Updated with official cover image and PR from Image.
It’s been three years since the last issue of Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples‘s Image Comics series Saga was released, with the promise of an eventual return after a brief hiatus. Readers who’ve been holding their breaths in anticipation of an announcement can finally exhale, as today, in front of a packed crowd during the “In Conversation with Brian K. Vaughan” panel it was announced that Saga will finally return on Wednesday January 26th, 2022. Saga #55 will be 44 pages, with a cover price of $2.99.
“It’s been a long, strange, hard hiatus,” Vaughan said. Vaughan was joined during the panel by Staples, who appeared via video for the Saga return date announcement. “I’m here in my studio working on Saga,” she said, before revealing the January return date for the series, which had originally been rumored to be coming back in the spring. On the $2.99 cover price, Vaughan said, “As long as we can afford to keep doing this we’re going to keep it at $2.99.”
Saga debuted from Image Comics in 2012 and ran for 54 issues before going on hiatus in 2018. The series has been collected into nine softcover trade paperbacks, three deluxe edition hardcovers, and a softcover compendium that includes every issue of the series so far. In 2019, along with the announcement of the compendium, Vaughan told EW that Saga will run for 108 issues total. Vaughan has also said that the reason for the hiatus was so that he and Staples could bank multiple issues of the series ahead of time and release them without delays.
In a statement released by Image Comics following the NYCC panel, Vaughan and Staples both elaborated on what readers can expect from the return of Saga:
“Other than my own family, collaborating with Fiona Staples on Saga is the most important thing in my life, so I can’t thank readers and retailers enough for their patience,” said Vaughan. “I think our next 54 issues will be even more shocking, strange, and spectacular than the first 54, so we can’t wait to be back on the shelves at your local comic shop soon.”
Staples added: “I’ve really missed connecting with readers through the pages of Saga, so I’m thrilled to roll up my sleeves and dive into this world again. The next arc is already going places I never imagined. I’m so grateful that we’re able to keep doing this!”
Since its debut Saga has been nominated for more than a dozen Eisner awards, winning multiple times for Best Continuing Series, Best Writer for Vaughan, and Best Artist for Staples. The series has also won numerous Harvey Awards, as well as a Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story in 2013.
Look for the return of Saga next year.
With additional on-site reporting by Greg Silber.
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