Whedonesque Mobile : Comments on 14089 : (SPOILER) First look at the variant cover for 'Angel: After the Fall' #1.

Looks like I'll be collecting the variant covers!

Dude. That's awesome.

I don't think I've even seen the non-variant cover.

I still liked Angel more when he's evil. In addition, I liked him more when he was evil on Buffy than when he was evil on Angel.

FaithsTruCalling | August 26, 03:45 CET

So... he didn't quite get round to slaying that dragon, then? It looks pretty alive there. :)

daylight | August 26, 04:00 CET

Wow. That's damned epic-y, like Simon said. Gorgeous, too.

Does anyone know when this series/issue will be listed for preorder, er, anywhere? I keep checking TFAW and nary a mention of it yet exists.

daylight, there may have been more than one dragon to slay....:)

phlebotinin | August 26, 04:11 CET

I think it's going to turn out that the dragon is one of Angel's old buddies from when Buffy sent him to hell:

DRAGON: RWWWARRRRRHHHHHHHHH! (fire-breathing) RWAAAAAHAHHH...huh? Angel? Is that you, man?

ANGEL: Growktar? Long time no see! What are you up to, you old so-and-so?

DRAGON: Oh, you know how it goes - a little of this, a little subcontracting. The same old story. Hey, you got these Wolfram guys up on the wrong side of the bed, eh? I mean, they are pissed at you, my friend.

ANGEL: We've kinda been enemies for the last 5 years, give or take an episode. How much are they paying you?

DRAGON: Barely enough to cover my fire expenses, and NO per diem! But whattaya gonna do? Times are tough, no matter what dimension you're workin'.

ANGEL: Tell ya what... give me and my friends a hand with this army of darkness, and I can make it worth your while.

DRAGON: For you, Angel baby? You gave me a place to crash when my missus kicked me out, and you wrote that recommendation letter for my kid so's he could get into Advanced Melting Academy! A dragon doesn't forget his friends... one slightly toasted evil army, comin' up!

Awesome cover.

mr_shemp | August 26, 04:21 CET

I may never be completely okay with the idea of this series officially continuing, but that cover is freakin' awesome! I'm finally psyched.

Haunt | August 26, 04:25 CET

I love this cover as much as I ~~hate~~ intensely dislike the standard one.

Thanks Brian and Simon, you've made my Sunday!

missb | August 26, 04:34 CET

I tend to agree, missb - I was a little disappointed when I saw the standard cover, but this one blew me away.

I can't wait for this to come out. As much as I love that Buffy is back in comic book form (and I really, really love that), I was content with the series ending on TV. I could never say that about Angel. Even though Angel's series finale was perfect, my problem was that it shouldn't have been ending in the first place. When they canceled Angel, it was like they cut Joss off mid-sentence, and I have been waiting ever since to hear the rest of what he was saying.

callie | August 26, 04:59 CET

Holy crap that cover is gorgeous.

cheryl | August 26, 05:51 CET

Frak that's awesome. I'm so glad to see that the army of demons did a lot of damage. No sudden deus ex machina stopping them before they had any effect.

alpha5099 | August 26, 05:53 CET

Love them both. Just e-mailed my LCS for subs to both/all covers for the series. Like they couldn't have guessed.

Bobbi | August 26, 06:41 CET

Love the cover! I like it much more then the other one.

maje | August 26, 07:29 CET

Advanced Melting Academy?
Anyway, I am impressed by Angel's choice of cutlery, right up there with what Buffy uses for everyday Slaying. I'm looking forward to this series.

impalergeneral | August 26, 08:33 CET

Advanced Melting Academy, nice.

Man, this is a fantastic cover. Epic, indeed. *wants*

I haven't seen the standard so I'm going to go look for that right now.

electricspacegirl | August 26, 09:21 CET

Sweet. Now when are we going to see Spike,Illyria and Gunn? I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the first preview pages.
Hurry Mr.Urru, use those godly hands to draw more amazing art.

Vergil | August 26, 10:38 CET

Assuming that the official Buffy and Angel comic books exist in the same canon universe I'm dying to know how the post Not Fade Away situation in Los Angeles could be referenced in Buffy season 8. If Angel's still in Los Angeles and he didn't manage to flee to an alternate dimension, then's two broad possibilities.

Number one. Los Angeles has somehow been sealed off by the Senior Partners and Buffy will say something along the lines of "We can't get into Los Angeles these days. No one knows what is happening there". It's not even beyond the bounds of possiblity that Los Angeles has been transported elsewhere perhaps even to the Senior Partners' home dimension.

Or Number two. Somehow the Senior Partners have made people completely forget about Los Angeles, a grand mind wipe if you will. And their wrath against Angel and co will be played out without anyone looking on. Or Los Angeles now invokes some sort of huge unease in people's minds that that will make them stay away. Call it the "We don't go to Ravenholm" syndrome.

Simon | August 26, 12:32 CET

Oh my God. That's just...oh my God.

The regular cover is bad. Very bad. This cover is awesome. Very awesome.

I am in love with Franco Urru right about now.

And Simon, for what it's worth, those are some great ideas.

UnpluggedCrazy | August 26, 13:03 CET

Simon. Actually Angel Season 5, was in the continuity after Buffy season 7 ended, so Buffy season 8 is actually in the timeline of when Angel season 5 is HAPPENING, 5 and 8 should be concurrent or parallel. Buffy season NINE should be AFTER Angel season 5. Recall that Angel season 1 started AFTER Buffy Season 3. Am I right? :)

fernwick | August 26, 13:22 CET

Have you ever slipped out a chair and landed it on your toe? Leave it to me.

Simon, you're forgetting the "what is."

I rest my case:)

Madhatter | August 26, 13:45 CET

fernwick - they have told us that Buffy S8 takes approx. a year and a half after 'Chosen'... so that would put it in line with a couple of months after the events of 'Not Fade Away'

aapac | August 26, 13:58 CET

Well, there were a few conflicting reports about how long after 'Chosen' "S8" takes place and in the actual comic it only says "This story takes place after the end of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 7" so I think they're being vague enough to leave "Angel: Dude, what even is a season 6 ?" some wiggle room (just from how the Slayers have organised and the kit they've assembled etc. I think it's fairly safe to assume "S8" is set at least 6-12 months afterwards though).

That cover is just lovely, BTW. I prefer it to the standard cover BUT I find the standard cover more intriguing, it makes me wonder more about the story, raises questions, whereas this one is easier on the eye, cleaner composition etc. May well buy both (for the first ish anyway).

Getting jazzed ;).

Saje | August 26, 14:48 CET

WOW!
What a cover! That looks so epic. Great dragon, great hell beasts,great movement and fire and everything. The body is great, and the face is good, a steely determination. I would like to see a *little* bit more detail in the face, but I do like the look. Bodes very well for the interior art.

And yes I think hell has come to a *part* of LA at least. The cars show that (cars- has to be LA:)), but the gothic tower on the left is a bit misleading. Very intriguing! I wonder is it a kinda Constantine/Hellblazer situation?

I had every intention of collecting both covers, but this has settled it for me!

Man this story is gonna be badass!

[ edited by angeliclestat on 2007-08-26 13:55 ]

angeliclestat | August 26, 16:37 CET

I'm probably... most likely... maybe going to be waiting for the trades of this series, same as I'm doing for the Buffy Season 8. It's hard waiting to actually read what everyone else already now knows about but monthly comics just aren't long enough for me. I get much more satisfaction out of a trade paperback collected story.

That being the case, does anyone know if the variant covers are going to be included in the trades? That one is just too damn pretty to miss.

Kaine | August 26, 17:20 CET

I feel ashamed. First of all, amazing cover. However, I had no idea that they were picking up with Angel season six in comic form. Geesh, and I'm on Whedonesque every day! Anyhow, do we have a date on the release yet? Like Buffy season eight, I will be buying both covers of Angel.

Thank you Joss for getting me into comics. I was never really a fan sans a few Spike/Dru and Willow/Tara comics. Now the guys at my local comic shop know me by first name.

death is my gift | August 26, 18:35 CET

Awesome! This cover is Brilliant! Bring on the varients! Can't wait ! Any info on when these will be available ?

[ edited by AncientMagicks on 2007-08-26 15:43 ]

AncientMagicks | August 26, 18:41 CET

Don't know if I'm doing this right, but here's a small heads up that says "Angel: After the Fall", will be published in November 2007. Made me feel better for reading it. Finally, a date!
http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0708/13/idwnov.htm
Also, Forbidden Planet (U.K.) is already offering subscriptions!

[ edited by AncientMagicks on 2007-08-26 16:04 ]

AncientMagicks | August 26, 18:59 CET

Wicked cover

Simon. Actually Angel Season 5, was in the continuity after Buffy season 7 ended, so Buffy season 8 is actually in the timeline of when Angel season 5 is HAPPENING, 5 and 8 should be concurrent or parallel. Buffy season NINE should be AFTER Angel season 5. Recall that Angel season 1 started AFTER Buffy Season 3. Am I right? :)
fernwick | August 26, 10:22 CET

From my understanding,Buffy season 8 starts about a year and a half after Chosen and about five or six months after Not Fade Away.

I don't think anyone has said when After The Fall starts but it looks and sounds like to me that it picks up immediatly after Not Fade Away which would make it about five or six months before Buffy season 8.

Good ideas Simon.It would also explain why Buffy and the slayers couldn't be involved in After the Fall and the alley battle.

Buffyfantic | August 26, 19:07 CET

This is a great cover. When I first heard Urru was doing a variant cover I was pleased, his art in the Spike comics has been fantastic.

Now I just hope I can find this one, I don't like the other one at all.

Xane | August 26, 19:41 CET

Buffy and Angel are both running along the same timeframe now, on the same timeline.

And I LOVE this cover! I want it as a big poster.

Buffysmglover | August 26, 21:14 CET

I HATE this cover...

...because it rocks.

Dan Corson | August 26, 22:07 CET

I HATE this cover...because it rocks.

LOL

Buffysmglover | August 26, 22:26 CET

And I LOVE this cover! I want it as a big poster.

Me too! How can we get them to make some? I have the Buffy season 8 poster with the Buffy and Xander cover (actually I have two of them), and I hope they do the same for the Angel comics. I want it to be this image, or one similar. Does anyone think they'll make posters?

electricspacegirl | August 27, 03:17 CET

I liked the original cover ... but I think I love this one. Just captures Angel and his determination perfectly. (And it has the dragon :) )

resa | August 27, 03:25 CET

OMG, that's fraking awesome.....
And that's kind of Whedonesque exclusive, right? Cause it's linked to a whedonesque.org page.

Numfar PTB | August 27, 04:05 CET

My mother once told me not to wish my life away, but can't it be November already? Although I've got my own ideas about what happened post-NFA (as who doesn't), I'm so ready to be double-Jossed I can almost taste it.

(I'm really liking how Angel's swinging coat is just a perfect little grace note amid the fiery post-apocalyptic maelstorm. Nicely observed. Now bring on the mayhem!)

Wiseblood | August 27, 04:23 CET

I just have to say, with all the frak-ing going on....Galactica Rules! Not quite as much as Buffy but it's close.

cheryl | August 27, 08:38 CET

And that's kind of Whedonesque exclusive, right? Cause it's linked to a whedonesque.org page.

It was first seen at the IDW Angel forum and Brian was kind enough to send us a copy which Caroline uploaded onto the site.

Simon | August 27, 12:24 CET

All of which makes it kind of funny that Newsarama is claiming the first look at the cover today.

theonetruebix | August 27, 21:54 CET

I'm interested in how the situation in LA might be referenced in Buffy as well. I wonder how aware the Buffy/Angel crews are of each other's activities in the story. I'm still holding a grudge against Giles for refusing to send help when Fred was dying.

BTW, am I the only one who hopes Gunn got vamped before he died? Considering the character's history, that'd be full of story potential. Plus, although the concept might be overdone by now, I think he'd make a great vampire with a soul.

[ edited by NekoDono on 2007-08-27 19:15 ]

NekoDono | August 27, 22:08 CET

Oh... my!! What an outstanding cover! I just realized, in the larger image, that those hell beasties are perched on destroyed cars, so I guess Angel is still in LA and not some demon dimension. I've been asking my comic guy about when this book will premier, so I'm glad to see the solicitation for November from IDW - whoo hoo!!

Julchek | August 28, 05:47 CET

BTW, am I the only one who hopes Gunn got vamped before he died? Considering the character's history, that'd be full of story potential. Plus, although the concept might be overdone by now, I think he'd make a great vampire with a soul.

I'd like to see him vamped cos that does have oodles of story potential but the soul thing's been well covered IMO and to be honest, he's too young/contemporary for it to be worthwhile. What would be the 'take' on him ? What could the writers do that would make it worthwhile considering he's only been around for 30 ish years and therefore doesn't have much to atone for or regret or brood over ? He really would be Just Another Vampire With a Soul.

Saje | August 28, 14:27 CET

Ah, but in the spin-off/season six that I've been running in my head since the show was cancelled I had Spike find cause to question why they just indiscriminatel dust vampires. He begins to wonder if he and Angel could be "saved" then why not others. Eventually he goes on a quest to "save" Dru, convinced if he can find a way to restore her soul she'll become a champion like him... even though she doesn't WANT to be saved. Yeah, his logic is suspect, but his intentions are pure at least. And if Gunn were vamped it might start him thinking along those lines. Especially if Dru ended up "recruiting" Gunn herself.

Just thinking out loud. *shrug*

Haunt | August 28, 16:39 CET

And if Gunn were vamped it might start him thinking along those lines.

By "him" do you mean Spike ? Cos then I still don't see what actual point there'd be except as a motivator for Spike. Apart from that Gunn's still just another vamp.

If by "him" you mean Gunn then I doubt he's gonna wanna be saved while he's still a vampire, they don't seem to mind it pre-soul.

But yeah, the point's valid Haunt, there probably are stories you could tell (maybe combine your ideas for instance so Gunn is vamped then re-ensouled and then he goes on Spike's quest to save other vamps - maybe partly driven by his inability to save his sister - and, ironically, becomes something of a vampire messiah ? Could be meat there with Gunn and the Fang gang somewhat at loggerheads but both with the best of intentions).

Saje | August 28, 17:05 CET

Yeah, that's a solid idea there. My idea was that Spike would end up on a fool's mission to save Dru against her will. But I could just as easily see Gunn going that route, given his sister's fate an all.

Haunt | August 28, 17:16 CET

God, i hope that doesn't happen. Spike and Angel are unique, they didn't just become champion vampires with a soul. They fought,suffered and in the end earned it. Also not to forget is that a fledge-vampire like Gunn wouldn't be able to control his bloodlust, it's something older vampires seem to somewhat control better with age. Angel himself had many problems with it still in season1.
And i don't think that Spike would care about other vampires or Dru who is beyond saving, with a soul she would suffer even more. It's Angel that i believe should dust her when he gets the chance, she is his creation. And i also think that Angel knows that Gunn wouldn't want to live as the thing he hated most.

Vergil | August 28, 17:34 CET

It would be so tragic if Gunn became a vamp. He hates them and has spent his life fighting them. Angel would be so guiltridden if it happened.

angeliclestat | August 28, 18:47 CET

It would be so tragic if Gunn became a vamp. He hates them and has spent his life fighting them. Angel would be so guiltridden if it happened.

Or as Joss would call it "Good TV" ;).

Saje | August 28, 20:09 CET

I have to confess that I was one of those people who fantasized about the army of Slayer coming to Angels aid...

But anyway I like the disaster idea, even better, reminds me of how isolated the crew will be. Some of my favorite heroic tales have the heroes having all odds against them.

Simon wrote
Number one. Los Angeles has somehow been sealed off by the Senior Partners and Buffy will say something along the lines of "We can't get into Los Angeles these days. No one knows what is happening there". It's not even beyond the bounds of possiblity that Los Angeles has been transported elsewhere perhaps even to the Senior Partners' home dimension.
Or Number two. Somehow the Senior Partners have made people completely forget about Los Angeles, a grand mind wipe if you will. And their wrath against Angel and co will be played out without anyone looking on. Or Los Angeles now invokes some sort of huge unease in people's minds that that will make them stay away. Call it the "We don't go to Ravenholm" syndrome.
Simon | August 26, 09:32 CET

Love the ideas. On the Number Two, maybe not forget in a Dawn-into reality level of mind manipulation, but just make people ignore it. I was just re-watching "The Sound of Drums", from the recent New Doctor Who Series 3, and the way the Doctor used the Tardis keys to play with other people perception of reality, so they would become sort of unnoticeable, made me think a bit about this. Maybe Los Angeles still exists in the same reality, but something just make whoever think or get close to it, re-route the thoughts or their way from it, liken a subliminal suggestion.

Wonder if we'll see Chantarelle/Lily/Anne again in it, I know "After the Fall" will be chaotic and apocaliptic, but she did send quite a powerful message in NFA (especially on par with the final statement from the final scene), and although the character only appeared only in a total of 4 episodes (2 from Buffy and 2 from Angel), I love how she can represent multiple sides and themes from the Buffyverse, especially the grown up theme so present in "Angel".

Numfar PTB | August 28, 21:22 CET

Maybe Los Angeles still exists in the same reality, but something just make whoever think or get close to it, re-route the thoughts or their way from it, liken a subliminal suggestion.

So, the Senior Partners make LA Unplottable?

williamthebloody1880 | August 28, 21:55 CET

Awesome cover... here's to a great start!

Jademaliburoad | August 28, 22:15 CET

August 26 2007