Growing pains.
With a narrative as complex as Saga’s, progression options are limited. It usually happens one of two ways - either the book focuses on pushing a particular storyline forward at the cost of others, or equal time is spread across the collective narrative, albeit at a slower pace. Issue #39 ends up going with the latter, Fiona Staples and Brian K. Vaughan allowing events of the past to settle as threats of the present inch ever closer.
This arc, as much as any other, has been Hazel’s story, and in that regard issue #39 does a solid job of further exploring the character’s state of mind. At first glance the relatively quick way in which the story moves past Isabel reads a bit heartless, but Vaughan has his reasons. It’s actually a great character move on his part, imbuing the adult characters with naïve optimism as the young Hazel moves right into cool acceptance. That maturity continues with Hazel’s conversation with Ferdie, where she and the young meerkat-boy share their views on love and the afterlife. With all the fantastical happenings of this series it’s easy to forget just how much of Hazel’s childhood has been stripped away. She’s worldly and wise beyond her years, shaped by events she has no control over. Given the increased attention this arc on the war between the people whose blood she shares, it’s easy to see that focus continuing as we move forward.
Beyond Hazel’s continued growth, the issue also serves to catch us up on a few of the other dangling plot threads. With The Will (real name revealed!) and his story still in a state of flux, Vaughan turns his attention to the series’ newest freelancer, The March. The self-contained duo made quite an impression last month, and while they still aren’t close to the same level of compelling notoriety as past players The Brand and The Stalk, they do present a welcome unknown. Finally, Petrichor continues her ascent to A-player, becoming more and more integral to the narrative whole with each subsequent installment.
And of course, one can’t use integral without also discussing Fiona Staples. There have been plenty of words to describe her work, but issue #39 somehow brings a new one – understated. By the usual metrics, issue #39 is more subdued on the visual front, largely devoid of the fantastic in lieu of more focused character play. And as one would expect, Staples takes to the change in tone expertly, her ability to convey strong emotion with a mere gesture or look perfectly displayed. So much of Hazel’s development comes down to Staple’s careful portrayal, and in this chapter she really captures a girl both young and burdened by experience. All the wonders in the world mean little if we’re not attached to the characters experiencing them—with Staples, that’s never an issue.
Saga #39 won’t go down as the most memorable of installments, but it’s a strong chapter with many layers. Vaughan and Staples continue to build their characters up in the most honest and relatable ways possible, making the series’ teased direction one immediately investing. While likely reading as more an essential chapter in a collected edition, it’s nonetheless another strong read in a steadily building arc.
The Verdict
With readers reeling, Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples allow the dust to settle, putting character growth ahead of straight-line progression. While Vaughan’s layered look at Hazel again pays dividends, the rest of his moves are more incremental. Still, with another spate of strong visuals and star turns by new players, there’s plenty to look forward to going into the next chapter.
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