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Angel Season 6: After the Fall Review
Jan. 25th, 2009 04:42 pmA couple of posts ago, my friend MASQ, asked us if she should read or would like Angel After the Fall. I responded, ask me after this arc is over. Partly because my friend is a huge Connor fan and I wasn't entirely sure what the writer was doing with the character.
Now that the arc is almost over, with one more issue to go, I'd say, sure read them but keep in mind that this is a graphic novel and while it is plotted by one of the original creators of the series, it is written by an outsider - who is a huge fan of the series but may not view it the same way you did.
Brian Lynch is an interesting writer - but limited. He's not into the layered moralistic and philosophical themes that Whedon and Minear were. And he gets a bit lost when he has one too many characters to juggle. Also comics by the very nature - aren't that detailed. We don't have a bunch of actors, we have one artist. And if you don't like the artist or find the art vague, too abstract, or disorienting, you won't be able to read the comic. I loved the art, but that does not mean you will. Frank Urru doesn't draw so much as paint his comics. His style is almost impressionistic. It's not as lined and detailed as the artists on the Buffy comics. And there's a lot going on - sometimes too much to be able to tell what it is.
Also, I do not envy Brian Lynch's task nor his soon to be successor Kelly Armstrong. Sure it sounds like a great gig, but the fandom is a diverse and vocal bunch, with polarizing views on how the characters should evolve and proceed. When you write these stories, you tread a delicate line - sure you will piss people off - that's inevitable. The trick is not to piss the majority off. Scott Allie on the Buffy comics appears to be doing that all by himself.
Luckily no one seems to pay the "editor" of the work much attention.
Speaking for myself, I've found the Angel comics an interesting and enjoyable read. Often more enjoyable than the Buffy comics. For a lot of reasons, not the least of which being the small fact that I'm still somewhat fascinated by the character of Spike. We all have characters that grab us, some more than others and some longer than others. Spike was mine. The other reasons I enjoyed it - is that it moved quickly, the dialogue was snarky and tongue-in-cheek - often making fun of itself, and Lynch delivered on emotional moments and brought back characters I liked and was interested in seeing again. I also enjoyed his take on the character of Spike - while not perfect, was satisfying enough to keep me entertained.
As for Angel - the title character - Lynch tread a delicate line - having finished all 16 issues, I do not believe that Lynch or Whedon meant us to see Angel as a straight up-hero, so much as a tragic anti-hero who desperately wants to be a hero, the chosen one, who is still after all this time - striving for approval and some eternal award. some redeemption or sign of redeemption - except when he gets it, whether it be a shanshue or adorations, he is miserable and upset about it.
Angel - the character - from my perspective is a metaphor for the human condition. We are selfish beings, ruthless survivors, but at the same time, beautiful souls who want to do good and obtain respect and approval. As well as leave our mark on society. Yet, are not quite sure we deserve any of the accolades or approval we achieve. Is there a higher being? Is there any meaning to this world? Does it matter? And if it does, if that is so, am I good? Am I forgiven? Can I be redeemed?? And what is my role or place in it?
The story is told in Angel's pov, and Angel sees the world after the fall of LA as being his fault.
( Cut for major plot spoilers - Angel After the Fall 1-16 and Spike After the Fall. )
Now that the arc is almost over, with one more issue to go, I'd say, sure read them but keep in mind that this is a graphic novel and while it is plotted by one of the original creators of the series, it is written by an outsider - who is a huge fan of the series but may not view it the same way you did.
Brian Lynch is an interesting writer - but limited. He's not into the layered moralistic and philosophical themes that Whedon and Minear were. And he gets a bit lost when he has one too many characters to juggle. Also comics by the very nature - aren't that detailed. We don't have a bunch of actors, we have one artist. And if you don't like the artist or find the art vague, too abstract, or disorienting, you won't be able to read the comic. I loved the art, but that does not mean you will. Frank Urru doesn't draw so much as paint his comics. His style is almost impressionistic. It's not as lined and detailed as the artists on the Buffy comics. And there's a lot going on - sometimes too much to be able to tell what it is.
Also, I do not envy Brian Lynch's task nor his soon to be successor Kelly Armstrong. Sure it sounds like a great gig, but the fandom is a diverse and vocal bunch, with polarizing views on how the characters should evolve and proceed. When you write these stories, you tread a delicate line - sure you will piss people off - that's inevitable. The trick is not to piss the majority off. Scott Allie on the Buffy comics appears to be doing that all by himself.
Luckily no one seems to pay the "editor" of the work much attention.
Speaking for myself, I've found the Angel comics an interesting and enjoyable read. Often more enjoyable than the Buffy comics. For a lot of reasons, not the least of which being the small fact that I'm still somewhat fascinated by the character of Spike. We all have characters that grab us, some more than others and some longer than others. Spike was mine. The other reasons I enjoyed it - is that it moved quickly, the dialogue was snarky and tongue-in-cheek - often making fun of itself, and Lynch delivered on emotional moments and brought back characters I liked and was interested in seeing again. I also enjoyed his take on the character of Spike - while not perfect, was satisfying enough to keep me entertained.
As for Angel - the title character - Lynch tread a delicate line - having finished all 16 issues, I do not believe that Lynch or Whedon meant us to see Angel as a straight up-hero, so much as a tragic anti-hero who desperately wants to be a hero, the chosen one, who is still after all this time - striving for approval and some eternal award. some redeemption or sign of redeemption - except when he gets it, whether it be a shanshue or adorations, he is miserable and upset about it.
Angel - the character - from my perspective is a metaphor for the human condition. We are selfish beings, ruthless survivors, but at the same time, beautiful souls who want to do good and obtain respect and approval. As well as leave our mark on society. Yet, are not quite sure we deserve any of the accolades or approval we achieve. Is there a higher being? Is there any meaning to this world? Does it matter? And if it does, if that is so, am I good? Am I forgiven? Can I be redeemed?? And what is my role or place in it?
The story is told in Angel's pov, and Angel sees the world after the fall of LA as being his fault.
( Cut for major plot spoilers - Angel After the Fall 1-16 and Spike After the Fall. )
