I have been saving this graphic novel for AGES.

I bought it a while ago, intending to read it when I read Dragonfly in Amber, so that when the huge book took me longer to get through, I’d have a quick one to keep me on track with my reading goal.

Well, turns out I didn’t need to do that. So this book was still waiting for me to read it. And finally, I decided to do just that.

I don’t know how long this review will be. I’m not too great at reviewing graphic novels, since they’re very much more about the art than the words…but I’ll try. It just might be a bit shorter than my usual reviews.

Let’s talk about Saga Volume 2!

(Sorry for the awful photo. I didn’t plan one beforehand so the lighting was all dodgy and I had to make do with this mess)

Title: Saga Volume 2

Author: Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples

Publisher: Image Comics

Series Status: The 2nd book in the Saga graphic novel series

Genre: Graphic Novel, Sci-Fi

Number of Pages:  168

(Found on Goodreads)

SAGA is sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the universe. Thanks to her star-crossed parents Marko and Alana, newborn baby Hazel has already survived lethal assassins, rampaging armies, and horrific monsters, but in the cold vastness of outer space, the little girl encounters her strangest adventure yet… grandparents.

I’m glad to have finally continued on with this graphic novel series…or should I say…Saga?

(I apologise that was awful)

I’ll just get right into it.

As with the previous book, I loved the art style in this book so much. It has a slightly sketchy finish to it, which just makes me think someone is drawing the story out as they remember it, trying to get it all down quickly. But it’s not a mess of illegible doodles. It’s a good type of sketchy style, one that’s definitely been done on purpose. Wow I’m really bad at explaining.

And it’s not just the style I love, but the way colours are used. The colour theme would change depending on the character’s surroundings and the atmosphere, making it very easy to follow. Each section would be a different colour scheme, adding to the Sci-Fi feel of the story because come on, sometimes the sky would be bright red or the floor blue. Depends which planet you’re on at the time. I just love it when colours are used as an atmosphere change rather than just a fill-in.

The art is easily the thing I’m most impressed with when it comes to this series. It is for most graphic novels. But obviously, the story is enjoyable too – otherwise I wouldn’t want to read it.

Now, with this being the second book in the series, I knew what to expect. (Though I have to admit, I forgot just how weird this book could be at times). With how much I enjoyed the first volume, I think I expected a little bit too much. Because while I enjoyed this second volume…I felt like nothing really happened? Aside from finding out more backstory for the main characters, I honestly don’t think the story progressed much at all.

And when it came to the backstories, they confused me slightly. There would be flashback chapters to explain something a little more, but they were really made clear. You’d just suddenly be back at the beginning of the story (or even before the story) and would have to figure it out by what they said. Not too much of an issue, but I feel like just a simple date or the word “before” at the start of the chapter could have saved me those moments of confusion.

I did enjoy the flashbacks though. You know, once I figured out they were flashbacks. I liked seeing a bit more into the “before”, seeing how things got so bad before this point.

So yeah.

As a second installment, I do think the plot of this volume lacked somewhat. Obviously, things happened, but there didn’t seem to be much in the way of action. And I definitely thought there were a few unnecessary rude parts drawn in – like sex scenes shown on screens somewhere in the picture even though it had absolutely nothing to do with the scene. Heads up: this is not a graphic novel series for either the young or for people who don’t want to see sexual things. There’s not loads but there’s enough. 

BUT, it was an enjoyable story. I didn’t not like it. It was a quick read, and kept me intrigued throughout. AND THE CLIFFHANGER. I definitely want the next volume!

Rated 3/5 stars

Amazon

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Share your thoughts!

Have you read this book/series? What did you think?

If you haven’t read it, would you like to?

Let me know in the comments!

Until next time…

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