The Good
The space fetus is trying to suck up The Will's ship and Alana and Marko's ship. Will they be able to escape? We also catch a glimpse at early meetings between Marko and Alana and also a young Marko and his father, Barr.
Writer Brian K Vaughan is brilliant at getting an emotional response from the reader, purely through the development of his characters. While Marko's parents, Barr and Klara haven't been the most supportive of Alana and Marko's marriage, Barr is certainly opening up to it, mainly because of his granddaughter, Hazel. Slowly but surely, we've come to get attached and know these characters a whole lot better, and finally, they feel a part of the team, whether we like it or not. In this issue, Barr truly proves why he's needed in this group, in one emotional scene.
SAGA #11 also gives the reader a bit more back-story on Alana and Marko, in the early years as they talk about having a child and what it is like to be fugitives in love. While it is an argument between these two characters, it's light-hearted, and it's great to see the love between these two characters grow, before they end up on the run. Towards the end of the issue, we get a great scene of Marko, as a child, and his father, Barr, teaching his son how to ride a giant grasshopper. It's another great scene, in this issue, and frankly, a bit heartwarming.
If you don't love The Will by the end of this issue, then you're crazy. In fact, you should have fallen in love with this character a long time ago. He's awesome. He's like Han Solo with a cape, but cooler. There's a fantastic scene (my favorite of the issue) featuring The Will and Lying Cat. It's completely silent, but paced out so well, and it proves that he would do anything for his partner.
Fiona Staples is awesome. I've been saying this since the beginning. The final page of this issue is so awesome. It's a great shot, from behind, of Alana and Marko's spaceship flying through space. It's a simple idea that is executed beautifully. Her art isn't just consistent in each issue. It's consistent over the whole series. You're getting the same high quality art with every issue you buy.
The Bad
I was in for a bit of a surprise, and I opened up this issue, at work, to find the characters having sex. I should know, by now, that, at times, this book is NSFW, and I shouldn't be flaunting it around my coworkers.
I miss Prince Robot IV.
The Verdict
SAGA is fantastic month after month. Brian K Vaughan hits it out of the park with this issue and pulls on the reader's heart strings with a few scenes here. We get a bit more back story of Alana and Marko, and of Marko and Barr, his father. The art is top notch and insanely consistent. This book contains a great ensemble cast you will quickly grow attached to.
Overall, this is one of the best books on the shelf. You should buy it.
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