Note: Some spoilers within for previous issues in this series.

Saga tells the continuing story of the little family of (the late) Marko and his wife Alana - a mixed-race couple - and their daughter Hazel. The family struggled to stay together in spite of a war between their two races.

Alana is from the planet Landfall, where inhabitants have wings on their backs, and Marko was from its moon, Wreath, where all people have horns on their heads. The two defied all convention (and propaganda, viz: those people have horns on their heads!) and fell in love. Hazel was born with both horns and wings, and it is Hazel who narrates the story.

Marko and Alana just wanted to find a way to be safe and happy and live in peace, but it wasn’t possible. The three of them were pursued throughout the galaxy by a number of beings trying to exploit them or kill them (or first one, then the other).

In Volume 9, however, both Marko and Sir Robert - once an enemy but eventually an ally - were murdered. It is now three years later, and Hazel and Sir Robert’s son Squire are being raised by Hazel’s mother and a male named Bombazine, or “Bomba” for short. Squire hasn’t spoken a word since his father’s death, but they all get along fine.

This issue begins with a look back to a previous visit to a back-alley doctor named Endwife, who asks Alana where Marko is. In an excellent example of how Vaughan injects this space opera with poignancy and social commentary, when Endwife learns Marko is dead she asks, “Not to pry, but was there violence?” Alana answers, “It wasn’t natural causes, if that’s what you’re asking.” Endwife replies, “Nothing more natural than violence.”

Alana saw Endwife because she wanted her wings hacked off. The damaged one on her right was getting infected, and her left was useless without the right. Plus, she hoped that not having wings would enable her to “pass.” But, as Endwife points out, “simple blood test or half-awake lying cat will still reveal what you really are.” Alana asks plaintively, “A broke-ass widow?” Endwife counters, “A woman who soars. Even when grounded.”

We then return to the moment the previous issue ended, when a pirate demanded Alana remove her shirt to prove there are no wings there or he would rape her kids. Her back is spotless. Even though Alana was furious at him, she needs money, and agreed to do a drug deal for him. Alana asked Bomba to look after the kids, and she leaves.

We next see Squire’s home planet, where the mercenary The Will has just arrived claiming he has information for King Robot about his late son, Prince Robot IV. He brings with him the head of Marko, who killed the prince, and who was then killed by The Will.

Meanwhile, back on the pirate ship, one of the crew thought she recognized Bombazine as “a heartless psycho” she once encountered. He convinced her it was a case of mistaken identity, although the last panel of the issue suggests otherwise. . . . .

Evaluation: This is an outstanding “saga” whether you like graphic novels or not. This is not by any means a series for kids but it is nevertheless a story strongly supportive of families - both the kind you are born with, and the kind you make as you go through life.

Note: If you are new to the series, be sure to read the books in order! ( )