Angel

I am going to go on record here and say that Joss Whedon’s ‘Angel’ is in the top 2 of my all-time favorite television shows. I’ve seen every episode; I own each DVD set. To me, ‘Angel’ was always a superior show to ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’ because you knew that Buffy and her Scoobies were always going to have their funny moments. Angel was a dark and brooding vampire and you were never really 100% sure of David Boreanaz’s abilities to carry a show like this. At least, you weren’t sure until the very first moments of the very first episode. It also helped that Angel was a more inherently interesting character than Buffy because of his past as one of the most vicious vampires to ever roam the earth and then he was cursed with a soul and began to atone for his past atrocities by fighting the same evil that he once was.

When ‘Angel’ was forced into cancellation with only five seasons, that nearly broke my heart, but what ended up being more heart-breaking was the amazing execution of that final season. The show went completely for broke, with a final episode that still kicks several degrees of ass every time I see it. And it is from that final episode that we get Angel: After the Fall, when Wolfram and Hart’s senior partners unleash Hell on earth. Or at least in the greater Los Angeles area. In the first issue, we were treated to some of our favorite characters from the show, like Wesley who is now the ghostly liaison for Wolfram and Hart’s Senior Partners; Angel’s son Connor who, along with Angel’s ex Nina the Werewolf and the “electrifying” Gwen Raiden, leads a kind of sanctuary for humans caught up in demon-infested L.A. We also get caught up with Gunn, who, when we last saw him, was at death’s door, but is now a hale and hearty vampire! Yeahbutwhat?

So now, this issue kicks off with the aftermath of Angel killing the son of the demon Burge, who is the “lord” of Downtown L.A., and the discovery of Gunn now a vampire who is out for blood and not just of the feeding kind. Angel and Connor team up to slay some serious vamp behind, but then make a horrific discovery that leads to another old “friend”. That’s right. Spike is back, and of all things in the world he could be, he is now leading a very plush life in Beverly Hills as the ‘pet’ of good ol’ Illyria! Hooray, the gang’s all here! However, the parts they’ll play are still shrouded in mystery. Good.

While the comic is merely co-plotted by Whedon, along with scriptwriter Brian Lynch, it still has all the great Whedonisms that made this show great. The action, wit, drama, characterization, dialogue, motivations and shockers are all still on the mark (especially the Angel/Spike moments. I love their relationship.). This book also has the added benefit of fantastic art by Franco Urru, whose stuff just makes your eyes pop. This book takes just about everything that was great about the show and gives us fans exactly what we wanted: More.

Angel: After the Fall #2
Plotted by Joss Whedon and Brian Lynch
Scripted by Brian Lynch
Art by Franco Urru
Colors by Jason Jensen
Letters by Robbie Robbins