Book · 2012
Saga
by Brian K. Vaughan
Two soldiers from opposing sides flee with their newborn while governments, freelancers, relatives, and old wounds keep turning a family into a political threat.
What does Reddit think of Saga?
Saga receives 46 mentions in r/graphicnovels' 2026 data. One commenter predicts an “incredibly mediocre” Netflix adaptation (↑21), a cynical way of praising what the comic's form and Fiona Staples's art would lose. Brian K. Vaughan builds an interplanetary war around Alana, Marko, and their daughter Hazel, whose narration knows that family survival does not guarantee family innocence. The series is funny, explicit, violent, sentimental, and visually willing to move from domestic tenderness to grotesque invention without asking permission. Its accessibility makes it a common next step after superhero comics, but it is not complete. Long publication pauses and cliffhangers matter to readers who dislike waiting. The sprawling cast also means beloved side characters can disappear or die. Start it for an ongoing family space opera, not because anyone can promise when every thread will close.
Community feedback & reader fit
Themes
- · Family treated as a threat to inherited war
- · Parenthood under flight and political violence
- · Love across identities governments enforce
- · Storytelling through a child's later narration
- · Cycles of prejudice reproduced inside rebellion
Common praise
- + Fiona Staples makes the strangest species and settings emotionally legible without normalizing their visual invention.
- + The central family gives a sprawling space war a stable human scale.
- + A ↑21 adaptation joke captures readers' belief that the comic's visual specificity would be difficult to preserve on screen.
- + Humor and sentiment do not shield recurring characters from lasting political and personal consequences.
Common criticism
- − The series is ongoing, with publication pauses and no guarantee that a new reader will reach a final resolution soon.
- − Explicit sex, graphic violence, death, and harm around children make the colorful art a poor indicator of age suitability.
- − The expanding cast can pull attention away from the family story that initially makes the series immediate.
Who it's for
Choose Saga for an adult reader who wants an ongoing space opera centered on parents rather than military strategy. Its 46 r/graphicnovels mentions support the broad appeal, and the adaptation joke points to Staples's art as essential. Readers who need a finished series should choose Bone or Sandman's main run.
Mentions over time
Top subreddits
Which Reddit comments matter for Saga?
The most relevant excerpts across the subreddits where this book is mentioned — opinionated, argued takes first, then top-upvoted mentions. Click through to read the full thread.
“OP didn’t ask if it’s the greatest (or the worst), only if people would recommend reading it. The comments tell the story; most people love Saga, some people loathe it, but it’s certainly strong and interesting enough to read. As long as you’re an adult who can handle the sex and violence, yes, you …
“Unironically my answer is saga. Although I can’t share it with everyone because it is way too graphic for some people, I try and share it with everyone I can
“Yes. People are allowed to like and dislike what they feel, but Saga is pretty terrific. Really incredible use of the comics form without being a random superhero story.
“Sex Criminals Money Shot Sunstone The Less than Epic Adventures of TJ and Amal\] Yes, Roya Saga, even.
“Saga. It’s f****** unbelievably amazing
“1. Gaimans Sandman 2. Alan Moores swamp thing 3. Warren Ellis’s Planetary 4. Mike Carey’s Lucifer 5. Hickmans East of West 6. Marjorie Liu’s Monstress 7. Mignola’s “Hellboy” (and BPRD) 8. Moebius/Jodorowsky’s “The Incal” 9. Brian K Vaughans “Saga” 10. Grant Morrisons “the invisibles”
“Saga is on that level but not finished
“Hiatus was big but TBH my view is the freshness factor was a big thing for a lot of outsiders to comics. People I know who are not massive comics readers like myself seemed to be very taken with the "originality" of Saga. And, granted, it's a great original story that stands on the shoulders of some…
“I started this as a reply to a comment, but it applies to a *lot* of these. For many folks it seems the worst thing literally ever is a thing that they found offensive or otherwise distasteful, and the actual craftsmanship or redeeming qualities are overriden by like...some jokes that don't land, cu…
“Saga is just awesome hands down
“Hey 👋! I’ve been thinking about this for a while and here are my favorites: 1. “Monsters” by BWS - A profound portrayal of the horrors of war, human experimentation, deeply impactful and emotionally scarring. 2. “They Called Us Enemy” by George Takei - Real-life experiences of internment and rac…
“The graphic novel for V for Vendetta is very different from the movie though. Watchmen movie was very similar for the most part, but NOT the ending - it also stylistically sorta missed one of the book's points (not to glorify superheroes). Do check out the Emmy award winning sequel TV show on HBO th…
“I bought the three hardcover editions, guess I have to wait a very long time to read the new Saga story.
“Bone. Saga. Hellboy. Watchmen. V For Vendetta. Maus. Persepolis. Usagi Yojimbo. TMNT.
“Anything Brian K. Vaughan does is worth picking up. Y, Saga, and Ex Machina are all must reads, with Saga being my favorite.
Convinced? Pick up Saga
What else does r/graphicnovels read?
Other books mentioned in the same sub, ranked. Shared-sub overlap with this title breaks ties.
Guides featuring Saga
Ranked best-of lists and editorial guides where this book's tracked mentions place it.
Saga — frequently asked
Is Saga by Vaughan and Staples finished?+
No. The series is ongoing and has taken substantial publication breaks. Collected volumes provide natural stopping points, but readers who dislike unresolved arcs should wait or choose a completed recommendation. Its 46 r/graphicnovels mentions show that incompletion has not erased enthusiasm.
Is Saga appropriate for teenagers?+
It is intended for mature readers and includes explicit sexual content, nudity, graphic violence, death, drugs, prejudice, and harm involving families and children. Some older teens may be ready, but the colorful space-fantasy art should not be used as the age guide.
Why is Fiona Staples's art important to Saga?+
The art makes bizarre creatures, technology, intimacy, violence, and domestic life belong to one coherent universe. A r/graphicnovels commenter jokes that adaptation would become mediocre, implying that performance, design, and page-level surprise are not detachable packaging around Vaughan's plot.