Review by Frank Plowright

Back in the serialisation days, four years separated this volume from Volume Nine, and all the shocks that dropped. Most fundamental was the death of a character who’s been part of the series from the beginning.

Hazel is now ten and very self-reliant, and while not explaining everything, Brian K. Vaughan takes enough of a tour around the cast in an extended opening chapter to prompt memories of who they are and what their allegiances are. That’s followed by the introduction of new cast members and a story pretty well any new reader can pick up on whether or not they’ve followed the series before.

Some characters might be new, but the elements of danger are still pretty well the same. Hazel has to hide who she is as her very existence would be a galactic concern, and being on the run means making a living with the opportunities that present themselves. Piracy becomes a way of life.

Having already designed the wondrous variety of characters seen in the opening chapter earlier in the story, Fiona Staples pushes the boat out again for the new cast. Due to their nature, the suspicion is that she had a bigger say in what they’d look like, and they’re a varied bunch. Maybe there’s a Sweet Tooth homage in there, or maybe there isn’t. Vaughan has some unconventional ideas about what pirates get up to in their off time, and Staples delivers that wonderfully. For the series to work, though, emotion and compassion have to be seen, and she scores highly.

From the beginning Saga has concerned the primary cast evading very dangerous people who’re on their trail, and not only is that reactivated, the threats have increased. Vaughan always has Hazel’s narration drop portentous hints about the future, and they’re plentiful here, although how many will manifest before the series ends anyone’s guess.

If there was a concern that a hiatus might have seen a deterioration in Saga, don’t worry. It’s as good as ever, and Volume Eleven is next.