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In Saga #55, main character Hazel uses magic in a way that breaks the established conventions of the series, suggesting that she is very powerful.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Saga #55, on sale now from Image Comics.
In Saga‘s return from its extended hiatus, the daughter of the series’ lovesick protagonists has ascended to her role in the spotlight. Issue #55 (by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples) shows Hazel exhibiting greater magical ability than anyone expected. Even though she only casts a minor spell in this issue, she seems to break the preexisting limitations of the magic system previously introduced in the series. Here, Hazel seems to cast a spell without any material fuel source, which could have major implications for the comic’s world and characters.
After a brief run-in with some Landfallian troops, she encounters a magical bomb vest detonation. By whispering a shield spell in the Wreath language “Blue,” Hazel survives the explosion completely unscathed. But strangely enough, there’s no clear sacrifice given to trigger her spell. This goes completely against the established magic system of the series.
Marko first describes the capabilities of spell casting back in Saga #2. He explains to Alana that “Spells require ingredients.” In that case, the ingredient was a secret, but other spells have other prerequisites. In the case of Marko’s father, Barr, this was a severe strain on his health. Already terminally ill, he casts a spell to stitch their ship together at the cost of his life in Saga #11.
Magical artifacts have been shown to give additional charms to their users, and Hazel has nothing explicitly magical in this scene. There’s a wristwatch mentioned, as a birthday present, which could potentially have some magical significance, but it really seems like a regular wristwatch. Her magician’s outfit was a big part of the promotional material for this return issue, so reader’s might’ve suspected the hat as some sort of artifact. However it seems like her hat is just there to conceal the horns on her head. Besides, artifacts in the series are usually shown to wear out the more they’re used. Any of her clothing items would probably wrinkle or tear if she used them for magical purposes.
It is possible that Hazel has some unique magical abilities that don’t require sacrifices or artifacts. When she flies away from the authorities, her narration reads: “I was the luckiest girl ever born. Because the two people that made me had very little in common with each other. And while that kind of collaboration can often end in disaster, every once in a while… the result is the sum of its parts.” While this could just be a nod to the fact that she can both cast spells and fly, perhaps she’s hinting that her unique blend of Wreath and Landfall DNA gives her magical abilities untapped by others.
For the most part, Saga likes to lean away from typical sci-fi narratives focused on chosen ones or rag-tag rebellions overcoming great odds. Usually, the stakes involve whether or not a family marginalized by society will be able to survive. But if Hazel’s biology has a special connection to magic, she might be seen as a threat to her enemies rather than a secret to be erased. The series has gone through many twists and turns, but such a shift in power could flip Saga‘s formula on its head.
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