Saga #36

Previously in Saga #35

This might be the best issue in the series so far.

It had everything that makes Saga amazing: a daring mission, lots of humor (most inappropriate), a shocking revelation, and still some of the most beautiful art in the business. Seriously, Fiona Staples is a fucking beast. Look at this cover.

I’d hoped that Marko would reach Hazel before her teacher, Ms. Noreen, smuggled her away. I was getting a bit fatigued with the family being kept apart and I’ve had enough near misses watching Game of Thrones. Thankfully, Marko arrives just as Ms. Noreen’s plan is about to be shot to shit. Once he gets over his mother’s prison face tats, he has a beautiful reunion with his daughter, who remembers her daddy. Marko is further shocked by his mother’s plan to remain behind, unwilling to burden Marko and Alana any longer. Petrichor, on the other hand, has no problem taking her place in the escape and transports aboard their ship before anyone can stop her.

This leads to, hands down, one of the funniest panels in any comic book ever as Prince Robot IV assumes Marko sent the wrong “moony” and then becomes hilariously and fiercely protective of Hazel.

This issue marked the end of the current arc and the beginning of a 3-month hiatus. To that end, this might be the closest this series has come to a happy ending. The Will is about to kill Prince Robot’s offspring when his sister appears – much like The Stalk does – and talks him down. She tells him to take his ass to Gwendolyn (the woman who calls him on his shit is what she actually said, but I’m assuming). He leaves a few fingers shy thanks to Ghus being ’bout that life. As for Doff and Upsher, they’re stranded in the middle of nowhere, but happy to be alive.

Considering the big reveal at the end of the issue, I wouldn’t be surprised if we return to a significant time jump in August. I’m fine with that considering Hazel’s reunion with her parents was so satisfying simply due to their expressions when they saw each other (like I said, Fiona Staples is a beast); I don’t need much more than that.

If you haven’t already, check out the back matter of this issue. There are some fantastic fan Saga cosplay like below.