Over ten months have passed since Saga #66, but it returns today with a new story arc. Hazel is a bit older, Alana is still navigating a world without her true love, Marko, and Squire is turning into a typical mopey teen. Oh, and they’re all living with a circus and working there, too. A space circus is a great way to get around, but does it keep the family hidden enough in a universe that’s out to get them?
Saga #67 opens with a strange alien worm ringmaster performing magic. Soon, we learn that Hazel and a friend are in charge of getting a nervous dolphin-looking creature onto the stage to finish the ringmaster’s trick. It’s a nice introduction to twelve-year-old Hazel, who is kind but also assertive. We also get a check-in with Alana, and overall, Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples establish the status quo at the circus quite well. Of course, there’s some good low-brow comedy.
Once that’s established, the Will enters the tale with a nice check-in. He’s no longer thirsty for vengeance but sullen and still grieving from the loss of his daughter. In a nice reminder, characters close to him who died are still around. In a sense.
You won’t believe what this porpoise does on the next page.
Credit: Image
Squire might have the most tragic storyline going, though. He’s still a kid and yet all alone in his thoughts with the guilt of murdering someone a few issues ago. He thinks he can’t turn to his family so he escapes in a sci-fi VR headset. He feels like a loose cannon that could pop at any moment.
Alana may take the cake for the most fun in the story. Her role in the circus is apt, and there’s a nice connection to her soldier days. She can be a hardass again and wear that badge proudly. On the flip side, the cliffhanger suggests Hazel is about to embark on a new teen-friendly friend relationship that could shake things up.
Staples continues to do great work. The scene with many clowns might be the best, although the cliffhanger is a close second. Big splashy pages always seem to work due to her ability to capture anthropomorphism naturally. One gripe is the worm ringmaster, who is a little too awkward for his own good, but he’s also a worm with a giant ring through his head.
Saga #67 hits the ground running with a brand new life for our renegade heroes. It firmly establishes the new status quo of family life while subtly hinting at danger looming around the corner. With Saga, would we have it any other way?
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