Saga #40

Previously in Saga #39

Saga #40 | Art by: Fiona Staples | Written by: Brian K. Vaughan | Letters & Design by: Fonografiks

We’re headed towards the end of the “War on Phang” arc and it appears things are about to get deadly; well, deadlier.

Gwendolyn meets with a representative from Wreath’s High Command, Gale, and turns over an item that could end the war once and for all, but not without harm coming to the innocent civilians on Phang. She’s against it, but Gale warns that the WHC will have her quietly killed if she screws up their plans.

Meanwhile, Marko and Jabarah continue their search for Izabel, and Marko finally confronts his fear of using a deadly weapon again. Though Jabarah tries to convince him that it only matters if the man who wields the weapon is evil and Marko is not, Marko is too overcome with guilt over all the lives he has taken in the name of a war he doesn’t agree with. He also acknowledges that he liked the power while he was doing it.

And speaking of guilt, Prince Robot is haunted by dreams of his son shunning him for having murdered innocents. He takes some leftover Fadeaway, and in his drugged state visits Alana in her bedroom. He admits he has feelings for her which he’d confused as sexual in nature, but he realized it’s her role as a mother that makes him care for her. And it’s also why he wants to take his own life and have Alana raise his son.

It’s interesting that we’re watching two characters deal with their demons of war in two very different ways. Marko refuses to put himself in the position to take another life, while Prince Robot has embraced the violence. We’ve seen panels with Prince Robot having traumatic dreams before, so it’s great to see this beat start to pay off. And though I would’ve said a few issues ago that Prince Robot isn’t going anywhere, Izabel’s death proves Saga is not afraid to go there.