Angel

Answered!

Okay, currently flying high over America on the way back to Los Angeles, what better time to answer questions about ANGEL:AFTER THE FALL. Warning: there is currently much turbulence going on so I may type gibberish in pure fear.

Let’s go!

First batch:

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1) Will it be revealed who sired Gunn? Will it be important in any way?

2) There’s a lot of confusion about whether LA was transported into a hell dimension or was simply made into a hellish place. Will this be clarified, if not can you clarify that?

3) Are the runes on the walls of Gunn’s hideout the same kind the Lindsey used in season 5?

4) On a scale of 1 to 10, now much did you enjoy writing Kr’ph’s lines?

5) Will Angel get some of his office furniture back from Burge?

Answers:

1) Yes. It’s important to Gunn, I would imagine. You always remember your sire.

2) It will be clarified.

3) That would be spoiling. Answers are coming in issue 2.

4) ’bout a 7? I will miss writing him, that’s for sure. That said, he’s not the lord I enjoy writing most. You’ll see...

5) Probably not. It’s all damaged and dented anyway.

That was fun! Next batch:

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1. Is there a definite, physical Big Bad? And if so, is it Gunn? (lol that might be spoilery, but on the chance that it’s not, I figured I’d throw it out there)

2. I’ve heard that "First Night" has become a two-issue miniarc instead of a one-shot. Is that true, or not so much?

3. Can the dragon be named Ramon? Pretty please? He looks saucy enough to be named Ramon.

4. When (if) Spike and Betta George meet, will they recognize each other? If they do, will that canonize "Asylum?" (BTW, I already have the "Asylum" trade in the "canon section" of by Buffyverse shelf... and yes, that is dorky of me to have a "canon section" but we’re all dorks here)

5. If Joss were to sanction an on-going Angel series (like the BtVS: Season Eight) would you, agree to sign on as the writer for the run of it, or would you call it a day after "After the Fall?"

Answers:

1. Kinda spoilery.

2. Yes it is true. I wrote a lot of stories, too much for one issue.

3. If it makes you feel better you can call me Ramon.

4. Kinda spoilery.

5. I’m so knee-deep in this series that I can’t think about what comes after. But I love writing it so far, I’ll tell you that much.

And thank you for the kind words after the questions. Very very nice of you.

Next batch:

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1. Do you already have a general idea of where everything is going to end up?

2. And is there already a set number of issues in mind or is it more of a ’we’ll keep maing them so long as people keep buying them’ kind of thing?

1. Yessir, but it doesn’t mean things won’t change a bit along the way.

2. There is a rough number of issues in mind, absolutely. Aside from FIRST NIGHT, there will be 12 or so issues of AFTER THE FALL. Maybe one or two more. Maybe it all ends in issue 2. You never know, and that’s half the fun.

Next group:

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1 Do you have any plans to bring Cordelia, Fred, and Doyle back?

2 Also i heard that Illyriawas going to have an arc where her time shifting powers come back but she goes back into the future through a portal she accidentaly created with her powers. Something in the same vein of the Pylea arc only with Illyria.

1. Wow, that would be spoiler-esue to say.

2. Illyria’s time-shifting powers are addressed, but I don’t think she’s gonna go into the future. She wouldn’t like it anyway, Biff Tannen has this crazy Pleasure Palace and has taken control of Hill Valley.

Next question:

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One thing I’d like to know (and I hope this doesn’t veer too close to the "you or Whedon" thing) is how much of what we’ve seen so far was planned for Season 6? Like, was L.A. always going to be in Hell when the season premiere aired in Fall 2004, or was that an idea that you guys tweaked for the comic? Was Gunn always supposed to be a vampire or was that specific to AFTER THE FALL?

These probably aren’t questions you’re at liberty to answer, but I thought I’d take a shot.

Hmmmmm.

This is a bit "me or Whedon", sure, but I will say Gunn being turned was most definitely something they were thinking about back in the day. But did they have him TURN INTO A VAMPIRE AND KNOCK OUT A TELEPATHIC FISH? I don’t think they did. Advantage: adorable Lynch.

Next questions:

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Hi Brian!

Ok for me the POV swiltched from Angel to Gunn in the last panels, so the final ones where what Gunn was thinking. Is that true? That he has retained some of his human feelings post turning?

Answer:

It was all Angel’s POV. The captions were supposed to be a bit ironic, sure, as Angel was saying they haven’t changed him while over a close friend they most definitely have, but it was all Angel’s narration.

Next batch:

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1) Was Gunn as a vampire always part of how you envisioned ATF? I know that story arc was planned for S6 before the cancellation. So, if you hadn’t envisioned him as a vamp, what sort of route might you have taken him down?

I’m all for Gunn as a vamp btw. I’ll be honest... I was shocked that Gunn ended up being one of the most intriguing parts of Ish 1 for me, cos’ despite liking him on the show, he was never my favorite character. Oh, and with the legal brain upgrade he’s totally going to be on par with Angelus.

2) Have you gone for a "shock ending" angle for every issue? I imagine Issue 5 might not have one with it being the end of an arc.

3) If ATF had opening credits like the series, what characters would you put on them?

Personally, I’m guessing Angel, Spike, Connor, Wes, Gunn and Illyria. Possibly Gwen?

4) How jealous are you that Burge has that coffee table and you don’t. Cos’ personally I’m green with envy.

Answers:

1. Gunn as a vamp was brought up early on, so no other paths were really considered.

2. Not a shock ending, but kind of a cliffhanger, I guess. Five isn’t the end of an arc, it just wraps a few things up, while opening up a whole other hellish can of demon worms.

3. That’s kinda spoilery too, but yeah, I would say Gwen would be added.

4. He has a desk. OH MAN HE STOLE THE COFFEE TABLE TOO? Mean ole Burge.

Next batch:

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Q1 Is Angel still juiced or contained with Hamiltons blood?

Q2 Is there any significance to the red scar under Gunn’s eye?

Q3 Isn’t Gunn bound to a contract with Wolfram + Hart, or was his brain upgrades the crux of it?

Answers:

1. Nah.

2. He took a nasty, nasty hit to the eye moments before getting turned.

3. Wolfram & Hart has a lot of people (etc.) under contract. Who they choose to keep "on staff" is up to them. Right now they are keeping the Los Angeles branch a bit understaffed.

Wow, turbulence just got bad. Wolfram & Hart isn’t happy with me for discussing their internal business. Moving on!

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Also, I’ve been wondering, seeing as both season 5 and now the first issue of After the Fall (with Gwen and Nina) seems to make a point out of bringing back old minor characters/tying up old loose plotpoints, what are the odds of getting to know whatever happened with phased-out-characters like Kate Lockley, David Nabbit or even Groo? I realize they probably would serve no story-function and thus won’t be brought back, but loose ends bug me, so I can’t not ask...

Oh, and, will we get to know why Nina is in LA with the rest of them? Did she not leave when Angel asked her to, or did she just dawdle too much and not get out in time? ;) (I’d also ask if we get to know why Gwen is in L.A. again all of a sudden and why the two of them hangs out with Connor instead of Angel, but I’m assuming that’ll all be answered in due time by the comics themselves anyway...)

Answers:

Characters will pop up from time to time. You might see some favorites. Keep an eye out.

I would assume she didn’t get out of LA in time.

As for Gwen, we’ll learn a little more about what she was up to in LA before the fall in FIRST NIGHT.

Next batch:

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1)Is L.A. actually in a Hell Dimension or has Hell been brought to L.A. and a barrier is cutting it off from the rest of the world?

2)Will it be explained how the real world reacts to a entire city missing or blocked from the rest of the world with a hellish landscape?You would think Buffy,the slayers and the military would notice a missing major city or a major city you can’t get in with hell overflowing inside for example.

3)On a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being big and 1 being small,how big a threat will Gunn be?

4)Why did you bring Nina back and does the return of Nina mean we have to deal with Nina/Angel hooking back up and more of that pairing which wasn’t well liked and pretty much closed in ’Power Play’?

5)Why did you bring Gwen back and will she have an encounter with vampire Gunn?

6)Have you heard from any of the other writers of the shows or actors from Angel and their reaction to After The Fall?

7)Are you or Joss upset Amy Acker revealed the vampire Gunn news back in 2006?Do you think that took away any impact to the last page of issue 1 since it was already something that fans knew was possibly in the cards?

8)Does After The Fall take place at the same time as Buffy Season 8 or does it take place before the start of season 8?

9)Do you know the exact date in December when issue 2 comes out yet?

Answers:

1. Why would you want me to answer this on a blog, isn’t it more fun to read it in the comic? Because you will. Oh you will. Patience, my friends.

2. Gah, just wait.

3. To me? A zero, he’s totally fictional. I’m willing to bet the guy who plays Gunn, however, could kick my ass. Lookin’ good, Mr. Richards!

4. Translation of your question: I personally don’t like Nina. My response: skip her pages. It’s not NINA:AFTER THE FALL, but she is a small part of it. I am sorry for any discomfort this causes. I’m willing to be you will like her the more you see her in the comic.

5. Gwen is a great character for comics, and was underused on the show. As for the rest of this question, that would be telling.

6. Yes, one person who played a part on the show and he or she thought Franco’s drawings of him or her were awesome. No wait, actually two! Yes.

7. This is a great question, and Amy Acker can do whatever she wants because she’s the best, but yes, I wish that plot point wasn’t announced before, absolutely. We should have had Franco draw Amy Acker popping into frame and saying "I told you!" But, again, it’s all well and good, how was she supposed to know the show would live on in comic form? No biggie.

8. I can’t read that last question, your handwriting is bad.

9. Not yet, I will get that info for you.

Neeeeext!

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Will the Senior Partners still only be something that is spoken of, or will the play a more direct role now that a budget isn’t an issue?

Answer: We’ll see, my friend, we’ll see!

Next up:

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Is there a possibility of an Angel/Buffy crossover. I know the two comics are owned by different companies, but I know a lot of the fans would love to see them cross paths again. I understand that the two storylines grow on their own, but as a dorky fan, I want to see the characters meet and talk about what has happened. There’s so much material for heavy drama and butt-kicking :-)

Answer:

That’s something I would love to read. In a world where Freddy and Jason and Ash can cross company lines, I think a Dark Horse/IDW presentation of BUFFY/ANGEL would rock the heavens. But there is no plan as far as I know. Again, though, I would love to read it.

Next up:

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My question is about the advertising for the comics, which I know, as a writer, you do not have control over. In almost every review and/or advertisement for the series thus far, Spike fans have been inundated with the "Is Spike going ev0l!?" tagline. We had to put up with that through almost four years of the show, and it got old after the first few times. It just was played up too much, mostly by the advertising and not the actual writing on the show. Do you sometimes feel like advertising is deliberately misleading to get better sales for the books? Here’s an example from the issue 4 ad: "Meanwhile, Spike considers changing sides as this hellish new status quo presents some opportunities he can’t pass up."

As a reader, I can take that to mean many things and can think up many possibilites, but the advertising would have me believe that once again the old "Spike could go evil so you better buy this book/watch this show to find out!" routine is once again in play. Any thoughts (without spoilers of course)?

Answer, kinda:

I’m the writer of the book. Ask me writer-y questions.

Oh, though I did write the PREVIEWS text for issue 5, so if you have a problem with that, let me know.

But on that note, why does a mention of Spike changing sides mean he’s going to be evil? There are more sides than "good" and "evil". Not everyone is a white hat or a black hat, don’t fret, I’m willing to bet sometime soon you’re gonna be like "ooooh, I as worried for nothing."

"Changing sides". They COULD be talking about Spike exploring his sexuality. They’re not, but they could be.

Next!

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1) What response, if any, has the rest of the country and the world had to LA’s sudden entry into Hell (or vice versa)? How about Buffy’s army of Slayers? Seems like just the type of task to which they’d be well-suited.

2) Does Connor have his new "parents" holed up in the safehouse as well?

3) Is this the "apocalypse" in which Angel was always supposed to play a key role, or is this just part of Wolfram and Hart’s set up for that apocalypse?

4) Does this new HelL.A. include perpetual night? That would seem to give Angel, Spike, and now Gunn (poor guy) some increased mobility...

5) I guess this counts as a spoiler question, but does Gunn have a soul? I’m guessing he was sired by either Angel or Spike, which would (I think) be the first time an ensouled vamp has sired someone (though I’m vaguely remembering something from an early Angel season when this may have happened). Does a soul come along with that?

6) So the Wesley we’re seeing is the real Wesley, correct? Is he being held between life and death in order to fill this role as the firm’s representative? This is not just something else taking his form, right?

6) How expensive is gas in L.A. now??

These are all story questions that should be answered in the comic, not a myspace blog, so I’m gonna maintain radio silence on these, save for Gas being 6 dollars and 66 cents now, because that’s ironic.

I also deleted the few other dudes’ questions, because the answers would prove too spoilery. But stay tuned, there is some good stuff on the way that addresses some of your concerns/questions.

Next up!

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1: What exactly does the no-sun-no-moon thing do to a werewolf? Does it just simply put them in heat, or is it more complicated than that? (Lame and probably irrelevant question, but whatever. It’s all I could think of in the first issue that was unclear without seeming like a spoilery topic.) 2: Do you have the theme from "The Greatest American Hero" on a constant loop in your head? I would imagine that’s the price you’d have to pay for getting such an awesome gig. That or a soul.

1. Great question. Angel actually discusses the sun/moon effects on all sorts of demons in issue three, but I would say it puts them in a state hovering between human and werewolf, so she’s human but stronger, sharper, and more primal.

2. Even better question! I love that song. "Look at what’s happened to meeeeeee, I can’t believe it myself…"

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Another thing i have to ask is could you ask Joss what was planned for season 6 if it had not got cancelled? I know bits and pieces like the whole Gunn going vamp thing but what would S6 have focused on. Im almost certian that it wasnt going to hell.

Sigh.

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I was wondering Mr. Brain, will Connor and Spike ever bond ? And if so will they bug Angel to death ?

And for an online friend of mine, are you a Dragonriders of Pern fan ? Because that Dragon with Angel, really wants to make me call N’gel. And I didn’t make that up, though an online lady in England did. Hi Eli.

Answers:

Spike and Connor scenes would be fun, no? And I would imagine that would be ABSOLUTELY FINE with Angel. Sarcasm reads on the internet, yes?

I am not aware of the Dragonriders, no. But it sounds something or other!

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I don’t have the comic in front of me, but I seem to recall that Wesley mentioned he’s the last representative of Wolfram & Hart. On the TV show, Lilah Morgan and Holland Manners were called from beyond the grave to perform tasks, I’m assuming this is the same with Wesley. So why is he the only one that Wolfram & Hart can call upon now.

Also, why does Wesley look like Season 1 Wesley. I don’t just mean the suit, but also the hair-style and the glasses, which he hadn’t worn regularly since Season 3.

Also, don’t know if this is a spoiler or not, but how was he able to phase when teh demon went to punch him? In Season Four finale, Angel was able to choke Lilah Morgan, when she was under the same circumstances as Wesley is here.

Answers:

He’s not the only one they CAN call upon. He seems to be the one that they WANT to call upon.

And his look is punishment. He’s moved on, but they won’t let him. Also, he’s the last official representative of Wolfram & Hart, he has to look the part.

He ain’t corporal, duder. As for why THAT is, stay tuned.

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That was fun, thanks everyone! And to everyone who had questions deleted or not answered, it’s only because you’re gonna read about them in the book.

Off to go use the three foot by three foot potty. Wish me luck!