Out of the countless words to describe Image Comic's Saga, "memorable" is at the top of the list. Created by writer Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man) and artist Fiona Staples (Archie), the sci-fi epic follows star-crossed lovers Alana and Marko as they raise their daughter Hazel in the middle of a galactic war between their two species: the winged, technologically advanced Landfallians, and the horned, magic-casting Wreathers.
Throughout its run, Saga has won numerous awards and been overwhelmingly praised by readers. After six years on shelves, Vaughan announced the comic would take an extended hiatus. While the wait continues for the second half of the story, let's take a look back at its ten most memorable quotes. The following list has full spoilers for the first 54 chapters of Saga.
10 Hazel Explains How A Family Works - Volume 7, Chapter 40
Hazel: "If a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, then a family is more like a rope. We're lots of fragile little strands, and we survive by becoming hopelessly intertwined with each other."
Family, one of the core themes of Saga, is depicted as a consistent support system throughout the story. Yes, Vaughan's characters are flawed, but belonging to a caring network provides a security blanket for them as they navigate the universe.
Vaughan stresses that family goes beyond blood. Throughout the series, Alana, Marko, and Hazel are joined by a diverse roster of characters from all types of backgrounds. These individuals may bicker, but they all strive to support each other, even if it's subtle in some cases.
9 Marko Sacrifices An Ancient Heirloom - Volume 1, Chapter 6
Alana: I thought that sword's been in your family for a thousand generations!"
Marko: "It's still just a thing, Alana. Besides...you're my family now."
After being on the run on Cleave, Alana and Marko find a way off the planet with the help of ghost Izabel. She leads the family to the Rocketship Forest, where she unveils a hidden treehouse rocketship. But before the vessel can take off, a valuable sacrifice must be made.
Marko offers his old family sword, which draws protest from Alana. He promptly breaks it with his knee and causes the rocketship's doors to open. While the moment was brief, the sacrifice was in keeping with Vaughan's most important message in Saga: family over everything.
8 Noreen Teaches Hazel A Lesson - Volume 6, Chapter 34
Noreen: "...Anyone who thinks one book has all the answers hasn't read enough books."
Trapped in a Landfallian detention center, Hazel tells her injured teacher about her parents' greatest source of wisdom: author D. Oswald Heist. In response, Miss Noreen politely tells Hazel something that her future self confesses "stuck" with her.
One of the more meta comments by Vaughan, the quote has several interpretations. The first could be the humble writer telling his readers to not rely on Saga too heavily for wisdom. Another interpretation is that it's a criticism of religion and getting life-guiding information from one source.
7 Prince Robot IV Reads Advice - Volume 2, Chapter 12
Prince Robot IV: "Never worry what other people think of you, because no one ever thinks of you."
A royal family member of the Landfall-allied Robot Kingdom, Prince Robot IV travels to the planet Quietus in search of Alana and Marko. He captures Heist, a likely destination for the couple, and recites his own words to him.
Vaughan has said that Saga was about exploring parenthood. While that often comes from Alana and Marko raising Hazel, it can sometimes be found in other areas of the comic. The quote is what a parent would say to their child, only twisted to fit within the Saga universe.
6 The Will Rescues Slave Girl On Sextillion - Volume 1, Chapter 4
Slave Girl: "I’m six. And I'll do anything you want."
The Will: "Then close your eyes."
Depressed after the death of a former lover, Wreath-hired bounty hunter The Will seeks solace on Sextillion, a planet-wide brothel serving Landfallian soldiers and various civilians. He is taken to the Inner Core, which holds the planet's most valuable employees, to meet Slave Girl (later named Sophie).
Disgusted at her young age, The Will smashes the head of the Sextilllion pimp with his hands. The scene was significant because it showed how dark the comic could go. Also, it served as a memorable introduction to The Will, an important villain in Saga.
5 Barr Sacrifices Himself For The Family - Volume 2, Chapter 11
Alana: "Barr, be careful! Your heart--"
Barr: "--is down in the engine room."
A recurring theme in Saga is the harshness of life. From the story's start, Alana and Marko face countless issues that arise throughout their dangerous journey. But for the first time in the comic, they deal with something they will never truly come back from: the death of a loved one.
Caught near a dangerous space fetus known as a Timesuck, the couple's rocketship is endangered of being destroyed. Barr, Marko's father, casts a risky spell to give the vessel enough energy to flee. It manages to escape from the Timesuck's range but the spell's strain is too much for the Wreath elder.
4 Lying Cat Detects A Lie - Volume 1 to Volume 9
Lying Cat: "Lying."
There are many creative creations in Saga, and Lying Cat is certainly one of them. Like the rest of her species, Lying Cat says "lying" whenever she hears deliberate false statements -- a skill that makes her a valuable asset around unfamiliar or untruthful parties. However, it is a double-edged sword since she will call out allies' lies as well.
Vaughan has said that Saga "politicians long ago outlawed the entire Lying Cat species from ever even approaching them.” Lying Cat was the Sidekick of The Will before going on to accompany Sophie and Gwendolyn, Marko's first fiancee. Like Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy, she has become a fan favorite for the catchphrase.
3 Hazel Foreshadows Alana and Marko's Split - Volume 4, Chapter 19
Hazel: "This is the story of how my parents split up."
With the family hiding on planet Gardenia, Alana and Marko argue for keeping a low profile. The scene was interesting because it reversed the traditional gender roles and had Marko feeling an imbalance because he was the one not employed. But as the couple makes up, the comic's narration displays the shocking line above them.
Using future Hazel's knowledge of present events, Vaughan spoils his own story with a dramatic twist. While readers eventually learn the beloved couple would only be physically separated due to Alana's kidnapping, the line was enough for them to assume the worst.
2 Hazel Reflects On Her Parents - Volume 9, Chapter 54
Hazel: "...Thanks to these two, at least I get to grow old. Not everyone does."
Having finally caught up with Hazel's family, The Will fights Marko aboard a spacecraft. The two struggle before Marko emerges victorious. With The Will unconscious, Marko decides to spare his life, shortly before the bounty hunter fatally stabs him in the back.
The grim chapter ends with a direct call back to the comic's beginning. At the end of chapter one, Hazel narrates how her parents were responsible for her growing old and how others didn't share her fortune. In the wake of Marko's death, the quote has a new poignant context.
1 Alana Gives Birth to Hazel - Volume 1, Chapter 1
Alana: "Am I shitting? It feels like I’m shitting!"
Like with a TV pilot, a comic's first issue sets the initial impressions -- not only does it preview the tone but it implies what readers can expect in the future. Fittingly, Vaughan starts his space opera epic with a one-page spread of Alana's disgruntled face as she gives birth to Hazel.
The moment is crude, humorous, and sets up expectations perfectly as readers are given a sample of Saga simply and memorably. Also, Alana's dialogue introduces her light personality perfectly and encapsulates the embarrassing side of parenting -- a recurring theme of Saga.