This month we get to focus on Prince Robot IV and his roller-coaster mental state. He is a soldier, he is royalty, and he is also pretty screwed up in the head. Then again, sanity was never a requirement in this kind of life. In the end, it enriches the already-intricate storyline and leaves me awaiting the next installment..
Note: This recap may contain spoilers!
Starting off, we get a bit more backstory for Prince Robot IV’s time attached to the military. He was injured, bleeding out his royal blue blood, and on the verge of being another casualty of war. As an aside, I didn’t catch this the first time I read it, but the images on his face during his apparent death scene is gay porn. Is that what’s going through his mind at a time like this? Interesting subtlety there. Pushing that aside, we get to see how he acquired the injury that will haunt him the rest of his life, as well as touching base with Gale in the present. It seems that Gale has situated himself in the middle of the royal ball and has his eye on the prince’s pregnant wife. If Prince Robot IV won’t do his duty and quickly return home, he may miss out on not only the birth of his child, but also his marriage as well.
Back on track, the prince has found author D. Oswald Heist, the writer of Alana’s favorite romance novel A Night Time Smoke. He is their beacon, and a pretty good lead on where the family might turn up, so the prince is taking it. Heist claims that not only has he received no visitors, but he hates the trashy novel and wishes to distance himself from it. There was no ulterior motive, no secret plot to teach tolerance, but merely a fast paycheck. He sounded so convincing that I almost believed him for a second.
Prince Robot IV sees through his lies, though, and they face off with guns drawn. The prince manages to shoot Heist in the knee, incapacitating him temporarily, but that’s when it gets a little weird. Instad of finishing him off, he asks Heist to take out his pen and stab him in the neck. With his old war injury, it’s a sure-fire way to kill the prince. For what motive? So that he can die a hero rather than failing at his mission? I’m still unclear on that, but it’s not important since Heist refuses to do the deed. Instead, they bunk in for long wait, as the prince is willing to bet Alana and the family will show up sooner or later. When they do, the prince will be waiting for them. It’s a good plan, a solid plan, except for one tiny detail. Alana and the crew have been there a week already and are hiding upstairs, holding their breath and hoping they don’t make a sound. Will they make it through without being detected? Will the prince give up on his wait after a while? And what’s the deal with Prince Robot IV anyway? All these questions and more await an answer as the next month dawns. I can’t wait to find out!
Rating: 4 / 5 Stars
Not sure why there aren’t any comments…but Saga is one of *the* best series I have read…anyone who is debating whether or not to read, DO.
@Chris: It really is one of the best comics I’ve ever read. For so long I’ve been wanting something new and fresh to come along to shake up the typical storytelling and Saga definitely does that.