As Alana meets her contact and Hazel and Squire learn how to rock, Bombazine is reminded of his past in Saga #58 by writer Brian K. Vaughan, artist Fiona Staples, and letterer Fonografiks. This one packs in the plotline but, as always, does a remarkable job.

Alana meets the wolfman she’s selling the Fadeaway to as she’s attacked by one of the indigenous monsters. He helps her get rid of it, and they make their exchange, getting to know each other. Back on the ship, Hazel and Squire hang out with the band, learning to play the guitar and drums, respectively, as Bombazine looks one. Guitar sends Hazel away to listen to music while she talks to Skipper. Back with Alana, she and the buyer discuss the universe and their place in it as people who have survived their spouses’ deaths. Back on the ship, Skipper confronts Bombazine about his past after the kids go to sleep and promises not to tell as long as he does a favor for the captain. Back on Landfall, Agent Gale is confronted by Director Croze and given a new mission- to hunt down Hazel and everyone she’s known and kill them.

Since its return, one of the things about Saga is how stuffed with plot each issue is. The time skip is a considerable part of this; Vaughan has to set up the world again for readers and introduce schemes to pay off later. This issue is another example of that, and it does a great job of it, but that’s to be expected. From the kids learning music to Bombazine’s mysterious past coming back to haunt him to Agent Gale finally taking an active role in the hunt for Hazel, there’s a lot of set-up down here, and just enough it played out to whet reader’s appetites for what’s to come.

Vaughan throws in a nice conversation about being widowed between Alana and the wolfman buying the Fadeaway, one that cuts to the core of her character and how she feels about the world. This brings up the question of art and creating something that will last, which feels like it will play into both her future and Hazel and Squire’s. Overall, he does a great job of crafting the plots and giving readers some fascinating insights into the characters and their future.

As usual, Fiona Staples provides some amazing visuals, from the monster chasing Alana to the wolfman who buys the Fadeaway to the anger on Bombazine’s face when confronted with the truth. She’s a master of character acting, and that shines through on every page, even with the often inhuman faces.

Saga #58 lays out a lot of great plots and does some adroit character work. Vaughan and Staples continue to be an amazing team.

Grade: B+