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Saga #54 Review: Why Would You Do This to Me, Vaughan and Staples?

Marko has found Prince Robot dead at the hands of The Will. Marko attacks the bounty hunter and tackles him into his own ship. The two brawl viciously as the ship leaves the planet. This means that Marko and the Will are on their own in this fight. Alana, Petrichor, Hazel, Squire, and the others are back on the beach. Marko will have to beat The Will if he is to make it back to his family.

Saga #54 cover by Fiona Staples
Saga #54 cover by Fiona Staples

Saga #54 is the last issue before the hiatus we reported upon a few days back (which is also announced in the letters page of Saga #54). Brian K. Vaughan (whose name I had been misspelling prior to that article, for which I apologize) and Fiona Staples are taking a break from the comic which is expected to last at least a year, and, like I said in that prior article, I think this can only be good for the book in the long run.

It will be a rough wait. Saga #54 is an excellent book, featuring a life-or-death struggle for two of its most beloved characters. This isn't a shootout, an expert sword duel, skilled martial arts combat, or a superpower showdown. This is just two men who have lost a lot of people just trying to stay alive and do right by those they have lost.

The ending is a damn shocker, and, even though this comic came out almost a week back (sorry, playing catch-up here), I don't want to spoil that ending. It's a tear-jerker though, I won't lie about that.

Saga #54 art by Fiona Staples
Saga #54 art by Fiona Staples

Fiona Staples is a master of sequential art, and this comic, which is largely wordless, is another example of how good she is. The fight is brutal and visceral. The body language and facial expressions do a good job of showing the characters' headspace even in this intense fray. The color work is near-perfect. Everything about this comic just clicks so well.

Saga #54 sends the series into its hiatus with a massive gut-punch that will leave readers eagerly, desperately awaiting its return. It's a wonderful read, even if the book is an emotional beatdown. I cannot recommend this one enough. Give it a read.



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Joshua DavisonAbout Joshua Davison

Josh is a longtime super hero comic fan and an aspiring comic book and fiction writer himself. He also trades in videogames, Star Wars, and Magic: The Gathering, and he is also a budding film buff. He's always been a huge nerd, and he hopes to contribute something of worth to the wider geek culture conversation. He is also happy to announce that he is the new Reviews Editor for Bleeding Cool. Follow on Twitter @joshdavisonbolt.
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