Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Back From the Dead - Joss Whedon’s Long Delayed Series "Fray" Finally Returns

I never thought I’d see the day. After close to a year without seeing an issue, I’d become convinced that Joss Whedon’s Dark Horse mini-series Fray, about a futuristic vampire slayer, was dead and buried. Swallowed up by the Hell Mouth if you will. This comic was so late that even Joe Madureira was asking where the hell it was. Nevertheless, the latest issue of Fray hit the stands this week and the world is a better place because of it.

Since it’s been awhile, perhaps a quick recap is in order. It is the future. Buffy has been dead for centuries and vampires are a thing of the past… or so we thought. Slowly, but methodically, the creatures of the night, now dubbed "Lurks" have resurfaced. Tasked with stopping them are Melaka Fray, a street smart thief, and her Watcher, a demon by the name of Urkonn. Young and inexperienced in such affairs, Melaka is in over her head, and the situation only worsens when she discovers that the Lurks are being lead by her brother Harth, who she had presumed dead. Notwithstanding, she is the chosen one. She is the slayer.

With the Lurks intent on overrunning the city, in Fray # 7, Melaka must prepare her neighborhood and its residents for the oncoming onslaught. But even with her estranged sister Erin willing to rally the police behind the slayer, Melaka soon discovers that the Lurks are the least of her problems - as Harth unleashes an ancient evil and moves to break open a gateway to hell, an action that will herald the end of man. It’s up to the slayer to make it all right again.

Despite annoyingly long delays, Fray is a fantastic mini-series with top notch writing and artwork. Series writer Joss Whedon (the creative mind behind television’s "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and its spin-off "Angel") knows how to tell an exciting story full of plot twists and cliffhangers, and Fray is a well paced thrill ride in the Whedon tradition. That being said, Whedon’s true strength as a writer is his knack for creating rich and textured characters - each with their own unique and developed history. Melaka Fray is a perfect example of this - a reluctant hero tormented by the loss of her brother and struggling to reconcile with an older sister on the opposite side of the law. Truly a great character, surrounded by an equally developed supporting cast.

What struck me as particularly good in this issue though (and this is a testament to both Whedon and series artist Karl Moline) was the well choreographed and emotionally engaging battle sequence. Outnumbered and overpowered, Melaka and a hand full of her neighbors represent the last hope against an army of demons. It’s the horror version of the Alamo. I was really drawn into the thing and felt like I had a stake in the outcome. Good stuff. Kudos also to colorist Dave Stewart. His amazing work on this series truly brings the visuals to life with colors that leap of the page. Fray # 7 is highly recommended and is my pick of the week. Four out of five Vikings. Thor would be proud.