BEST SHOTS EXTRA: ANGEL: AFTER THE FALL #1

**MattBrady** · 11-20-2007, 06:20 AM

Best Shots Extra
Angel: After the Fall #1
From: IDW
Plot: Joss Whedon and Brian Lynch
Script: Brian Lynch
Art: Franco Urru
Colors: Ilaria Traversi
Review by Troy Brownfield

Turn back the clock to 2004. Angel goes off the air after one of the best finales in recent memory. Of course, it wasn’t supposed to end that way. Its parent show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer got to end on its own terms, but Angel, despite growing its audience in its fifth season, was the victim of a premature cancellation. Though Joss Whedon and the gang managed to give the show “an ending”, it was open-ended enough to allow further continuation. Now, just as Buffy’s adventures continue elsewhere, Angel gets to realize a longer journey in comic form.

Now granted, if you were a fan of the show, then you remember the apocalyptic ending. Amazingly, Whedon and Lynch show a way around that and start things off squarely in the middle of the action. It’s also written tightly enough that a newbie could jump in, though there’s of course a tremendous advantage associated with being familiar with the material. There’s a sensible new status quo for the characters and their environs in this issue, and we’re introduced to Angel’s latest ally in a truly funny bit on the second page.

Part of the enjoyment of this issue is seeing members of the extensive cast turn up again in surprising ways. Though they haven’t all been glimpsed by the end of this first issue, a fair number of regulars and supporting characters crop up. I was particularly happy to see that two female members of the expanded roster will apparently have a bit more to do in the book than in the final televised season. And if you’ve been following the work that Brian Lynch has done on previous Angel comics (the very work, in fact, that led Whedon to invite him to this gig), then you’ll be thrilled to see the return of giant telepathic fish Betta George. Yes, that’s “giant telepathic fish”.

There’s a bit about this issue that I won’t discuss, primarily because I avoid spoilers in advance reviews and partially because it’s been requested that I not reveal certain details. It’s sufficient to say that the new lay of the land carries a goodly number of surprises, and at least one well-worn character gets a new injection of life by the rather startling ending.

The art by Urru, while strong at capturing likenesses, could be sharper. There’s something of an undefined softness around the edges of many scenes where they should be crisp and blunt. That could be because of a loose line, or it could be because of certain color choices. It’s reasonably good art, but it doesn’t have the weight of that terrific Tony Harris cover.

Honestly, the real draw of Angel: After the Fall is the promise of seeing familiar characters continue on their way. Whedon and Lynch really have found a strong new direction, and I look forward to seeing how they push Angel onward through his ongoing last stand.

Reviewers Note: Fans reading both Buffy the Vampire Slayer from Dark Horse and Angel would do well to remember that the action of BtVS at present would be occurring concurrently with the fifth televised season of Angel, as Buffy season seven ended at the same time as Angel season four. The eleventh episode of Angel season five, “Damage”, shows a meeting between Angel’s crew and members of Buffy’s slayer army that are presently active in that comic series.

nietoperz · 11-20-2007, 07:58 AM

Actually, I'm fairly sure that Joss has said that BtVS Season 8 takes place at least 18 months after the events of the televised Season 7. Angel season 5 begins 2 weeks after the end of Buffy season 7 (Spike is told he's been dead and Sunnydale has been gone for 2 weeks). Therefore the books are more likely to be running concurrently in continuity. Not that I expect them to reference each other in any way.

r1dcully · 11-20-2007, 08:21 AM

I'm worried that this will just be a writers interpretation of 'Whedon lite'. Why not wait till the option on Angel lapses and comes back to Joss and then take it to Dark Horse and then we can see some real Angel and Spike stories.
Not this poor sad imitation.

Niall001 · 11-20-2007, 09:20 AM

Ok mate, that's horseshit. You haven't even read it yet, but you're slagging it off?

Whedon didn't write all of the tv episodes and other writers are working on the Buffy comic. At any rate, Whedon gave his blessing to this project.

Rich L · 11-20-2007, 09:47 AM

Looking forward to this - the Angel finale is probably one of my favorite hours of television, especially Wes' death and last request and Illyria's reaction to it.

So...does this mean that the previous IDW Angel series set after the show (The Curse, Old Friends) are no longer in continuity? Because I'm pretty sure they were originally meant to be.

r1dcully · 11-20-2007, 09:47 AM

I know Whedon didn't write all of the episodes but he always had a clear view as too what the direction the season would be going in. Hell, some of the best episodes were written by other writers with mininal imput from Joss.
My gripe is that non of that talent, foresight and commitment is in evidence with any of the IDW Angel comics.
Brian K. Vaughn came to the party to write Buffy, Jane Espenson (Creator of Buffy Greatness) is looking to do an arc. Angel has.....Brian Lynch.
Where's Fury, Fain, Edlund, Minear and Petrie. There's a strike on for pete's sake and they've got this guy writing a continuation of Angel and the SEASON FIVE FINALE (Greatest hour in television History) and Joss is plotting. He's plotting!
He's never not written the first episode of a new season of either Angel or Buffy. It feels like his phoning this in and as a passionate and loyal Angel and Joss fan, I'm quite saddened by this new series.
I feel that I'm being done a disservice as a Buffy and Angel fan.

r1dcully · 11-20-2007, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich L

Looking forward to this - the Angel finale is probably one of my favorite hours of television, especially Wes' death and last request and Illyria's reaction to it.

So...does this mean that the previous IDW Angel series set after the show (The Curse, Old Friends) are no longer in continuity? Because I'm pretty sure they were originally meant to be.

The Curse, Old Friends, Asylum and Shadow Puppets all occur in the fifth season between certain episodes.

Kaleidoscope · 11-20-2007, 10:12 AM

Very much looking forward to reading this !

I'm very glad that After the Fall has Brian Lynch writing it.

Frodo · 11-20-2007, 10:22 AM

The Curse and Old Friends are supposed to be post NFA but Whedon told the writer to be vague because he still had plans for the the post Angel world.After The Fall is now those plans.This is what basically Angel season 6 was going to be but expanded due to not having to deal with a budget.Joss Whedon went over the plans that he had for Angel season 6 with Brian Lynch including certain character arcs and story points.The Curse and Old Friends had no imput from Joss Whedon other then telling the writer what not to touch and are most likely non-canon now.

Joss Whedon is directly involved with Angel:After The Fall.He's not writing it but he is overseeing it and working with Brian Lynch.Joss was not involved with Angel:The Curse and Angel:Old Friend at all.

Asylum,Shadow Puppets,Auld Lang Syne all take place in season 5 between episodes.

Quote:

He's never not written the first episode of a new season of either Angel or Buffy. It feels like his phoning this in and as a passionate and loyal Angel and Joss fan, I'm quite saddened by this new series.

Actually Joss Whedon didn't write the Buffy season 5 and 6 first episodes which were Buffy vs. Dracula and the Bargaining two parter.The season 5 premiere,Buffy vs. Dracula was written by Marti Noxon.The season 6 starter,Bargaining was written by Marti Noxon(Part 1) and David Fury(Part 2).

As for Angel,Joss co-wrote the season 1 and 2 first episodes with David Greenwalt.They were City Of and Judgment.He did not write the season 3 and season 4 premieres, Heartthrob and Deep Down .Heartthrob was writtern by David Greenwalt and Deep Down was written by Steve DeKnight.

Liliaeth · 11-20-2007, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r1dcully

I know Whedon didn't write all of the episodes but he always had a clear view as too what the direction the season would be going in. Hell, some of the best episodes were written by other writers with mininal imput from Joss.
My gripe is that non of that talent, foresight and commitment is in evidence with any of the IDW Angel comics.
Brian K. Vaughn came to the party to write Buffy, Jane Espenson (Creator of Buffy Greatness) is looking to do an arc. Angel has.....Brian Lynch.
Where's Fury, Fain, Edlund, Minear and Petrie. There's a strike on for pete's sake and they've got this guy writing a continuation of Angel and the SEASON FIVE FINALE (Greatest hour in television History) and Joss is plotting. He's plotting!
He's never not written the first episode of a new season of either Angel or Buffy. It feels like his phoning this in and as a passionate and loyal Angel and Joss fan, I'm quite saddened by this new series.
I feel that I'm being done a disservice as a Buffy and Angel fan.

considering how much crap the Buffy s8 series has been so far, lacking the true spirit of the onscreen characters. I'm just happy to see this written by Brian Lynch who's shown himself to have a great handle on the characters. Just read his Spike:Asylum and Spike:Shadow Puppets, both of which were vastly superior to the load of crap that gets called Buffy s8.

Sorry, but there isn't a single good thing I can say about Buffy s8, no matter who's writing it. It's like Whedon is utterly ignoring five years of continuity and plans to bore us with the boring as hell slayer wannabes that ruined s7.

TomWaltz · 11-20-2007, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r1dcully

I know Whedon didn't write all of the episodes but he always had a clear view as too what the direction the season would be going in. Hell, some of the best episodes were written by other writers with mininal imput from Joss.
My gripe is that non of that talent, foresight and commitment is in evidence with any of the IDW Angel comics.
Brian K. Vaughn came to the party to write Buffy, Jane Espenson (Creator of Buffy Greatness) is looking to do an arc. Angel has.....Brian Lynch.
Where's Fury, Fain, Edlund, Minear and Petrie. There's a strike on for pete's sake and they've got this guy writing a continuation of Angel and the SEASON FIVE FINALE (Greatest hour in television History) and Joss is plotting. He's plotting!
He's never not written the first episode of a new season of either Angel or Buffy. It feels like his phoning this in and as a passionate and loyal Angel and Joss fan, I'm quite saddened by this new series.
I feel that I'm being done a disservice as a Buffy and Angel fan.

Trust me, Joss Whedon is not "phoning this in" -- he's very much involved in the creation of this series, and Brian Lynch is a very talented and very entertaining writer who has been hand picked by Joss to script it to completion. The two creators are working closely together to ensure Angel fans are NOT being done a disservice, and I believe, when it's all said and done, the final product will more than prove that to be true. Believe it or not, Mr. Lynch loves these characters just as much as you, r1dcully, so why would he want to do anything less than stellar work on this project? That would be crazy, but not as crazy as Joss Whedon allowing him to fall short of what has come before. Trust me, ain't gonna happen.

You say you're an Angel fan, right? Then give the book a fair chance. That's all we -- and that includes the creators -- ask.

Thanks for your time.

Best,

Tom Waltz

Frodo · 11-20-2007, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liliaeth

considering how much crap the Buffy s8 series has been so far, lacking the true spirit of the onscreen characters. I'm just happy to see this written by Brian Lynch who's shown himself to have a great handle on the characters. Just read his Spike:Asylum and Spike:Shadow Puppets, both of which were vastly superior to the load of crap that gets called Buffy s8.

Sorry, but there isn't a single good thing I can say about Buffy s8, no matter who's writing it. It's like Whedon is utterly ignoring five years of continuity and plans to bore us with the boring as hell slayer wannabes that ruined s7.

I've been loving season 8 so far and I'm actually enjoying it more then the last two seasons of the show.I have high hopes for After The Fall to match my enjoyment as the Buffy comice are.I liked Asylum and Shadow Puppets and I'm looking forward to see what Brian Lynch does with the rest of the Angel characters here.

dstorres75 · 11-20-2007, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r1dcully

Where's Fury, Fain, Edlund, Minear and Petrie. There's a strike on for pete's sake and they've got this guy writing a continuation of Angel and the SEASON FIVE FINALE (Greatest hour in television History) and Joss is plotting. He's plotting!
He's never not written the first episode of a new season of either Angel or Buffy. It feels like his phoning this in and as a passionate and loyal Angel and Joss fan, I'm quite saddened by this new series.

What can I say, when you're wrong, you're wrong. Whedon did not write all of the first epsidoes for Buffy & Angel. Buffy Season 5 & 6 were written by Marti Noxon. Angel Season 2, 3 were written by David Greenwalt and season 4 by a Steven S. DeKnight.

Sounds like he phoned in those too.

Joss personally picked Lynch to write this story. It sound to me like you have no faith in Joss.

Liliaeth · 11-20-2007, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frodo

I've been loving season 8 so far and I'm actually enjoying it more then the last two seasons of the show.I have high hopes for After The Fall to match my enjoyment as the Buffy comice are.I liked Asylum and Shadow Puppets and I'm looking forward to see what Brian Lynch does with the rest of the Angel characters here.

to me the chars in Buffy s8 behave like they did in s4, which is what I hate, since my fave seasons were s5 and s6, never did get a liking for the earlier seasons.

I guess I just hate that Whedon has managed to get me to hate Buffy, the character, which is something that even marti Noxon didn't manage to do. in s6. That and all the white washing of Willow, the one character I can stand the least.

Xeero · 11-20-2007, 01:34 PM

Ahh, Angel Season 6.... HERE I COME!!!!!!

-Armando523- · 11-20-2007, 02:11 PM

very kickass

NimNams · 11-20-2007, 03:03 PM

I'm going into this one with cautious optimisim. Though I'd much rather see Angel return to the Buffy world in the Darkhorse books, I am curious to see if this can work or not.

Capt_Piett · 11-20-2007, 04:52 PM

I've been enjoyening Buffy Season 8, and have no doubt I'll endjoy Angel Season 6 as well. Asylum and Shadow Puppets were very well done, and if you haven't read them, I'd urge you to pick them up in a trade when they're released. Old Friends was kind of Meh to me; not bad, but not really all that good. I won't care so much if Gun goes, but I do want Illyria to stick around. I'm assuming she will.

Liliaeth · 11-20-2007, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt_Piett

I've been enjoyening Buffy Season 8, and have no doubt I'll endjoy Angel Season 6 as well. Asylum and Shadow Puppets were very well done, and if you haven't read them, I'd urge you to pick them up in a trade when they're released. Old Friends was kind of Meh to me; not bad, but not really all that good. I won't care so much if Gun goes, but I do want Illyria to stick around. I'm assuming she will.

I guess I'm the opposite, next to Spike, Gunn was my favorite character. I wouldn't mind losing Illyria, but I would love to get Fred back.

Liliaeth · 11-20-2007, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NimNams

I'm going into this one with cautious optimisim. Though I'd much rather see Angel return to the Buffy world in the Darkhorse books, I am curious to see if this can work or not.

With the art used in the Buffy books, I'd prefer to see Buffy make an appearance in the Angel book. I'd love to finally see a reunion between Spike and Buffy. It's been sorely needed since the start of angel s5.

Frodo · 11-20-2007, 06:33 PM

Yeah,I would love to see a reunion between Angel and Buffy too at some point.

Thephanboy · 11-20-2007, 11:00 PM

yes yes yes lookin foward to gettin and reading this tomorrow. i got to be a fan of this show too late which sucks because i was such a fan of buffy. this should be a great great read.

Tiger Meat · 11-26-2007, 09:23 PM

Whatever, all this TV crap is worthless. IDW's low print-run doesn't help much either and now its sold out. There are gonna be a lot of dissapointed moms out there. "Oh my Davey Boreanas comics all sold out and I don't know what happens to the dragon or whatever".

Psshhhh.....