twist and raise the emotional stakes of the story. While laying the groundwork for the brutal twist, he also introduces the sordid worlds of piracy and music into the series. Hazel's exciting discovery of the guitar is wonderful, while her sense of joy and surprise is absolutely infectious.
Staples creates a menacing sort of wonderland aboard the skull-and-crossbones-shaped spaceship. The technicolor room full of music is remarkably overstimulating and fun. It's no wonder Hazel and Squire are enthusiastic about it despite Bombazine's cynicism. The ship's black, high ceilings, illuminated by small gold lights, mirror the vastness of space and contrast sharply with the warmth of Alana's ship. The captain's room is elaborately furnished to add yet another dynamic to the labyrinthine landscape. The pirate ship is the ideal setting for Saga #56 as Alana tries to navigate an unfamiliar situation to protect her family as best she can.
Saga #56 is full of surprises, whose ramifications are sure to shape upcoming issues. Vaughan's writing is as entertaining and thoughtful as ever, and every page of Staples' art is breathtaking. This issue helps kick off a new era for Alana and her family as they fall in with a band of pirates. The resulting series of adventures has the potential to be even more thrilling than everything they've already been through.