Angel: Long Nights Journey (Angel)

Rating:
Summary: Kind of a let down
Review: As a huge fan of "Mr.Tall Dark and Broody" I was overjoyed to learn that Joss Whedon wanted to take a more active role in the comic series. The series was amazing - this could only make it better! Right? Apparently not. I love Angel, so the book wasn't a total loss. There were a few laughs, but overall I was confused by the practically non-existent plot and the countless loose ends it left trailing in its wake. In addition the action sequences lacked the requisite frames that would allow readers to follow the fights. Overall, the book was a disappointment. I recommend Joss stick to the small screen and let the old staff get back to producing an extraordinary comic series.

Rating:
Summary: Kind of a let down
Review: As a huge fan of "Mr.Tall Dark and Broody" I was overjoyed to learn that Joss Whedon wanted to take a more active role in the comic series. The series was amazing - this could only make it better! Right? Apparently not. I love Angel, so the book wasn't a total loss. There were a few laughs, but overall I was confused by the practically non-existent plot and the countless loose ends it left trailing in its wake. In addition the action sequences lacked the requisite frames that would allow readers to follow the fights. Overall, the book was a disappointment. I recommend Joss stick to the small screen and let the old staff get back to producing an extraordinary comic series.

Rating:
Summary: The Perfect End to a Perfect Mess
Review: It seems that whenever Angel isn't leaping out of the woodwork to slaughter the bad guys, the bad guys line up to leap out of the woodwork at him. Small wonder the vampire with a soul is as broody as he is. Take this night. Angel has to do some serious carjacking to break the truth out of a really ugly gang of Kryll demons. Which truth we never quite find out, because Angel finds a child in the car's trunk and takes a time out to return young Jacob to his father.

On his way back, Angel finds himself waylaid by a beautiful but green Silthe, then by a truly oversized fire creature. Think that's enough. Stay tuned, the knight from nowhere with the sword from hell is right behind them. Even with Wesley, Gunn, and Cordelia working overtime they are barely able to discover that someone new has moved into town. Someone who thinks Angel has something that belongs to him. A strange Chinese symbol finally gives Angel the clue he needs. However, all that does is help him jump out of the frying pan and into the holy water. Our uncapped crusader may finally have met his match.

Brett Matthews and Joss Whedon cooperated on the story, which is a perfect essay in perpetual action. This is the first time I have had a close look at Mel Rubi's pencil style, which, in combination with Chris Dreier's inking makes this illustrated paperback well worth the price of admission. The last section of the book is a set of Rubi's sketches, with commentary by Scott Alie and Brett Matthews. The reason for their enthusiasm will quickly become obvious. I predict that you will want to track down more of his work.

Rating:
Summary: The Perfect End to a Perfect Mess
Review: It seems that whenever Angel isn't leaping out of the woodwork to slaughter the bad guys, the bad guys line up to leap out of the woodwork at him. Small wonder the vampire with a soul is as broody as he is. Take this night. Angel has to do some serious carjacking to break the truth out of a really ugly gang of Kryll demons. Which truth we never quite find out, because Angel finds a child in the car's trunk and takes a time out to return young Jacob to his father.

On his way back, Angel finds himself waylaid by a beautiful but green Silthe, then by a truly oversized fire creature. Think that's enough. Stay tuned, the knight from nowhere with the sword from hell is right behind them. Even with Wesley, Gunn, and Cordelia working overtime they are barely able to discover that someone new has moved into town. Someone who thinks Angel has something that belongs to him. A strange Chinese symbol finally gives Angel the clue he needs. However, all that does is help him jump out of the frying pan and into the holy water. Our uncapped crusader may finally have met his match.

Brett Matthews and Joss Whedon cooperated on the story, which is a perfect essay in perpetual action. This is the first time I have had a close look at Mel Rubi's pencil style, which, in combination with Chris Dreier's inking makes this illustrated paperback well worth the price of admission. The last section of the book is a set of Rubi's sketches, with commentary by Scott Alie and Brett Matthews. The reason for their enthusiasm will quickly become obvious. I predict that you will want to track down more of his work.