Saga, Volume Two

Volume 2 of Brian K. Vaughn's award winning Saga sees some lineup changes. Hazel's grandparents, Marko's mom and dad, arrive after answering what they thought was a distress beacon. The Will, all of the known universe's most feared bounty hunter is still obsessed with freeing that young girl from sex slavery. That's all very noble. But without any cash or a good plan for rescue, there's very little that the Will can do. That is until another blast from Marko's past makes themselves known; his very jilted fiancee!

Meanwhile, Prince Robot IV is suffering from PTSD from his recent experiences in the great intergalactic war. Plus the Blue-blood really pissed the Will off when the prince killed a fellow bounty hunter, so the royalty is trying to lay low. As he examines a sleazy romance novel that was a favorite of Alana's, Prince Robot IV thinks he's cracked the code to why Marko and Alana fell in love in the middle of a prisoner of war camp. However as Vaughn and artist Fiona Staples shows us how the two members of opposing warring races actually meet, I think the prince is really grasping at straws.

And then that climatic last page might have just proved me wrong!

I really should have checked out more than just one volume of Saga from my local library. I was afraid of a sophomore slump. Yet nothing could be further from the truth here. The story keeps getting more engrossing. Sure, there's just as much sex. A lot of violence. Still, Vaughn gives this entire universe heart. I had to read ahead, fearful a beloved character was killed off. (SPOILER- they weren't). Then I had my heart broken when a new, adorable character was introduced and wantonly killed off in a most gruesome way almost immediately. 

Next time I head to the library, I am gonna have to make sure I get more than just Volume 3, because it's just killing me not knowing what happens next!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Saga, Vol. One (2023 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Brian K. Vaughn's Saga is the story of a family. From two warring sides, the horned Marko and the winged Alana have abandoned their posts. Already on the run for desertion, the pair have married and with a newborn in their arms, the stakes for their deaths or capture have increased their notoriety; for a hybrid child could very well destroy the war effort and disrupt the coffers of those who profit from the lucrative war machine. 

Saga has action, humor, and heart. There's also quite a bit of sex. To the point that its inclusion has gotten publisher Image and the book itself into a lot of trouble. 

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund lists two major occasions in which issues or trades of Saga were censored or challenged. The first incident was in 2013. Apple iOS and the Apple store made issue #12 temporarily unavailable due to two panels which showed scenes of explicit sex. The ban was due to ComiXology's misunderstanding of Apple's content policy. The issue was soon added to the app. But this wasn't ComiXology's first instance of restriction of content and it certainly hasn't been the company's last. 

The second instance of censorship reported by the CBLDF occurred over the year of 2014. Vol. One of Saga was listed #6 of the American Library Association's Top Ten Most List of Frequently Challenged Books. The ranking was due in large part to a challenge of the book by branch of the Oregon Public Library. The reasons for the challenge were 'over sexually explicit content — content that the complainant perceived to be age-inappropriate and propagating anti-family values.' Not much else about the challenge was disclosed, other than that the book was eventually returned to shelves. 

The reason for the challenge is probably due to the detour one of the bounty hunters hired to capture Marko and Alaina take. Known as The Will, the character heads to a pleasure planet where he encounters various acts of debauchery; the most heinous of which is being offered a 6 year old girl by a pimp. The Will attempts to free the girl but he must abandon his noble quest when his sidekick's life is held as ransom for the child's return.

The story of Saga was conceived by Brian K. Vaughn while he was a child. Over time in high school, he spent many of his math classes fleshing out this new universe with influences by Star Wars, Flash Gordon and his most inspiring influence, Silver Surfer. With artist Fiona Staples, Vaughn has produced 65 issues of the series, with a brief hiatus from 2018-2022. Issue #66 is set to debut in early August. 

Pardon the cliche, but the saga continues...

Completing this review completes Task #8 (Book that was Banned/Challenged (https://cbldf.org/banned-challenged-comics/) of the 2023 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

AND WITH THAT, my 2023 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge is COMPLETE!

Doctor Strange: The Oath

The fortress domicile of Doctor Strange has been breached. A hired hand with some knowledge of the dark arts has broken into the Sanctum Sanctorum to steal a mystical object. Strange confronted the thief. As result, the good doctor's life now hangs in the balance.

The ever faithful Wong brings the dying Sorcerer Supreme to the clinic of the Night Nurse. But time is running out for Doctor Strange’s servant as well. He's been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and the object stolen from Strange's abode was the key to curing not only Wong's cancer but all known diseases of man!

I know that Marvel fans love their writer to be named Brian. I do too, but instead of Bendis, I am a huge fan of Brian K Vaughn (Y: The Last Man.) Vaughn crafts a fantastic tale of magic, mystery and Marveldom! But I have to give my highest praise to the artist of The Oath.

Marcos Martin's style was just perfectly retro. I felt like I was looking at some lost Doctor Strange story of Steve Ditko’s. They say that Ditko is the definitive Doctor Strange artist and I agree. But I think Marcos Martin gives Ditko a definite run for his money.

I felt throughout this story that Doctor Strange’s look was based on classic horror actor Vincent Price. I didn't have confirmation of this until on the very last page of the artist's sketchbook I saw Vincent looking right back at me. I gave myself a bunch of praise for that correct call.

The Oath was a fun read with classic overtones. Based on how this story ends, I'm very interested in learning how long that change to the out of Stephen Strange played out in the comics. Just what that change was? You'll just have to read it to find out…

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Doctor Strange: The Oath #1 (2015 Halloween ComicFest Edition)

     It's a typical evening at the secret clinic of the Night Nurse. Iron Fist pulled a hamstring fighting ninjas and somebody got hit in the face with a mace- not the spray but an actual medieval one! Yeah, it looks like it's will be smooth sailing for the Florence Nightingale of the superhero community. That is until Doctor Strange is brought in by his faithful servant, Wong and the Sorcerer Supreme has been brutally shot.
     Clearing her schedule, the Night Nurse races to save the Doctor's life as his astral projection brings her up to date as to how he ended up on her gurney. Recently, it's been revealed that Wong is battling an incurable brain tumor. Determined to follow the Hippocratic oath he swore upon becoming a surgeon, Doctor Strange transverses the dimensions to find a remedy for his servant. Only what the wizard brought back to earth wasn't just the cure for Wong's form of cancer but all cancers! And somebody is willing to kill the mystic master of the ancient arts to obtain it!
     This Halloween ComicFest edition of the first chapter of Doctor Strange: The Oath was fantastic. The always amazing Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man) has penned a story that I want to read the remainder of; about a character that I'm not really a big fan of. That's a powerful statement about Vaughan's level of writing talent. 
     Plus, I love the whimsical art style of Marcos Martin (Amazing Spider-Man.) It's one-part Doctor Strange legend, Steve Ditko and one-part classic noir a'la Darwyn Cooke.
     Great story, amazing art, and awesome supporting characters like Night Nurse: it all adds up to the perfect formula to get Doctor Strange: The Oath on my wish list.
     
    Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

"Runaways, Vol. 1"

WORTH CONSUMING!

I am convinced that it takes 3 issues for a comic book series to hit its intended stride. And once it does, like RUNAWAYS does truly, it’s a thrill a minute, don’t look back awesome series. Under no circumstances should you read ahead, you’ll miss out on some really great surprises. BKV is awesome, one of the best in the industry today- Heck All-Time!!! Worth Consuming!

"Ex Machina, Vol. 1: The First Hundred Days"

WORTH CONSUMING!

Brian Vaughn is awesome. WOW! I cannot wait to read more. This is very good stuff. Thanks to ALEEM for recommending it. A great Alternate universe story about life after 9/11. 

Worth Consuming!