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 was 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. Alana, Hazel and Sir Robert’s son Squire are trying to make their way through the universe, surviving on scraps and barely escaping all those who still want to kill them. Squire has not spoken since the death of his father.

This issue begins with Pete, who has wings, and who is looking for Alana. He manages to locate Dranken (“Drums”) who along with Hectore (“Guitar”) lived with Alana and her family for a while. Dranken denies knowing anything. As Hazel observes about another friend who was killed, “the friends and even acquaintances my family left in our wake continued risking their lives to take care of me.”

In other news, suddenly Squire starts to talk again. Hazel says, “I just…didn’t know you could..you know…”. Squire replies, “Neither did I. But it felt quite…natural.”

Alana too is cognizant of the harm that comes to people who assist them. “Maybe the people who help us most in life recognize a missing piece of themselves in us, something that has to be protected…or else they’ll never be whole again.”

Meanwhile Hazel and Squire get into trouble again, trying to steal wormfood for Vitch who claimed that with it, she could help get their parents back. Hazel quickly points a finger at Squire. (As she ruefully observes, “No matter how many life-changing figures cross our paths, sooner or later, we supposedly all become our parents. I keep waiting to finally grow into mine.”)

The Constable who stops Hazel and Squire explains he tried to get wormfood for Vitch too, but it was all a scam, and he can’t arrest her because Vitch told him if he ever tried to make a move against her, she would rat on him to his bosses and get him sent to prison. But he said the least he could do is help prevent others from making the same mistake he did. Hazel is grateful, but Squire doesn’t believe him and insists on taking all the wormfood they can carry.

Meanwhile, Alana offers to work for security on a boat, adding that her kids can help as well. She said to the boss, “if it means three square meals and bunks without bedbugs, my children are one hundred percent willing and able to help.” The boss says if she can get them on board in 30 minutes and it’s a deal.

Evaluation: As usual, Vaughan’s text is full of humor, pathos, and astounding insights into life that will have you coming back for every new issue. Illustrator Fiona Staples is outstanding. ( )