FALLEN ANGEL #15-#17

**MattBrady** · 02-13-2007, 03:00 PM

From IDW

Since its launch in December 2005, IDW Publishing’s Fallen Angel has had two constants—co-creator Peter David’s writing and artist J.K. Woodward’s painted art style. After March, one of these things will change, but not before setting up the title’s biggest storyline yet.

Artist J.K. Woodward will step aside on the book after March’s issue #14, “The Predecessor, Part 1.” Stepping in to complete the art chores on parts two and three of this tale is artist Kristian Donaldson (Supermarket, DMZ). What will Kristian be drawing in his two issues? A better question is who he will be drawing…

In Woodward’s final issue, we meet a character named Lin. A character in an asylum, who will look very familiar to long-time fans of the series in both its iterations. We also revisit familiar old faces like Shadow Boxer in the issue.

From there, Kristian picks up the pieces and tells the final two parts of the story, paying homage to past comic book covers with his images for issues 15 and 16.

So how does Peter top that story? Easy—he lets Fallen Angel—whoever it is still wearing the cloak beyond issue 16—meet up with someone even more intimidating… Billy Tucci’s Shi. In issues 17 and 18, Fallen Angel meets up with the Sohei Warrior in a special crossover guest-illustrated by Shi creator Billy Tucci himself.

But wait—as the saying goes—there’s more. Issue 17 will be presented as a special flip-book, featuring two 11-page stories telling essentially the same tale, but from two very different points-of-view. Tucci will be handling Shi’s version of this Rashomon-like tale. Handling Angel’s chapter? Artist Joe Corroney, who last paired with David on Spike vs. Dracula. Both artists will be supplying special covers for this flip-book presentation.

J.K. Woodward fans needn’t fret, either, as he will be returning to the book soon after, too, followed by yet more Joe Corroney art. Woodward fans will also be happy to see his work on larger display in the May-bound Fallen Angel Premiere Edition, an oversize hardcover-with-dustjacket presentation of issues 1-13. This deluxe volume will also include all of Woodward’s covers, character sketches, a more involved look behind the scenes at his approach to the art, and much more.

Fallen Angel remains IDW’s only ongoing series, and fans of what has come before will surely find renewed enthusiasm over what’s still to come.

luckybucky · 02-13-2007, 03:13 PM

I MUCH prefer this artist to Woodward's take on the series. He's terrific, but more suited to cover art than interiors for this book. I feel this run captures more of the essence of FAllen Angel from its original run at DC. Something about the art there made the humor of the book shine through the grimness and violence a bit more.

NightRiver · 02-13-2007, 03:18 PM

Ah, so thats the character that PAD was hinting of a crossover on "play or die" a few weeks ago. Cool!

kalorama · 02-13-2007, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckybucky

I MUCH prefer this artist to Woodward's take on the series. He's terrific, but more suited to cover art than interiors for this book. I feel this run captures more of the essence of FAllen Angel from its original run at DC. Something about the art there made the humor of the book shine through the grimness and violence a bit more.

I agree wholeheartedly. I really enjoyed Donaldson's work on Supermarket and it looks to be a good fit here.

stasisbal · 02-13-2007, 03:25 PM

I've liked Woodward's work on this a lot, and was very impressed with the flow of the most recent issue. But all of the the artist coming after him should be great. Supermarket was cool. The only thing I'll miss is the consistency.

They are saying Woodward will come back for more issues, then will be replaced by Corroney, or are they alternating at that point? Maybe they just don't know that far ahead yet.

CodeGuy · 02-13-2007, 03:52 PM

I really liked Woodward. Since Fallen Angel is so different from other books, I like that Woodward's pages look very different from other comics. I thought it was a great fit.

The second page in this preview bugs me, though. The one in the bar. It looks a little too normal, not moody enough. I think that might be the coloring, though. All the shading looks a lot more flat than I'm used to in Fallen Angel.

ThatNickGuy · 02-13-2007, 03:53 PM

Wait a tick...

Those covers. Is that a hint of Linda Danvers coming in!? I'd heard that PAD was going to talk about how his Supergirl could have been Fallen Angel when it first began. And in his introduction in the first IDW trade of FA, he said that the origin we saw for Lee was known as "Plan B" in case the Supergirl aspect was dropped.

jedifish · 02-13-2007, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckybucky

I MUCH prefer this artist to Woodward's take on the series. He's terrific, but more suited to cover art than interiors for this book. I feel this run captures more of the essence of FAllen Angel from its original run at DC. Something about the art there made the humor of the book shine through the grimness and violence a bit more.

I disagree. I think Woodward's art has made this series for me. I think it's a better fit for the more Occult genre this series is set in. This art looks okay, but I'm glad JK is coming back.

jedifish · 02-13-2007, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CodeGuy

I really liked Woodward. Since Fallen Angel is so different from other books, I like that Woodward's pages look very different from other comics. I thought it was a great fit.

The second page in this preview bugs me, though. The one in the bar. It looks a little too normal, not moody enough. I think that might be the coloring, though. All the shading looks a lot more flat than I'm used to in Fallen Angel.

Yeah, that's my problem with it. It looks too normal. I'd prefer the moody art from JK.

jedifish · 02-13-2007, 04:23 PM

I missed that Joe Corroney would be doing some of the art in #17. Good to see. I really enjoyed his Star Wars stuff. Nice guy, too.

Kolimar · 02-13-2007, 04:38 PM

Me likey.

idkidd · 02-13-2007, 04:39 PM

wow, I found the details of who's drawing what issues when pretty confusing.

I really like that the Shi guest appearances are occurring in the regular book instead of a separate miniseries.

Charlie Hustle · 02-13-2007, 04:45 PM

I will buy this book now that the painted artist is off of it. I just didn't like his stuff.

rockieman · 02-13-2007, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatNickGuy

Wait a tick...

Those covers. Is that a hint of Linda Danvers coming in!? I'd heard that PAD was going to talk about how his Supergirl could have been Fallen Angel when it first began. And in his introduction in the first IDW trade of FA, he said that the origin we saw for Lee was known as "Plan B" in case the Supergirl aspect was dropped.

I just read a new interview with PAD recently, and he stated that in the upcoming issues the new character will very obviously be Linda Danvers. She just, obviously, won't be referred to as such.

Kolimar · 02-13-2007, 04:48 PM

One more for The Complete List of Inter-Company Crossovers. Do you own any?

rockieman · 02-13-2007, 04:51 PM

As for the art, I personally loved Woodward's style. PAD has mentioned that the original PDF files and the final printed pages weren't the same. No matter how much they spoke to the printers, the pages would come out too dark.

I was never a huge fan of Lopez's art. It was ok, but I believe Woodward's style really fit the mood of FA. The above art is ok. We'll see how it plays out in the story.

I just hope the Shi issues don't end up being a waste of money. Like many others I bought a few of the issues when it 1st came out in the the mid-90s, but never liked it. I really hope the story seemlessly brings her in, especially since she isn't a PAD creation.

Wonder Boy · 02-13-2007, 04:56 PM

Lin? :-) Hee!

Ziggy · 02-13-2007, 05:26 PM

go kristian!

Disco Cookie · 02-13-2007, 05:45 PM

This is a great series - I love Woodward's style (though it was such a change from the previous art it did take some getting used to) but Donaldson is a superb replacement. And the new storyline looks great - always happy to see Shadow Boxer...

EMeadow · 02-13-2007, 06:08 PM

For people wondering where Woodward will temporarily be going, he's off to do the Salvador mini series for BOOM Studios. 5 issues and then he'll back with the Fallen Angel.

whitemarkd · 02-13-2007, 06:44 PM

That is an amazing beautiful cover - I have a lot more respect for artists that can draw beautiful faces like that than ones that just do T&A. (For the record, I think Ed Benes does both well.)

Peter David · 02-13-2007, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Hustle

I will buy this book now that the painted artist is off of it. I just didn't like his stuff.

Just FYI, the art hasn't been painted since issue 5.

PAD

President Kang · 02-13-2007, 10:13 PM

anybody know when IDW's FA trade #2 is going to hit? Dug the series at DC, and now going trade format for the IDW run (like it so much I need the stories in complete collected editions w/ no ads).

Ryall · 02-14-2007, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by President Kang

anybody know when IDW's FA trade #2 is going to hit? Dug the series at DC, and now going trade format for the IDW run (like it so much I need the stories in complete collected editions w/ no ads).

It's out by month's end--I don't have the dates in front of me but it's either the 21st or the 28th of this month. Anyway, by March 1, it can be yours.

To clarify on the art:

Issue 14 (part 1 of the "Lin" story): JK
Issue 15 (part 2): Kristian
Issue 16 (part 3): Kristian
Issue 17 (Shi crossover, part 1): Corroney doing a cover and 11 pages, Tucci doing a cover and 11 pages

Beyond that, details still being worked out, but it'll be one of these same guys.

Arvandor · 02-14-2007, 02:12 AM

I'll miss Woodward. I really liked his art. Donaldson is nice though. And Corroney's art looks okay too.