All types of texts are open to interpretation. When I say all types of literature that includes novels, podcasts, comics, and picture oriented subject matter. A person can interpret meaning from words on a page and from pictures in the same way. Both words and images have the ability to make a person establish an emotional response and that person can develop an idea of what the words or images mean. For example, by looking at the images in the comic “Saga” I have been able to figure out what I think it means. I think that the comic is trying to tell the reader something specific about society. This comic shows that there is no such thing as a good war. The comic “Saga” tries to show the negative effects that war has on society, such as its effects on children and all of the people involved.

“Saga” shows many of the negative effects of war, one of these is the effect that it has on innocent people who are not even involved. There are a couple of images that I thought really reflected this element of war. Towards the beginning of the comic the two lovers and their newborn child are caught between people fighting each other. These two seem to be the main characters of the story which is interesting because it gives the reader the perspective of innocent people caught in a war. One group of soldiers originally came to apprehend the two, but an opposing group came and attacked the soldiers. The small family was literally caught in between the crossfire of this battle. I can tell that this part was emphasized because during this moment, which went by fairly quickly, there were no words in the comic and the panels kept jumping from both sides shooting gunfire to focusing on the family in the middle that was just trying to protect their child. Before the shooting starts, one of the panels focuses on the lovers and the reader can clearly see the fear on the woman’s face. This image is pretty dark and in later images the reader sees dark red bullets flying by them. The fiery illumination of the bullets evoke a sense of danger. The whole scene is very violent as the reader sees people being shot and there is blood everywhere. 

This comic also points out the effect that war can have on the youth of the parties involved. Right in the beginning of the comic a baby is born. This baby girl is the narrator of this comic. Almost immediately after she is born her and her family are attacked. I believe that this is meant to show that the children who are born into times of war are born into very dangerous times. Children born into times of war, in some cases, are taught to fight for their entire lives. Wars can potentially deprive them of having a great and fun childhood like they deserve. These children grow up not knowing what life is like without war. They are taught to hate the enemies that they are fighting the war against, but sometimes are not given an explanation for why they are enemies. The narrator of the comic mentions this blind hatred by saying, “If there was ever a time these two got along, nobody remembers it.” The image in the panel in which this was said is a picture of a moon and outer space. I think that the text in this means that the two sides have been fighting for so long that they no longer know what they were fighting about. I think the image helps to assert that theory as the image of outer space makes one think of nothingness and emptiness, which is what the war is basically about for these people. 

Another negative aspect of wars that “Saga” points out is that some of them are fought for terrible reasons. Wars, in theory, are supposed to be fought for some sort of gain or to get vengeance. Some wars, like the one in this comic, are just unnecessary violence. The reader is not even given a reason for the war that is taking place in this comic. All the reader knows is that two sides hate each other and are fighting each other and the only thing that is truly differentiating these groups is their outward appearance. In the comic, there is a group of robots and another group that seems to be full of wizards that attack each other. The reader sees as these two sides begin firing at each other without any real confrontation or dialogue. The reader sees people being shot and killed, but there is no reason for the violence. So basically the people fighting in the war are fighting because their parents fought, and their parents’ parents fought and so on. If the sides do not know why they are fighting, they should not even be fighting. 

“Saga” also points out that wars are unfair because of the people that participate in them. In the story, everyone is forced to pick a side and fight, even if they have no affiliation with either side. The common people fight for reasons they do not even want to fight for. The common people fight for little or no gain, yet the people who are gaining from the war are nowhere to be seen in the midst of the battle. The reader realizes this when in the comic the narrator is talking about how some people could care less about the war and who is fighting in it. Then the image goes to the Robot Prince having sex with his wife. This image shows that while others are dying for him on the battle field, he is just relaxing and does not have to worry about being killed in a battle. This shows how the leaders in wars have luxuries and live the high life while their people are going to war for them and are putting their lives on the line. 

I believe the whole purpose of this comic is to show the reader that war is bad. I think the comic is trying to show the reader that there is no such thing as a good war. No matter what, something is lost in a war. Whether that be money, land, lives, or the innocence of children. Wars are fought for bad reasons, if for any reason at all. In this comic, there is no obvious reason for the fighting taking place. For all the reader knows the characters may not even know why they are fighting. All they do is cause more harm and more destruction than necessary. I believe that this comic is meant to show the reader the futility of wars and to try to promote peaceful solutions to problems in the future. The risks of war definitely outweigh the rewards. 
