<–Saga: Volume 6 Saga: Volume 8–>
*******Spoilers for all the volumes prior.*******
Title: Saga, Volume 7
Series Title: Saga
Authors: Brian K. Vaughn & Fiona Staples
Date Added: June 11, 2017
Date Started: June 24, 2017
Date Finished: July 2, 2017
Reading Duration: 8 days
Genre: Graphic Novel/Comic, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Space Opera, LGBTQ+
Pages: 152
Publication Date: April 4, 2017
Publisher: Image Comics
Media: Paperback
From the worldwide bestselling team of Fiona Staples and Brian K. Vaughan, “The War for Phang” is an epic, self-contained Saga event! Finally reunited with her ever-expanding family, Hazel travels to a war-torn comet that Wreath and Landfall have been battling over for ages. New friendships are forged and others are lost forever in this action-packed volume about families, combat and the refugee experience.
Be warned, this volume of Saga is absolutely devastating. When I reached the final pages, I just sat there, turning them with my mouth agape and tears streaming from my unblinking eyes. Image and word combined into heartbreaking artistry, and I’m thankful the author promised the next volume will be more upbeat. I don’t think I could take another story line like “The War for Phang.”
Phang is a comet and the original home of Sophie (originally known only as Slave Girl), the child rescued from Sextillion by The Will. During a flashback, if you pay close attention to one of the panels, you can see her being sold to that monster the freelancer took her from. Phang is a battleground for Wreath and Landfall, and it’s where Hazel, her family, and their strange array of allies find themselves. Though some of the alliances are tenuous at best, the cadre does show “wings,” “horns,” ghosts, and androids can work together for a common goal.
The natives of Phang, or at least the little ferret like creatures the group befriends, have developed a fatalistic religious system, which makes sense given that their “planet” just wanders through space. They’re used to an apocalypse a day, giving them a “boy who cried wolf” philosophy where the end of the world is the wolf and they’re the lackadaisical shepherds. The greater powers’ feud for their planet is as commonplace as strife in our world. Phang is rich with fuel, so it’s subjected to the equivalent “war for oil” by higher powers where the natives are left just as bereft.
The cleverness and intricacies that punctuate Saga continue to shine through with a brief flash of Sir Robot reading D. Oswald Heist (the author of the story that jump-started Alana and Marko’s relationship and therefore the…saga itself) and a more detailed and disturbing sequence where Hazel and her friend Kurti (a Phang native) watch the dreams that play out on his screen.
Saga is unafraid to make vital statements and poignant comparisons. The one that stood out for me in this volume involved Isabelle’s conversation with Petrichor, the trans woman from Wreath, about how Hazel also had to hide her body. It makes the little girl’s reveal to her in the last volume all the more significant when this realization hits. So many people want to exploit Hazel for what she is, and though she’s only a child, she still has a fundamental understanding that her body is what it is, and it shouldn’t have to be concealed. As it stands, Miss Petri (as Hazel lovingly calls her) is the only living, non-familial character who knows Hazel’s secret and has never tried to exploit her for it.
I might have mentioned it before, but this is probably the most inclusive narrative let alone graphic novel (though I haven’t read that many of those) I’ve ever seen. Most of the humans/humanoid characters are people of color with the only two who are definitely white being The Will and The Brand. (quick side note: all freelance assassins seem to have an animal companion/familiar, though now I can’t recall if The Stalk had one, too. She was half-spider herself though…). Marko, his family, Petrichor (and it seems all of the Wreathians) seem to be coded as Latinx (though of course I could be wrong about that), Alana, Gwendolyn, Sophie, and Heist are all black, as are some more side characters, and Saga’s overwhelming success easily quashes the belief that inclusive narratives belong on the fringe (even were this the case, that would only imply a detriment in our culture and not in the stories themselves).
Though I guessed at some of the tragedy that would occur in this book, fore knowledge did nothing to lessen the blow. Almost serving as a standalone (though any new readers would be better served starting at the beginning), the “War for Phang” shows that reunions can end in tragedy and new friends can leave you as easily as old.
Now I wait for Volume 8…
5 stars.
<–Saga: Volume 6 Saga: Volume 8–>
The Shameful Narcissist Speaks 
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This series loks sooo good! I can’t wait to start reading it. I’ve heard nothing but great things! Thank you for the review!
-Luna 🙂
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I’m *so* glad you picked up Saga. It really is one of the absolute best comic series of all time. I was in a similar state of mind when I reached the final page… and now the wait for volume 8 is completely agonizing.
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Just checked — January 2, 2018. Are we there yet?
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Ugh I know. I was thinking of pre-ordering so I could get it on the day, but now I’m wondering if that’s just the 2018 placeholder like Squeenix did for FFVII Remake.
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Their pre-order dates have been spot on so far.
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Me too! I was worried that no other gn would be able to hold up after that lol. Thankfully, though I haven’t found ones quite as good, I’m still loving that medium. Talk about a quick way to pad your book count 😀
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The only series so far that even comes close to Saga for me is Low, and book 4 for that comes out on the 20th this month. If you’re after something to read in the meantime, maybe give that one a shot through your library? It’s great.
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I’ve read Locke & Key, which was decent, but I read it right after Saga, so I was being kind of judgy lol. Monstress is pretty good, but it’s hella confusing. There’s so much going on, but the art is fucking exquisite.
Whoa…so I looked up Low. Instant SOMA vibes. Do NOT do this to me lol. I’m trying to utilize my library with GN more, because they’re getting expensive to buy.
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I really liked the art in Monstress, but yeah, I had no idea what I was reading half the time.
Low is super rad! Lots of neat characters and locales.
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Great review! I love the character diversity in this series. Also, I was NOT prepared for that ending… 😦
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Omg that ending KILLED me. I never thought I could have such feels for an overly religious, alien ferret.
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Ugggh, this volume. So good and yet so absolutely soul crushing. I felt emotionally gutted at the end. The wait for volume 8 is gonna be torture, but I look forward to it. Saga is such an amazing series with such fantastic characters. I, too, am glad the next volume is gonna be a much happier and lighter one. I think we’ll all need it after that ending. *cries forever*
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I didn’t know what to do with myself after I was done with it. I’m happy 8 is coming out soon, and one of my blogger buddies ensures me that they’re pretty good with the release dates (unlike some video game companies and famous authors who shall remain nameless).
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That’s good to hear! 🙂 And yeah, I agree. I just kind of sat there with the comic still in my hands, feeling gutted and trying to just process all the sadness I just soaked in. lol
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I’m glad 8 is coming out soon, and one of my blogger buddies ensures me that they’re pretty undecomposed with the expiration dates (unlike some video recording plot companies and far-famed authors who shall stay unknown). I was thought process of pre-ordering so I could experience it on the daytime, but now I’m wondering if that’s just the 2018 placeholder like Squeenix did for FFVII refashion.
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One of my blogger buddies says they’re pretty good with their release dates lol. I was thinking the same thing though, because I know Squeeniz put December 18 or something for the Remake’s release date, but that was just so that people could preorder it. They’ll probably move the goalpost once it gets closer or to that date. I’m hoping Saga 8 comes out when they say it will. I need to know what happens next!
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I’m hoping saga 8 comes out when they enounce it will. I’m well-chosen 8 is coming out soon, and one of my blogger buddies ensures me that they’re pretty expert with the loss dates (unlike some video recording biz companies and notable authors who shall rest unnamed).
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A friend told me that apparently they are REALLY good with their release dates, too, so I think we’re safe on that. I know exactly what notable author you’re referring to :p
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