Comics
Review: ‘Saga’ #13
Finally after a wait that seemed like an eternity, “Saga” returns to the scene in fantastic fashion. This book is a genre mesh of epic proportions but for those unfamiliar with this title; picture “The Lord of the Rings”, “Firefly”, and “Star Wars” having some sort of weird love triangle baby and “Saga” is what you would get. The team behind this series is mind blowing in every way shape and form. Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples put on a how-to-make-a-masterpiece clinic. I have nothing but praise for these two.
WRITTEN BY: Brian K. Vaughan
ART BY: Fiona Staples
PUBLISHER: Image
RELEASE DATE: August 14
PRICE: 2.99
“Saga” doesn’t pick up exactly where its previous issue left off, instead it goes back a ways to catch up with Marko and Alana after their minor confrontation with an enormously destructive space baby. Being the first book of a fresh arc this issue jumps around to the different characters that were left out of issue #12 to give a little refresher on their current situations. For those who don’t own the trades (get on that) the way this book refreshes allows for a greater understanding of the overall plot line. The pacing of this book is excellent; though there is no significant action till the end the story remains very interesting to read, there is also a certain amount of intrigue added to the plot as it seems word may get out that a being as unique as Hazel has come into existence. This, of course, is one of the main reasons both Wreath and Landfall are trying to get this situation dealt with in the quietist way possible.
BKV’s writing is a joy to experience. The story flows so well from one page to another, even when the scene changes there is always a panel that makes it a good end point for the new scene to begin. One of my favourite aspects of BKV’s writing is his dialogue. BKV doesn’t give a shit about censorship and this warms my icy heart. The banter between characters can make the reader feel a swing of emotions. One second you’re laughing to yourself at a hilarious comment, and next you’re feeling a twinge of empathy for an emotional character. The use of Hazel as a narrator causes this book to have a very different feel than many other narratives; her perspective adds an additional layer of intrigue to the plot.
Comic book art comes in all styles and colours, some sketchy, some clean, and others just downright weird. “Saga” sets itself above the bar through the artistic capabilities of Fiona Staples. Her style has a rustic look, but holds a truly realistic element that brings the fantastic creatures to life. The art is augmented by the application of colour,giving the drawings a beautiful flow. LIKE BKV, Fiona doesn’t give two shits about censorship, and is able to deliver adult-themed images that can blow your socks off.
If you can’t tell, I absolutely love “Saga” and have since day one, not only because of the creativity within the art and story itself, but because the universe is vast, complicated, and genuinely awesome. A little something has been missing in my life these past few months, and this week I got it back.
4.5/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – GreenBasterd
Editor’s Note: This issue contains my favourite line from any comic this year, “Like secondhand smoke from her first crush”. Beautiful.
Comics
‘You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive’ – IDW Dark’s Next Horror Comic Will Make You Question Reality
Five friends. Four houses. One perfect life. Bloody Disgusting is excited to exclusively announce You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive, a brand new horror comic from IDW Dark.
From Eisner-Nominated writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, and rising horror artist Heather Vaughan, You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive is described as a “paranoia-laced, socially-conscious, horror mystery that will leave you questioning reality, and reveal that this crafted world is more of a nightmare than the idealistic dream they were expecting.”
Phoebe Joplin has never questioned the world her parents built: a secluded community where she and her friends were raised to be smarter, stronger, and better than anyone else. No distractions. No dangers. No secrets. Until the night of their graduation.
When one of them dies under impossible circumstances, Phee starts to pull at the edges of her perfect life—and what she finds is something far more terrifying than she ever imagined.
Because this place isn’t a sanctuary. It’s a cage. And no one who discovers the truth ever leaves it alive.
Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing (Batman – One Bad Day: Clayface, Star Trek: The Last Starship) co-write the upcoming IDW Dark horror comic, featuring art by Heather Vaughan.
Jackson Lanzing said in a statement to Bloody Disgusting, “You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive is in many ways a spiritual successor to our last creator-owned horror, The Principles of Necromancy – a dive into the promise and consequence of playing god with the blood of innocents. But the Hivemind book this reminds me of most is Clayface: One Bad Day. This is a deeply human story with intensely raw emotions – five best friends and their five mysterious parents, tearing one another apart for the promise of some impossible glory that’s waiting just beyond their darkest actions. We’re thrilled to be bringing this story to life with our long-time partner in crime, editor Heather Antos, at IDW Dark – and we’re particularly excited to give our Clayface fans a new, brutal and emotional horror made just for them.”
Adds Collin Kelly, “We’re deconstructing a feeling that seems universal these days; our elders have a death grip on their power, without any intention of giving it up to the generations that come next. YNLTPA is about growing up with the limitless potential of the future… and realizing how much it’s a lie we’ve been fed to keep us under the yoke of the past. Bringing this brutal experience to life is our artist and co-creator, Heather Vaughan, who brings an incredible amount of humanity to our cast. But it’s in our youthful leads that Heather’s art really shines – you are going to fall in love with these young people, even as they go through the worst experience of their lives. What we’ve all crafted together is going to be tragic, painful, but above all else, sincere – with a future so uncertain, there’s only one thing we can trust: you’ll never leave this place alive.”
“Some horror stories are about monsters in the dark. YNLTPA is about realizing the monsters raised you,” previews Senior Group Editor Heather Antos. “Working with Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly on this series has been a dream in the darkest possible way. They’ve built a story that’s layered, brutal, and deeply emotional, and every issue gives artist Heather Vaughan opportunities to push the art into places that feel both haunting and deeply personal. Some horror comics will keep you up at night…this is one that will stick with you for years to come.”
The first issue of You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive goes on sale October 14, 2026! Make sure to pre-order at your local comic shop by September to guarantee a copy.
Exclusively check out the various covers for Issue #1 down below.
IDW Publishing’s horror imprint IDW DARK features comics like A Quiet Place: Storm Warning, Smile: For the Camera, The Exorcism at 1600 Penn, Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees, The Twilight Zone, Event Horizon: Dark Descent & Event Horizon: Inferno, and more.
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