Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples, co-creators of the award-winning comic book series Saga, elaborated on how Hazel's role in the story will change with Saga's return in January 2022.
Vaughan and Staples revealed to EW that Hazel will become more of a driving force in the epic space opera. Although Hazel is arguably Saga's focal point, the 54 issues to date primarily center around her parents Alana and Marko as they navigate the universe and try to keep their daughter safe. However, as Hazel ages, fans can expect more scenes with her at the forefront as she develops her own goals, interests and hobbies and comes to terms with her feelings about those around her.
"She's thinking about her future and what she wants to be, she's finding out what she loves doing," Staples said. "So yeah, she's definitely more of a main character in that sense. We are spending more time getting to know her." Vaughan, however, was quick to clarify that Saga remains, at its heart, a tale about Hazel's entire family, not just the half-Wreath, half-Landfall child.
"It was very deliberate to call the book Saga and not Epic or something, because Saga always has that family component" Vaughan said. "I think [Staples is] right that Hazel is becoming the hub more, but it's still a story about a family, and her family is expanding in unpredictable ways."
Released in 2012, Saga has become one of the most celebrated comic book series of all time, amassing 12 Eisner Awards and 17 Harvey Awards between 2013 and 2017. It follows husband and wife Marko and Alana who fall in love despite the long-standing galactic war between their homelands. After the birth of their daughter Hazel in the first issue of the series, the young family journeys through different fantastical worlds and places as they evade the various bounty hunters, military personnel and even members of royalty enlisted by the warring authorities.
Saga went on an extended hiatus after its first half concluded with the release of Issue #54 in July 2018, with no specific date as to when it would return. Fans were left waiting with no news for around three years until Vaughan and Staples revealed at this year's New York Comic Con that Saga will return on Jan. 26, 2022 with Saga #55's release. The upcoming issue will be double the length of a normal issue, while still being $2.99 as usual.
Source: EW