When it comes to comics, few series dare to explore love as boldly and unapologetically as Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples. This sweeping space opera blends fantasy, sci-fi, and political conflict, but its emotional center is always love—particularly the messy, imperfect, often dangerous kind. In a universe populated by TV-headed royalty, bounty-hunting spiders, rocket trees, and sentient cats, the raw humanity of romance grounds the series. Whether it’s the central love story of Alana and Marko or the complicated entanglements of side characters, Saga paints relationships in vivid color—full of passion, compromise, heartbreak, and hope.
#10: Upsher and Doff – Love in the Line of Fire
As investigative journalists from the Hebdomadal, Upsher and Doff bring a sense of grounded, real-world dedication to Saga’s chaos. Their relationship—subtle, domestic, but quietly powerful—becomes increasingly moving as they put their love and careers on the line in pursuit of truth. Unlike the more explosive romances in the series, theirs is a study in quiet resilience. They face discrimination, danger, and temptation, yet always circle back to each other. Their work as journalists puts them in harm’s way constantly, yet it never dampens the warmth they share in private. Even in the face of being silenced by The Brand, their love persists, surviving separation and threats to their lives and reputations. What makes this romance so compelling is how grounded it is. They’re not warriors or rebels—they’re just two people trying to do their jobs and love each other in a galaxy that sees both of those things as threats. Upsher and Doff’s love isn’t showy, but it’s real. And in a universe where so much is torn apart by war, their bond remains a quiet act of rebellion.
#9: The Will and The Stalk – Love Among Killers
Though their romance is only hinted at through memory and flashback, The Will and The Stalk’s relationship lingers heavily throughout the narrative. These bounty hunters, though deadly and hardened, share a connection that reveals surprising softness—particularly in The Will. After her death, his grief becomes a throughline for his entire character arc. Their connection isn’t romanticized. It’s gritty, real, and full of sharp edges. The Stalk was strange, sensual, and utterly alien in design, yet The Will loved her, and that love gave his character a surprising amount of depth. Even when haunted by hallucinations of her voice, it’s clear she wasn’t just a fling—she was family. What makes this storyline compelling is how it captures grief and longing. It’s a romance of contradictions: violent yet tender, ruthless yet sincere. Even years after her passing, The Will remains haunted by her, chasing not just vengeance but the echo of something pure in their bond. It’s a tragic reminder that even killers can love deeply—and lose profoundly.
#8: Klara and Barr – Enduring Love in War’s Shadow
Marko’s parents, Klara and Barr, represent a rare and touching example of mature love in Saga. Their decades-long marriage has weathered interplanetary war, ideological divides, and family tension. While Klara is hardened and militant, Barr is gentle and artistic, creating a dynamic that’s both comedic and heartwarming. Their relationship is tested constantly—especially as they travel with Alana and Marko—but the strength of their connection is never in doubt. Barr’s patience with Klara’s sharp tongue and Klara’s deep respect for her husband’s quieter wisdom reveal a partnership built on mutual respect. When Barr dies of illness, the grief Klara carries is palpable. She may not be the type to wear her heart on her sleeve, but her pain is etched into every panel. Their love isn’t flashy—it’s foundational. It’s the kind of love that holds up through life’s worst moments, and in a series full of explosive passion, Klara and Barr stand out for the strength of their steady devotion.
#7: Gwendolyn and The Will – Rebound or Something More?
When Gwendolyn, Marko’s fiery ex, enters the story, sparks fly—especially when she partners with The Will. Their relationship teeters between alliance, tension, and intimacy. At first, it seems like a rebound—two people dealing with personal losses clinging to each other in the chaos. But over time, real affection begins to bloom. What makes this romance fascinating is its evolution: both characters are flawed, guarded, and occasionally manipulative, but they keep revealing slivers of vulnerability. Gwendolyn, with her no-nonsense attitude and moral backbone, unexpectedly balances The Will’s impulsiveness and darkness. Their banter turns into bonding, and their grief becomes shared. It’s not clear whether their relationship would ever have lasted in peacetime, but in the war-torn galaxy of Saga, it becomes a rare source of comfort and healing. Their connection is a testament to how love can grow in even the harshest conditions—awkward, imperfect, and possibly doomed, but meaningful all the same.
#6: Hazel’s Commentary on Love – A Child’s Perspective
While not a romance in the traditional sense, Hazel’s narration throughout Saga offers a profound lens into the love she witnesses and inherits. As the child of Alana and Marko, her reflections on love, conflict, and survival infuse every romance in the series with deeper meaning. Her voice, mature beyond her years and laced with melancholy wisdom, turns each romantic arc into part of a larger, more reflective tapestry. Hazel doesn’t just describe events—she contextualizes them with insight that reshapes how we interpret every kiss, every goodbye, every betrayal. She offers the long view, reminding readers that love is what makes survival matter. Through Hazel, the reader is reminded of the stakes—how love isn’t just about the lovers, but the legacy they leave behind. Her voice becomes the soul of the story, giving every romance a heartbreaking resonance. In many ways, she is the love story’s living embodiment, born from war but shaped by compassion, and always reaching toward hope.
#5: Prince Robot IV and Princess Robot – Love Behind Royal Screens
The romance between Prince Robot IV and his unnamed wife, Princess Robot, is one of the most quietly tragic relationships in Saga. Though we never see much of their courtship, the weight of their union hangs over much of the series, especially after the birth of their son, Squire. Bound by duty and the rigid roles of Robot Kingdom royalty, their love is often stifled by protocol and political pressure. Yet there’s genuine tenderness in the glimpses we do get—especially in Prince Robot’s grief after his wife’s brutal murder. He is a character often driven by arrogance and trauma, but the rare moments when he remembers her, or interacts with their child, reveal how deep his emotional wounds run. His journey from a cold, entitled aristocrat to a grief-stricken, vengeful father is one of Saga’s most layered emotional arcs. His love may have been imperfect, but it was real—and it shaped the course of his life in ways he never expected.
#4: Dengo and His Dead Wife – A Love that Haunts
Dengo, the tragic janitor-turned-assassin, is introduced to readers as a man broken by loss. His wife’s death and his son’s suffering at the hands of a cruelly indifferent Robot aristocracy drive him to desperate, violent rebellion. Though we only see his wife through brief memories and dialogue, their love haunts him—and the reader—through every panel. It’s not a grand romance, but a raw, aching portrait of love lost to an unjust system. Dengo’s entire arc is fueled by a desire to reclaim dignity for the people he loved and lost. His actions may be horrifying, but they stem from a place of profound devotion and despair. It’s one of the few storylines that shows how love, when denied justice, can curdle into something tragic and terrifying.
#3: The Forbidden Love of Alana and Marko – Star-Crossed and Soul-Bound
At the heart of Saga lies the epic, tragic, and undeniably powerful romance between Alana and Marko. She’s a soldier from Landfall; he’s a pacifist from Wreath—two people whose very species have been at war for generations. Their love begins in defiance and is tested by nearly every force imaginable: bounty hunters, assassins, family trauma, addiction, and war itself. And yet, it endures. What makes their romance so compelling isn’t just the stakes—it’s the authenticity. They argue. They hurt each other. They make mistakes. But they also fight for their family, for each other, and for the dream of peace in a galaxy addicted to conflict. The birth of their daughter, Hazel, becomes the ultimate symbol of hope. Their love isn’t just a rebellion—it’s the blueprint for a better universe. And even in loss, their bond never truly dies.
#2: Petrichor’s Quiet Yearning – Identity and Intimacy
Petrichor, the transgender soldier from Wreath, adds a deeply personal and underrepresented kind of love story to Saga. Her experience with gender identity, loneliness, and the longing to be seen make her a standout character. Though she doesn’t have a sweeping romance arc like others, her desire for connection and understanding is one of the most emotionally resonant threads in the series. Her brief moments of vulnerability—especially in conversations with Hazel—hint at a capacity for love that is fierce, protective, and real. Her story is about more than romance; it’s about being worthy of love. And in a universe so often defined by what divides people, Petrichor reminds us that love begins with acceptance—of others, and of oneself.
#1: Alana and Marko’s Final Goodbye – The Romance That Defined a Series
Though we already explored Alana and Marko’s sweeping love story, it’s their final goodbye that cements their place at the top of this list. When Marko is killed, it’s sudden, brutal, and soul-crushing—not just for Alana, but for readers who followed them through war, exile, and parenthood. In the aftermath, Alana’s grief becomes unbearable yet beautifully human. Her breakdowns, her moments of numbness, and her resolve to raise Hazel without him are some of the most moving scenes in all of Saga. Marko’s death doesn’t end their story—it crystallizes it. Their love, forged in rebellion, ends in heartbreak, but lives on in every page that follows. It is the love story of Saga: unshakable, imperfect, and immortal.
Saga never plays it safe with its love stories. It gives us star-crossed soulmates, quiet domestic partnerships, forbidden desires, and raw expressions of longing. It shows us how love can be radical, how it can hurt, heal, and transform. In a galaxy of war and wonder, it’s love that binds Saga’s characters—and its readers—together. Whether tragic or triumphant, each romance in this list left an indelible mark on one of the most emotionally daring comics ever written.
