Beyond Hazel’s continued growth, the issue also serves to catch us up on a few of the other dangling plot threads. With The Will (real name revealed!) and his story still in a state of flux, Vaughan turns his attention to the series’ newest freelancer, The March. The self-contained duo made quite an impression last month, and while they still aren’t close to the same level of compelling notoriety as past players The Brand and The Stalk, they do present a welcome unknown. Finally, Petrichor continues her ascent to A-player, becoming more and more integral to the narrative whole with each subsequent installment.
And of course, one can’t use integral without also discussing Fiona Staples. There have been plenty of words to describe her work, but issue #39 somehow brings a new one – understated. By the usual metrics, issue #39 is more subdued on the visual front, largely devoid of the fantastic in lieu of more focused character play. And as one would expect, Staples takes to the change in tone expertly, her ability to convey strong emotion with a mere gesture or look perfectly displayed. So much of Hazel’s development comes down to Staple’s careful portrayal, and in this chapter she really captures a girl both young and burdened by experience. All the wonders in the world mean little if we’re not attached to the characters experiencing them—with Staples, that’s never an issue.
Saga #39 won’t go down as the most memorable of installments, but it’s a strong chapter with many layers. Vaughan and Staples continue to build their characters up in the most honest and relatable ways possible, making the series’ teased direction one immediately investing. While likely reading as more an essential chapter in a collected edition, it’s nonetheless another strong read in a steadily building arc.
