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.

In the previous issue, Hazel heard Alana get an offer from a Miss Vitch to help bring Marko back from the dead. Alana told Hazel it was b.s.

As this issue begins, Hazel and her brother Squire confronted Miss Vitch to ask if it was b.s. or not, since both of them want their dads back. Miss Vitch admitted she couldn’t raise the dead, but said what she *could* do was turn back time; however it would cost a fortune and she knew the kids had no money. But Hazel wasn’t deterred, asking “What if I’m good at, like… other ways of getting stuff?

We then switch to Petrichor’s story. Petrichor, who lost her partner Sir Robot (Squire’s dad), is determined to “hunt down the monster who took our loves from us” - i.e., the freelance killer known as The Will, and is torturing someone named Erving to find out where he is.

Another switch takes us to Alana, working as #1211 at a packing plant. A co-worker, #729, advises Alana she could get better work for herself and her two kids who are ages 10 and almost 12 on one of the boats that travel to places still neutral in the war.

Meanwhile, Gwendolyn and Sophie are on the Robot Kingdom for an audience with the King, but are greeted instead by Countess Robot X. Gwendolyn is trying to convince her that Wreath is a vast and expanding empire, and the Robot Kingdom should join them.

This issue ends with Hazel and Squire trying to steal “Wormfood” per Miss Vitch’s instructions, but they are noticed, and get in mortal danger.

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. ( )