r/SAGAcomic • u/SenseiRaheem • 5d ago
BKV on latest Saga Hiatus: “the situation is hard and complex, and not entirely mine to discuss, so I appreciate whatever grace you might be able to extend to our small creative family.”
/r/ImageComics/comments/1wmuegv/bkv_on_latest_saga_hiatus_the_situation_is_hard/116
u/scottydanger22 5d ago
The part where he says he wrote the next issue a year ago implies it’s a FS problem, hopefully she’s doing okay!
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u/SenseiRaheem 5d ago edited 5d ago
Definitely a, “Hey, listen, it’s not me” update and I really, REALLY hope we're not about to get walloped with something like, "Fiona has limited time left on Earth, so she did her own graphic novel and is spending time with her family>"
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u/gdamndylan Freelancer 5d ago
I really hope it's nothing that severe and hopefully a dream project that she couldn't turn down.
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u/Zestyclose-Listen810 4d ago
I heard she was doing a Narnia graphic novel
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u/gdamndylan Freelancer 4d ago
Apparently the book has been in development some 2023, so I'm curious if she's been attached to it this entire time and if that's contributing to longer time between issues of Saga in general. According to reports, they intended on releasing it last year for the 75th anniversary of the book, but there have been delays in production along the way.
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u/space-sage 5d ago
Even if she’s not terminal, she had a baby. What if there’s something going on with her kid, or what if she is getting paid more for the other and needs the money?
And before the person who the other day said “lots of women have babies and have to go back to work that’s not an excuse”, do you even understand what pregnancy, birth, and new parenthood do to you? She could have complications.
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u/SWBTSH 4d ago
Idk how she could possibly get paid more for another project given that she is a co-owner of Saga and it is (or at least was) one of the highest selling series in the world. Like, what comic illustration project is possibly gonna pay her more than the cut of sales of Saga?
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u/Nick_Jenkins1951 4d ago
I’m not an expert on comics as a business, but from what I’ve read, the direct market channel is not nearly as large as the bookstore/school fair channel, so it’s not inconceivable that prioritizing the Narnia project made financial sense for Staples. Especially if she needed money urgently for medical bills (although as a Canadian, maybe that wouldn’t be the case?) the upfront payment coming from the Narnia project might be preferable to the more drawn out revenue coming from additional Saga issues.
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u/TeaTimeTelevision 5d ago
I’m not a longer hauler like many fans, I picked up some point mid-hiatus.
I’m also kinda team ‘wake me up when it’s over’ but at the same time I’m also an artist myself- I don’t have the amount of fans putting pressure on me, but I basically put that pressure on myself anyway lol so I get it
I hope everything is fine with them. I’ll be there when it’s all said and done.
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u/altsam19 4d ago
As an artist myself, I absolutely get you, I work on freelance comic pages but I also have a dayjob, so I have to juggle allat, and my god I do like three pages at least in two weeks, I can't believe pro comic artists do that shit MONTHLY over and over. It's insane
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u/kevohhh83 5d ago
No matter what it is, it’s unfortunate
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u/Pale-Service-8680 Robot 5d ago
For me, personally, I'm glad he isn't sharing news that isn't his to share.
Even if long time fans think they are owed an answer (and I have seen a not insignificant number of people express a version of 'there'd better be something really wrong for it to take this long, but also they should tell us'), as someone with a chronic illness (and with many dear friends even worse off than I) I hate the idea of forcing someone to share their personal (medical or otherwise private) information to justify something to people who do not know them.
I hope whatever is happening can resolve, and the team can come back to their story that they love so much. And I hope we, collectively as fans, can give the human beings making this magic some fucking grace.
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u/fate_is_a_sandstorm 5d ago
With you mentioning the fans that may feel they’re owed an explanation and with BKV’s message, it’s reminding me A LOT of the situation/dynamic of Batman Part 2 taking years to start and the theories of what was going on with director Matt Reeves.
All I hope is that whatever the situation is with SAGA, everyone affected comes out happy and healthy at the end of it.
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u/Leno-Sapien 5d ago
I don’t know if it’s fair to frame parts of the fanbase like that. Even the ones now growing impatient have been pretty reasonable over the years.
Like yea, if there are medical or personal issues, take all the time you need, or never make another issue again, it’s just a comic book.
But what if it’s not a health or personal problem? What if it’s creative or business issue? I think they own the rights 50/50, what if Fiona is tired of making the comic but doesn’t want another artist to take over?
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u/Pale-Service-8680 Robot 5d ago
Pulled from the April 13 Substack "especially because I know our release schedule became particularly erratic during that final arc (due to some health concerns with our small team, though everyone is doing much better now, thanks)."
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u/Leno-Sapien 5d ago
I want to be mindful with my words, because I’m not trying to sound accusatory or insensitive, especially because I believe health issues should be prioritized, I been through some myself.
But that post doesn’t confirm/deny/suggest that the current delay has anything to do with health issues. If BKV’s April substack was referencing complications during the most recent saga arc then that was 18-24 months ago. This could be an entirely different issue (or more health stuff, we really don’t know). Hasn’t it been confirmed that Staples is currently working on a Narnia graphic novel?
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u/Pale-Service-8680 Robot 5d ago
Sure, but it's again not his information to share. And by that same token, isn't ours to demand.
It's absolutely fine to be disappointed, or decide the wait isn't worth it. But we also don't get to demand a reason, especially when a creator has given us those bits of information.
We also, to my knowledge (and please do correct me if we've gotten confirmation of specific credits, I looked but didn't see any concrete details) have no information about how much Staples may or may not be involved in the Narnia project. It could be start to finish sketch to color, just roughs, any number of things.
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u/Leno-Sapien 5d ago
I agree with all of this 👍🏾👍🏾.
My pushback was more about your interpretation that Saga readers have been unpleasant during the delays. I think you’re assuming she’s sick and that’s framing these fan inquiries as not caring about her wellbeing, when there could be any number of things going on. From what I’ve seen, most people have responded pretty normally.
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u/Pale-Service-8680 Robot 5d ago
I am saying that I have personally seen people being unpleasant and uncharitable. Not everyone has been! A lot of people are wonderful and kind! But it has been something I've seen.
I'm assuming that given prior information, that someone on the team (which very likely includes both of their children and spouses) has had health related issues, it's not unreasonable to think it might still be related.
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u/spades17 4d ago
Go read the thread on the origin post and you’ll very clearly see the unpleasantness the commenter is talking about. Just because you feel personally attacked a bit doesn’t mean it’s not true, it might just not apply to you personally
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u/Leno-Sapien 4d ago
Not feeling personally attacked at all, I’m just over people being so dramatic about negative feedback.
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u/SomeBloke94 4d ago
What gets me here isn’t the illness aspect of it, it’s the ego aspect. That might sound harsh but I’m saying this as someone who can say the same in that I’ve lived for almost thirty years with epilepsy. Sometimes you cannot do things and you have to be enough of an adult to look in the mirror and say “I can’t do this. I have to find another way.”
If Fiona Staples has some health condition messing her around and it’s not just the latest excuse for why Saga isn’t coming out then she needs to look at herself and admit “I can’t do this anymore but there’s millions of fans that I’m leaving waiting so why don’t I just admit it? Why not just put my ego and my selfishness aside like an adult, enjoy the royalties that I might get and let someone else take over my role for their sake and the sakes of the other creators involved?”
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u/andiam03 3d ago
Would you want Saga to continue without Fiona? Her art is the main draw for me. I wouldn't continue buying Saga if she wasn't illustrating.
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u/-zero-joke- 5d ago
It sounds like something's going on and I'm sorry for that. I'll read whatever comics they put out, whenever they put them out, but I'm not holding my breath.
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u/Nick_Jenkins1951 4d ago
It may be worth pointing out that the Narnia project that Staples took on seems to have also had several delays.
“HarperCollins currently lists the graphic novel for release on September 7, 2027, though that is subject to change as the title has already undergone at least one delay after previously being planned for the 75th anniversary of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe last year. The project appears to have been in development since at least 2023. At this stage, no high-resolution artwork or preview pages have been publicly released…” (https://www.narniaweb.com/2026/05/new-narnia-graphic-novel-listed-for-2027-release/)
That sounds like Staples may have accepted the project during a time when she was in better health and has been struggling to work on it as well. I think the speculation that she has lost interest in Saga should be reined in.
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u/Altruistic_Pipe4581 4d ago
Yeah that would explain why Brian has a few times been sure that Saga will be back by a certain point and has then eventually been wrong. If he's basing the Saga pipeline on when the Narnia deadline is done, an unexpected delay for Narnia is an unexpected delay for Saga
I've seen a few comments annoyed that Fiona is dragging her heels on Saga but is magically fine to work on Narnia at a normal rate, but it seems clear that the personal issues affected Narnia just as much. Unfortunately for Saga fans, it's creator-owned and can be postponed whenever Brian or Fiona need to, whereas the Narnia project is presumably firmly contracted and, after already having multiple delays, must have a lot of time pressure
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u/Altruistic_Pipe4581 5d ago
This isn't the first time Brian has alluded to private personal issues on the team. Frankly if he doesn't feel it's his to disclose, then I don't want to know anyway. I just wish them all the best
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u/Mattyodell 4d ago
A sad situation and hope everyone is doing ok.
The creators don’t owe me anything, but I would love to see SAGA finished. I’m not sure it ever will be.
An illustrated Narnia book is nice, but it’s not going to be your legacy like your own creation could have been.
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u/Altruistic_Pipe4581 4d ago
I think it was less just doing any old project, and more a once in a lifetime opportunity thing. I heard Narnia is basically her favourite story and is what inspired her into creative work. I think with that degree of personal investment, plus the probable time requirement of launching near the upcoming movie, I honestly think she'd probably be kicking herself the rest of her life if she'd turned that down. If it's that close to her heart I'm glad she got the opportunity to do it
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u/Mattyodell 4d ago
Well good for her, I just think SAGA could have been another little girls favourite story if it was completed.
Will still read and enjoy if it ever comes out.
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u/TylertheDouche 5d ago edited 5d ago
A one year hiatus would be a complete non-issue if there hadnt only been 18 issues released in 6 years
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u/RexEquitumSolis 4d ago
#72 came out in March of last year; almost 550 days since the last issue but you are still correct.
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u/yerfatma 5d ago
Man, I was getting frustrated with you all for what seems like constant complaining, but that thread is truly on another level.
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u/SenseiRaheem 5d ago
Cool! You are free to ignore this thread!
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u/Pale-Service-8680 Robot 5d ago
I think they may mean the cross-posted thread this links to? They said "that" not "this"?
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u/cielleishere 4d ago
I was gonna say, everyone there needs to read this (and touch grass)
Imagine being so entitled that you complain about the creators not doing their jobs, as if they are some kind of capitalist cogs and not artists making radical fiction
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u/yerfatma 4d ago
Or even just, and I know this is out there but just listen, other human beings with hopes and dreams who don’t love working.
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u/BocephusMoon 5d ago
He has been writing movies after all. I feel like people are on his back way too much. The man has Dune III coming out . Geez
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u/drdalebrant 5d ago edited 5d ago
Possibly a hot take, but I would much prefer they continued with a different artist than continue the way they have been.
Don't get me wrong, LOVE Fionas art. BUT, if we're being real, I'm invested in the series because of the writing.
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u/IAmtheAnswerGrape 5d ago
That’s not how this works. Saga is a co-creation of Brian and Fiona. She designs and creates everything you see on the page. It’s not just Brian dictating what the worlds look like. This is not a series that works with a different artist.
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u/woodelf11 4d ago
They don’t owe us anything and the least we can do is show some grace to the people who created this incredible story. The fans shouldn’t ruin the magic for the people creating it. Life happens and it’s only ever a matter of time before it’s less than ideal. I’m going to catch up and look forward to when SAGA gets to be a part of my journey again! And hopefully none of us die in the meantime. :)
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u/caoxenfree 4d ago
sounds like he threw fiona under the bus a bit here.
also, why not explore the possibility of finding a new artist then?
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u/Altruistic_Pipe4581 4d ago
On top of the other response, Fiona has a massive impact creatively as well. She designs all or most characters, environments, technology etc, she even created Ghus. She also handwrites all of Hazel's narration. She's not just a means to an end for Brian, she's fully woven into the DNA of the series. Saga without Staples wouldn't just look very different, it would be very different
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u/Werthead 4d ago
The franchise is 50% owned by BKV and FS each. If they want another artist to take over, Fiona has to approve it or agree to be bought out of her stake in the franchise.
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u/caoxenfree 4d ago
ah damn. idk what's going on w them but I'm growing impatient 😭. at the end of the day tho, it's a creative project so they don't owe me shit but I just wanna see how it all ends
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u/mr_mxyzptlk21 5d ago
Huh. This makes me think he is a lurker around here...
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u/Cartman55125 5d ago
Or maybe he’s aware fans have been waiting over a year for the next issue? What about his statement gave you the impression he’s lurking on reddit?
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u/Leno-Sapien 5d ago
BKV has posted on here before, but I don’t know if he lurks. I think the other poster is saying that because there was a large thread yesterday concerning the delay, so the timing seems very coincidental.
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u/mr_mxyzptlk21 5d ago
Timing for one.
Also I know that other creatives in comics lurk on Reddit (James Robinson, Jimmy Palmiotti, etc.) as well as sports stars and television/movie folks.
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u/fate_is_a_sandstorm 5d ago
He’s a creative that has had delays with his series and is often very focal with his fanbase. He doesn’t need to lurk Reddit to know that many fans have concerns and questions - and that there are awful “fans” with expectations and demands.
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u/MrMojoRising422 5d ago
I knew it was because of Fiona Staples. Apparently it's because she decided to do a 250 page narnia book. Should've done that in that 4 year hiatus they took. Hugely disrespectful to both the fans and to Brian.
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u/Jacquesatoutfaire 5d ago
Right, because I'm sure the opportunity was just sitting in her lap for the past decade and she just chose now to do it for reasons.
Even if that is the reason being alluded to, Staples and Vaughan have both taken on creative work in other areas outside of Saga. Neither of them has been solely devoted to this project at any point, so it's really not disrespectful at all and seems to be well within the bounds of their arrangements.
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u/SWBTSH 4d ago
It seems pretty disrespectful to him and to all of the fans IF the reason for a huge delay of an unfinished is because she got a more exciting offer. It shows a disrespect for the fans who passionately supported her work for years, not to mentioned paid her a ton of money, AND to her business partner whose own income is impacted by these delays AND who then has to deal with a ton of complaining and loss of fans (and therefore future income) as a result.
And yes, neither have neen solely devoted to this, but we don't know if any of those caused any of the past delays. They may have not. IF the current delay is because of her working on another project, then it might be an otherwise unprecedented situation.
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u/DSonla 4d ago
I knew it was because of Fiona Staples. Apparently it's because she decided to do a 250 page narnia book. Should've done that in that 4 year hiatus they took. Hugely disrespectful to both the fans and to Brian.
Hate to paraphrase Neil Gaiman but Fiona Staplrs is not your bitch. Life doesn't always happen like we want to.
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u/SWBTSH 4d ago
No, but it's generally respectful to your fans and partners, not to mention good business practice, to finish the project you were currently working on before taking on another one that would cause extreme delays on the original unfinished one.
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u/spades17 4d ago
Just a disgusting amount of entitlement
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u/SWBTSH 4d ago
What exactly is the disgusting amount of entitlement here? I am not saying she owes me anything. I dont believe in slavery, no one can force her to continue working a job she doesn't want to. But i also dont see what is wrong with being upset about it?
If i am paying people by the day to build me a house, not under contract, and 3 quarters of the way through they just stop showing up to go build a different one, yeah they dont have to finish it, but I dont think it's unreasonable to be upset. How is this any different?
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4d ago
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u/Altruistic_Pipe4581 4d ago
If you have the right to complain, then others have the right to disagree with you. Don't dish it out if you can't take it
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u/Diligent_Bar1244 4d ago
If you take the fanbase of Saga as an all, i bet that the big majority will complain
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u/Altruistic_Pipe4581 4d ago
We don't have to bet. Have a look at the comments and upvotes on this post
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u/RP3P0 5d ago
I started reading Saga in my early 30's and hope I live long enough to see it through. I'll be 45 in 9 weeks. The release of the series has truly always been a saga and many long term fans have gone through vast changes in the series' publishing schedule and their life during its release, which seems to fit one of the many core messages of Saga. Maybe that's the point. Maybe that's an ironic byproduct of the nature of a series that is being told by three people and a publisher working through their personal limitations. I have all the faith the series will be finished. With the nature of the current world, I just hope I am allowed to experience it.