Ahhh! sorry kid, you can't read this one..

I'm generally a tights and capes comic book type of guy (reading not wearing.... Hey that was just once, lets call it a phase..) but once in a while something else catches my eye. on my last trip to my local comic shop my son asked the clerk about a saga poster on the wall she started heaping praise on the book. Generally I take recommendations from sales people with a grain of salt (I'm not sure why but I always feel like they are out to sell me something..) But this time I gave the book a glance because the cover art reminded me of the excellent dc/vertigo book "Y the last man". When I mentioned this to the clerk she told me not only was it the same artist it was the same writer. While this turned out to only be half true (Brian K. Vaughan wrote both books but Fiona Staples didn't have a hand in Y) I'm glad for the mistake because it cinched my purchase.
It was funny that the clerk was telling my son about it for a few because I joined the conversation, As I said she was telling my boy what a great book it is so I picked it up figuring that it would be something my wife would enjoy and after I had read it my youngest could read it, Boy was I wrong about that.. At home while reading my monthly titles I knocked the book down and when I reached to pick it up the page that it was opened too had one tv headed human body working through the karma sutra with another tv headed human body.... Yikes... not for the kiddies, and that's why I pre-read comics and trades before my kids. That being said for those of us mature readers (giggle suppressed)
 this book has a lot to offer,
To break it down to its simplest for Saga is about an intergalactic Romeo and Juliet, born to two different warring races that have fallen for each other and procreated in the strangest of places and circumstances. Our space born fall mouthed Juliet is Alana a winged native of the planet Landfall who was a soldier reprimanded to prison guard as a punishment for refusing to kill civilians. Her position of prison guard is how she encounters her Romeo, Known to us as Marko, He is a citizen on Landfalls moon Wreath, He left as a gung ho kid inspired to fight for his people but due to circumstances that haven't yet been made clear to us he later turns himself into the enemy, declaring himself a conscientious objector, and this is how he finds himself being guarded by Alana.
The story starts sometime after Alana has helped Marko escape prison with the couple in the process of childbirth. I won't reveal anymore particulars but the tale that ensues contain a crazy mix of sci-fi and fantasy. I'm sure every reviewer of this book has set at their keyboard and tried to figure out what two big name franchises they should call this a mix of, while I won't do that I will say that the idea of mixing sci fi and fantasy isn't new (I'm looking at you "Hyperion cantos") but it hasn't been beat to death and for most readers is probably a fresh genre (one that I am striving to coin a term for).
I love the idea that space ships can grow like a tree and that a sword is reasonable match for a firearm when when the swordsman can also cast spells. The beautiful part of that is not so long ago I would have scoffed at either idea and once again I found myself being surprised that  such notions can not only be captivating but meaningful with proper handling from the writer and an open mind by the reader. Unlike lots of comics that are wildly unrealistic, Saga doesn't require that the reader continually remind himself he needs to suspend his disbelief, you just need to read the first few pages to get drawn in and then you wont question a single flying tree or talking cat.
The characters are wonderfully varied, from heroes that talk like you or I (not always pretty language but always believable) to varied antagonists that range from strictly despicable scumbags to a bounty hunter you can't help but rooting for as he puts himself at risk to do the right thing when he comes across a truly deplorable situation.
Image comics took a chance with this book and while I'm sure its not for everybody I have to say that I think its intriguing writing and style will grab the attention of readers of all types of comics. If you like Capes, Zombies or even tentacle obsessed anime girls, there is probably something in Saga that will grab you and hold you tight.....As long as your a mature and sophisticated reader like myself, now if you'll excuse me, My action figures need reposing..

I give "Saga, volume 1" 9 tv headed couples going at it doggy style out of ten.