Angel vs. Frankenstein – Review

by John Byrne (writer & artist)

The Story: Well, it’s all in the title, isn’t it?  Comics legend Byrne reveals the untold battle between vampire Angel (of TV’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer and his own titular show), before he gained a soul, and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein’s Monster.

What’s Good: Most people warn against judging a book by its cover but in this instance, I think that would be just fine.  Byrne crafts a fun, if not very sophisticated, tale that is really just an excuse for the two screen monsters to smack each other around.

Most comic books fail at capturing the voice of a particular character from television or film, but Byrne does a good job of getting Angel’s personality down.  Of course, he’s operating under his Angelus persona here (If you’re not familiar, Angel = good vampire with a soul, Angelus = bad vampire with a soul) and Byrne seems to be enjoying himself by making him as depraved as ever.  He also does a nice job of capturing Angel actor David Boreanaz’s likeness quite well without ever having the art look too photo-referenced and stiff.

What’s Not So Good: Byrne’s pencils are certainly not his best, although considering his backlog, you have to cut the man some slack.  They have the feeling of being done a bit haphazardly and quickly.  Perhaps this is a result of him inking himself here, but I can’t say that I was happy with the result.  His design for Frankenstein’s Monster, an aspect of the book that he could have utilized to great effect, is sorely disappointing.  The Monster simply appears to be a rather tall, elderly man.  I’d have expected something much more memorable and frightening considering the character’s iconic status.

Besides being a somewhat fun romp, the script has a few glaring plot holes.  Chief among them, why would Frankenstein’s Monster want to engage in an overly complicated plot involving impersonating his creator’s heir?  For the money?  Really?  If so, it’s never explained.  Also, the ending is rather abrupt, leaving this reviewer with the nagging feeling that Byrne either suddenly decided he was bored with this story, or ran out of time to complete it.

Conclusion: Besides being a long-time fan of the creator, as well as a fan of both characters used here, my expectations were low when I picked this up.  However, I ended up having a fair amount of amusement with the issue.  It’d hardly earn a place besides Byrne’s run on X-Men or Superman, but you could do worse.

Grade: C

-Joe Lopez

Sugarshock (One-Shot) – Review

By Joss Whedon (writer), Fabio Moon (art)

The Story: Straight from the web comic and onto the pages, the amazing rock band, Sugarshock debuts. They participate in the Intergalactic Battle of the Bands (which may not actually involve “bands”, but definitely involves “battle”), take advantage of groupies, get into a car accident, play The Saddest Song in the World, and generally hate on Vikings.  Not in that order, of course!

What’s Good: “Dude, Gwar fell on your car.”  “It’s a common condition, actually. Called MADNESS!”  “Squirrels have NO SOULS!” These are a few samples of the hilarious dialogue that Joss Whedon dishes out here, and if they sound at all funny to you, imagine how much you’ll laugh when you actually read them in context!  I’ll admit, Whedon’s knack for dialogue doesn’t always work when it comes to comics (such as his Buffy Season 8 series), but it really sings in Sugarshock.  You truly get a sense of the characters whenever they speak; that is, if you can stop laughing for a second.

Fabio Moon has earned a new fan.  His artwork is just as much fun to look at as Whedon’s script is to read, and he really is the perfect artist for this story.  He has a great kinetic, youthful style that manages to be cartoony but never goes over the line into being too cutesy.  There’s a nice look at Moon’s sketches and designs in the back, and they’re a treat to look at.  I’ve never seen his work before, but you can be sure I’ll be seeking out for more of it soon.

Oh, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that this book has the best sound effects this side of Incredible Hercules. Genius!

What’s Not So Good: It’s really difficult to find fault with something this much fun.  If I wanted to nitpick, I would complain that the chapter breaks (This story was originally presented as three separate episodes on MySpace’s Dark Horse Presents web comic, where it won an Eisner award) are a bit awkward when read all at once. This is especially noticeable when the text pokes fun at the readers for having to wait for the next installment, but then you turn the page and, well, there it is.

Conclusion: This book is $3.50.  25 pages of story and 14 pages of extra art. And it’s a blast! Anyone unhappy with the current state of $3.99 for a 22-page comic should really give this a try. Whedon & Moon have created a great roller-coaster ride here, which is equal parts random and whimsical. Fans of Scott Pilgrim who need something to tide them over until next year should definitely pick this up, as well.

Grade: B+

-Joe Lopez

Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 8 #19 – Review

By Joss Whedon (writer), Karl Moline (pencils), Michelle Madsen (colors)

The Story: After being doublecrossed by Fray and her sister, Buffy struggles to find her way home while Future-Dark Willow moves her plans to their final stages. Present day Willow, with the help of Kennedy, prepares a spell to bring Buffy back. All while Xander and Dawn fight off an army of frog-looking men with the help of the woodland creatures. It’s an action-packed issue with a lot going on, so don’t blink!

What’s Good: The quality of writing remains incredibly high. The characters, world, and relationships are just as rich as they were on the show. The series really feels like the next logical step in the progression. It makes me wish that Whedon had time to spend some attention to the other comic series based off of his shows.

What’s Not So Good: Three separate and seemingly unconnected stories are a little hard to follow. Xander and Present-Willow’s stories get wrapped up in a handful of pages, while the bulk of the book follows Buffy in the future. It just seems like the spacing is off. Another gripe is Dark Willow. She obviously knows much more of the story than she’s telling, which is fine. But her “you’ll find out soon enough” dialogue leaves without the finding part. But it’s gotten a little tiresome since she’s been doing that for four issues or so without much of a reveal.

Conclusion: Season Eight has been fantastic for fans of the show. However, I’m ready for things to move back to the present. Not that this portion of the story’s been bad. But having two separate stories, two centuries apart from one another was just a little harder to follow than I would’ve liked.

Grade: B

-Ben Berger

Buffy The Vampire Slayer #18 – Review

By Joss Whedon (writer), Karl Moline (pencils), Andy Owens (inks), Michelle Madsen (colors), Richard Starkings & Comicraft’s Jimmy (letters)

What can you really say about Season Eight other than “more please.” The move from TV to the comics has been a great one for the series. A story this size and scope would be tough to pull off on television. The budget would be insane, and some of it might be too “out there” for the casual fans. In comics, Whedon has a blank check to let his imagination go wild, and that’s how it should be.

Each issue becomes more and more detailed, requiring you revisit some of these books more than once. That’s a credit to Whedon, not a hindrance because the story is so good it makes you want to be sure you haven’t missed anything. Better still, you’ll probably find some great detail you missed. Because of that I couldn’t really recommend that someone just grab this issue, too much has happened. The story is told in two parts simultaneously. One shows present-day Willow trying to find Buffy, the other shows Buffy in the future helping Fray. My complaint is that sometimes it’s too tough to tell where you are. Obviously, the backgrounds and characters involved tip you off. But on occasion it takes a few panels to be sure.

Karl Moline’s imagination and talent for creature design is put on full display this issue. My favorite is definitely Lorelahn and his tree people. Think of a centaur, but with trees, and that’ll give you an idea of where these guys are at. Another great touch is the arm of fire they have. I had to double-check to make sure they weren’t just on fire. Sadly, as awesome as the monsters look, the humans themselves could use a bit more detail. Buffy and Fray’s sister look very similar, just with different outfits. If that’s intentional, then I’d say it’s a little too distracting for the reader.

Each issue of Season Eight just makes me wish the show was still on. I’m sure certain things would need to be cut if it was being filmed, but the world Whedon has created is just too rich to ignore. His style is specific, and that might be part of the problem that the masses don’t get it. So sadly, for those of us who do get it, we have to wait and hope someday that Joss will be as greatly appreciated as he deserves. (Grade: B+)

-Ben Berger

Spike: After The Fall #2 – Review

By: Brian Lynch (writer), Franco Urru (art), Art Lyon, Tom Smith (colors), Robbie Robbins (letters)

While Spike remains the highlight of the book (rightfully so), this series isn’t without its problems. The book in many ways requires you to both watch Angel and have read the post-television comics. So while this is probably great for people who have, it’s going to be a tough sell for the “have nots”.

In true Angel form, the dialogue and character relationships remain consistent with the show, so that’s definitely on Brian Lynch’s side. And while Spike is a very engaging character as is the post-television world of Angel, the trouble is how much you need to know about both to get what’s going on. We learn in Angel: After The Fall that Illyria is losing control over her body and is now switching back and forth between herself and Fred. I’m not saying there needs to be a huge recap but making the assumption that the readers of this comic will have read the others and watched the show is a mistake.

My complaints remain the same for Franco Urru’s artwork. The backgrounds still lack detail as do the characters. Even though his close-ups look nice, he rarely uses them because there’s so much action. The extreme close-up of Spike in vampire-mode is probably the best example of this. There aren’t many more details here than any other panel, but Urru really makes them count. The last panel is my favorite, I can’t imagine a worse situation for a protector than being chained up in a room with the zombified bodies of their flock.

Though prior experience with Spike and his world are a plus, issue two is better than issue one. Lynch does a good job of keeping things interesting with great little moments, even though it can be confusing at times. I just wish we could get a flashback or something to bridge the gap between the show and the comic for those of us who haven’t been following it. (Grade: B-)

– Ben Berger

Spike: After The Fall #1 – Review

By Brian Lynch (writer), Franco Urru (art), Art Lyon, Tom Smith (colors), Robbie Robbins (letters)

The problem with Joss Whedon’s properties being continued in comics is that he can’t write all of them. The result is like Coke Zero… almost, but not quite. Spike was one of the most popular characters on Angel and Buffy so it’s no surprise that his story has been continued. I just wish we could get a better setup of his world.

Brian Lynch’s writing of Spike is on point with Whedon’s. Most of the dialogue comes from Spike, and he feels just as cynical as always. Unfortunately, the people he’s protecting are so annoying it’s unclear if they’re just around to annoy him. If you were living in post-apocalyptic Los Angeles would you venture out into the wasteland without a champion to protect you? Me either. My biggest criticism, however, is the lack of setup. If I hadn’t seen the finale of Angel I would’ve been totally lost. Even still, there’s a lot of unanswered questions: Why is LA still in ruins? Is it a global epidemic? I don’t need a lot, but a flashback or two would go a long way in making this book more accessible.

Franco Urru’s artwork is inconsistent and the “effects” are heightened by Art Lyon’s coloring. With the exception of Spike, every character blends into the buildings, which blend into the sky. It all looks very muddy. This gives a good, albeit standard post-apocalyptic feel, so I understand the heavy use of reds and earth tones. I know part of it is because Spike needs to move around at dusk or later to avoid direct sunlight, but there’s gotta be a better way. That being said, there are a few good panels of the devastation, which give a great sense of loneliness; Spike’s group may be the last human survivors in LA.

Spike: After The Fall may turn out to be very good. Maybe Lynch is a slow starter, and we’ve yet to really see where this is going. I’m finding it tough though, and I watched the show! So I can only imagine how it would be for a newcomer. One thing’s for sure: without some clarity as to what’s going on this series is in danger of losing readership. (Grade C+)

– Ben Berger

Buffy The Vampire Slayer #16 (Season 8) – Review

Joss Whedon (writer), Karl Moline (pencils), Andy Owens (inks), Michelle Madsen (colors), Richard Starkings & Comicraft’s Jimmy (letters)

Joss Whedon is someone that comes along once in a great while because he’s so talented and multi-faceted. The amount of creativity needed for one book, or show is incredible, let alone three or more. Like many, I’m always really upset when something he’s working on gets canceled (Firefly especially). That said, his continuation of the Buffy story has been spectacular for both fans of the series and newcomers.

Whedon is one of the few writers who is able to weave previously established mythos into a fresh story and have it not feel redundant. I’d be lying if I said this issue was jam-packed with information, but honestly, anything more and it would’ve felt bloated. The one negative to Whedon’s work here as opposed to Astonishing X-Men is that it’s a little harder to dive right into. The dialogue and story are very specific and if Buffy’s valley-girl lingo isn’t for you, parts of this book might wear thin.

Karl Moline has some great and stylized pencils in this book. He didn’t start out doing the pencils when the series started, but you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference. That said, as someone who was a fan of the show its sometimes hard to tell who people are at a glance. Xander was easy because of the eye-patch, but everyone else from the show looks different enough to throw you off. Either they couldn’t get all the likeness rights of the actors or Moline’s struggling – whatever it is, it’s a little tough at first. However, there are some really great panels in here – especially when Buffy starts to slug it out with Fray while they’re falling out of the hotel.

This is essential reading for any self-respecting fan of Buffy, Whedon, or a similar genre. It’s a really good jumping off point for new readers because it’s the start of the next wave of the season eight story (but you should read the first two trade paperbacks if you can). And while it definitely helps to have a working knowledge of Buffy or to have read the rest of season eight, Whedon does a great job of making it accessible. (Grade: B)

– Ben Berger

Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men #1 – Review

By Joss Whedon, John Cassaday, and Laura Martin

Had this book actually come out on time, my emotional response to its finale might have been stronger. But given that Kitty Pride’s fate was tossed out months before this issue hit the stands (in a pathetic attempt to keep continuity) just diminishes the whole point of this book. So how was the issue? Was it worth the wait? Should Joss Whedon be allowed to write comics given his sluggishly slow track records?

Well, I’m not sure who’s to blame for this book’s lateness – Whedon or Cassaday, but if it is Whedon, I say just stick to the television business. Because as much as I enjoy his writing in the funny books, his lack of dedication to keeping a schedule is disrespectful. If this is John Cassaday’s fault, well, congratulations on being another artist who’s excelled at disappointing his fan base with late work. End of rant.

The issue itself is a satisfying one  that would have had a greater impact had the series been released on a timely schedule. Picking up this book, I felt “out of it” from the get-go. I had to reacclimatize myself to the story and the situation before I could get into the book’s “groove”. Being that this is the last issue and lots of lives are at stake, the tension was sadly, offset by my knowledge of what’s already transpired. If you’re not a reader of Uncanny X-Men, you might not know what’s coming and this’ll play out as intended: A sad and jolting conclusion.

As much as the spoilage hurts the book, Whedon’s humor comes across again as clever and funny. This is something the X-Titles need more of. There’s a lot of great character moments – in particular a scene with Spider-Man smacking Storm that’s downright hilarious. The stuff with Beast and the Agent Brand, however? That felt a bit too Whedon-esque (or forced). I just don’t buy it. And frankly, it’s kind of gross.

Cassaday’s art is simple, and not so breathtaking as it used to be. It’s lost some of its luster, and the use of photographic backgrounds from the opening pages is jarring. As a whole, Cassaday’s work gets the job done. keeping the cohesion from the past 24 issues intact. The closure of this storyline is fitting, bringing things full circle, so to speak. I may not have been blown away by its conclusion, but other than maybe X-Men: Legacy,  this title is still miles away better than all the other X-Titles combined. (Grade: B)

– J. Montes

Buffy: The Vampire Slayer #13 (Season 8) – Review

By Drew Goddard (script), Georges Jeanty (pencils), Andy Owens (inks) & Michelle Madsen (colors)

With the big shocking news from last issue finally out of the way, I can say I’m a little more relaxed going into this month. I guess Goddard could have gone the Willow-Tara way or just let it die; there simply is no room for letting it linger on. So, I like how things are being handled.

This issue’s story takes Xander to meet Dracula. Through a weird lecture, Andrew tells the story of how Xander previously went to visit Dracula after Anya died, and spent a couple of months living with him. Buffy gets notification that the vampire who stole the scythe is in Tokyo. She orders all the slayers to prepare for the trip (which seems like a bad idea), leaving the fort unattended. This doesn’t seem like a move that Buffy would do, unless she knows she’s got a really good reason (Goddard better come up with something good).

Dracula, cheated by the Japanese vampires in a poker game, realizes that he’s lost his “secret powers”, so he decides to help Buffy. And the cliffhanger we get is just dreadful. Looks like there’s going to be a slayer massacre. Not good, but at least it’ll be a hell of a challenge for Buffy and company. I’ll be there to read it. (Grade: B+)

-Daniel Yanez

Buffy: The Vampire Slayer #12 (Season 8) – Review

By: Drew Goddard (script), Georges Jeanty (pencils), Andy Owens (inks) & Michelle Madsen (colors)

Just like I read in issue #12, I have to say “that was wow”. Anyone remotely interested in Buffy should know by now what happened to her on this issue. I read an interview with Joss Whedon and he said this issue’s not a huge event in his mind. Damn Joss Whedon’s mind! I really do think what happened came completely out of nowhere.

The story involves a pack of wolves, which turns out are Japanese vampires who can also vanish into fog. These people enter the castle, avoiding detection and defense systems, and steal the scythe from under everyone’s noses. After debating who might have done this, Xander is sent to visit an old nemesis for answers.

Drew Goddard wrote five great episodes for the Buffy’s final TV season. I’m happy to say he hasn’t lost his touch. The characters and sense of humor have all been transferred to comic book form, faithfully. I love the awkward moments Buffy and Satsu face with the men – I couldn’t stop laughing! I just really hope Whedon doesn’t keep writing about Buffy’s “experimentations”. They seem so out of character to me. (Grade: B)

-Daniel Yanez

Buffy The Vampire Slayer #11 (Season 8) – Review

By: Joss Whedon (script), Georges Jeanty (pencils), Andy Owens (inks) & Michelle Madsen (colors)

Since I can’t get my Buffy on TV anymore, this’ll have to do. That said, I’ve fallen in love with Season 8 in comic format. I guess I’m one of the many that will read even a napkin written by Joss Whedon. As usual, he does a great job on this issue.

Buffy takes Satsu (another slayer in training) to fight a vampire’s nest. After Satsu confesses her love for Buffy, Twilight appears out of nowhere and confronts Buffy for the first time. He kicks her butt pretty badly and luckily for her he doesn’t kill her just yet. We get a funny moment when Twilight is about to remove his mask only to scratch his neck. This guy has something to do with Buffy’s past – he knows her traits and her story. I can’t think who he might be.

This stand alone issue gives a glance at what Buffy will have to deal with in the future. This issue is the perfect model on how to write stand alone issues – a mix of action, character development and humor. Writers, please take note. (Grade: B+)

-Daniel Yanez

Angel: After The Fall #1-3 – Review

By: Joss Whedon & Brian Lynch (Plot), Brian Lynch (Scripts), Franco Urru (Illustrations)

Following the success of Buffy: Season 8 on comics, comes Angel: After the Fall (or the Season 6 we never got). Joss Whedon plotted the series with Brian Lynch. I don’t think it would have the same success if Whedon hadn’t contributed (heck, I wouldn’t buy it).

While Buffy: S8 stayed true to its roots, Angel seems to be quite the opposite: characters had changed dramatically from the end of season 5. Only a few months have passed. Everything is bigger and more dangerous, and the hero has a lot of more problems now (since Hell has come to L.A. Gunn is fighting against Angel). What happened?! I won’t spoil it, but there are a lot of surprises along with many plot twists. It also has great cliff hangers at the end of the chapters.

The only detriment in the series is the art of Frank Urru (Spike: Asylum & Shadow Puppets). I don’t like it. It’s undefined, almost incomplete, and missing details. The price is another thing I don’t like. $3.99 for a cardstock cover? I’ll have a regular one, thanks. I can recommend Buffy S8 to my friends, but I’m urging them to pick Angel with fury. (Grade: B+)

-Daniel Yanez

Astonishing X-Men #24 – Review

By: Joss Whendon (Writer), John Cassaday (Pencils)

This story was supposed to conclude this issue. Instead, Joss Whedon keeps us hanging on for a giant sized issue due out who knows when. It’s pretty disappointing too when you consider that virtually nothing forwards the story. What happens at the end of the book is the same as the beginning: The 10 mile long missile is still headed to Earth, the X-Men are still scrambling to stop it. Perhaps the only thing revealed to us is that the missile isn’t exactly a missile and the person Hank thinks may cause trouble for the X-Men is killed off.

The story flounders on all levels. Even Wolverine’s dialogue in this issue (“When do I get to be thrown again.”) comes off as stupid, failing to carry that Whedon charm that we’ve all come to expect. This is the first issue of Astonishing X-Men that I honestly didn’t like. So now what? We have to wait 2-3 more months for the conclusion that was due to us this issue?! Thanks for nothing, Whedon.

Oh, Cassaday’s artwork is lovely as expected. (Grade: D)

-J. Montes