Saga #48 review: The outdoor misadventures of Squire and Ghus
By Alex Widen
Squire, the son of Sir Robot, goes on his first hunt. Yet can Ghus bring out the best in him in Saga?
Saga #48
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Artist & Colorist: Fiona Staples
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Image Comics’ second best seller has reached its bi-annual break period. Every six issues brings with it a hiatus to allow both trade-waiters to catch up as well as to give Fiona Staples lead-in time. As a result, this is the last issue of Saga for 2017. Considering January brought with it two issues due to a rare shipping glitch, it’s actually been a heavier year for the series than usual. Vaughan and Staples close things out by focusing on Sir Robot’s son Squire and their pal Ghus.
Image by Image Comics
Squire and Ghus have been left behind by Sir Robot, Marko, Alana, and the rest of the “wayward family” for years. While the adventures on Phang and Abortion Town were happening, the adorable seal warrior has been busy taking care of Squire on the behest of his friends. The pair have also run afoul of reporters Upsher and Doff, and were once threatened by ex-bounty hunter the Will. However, their current enemy is starvation, as everyone only has bad crops to eat.
Image by Image Comics
Over the River and through the Woods!
Upsher is freaking out due to hunger and the poor health of his boyfriend Doff, who is hallucinating in a hammock. He threatens to butcher Ghus’ walrus-cow pet Friendo unless Ghus can rustle up some grub. Squire insists on going along, having seen a creature called a “Dread Naught” in the nearby woods. Although the Dread Naughts are invisible until they die, robot people like Squire are capable of seeing their insides. Therefore, the pair are off for a hunt!
Image by Image Comics
As “future Hazel” narrates, this is a bit of a coming of age tale for Squire. He’s had an eventful life for a kid. Born when his father was still Prince Robot IV, his mother was murdered and he was kidnapped by a crazed janitor. Destined for royalty, that’s gone out the window now that his father has been demoted and banished from the robot kingdom. Sir Robot has a reputation as a sneak and a dishonorable soldier, some of which has rubbed off on Squire the more he hears of things.
Image by Image Comics
As a result, Squire spends most of the hunt discussing matters of life and philosophy with Ghus. The angle with Ghus is that while he may be an adorable little seal-person, he is more than willing to use his ax to chop into people when he must. It’s obvious that Ghus has lived a rougher life and a blunter and more cynical view of the world than his image suggests. Yet despite this, he still is a loyal friend with a pleasant demeanor. While he can be violent, Ghus does see it as a last resort.
Image by Image Comics
Even Forest Monsters Are Human!
Therefore, Ghus has no problem with venturing into the woods, hacking into a Dread Naught and cooking it for food. While Squire asks if Ghus has ever killed anyone, Ghus never answers. The young lad feels a sense of ennui, as an fellow exile from his society who barely knows his own father well. Naturally, it would be a very boring comic if a Dread Naught didn’t turn up. Squire’s unique vision allows him a better change to slay the monster than Ghus or anyone else around!
Image by Image Comics
Saga always mixes its science fiction with contemporary metaphors. Some are blunter than others. Most “coming of age” stories for male heroes tend to involve killing something, even for young boys. However, Squire’s ability to see the Dread Naught partially allows him to see it as more than a monster. Much like him, Squire sees it has a heart, a humanoid shape and piercing eyes. Its actions are defensive, attacking those who enter its territory carrying weapons.
Image by Image Comics
Seeing that they share more similarities than differences, Squire cannot slay it. And while he fails in the hunt, it’s possible that Squire may be growing towards a true identity. Fortunately, this is one instance where Saga ends its season on a positive note. Friendo is spared as Ghus’ pals in their Rocket-Tree finally return from their space jaunt. Squire gets to meet Hazel for the first time, and the narration confirms that the pair will quickly share a close and long lasting bond together.
Image by Image Comics
A Well Deserved Reunion!
Readers who may feel that Saga can sometimes be predictable in a sense that none in its cast are safe, this is a pleasant surprise. Most finales to arcs usually offer some sort of cliffhanger, especially for an annual finale. This time around, Vaughan goes with a smaller tale which offers more promising results. With Upsher and Doff able to finally interview Alana and Marko, the tale of the cross-breed couple could end up shattering the Coalition. Ianthe threatened this as well.
Image by Image Comics
Since the series is named Saga and not “The Adventures of Alana & Marko.” Periods of time can pass quickly and therefore the ages of the cast do as well. The only character assured to survive until the end is Hazel, who provides the series’ narration. I have long wondered if Squire would serve a vital role to her story, and it looks like this will also happened. The pair have a lot in common, least of all a shared family of ne’er do wells, exiles, and outsiders of the galaxy.
Image by Image Comics
Speaking of Alana, it was interesting seeing how Fiona Staples drew her in this issue. The former Wraith soldier has been pregnant twice and just had a late-term abortion for a stillborn child. Yet while she’s still beautiful, she’s hardly a marble statue. Scars on her stomach are shown from the surgery. Alana is wearing a belly shirt and hardly shy about it; she’s not shy about much. I thought it was a simple yet powerful way to show that a woman can be beautiful without being “flawless.”
Image by Image Comics
The Future of Saga Has Never Looked Brighter!
As always, Fiona Staples excels on the art for the rest of the issue too. The Dread Naught is yet another simple yet classic creature as a part of the Saga universe. Her design plays into Vaughan subverting the cliche of a young hero’s journey. The robots have often been inspired by ideals of British nobility, with Squire’s name making it obvious. Having Squire resist such a story trope as slaying a monster as many knights did helps showcase how he represents a new era of tolerance.
Image by Image Comics
Ghus continues to showcase his complexity here. His adorable demeanor always contrasts with his worldly philosophy. He brings up a dead sister and how his guilt regarding her death has transferred to his caretaking of Friendo. While Squire doesn’t fulfill his vow to aid in the hunt, Ghus is understanding and willing to stand by their bargain with Upsher anyway. It will be curious to see how Sir Robot reacts to Squire being a pacifist, and how Petrichor and Ghus will interact.
Image by Image Comics
Next: See who is holding the Will captive in #47!
In conclusion, 2017 has been yet another successful year for Saga. Not only is the series selling as well as ever, more merchandise for the series has gone on sale too. Besides The Walking Dead, no creator-owned comic book series has been more successful in recent memory. This issue has a simple yet effective story which is told within one issue yet connects to the broader narrative. The dialogue is great and themes are even better. Saga remains one of the greatest comics on sale today!