Whedonesque : Comments on 15365 : (SPOILER) TFAW.com reveals Angel Issue 6's full cover!

I've never posted anything before. I don't know if linking to a store is okay or not. I don't work for them! :)
If it's uncool to do that, let me know please.

CowboyGuy | January 30, 21:31 CET

Who is that, Faith, Kate??? I'm confused, is it easy to see?

bennyboi91 | January 30, 21:31 CET

That looks like Cordy to me.

KingofCretins | January 30, 21:32 CET

YAY! Gwen is back! I love me some Electro Girl.

SpikeBad | January 30, 21:32 CET

Buffy is that you??

dulce_serenidad | January 30, 21:41 CET

Looks like Cordelia to me.

And for some reason, the more I see that cover, the less I like it. It's really dark and just...I don't know.

I think I prefer the other covers better.

menomegirl | January 30, 21:44 CET

The outfit is almost exactly the same as what Eve was wearing in "Not Fade Away", but the hair and the figure are much more like Charisma than Sarah Thompson. I *really* doubt that's Buffy -- unless Joss wants to be really Pulp Fictiony with the timeline and make Twilight Angel.

KingofCretins | January 30, 21:50 CET

I can't tell who it is, either. Looks female-shaped, but we can't even see the hair color, so it could be just about anyone from Angel or Buffy. Maybe a better quality image will come out eventually.

RaisedByMongrels | January 30, 21:55 CET

I don't think "reveal" is the right word.

dreamlogic | January 30, 21:56 CET

I thought there was nothing new here so I was going to delete it but I didn't see Miss Invisiblo. That's really dark artwork, very hard to make out.

Simon | January 30, 21:56 CET

Wes looks good. Wes always looks good.

Willowy | January 30, 22:01 CET

I jacked up the brightness on 'Mystery Girl.'

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/whedonite/Girl.jpg

The Dark Shape | January 30, 22:08 CET

Well, now we know it's . . . a woman character. Possibly a strong one.

Pointy | January 30, 22:10 CET

Someone on another board linked a Season 1 promo picture of Charisma and Boreanaz in which she is wearing... blue jeans, a low cut red top, and a leather jacket -- even the pose looks similar.

Here's that link -- http://i32.tinypic.com/1z3p1m8.jpg

I'd say the quick odds are 3:2 that Cordy, 4:1 its Eve, 15:1 for the field.

[ edited by KingofCretins on 2008-01-30 19:11 ]

[ edited by KingofCretins on 2008-01-30 19:12 ]

KingofCretins | January 30, 22:10 CET

My monitor has decided that it shall remain a total mystery because I can't make out a damn thing.

TamaraC | January 30, 22:41 CET

Seeing as I've turned into Simon the Amazing Predictor of all things Whedon, I'll go out on a limb and says it's Buffy (or Phantom Dennis the Crossdresser).

Simon | January 30, 22:48 CET

Like everyone else I can't make out who it is, but PLEASE don't let it be Cordy! Not that I have anything against her at all. But for the love of all that is holy can't someone stay dead? Anyone? All I ask is that one dead character STAY dead.. just so, you know, death actually means something.

Radical concept, I know. What can I say, I'm a rebel that way.

Haunt | January 30, 22:51 CET

Looks like it could be Darla to me.

Arabchick | January 30, 22:57 CET

My bet is on Eve. She's too slender to be Cordy, I think. And her presence in "First Night" would make sense dramatically as she was affected by NFA *a lot*.

Nata | January 30, 22:57 CET

That's a weird opinion for a guy named "Haunt".

Brian Lynch | January 30, 22:58 CET

Oh, how I'd love it to be Cordy. And no, Haunt. People don't stay dead in Whedonworld. Duh. ;)

Willowy | January 30, 22:59 CET

"Dear Haunt,

It's cool with us.

Love,

Jenny, Joyce, Tara, and Anya."

No, seriously, it's not like one specific storyline for someone whose death was already profoundly phlebotenous would suddenly convince any fan of "Buffy" or "Angel" that nobody 'stays dead' in those series. And, really, out of all of those, Cordy is the one I'd want back, she got the worst deal of the lot of them.

Brian, I don't suppose telling us what's on a really small picture would be spoiling, would it? It's not like we can't *see* it or wouldn't recognize her full size (worst he can do is say 'no').

KingofCretins | January 30, 23:01 CET

The link doesn't lead to the correct image.

***EDIT*** Wait, yeah it does. My bad. She's so dark I could hardly see her there lol

[ edited by patxshand on 2008-01-30 20:14 ]

patxshand | January 30, 23:09 CET

I'm not spoiling anything. I will say that the story connected to that person is the writing I'm most proud of since jumping into Angel's world.

Brian Lynch | January 30, 23:12 CET

...I think that looks an awful lot like Cordy to me...*g*

Yay!!

[ edited by sueworld2003 on 2008-01-30 20:16 ]

sueworld2003 | January 30, 23:16 CET

It might be a ghost Cordy.

I really hope it's Cordy.

whedongeeky | January 30, 23:17 CET

Nobody should jump to any conclusions...

Brian Lynch | January 30, 23:17 CET

Jumping to conclusions is what I do best!!!

whedongeeky | January 30, 23:19 CET

The woman on the cover looks like Glory. Definitely not Cordy or Buffy.

1starbuckstown | January 30, 23:19 CET

I will say that the story connected to that person is the writing I'm most proud of since jumping into Angel's world.

Really? Can't wait to read that!

menomegirl | January 30, 23:19 CET

I'm changing the betting line...

Cordy still goes off as the favorite at 5:2
Eve is second at 7:1
Kate Locksley comes in as a money play at 12:1
Buffy is a long shot at 20:1
50:1 for the field

Any bets Brian? *ninja*

KingofCretins | January 30, 23:21 CET

Okay, we know who it ISN'T.

Faith... she's been in BtVS. Even if Season Eight takes place AFTER "After the Fall," there would be mention of her being in HELL. So yeah, it's not Faith. Plus, the whole "there are no planned crossovers" that we got from Brian a while ago...

Which rules out Buffy. That's a gimme, though.

I'd expect an Eve story, but from the appearance of the character... I think it's who I think it is.

Annnndd not that I'm jumping to conclusions.... More like errrrmmm casually stepping onto them.

patxshand | January 30, 23:22 CET

1starbuck.... That character looks more like (insert name of any random person) than Glory. If anyone, it looks exactly like Cordy. But Glory is the last person I'd say resembles "Still Kinda A Mystery Person."

patxshand | January 30, 23:24 CET

It's a Jump to Conclusions mat! It's got all kinds of conclusions... that you can jump to!

I gotta wonder -- Eve would be a cool character to see more of, but is she quite at that level that her return would be spoiler-hidden on *cover art*, when we got the fact Lorne will be back for free?

I'm putting the mortgage and the student loans down, taking Cordy, and giving the points.

KingofCretins | January 30, 23:24 CET

The Phantom Dennis in Drag petition starts here. Or, just to tweak Simon - Post-Op Riley! And bonus points for the jump-to-conclusions mat reference :)

[ edited by zeitgeist on 2008-01-30 20:29 ]

zeitgeist | January 30, 23:27 CET

I agree with King. Although, I'm not surprised we were given a free-pass with the Lorne reveal. They'd have to blank out his face on THREE covers, not just a tiny spot on #6.

patxshand | January 30, 23:28 CET

1starbuck.... That character looks more like (insert name of any random person) than Glory.

Are we talking about the woman with glowing energy balls radiating from her hands? The face looks Claire (as in Kramer) to me. It has no Charisma.

If you'll forgive the painful wordplay :)

1starbuckstown | January 30, 23:28 CET

Nice pic of Gunn. :)

cabri | January 30, 23:29 CET

...The woman with the glowing electricity on her hands is Gwen. That's been revealed quite a while ago.

We're talking about the other woman, 1starbuck.

patxshand | January 30, 23:29 CET

1starbuckstown - no, not that one, the tiny little one in the middle of the pic towards the bottom.

zeitgeist | January 30, 23:30 CET

I see no other woman. And Gwen looks like Glory.

1starbuckstown | January 30, 23:32 CET

Why do I read posts marked (SPOILER)? Argh!

Yeah, I'd bet a brand-new, crisp Franklin that it's Cordy.

Edit: Though, I guess it could be the First messing with Angel and taking the form of Buffy! Oooooo...

[ edited by Whistler on 2008-01-30 20:35 ]

Whistler | January 30, 23:32 CET

The tiny woman. The one cloaked in shadow. If you go up a few posts, someone posted a link to a pic that cleared up the shadow around her.

But about Gwen, I don't think there's any debate over who that is. With the red spandex, curly hair, electricity, and Gwen's face... you know the dealio.

patxshand | January 30, 23:35 CET

Okay ... I've adjusted the brightness setting of my monitor now. It's Buffy.

1starbuckstown | January 30, 23:35 CET

That's a little jacked up, if it's Buffy. It doesn't really look like her, either. Again, the hair and the figure. That looks much more like Charisma than Sarah.

Plus, I think Brian's a helluva writer, but unless it was a smokescreen, I really doubt you can have Buffy in the same title as Angel *and* Spike and not have any major 'shippy storylines.

KingofCretins | January 30, 23:46 CET

Yeah, it's not Buffy. That's clear from looking at it. I think the two most viable options are Cordy and Eve. And, just from looking at the pic.... :x

patxshand | January 30, 23:51 CET

I still think it's Cordelia but it could be Eve as well.

Doesn't look like Buffy at all.

And...post-op Riley? Dude!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ edited by menomegirl on 2008-01-30 21:16 ]

menomegirl | January 31, 00:15 CET

Plus, the whole "there are no planned crossovers" that we got from Brian a while ago...

Could be misdirection. In the same vein as what Joss, John and Marvel did for Astonishing X-Men #4 (they leaked fake artwork making it look like Phoenix was returning).

Simon | January 31, 00:19 CET

Seeing as how we still don't know much about Angel's state or how he got there -- if it involved, say, some kind of a trip to the "other side," it would be quite easy to bump into Cordy (or others) without bringing anyone back to life...

RambleOn623 | January 31, 00:26 CET

And...post-op Riley? Dude!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:D Sorry, I was bored, today didn't end up as busy as I thought it was going to be. Don't look, Simon, its a lie!

zeitgeist | January 31, 00:30 CET

Well, since I still say Cordy's death was faked by TPTB anyhow (so she could do higher-being stuff without any Angel-ference) she seems quite likely. (cc Haunt)

DaddyCatALSO | January 31, 00:35 CET

Ha! It's clearly Wonder Woman.

barboo | January 31, 00:41 CET

Wonder Woman? Brian Lynch sent Cobie Smulders to hell?

KingofCretins | January 31, 00:44 CET

I read half the comments thinking people were joking about Gwen. Couldn't even see the figure in the middle, the cover was so dark on my monitor. That said, it looks like Wasp to me.

Lady Brick | January 31, 00:44 CET

Hey, everyone has missed the most important thing...

Beta George made the cover! Congrats to the fishy fella.

Whistler | January 31, 00:58 CET

It ain't Buffy.

Brian Lynch | January 31, 01:37 CET

Wow, who knew I'd spark so many snarky responses by making a snarky comment about people staying dead? Guess I was imagining things when the same comments were floating around over the return of Wesley. *shrug*

And Brian, differences aside you make a good point (about the name 'Haunt'). Point to you sir. ;)

Haunt | January 31, 01:45 CET

It ain't Buffy.

Thanks, so now that speculation can end....

Brian, how's abouts ending all the speculatin' all together?
That sounds good doesn't it? Why, yes! Yes it does! ;)

Just say it's Cordy, hehe

[ edited by CowboyGuy on 2008-01-30 22:48 ]

CowboyGuy | January 31, 01:47 CET

It ain't Buffy.

Well not that Buffy. It could be either of the other two Buffys.

Simon | January 31, 01:59 CET

How about Darla? A family reunion in hell.

jcs | January 31, 02:00 CET

Thanks for at least having done with that particular speculation.

If it's not Cordy, Brian, I have no doubt it's an awesome story with Eve, with Kate, with any of the other characters I also dig that that could be. If it's Bethany Chaulk from "Untouched", that's cool, even. I can't think of any female recurring or one-off characters that you couldn't tell a great story with.

But, if it is Cordy, then sincerely and in advance, thank you, sir.

KingofCretins | January 31, 02:06 CET

Seeing as how we still don't know much about Angel's state or how he got there -- if it involved, say, some kind of a trip to the "other side," it would be quite easy to bump into Cordy (or others) without bringing anyone back to life...

An excellent point. Hell is where you might expect to find a lot of dead people, n'est-ce pas?

jclemens | January 31, 02:16 CET

Well not that Buffy. It could be either of the other two Buffys.

Nope. We know it ain't one of them. For obvious underground reasons *cough*

Did everyone but me forget Harmony?

I don't want it to be Cordy *pout* I love her but... *ugh* it's the same issue I had with bringing Wes to life, which thank god they didn't. But if she's coming to visit Wes and Dennis then I'm fine with it. However, if Cordy get's a free pass, I demand Doyle! *puts foot down* it became too painful to read fics about him, but I can handle a phantom comic.

Now I'm excited for the issue even more. Will wonders never cease.

Mirage | January 31, 02:24 CET

Hell is where you might expect to find a lot of dead people, n'est-ce pas?

But is the Hell or just a hell dimension cause the Buffyverse canon is somewhat fuzzy on the whole thing. On the one hand we had the classic religious interpretation of hell mentioned in Hell Bound but then there have been constant references to hell dimensions scattered throughout Buffy and Angel.

Simon | January 31, 02:26 CET

I don't know. Maybe it's all just a Wolfram & Hart holding dimension or another reality. Or the world without shrimp. There's lots of hells, you know.

Mirage-I thought of Harmony but the hair color of the mystery girl appears dark....

Maybe it's Lindsey in drag?

....I can't believe I said that.

darn that zeitgeist!

menomegirl | January 31, 02:33 CET

Some of us wouldn't consider the world without shrimp to be a hell.

barboo | January 31, 02:41 CET

Maybe it's Lindsey in drag?

I will not respond to that... I will not respond to that...

It's easier to say Harm cut and died her hair to fit in with the gloom!

*head desk* Now I’m seeing Lindsey in cowboy boot, a cowboy hat, and a donkey. If you must know, I just saw the new episode of House.

Maybe it's the First trying up him Buffy get-up again? *cannot look away from cover* Okay, why is no one mentioning the sea monsters? Aw. Are they friends of George? Oooh, was L.A. sent to a sea-like beasties hell? *jumps up and down like a kid all hyped up on The Guessing Game*

Mirage | January 31, 02:44 CET

Now I’m seeing Lindsey in cowboy boot, a cowboy hat, and a donkey.

I'm sorry! *points to zeitgeist* Not my fault, I swear! I've been having post-op Riley in my head for a couple of hours now. One thing lead to another and...Lindsey in drag.

menomegirl | January 31, 02:49 CET

The guy over at the Buffyverse Comic Reviews blog has the full cover for ATF 6-7.

hobnail | January 31, 02:56 CET

I like cover B better. Not sure why, I just do.

menomegirl | January 31, 03:02 CET

ok, I'm gonna vote for Eve, just based on the idea of W&H's contract history. Even if she died in the building collapse, they would still have her in their world, just like Wesley. [oh, my Wesley :( ]

chance | January 31, 03:25 CET

I agree with Haunt. Cordy should stay dead. (Though I would to "see" Dennis again.)

Then again, I didn't want Wesley or Gunn back either and yet am loving their stories, so what the hell do I know?

UnpluggedCrazy | January 31, 03:36 CET

I dunno, I thought buffy because she looked blond (even though it can't be her really) But it could be eve because she has light brown hair, I really hope it's not cordy.. Gah I can't wait until the TPB comes out so I can buy it!

dulce_serenidad | January 31, 03:49 CET

Haunt, UnpluggedCrazy: Mine for one wasn't meant as snark. Based on all the spoilers and summaries of "You're Welcome" that I've read (I haven't seen the episode itself nor more than a very tiny part of Season 4) that is my totally serious opinion of what Dr. Joss and His Bunche had in mind for Cordelia when the episode was written.

DaddyCatALSO | January 31, 03:55 CET

Just looks like Cordy to me- the stance, the hair, the clothes. Why is she teeny, hmmm?

toast | January 31, 04:08 CET

Since it looks like Buffy to me, and it isn't Buffy, I'm not going to go any further with the wondering.

newcj | January 31, 04:23 CET

I don't see how it's a debate. It's Gwen without a doubt. Tight cut-off shirt, and electricity from the hands. Seems pretty clear cut to me.

Out of Objects | January 31, 04:33 CET

OutofObjects; Gwen's in the front and plainly visible; the debate is on an almost impossible to see character in the the lower center background.

DaddyCatALSO | January 31, 04:38 CET

Ah, my bad. I have horrible contrast on my monitor. The image doesn't show up at all on my monitor.

But after checking out the "brightened" version left by The Dark Shape, I vote Cordelia.

Out of Objects | January 31, 04:42 CET

has anyone considered that it might be an alternate parallel universe version of Connor, in which he was born a girl, you know "Connira". Just Kidding.

The entire cover look gorgeous, it's only sad that I haven't started reading After the Fall yet, as it's taking a while for my mail to arrive.

Numfar PTB | January 31, 05:09 CET

What's up with making us guess Brian? :(
Is it such a huge deal who it is that we can't clearly see? No wonder people would guess Buffy if we can't see properly. Cover is nice, although a little dark.. which I guess was the point.

alexa | January 31, 05:22 CET

I'm just afraid it is going to be Eve.... but maybe she won't bother me as much without the squeaky voice.

embers | January 31, 05:56 CET

I'm not making anyone guess. I wish that cover hadn't gone up, I want surprises, not disappointments because people got their hopes up it was one person and then it turned out to be someone else.

I hate spoilers, I just wanted to nip the "Buffy" rumor on the bud because I started getting emails about it this morn'.

Brian Lynch | January 31, 06:00 CET

I'll be happy with whoever it is. So far, nothing has disappointed me... and I doubt that "First Night" will be very different.

Any word on the release date of #4?

patxshand | January 31, 06:04 CET

Whedonesque is so weird, lol. I post stuff and people who matter might actually read it. I'm not disappointed.. too much that it's not Buffy ;) We just keep getting the non-spoiler-spoilers lately (with BtVS aslo).

alexa | January 31, 06:41 CET

I would love for it to be Anne. She gets my number one vote. She's been around forever, was in the finale and has a strong connection Gunn, WRH and the big man himself. Plus, you know she's going to be doing something to help people in a world like that. So my vote goes to Chantarelle/ Lilly/ Anne.

theMidnighter | January 31, 06:48 CET

Yeah, I'm going to cast my lot in with Midnighter and say that it's Anne. She's got one of the widest story arcs in the series, and it's happened very quietly, off to the side. Love for her to get some more focus. Of course, my first impulse was "It's Buffy!", so who knows?

Small Frye | January 31, 07:42 CET

I actually thought it looked a little like Darla... that's who I first thought it was? But I'm thinking Cordy as well.

vampmogs | January 31, 07:58 CET

I would LOVE for it to be Anne, for exactly the reasons Small Frye mentions. But I think I might be imagining the almost-entirely obfuscated figure standing in a vaguely "cop-like" pose, with a handgun at her side? Maybe? Probably not... but it kinda looks that way.

Haunt | January 31, 08:59 CET

It looks like just her hand to me, Haunt. But you're the big gun expert.

eta: since you saw a TV show.

[ edited by dreamlogic on 2008-01-31 07:44 ]

dreamlogic | January 31, 09:56 CET

Brian, I don't know who I couldn't speak for here and say that whatever you got for us, we are going to be nothing but thrilled. The first three issues of "After the Fall" have been some of the very finest comics I've ever read, and I'm counting some of my real sacred cows, like "KnightFall" and "Sin City" and "Watchmen".

Don't sweat us getting more excited or less excited about it being Eve or Cordy or Kate or Bethany Chaulk or Jheira from "She" or Lorne's psychic friend from "The Price" who appears randomly from different parts of the room. We know you're bringing the goods either way.

KingofCretins | January 31, 10:15 CET

Yeah, if I can't have Cordy, let it be Anne. I may be in a small minority, but I hope and pray against the day that Buffy crosses over into the Angelverse, or anyone, Angel and Spike especially, from the Angelverse crosses over into the Buffyverse. Never, please, never, ever.

cmbackshane | January 31, 10:19 CET

My first instinct was to yell 'Cordy!'. Then 'Buffy!?' Then I read Brian's post and said 'Bugger!'

My claim against it being Cordy is that her um, attributes would probably have been be drawn in a more exaggerated fashion.
(Which, considering some of our comments about the depiction of women, is actually a very ironic argument to be making!) Hopefully I will be proved wrong.

I will cross fingers and toes that it's NOT Eve.
I would even rather have it be Andrew as a post-op trannie, than have her scurrying about in precious story space.

missb | January 31, 10:45 CET

Oooh, I'd like it if it were Anne. She was there in the end, so we know she's in L.A. at least. Kate left town, and it would be awful chance for her to be visiting just to be sucked into a hell dimension.

Characters -who we last saw in the living/unliving- I'd like to see in the comics (be they Buffyverse or Angelverse) sooner or later: Anne, Drusilla, Drac *giggles at poor Xander* (I can't wait to see his reaction), Willy the Snitch (aw, c'mon, I loved him), Oz (but hey, he's a given)... there might be more, but I can't think of them now.

Mirage | January 31, 13:37 CET

Perhaps After The Fall needs a witch.

Simon | January 31, 15:09 CET

I like the idea of Anne. Kate was never a favorite character of mine, but she could be an interesting one to have in this mix.

When I first saw it and it looked like Buffy, I thought, "She was traveling through all kinds of weird time and space changy places. I guess she could end up in this hell dimension for a short while." It seemed like it would be a strange choice so early, however. Kinda glad it is not her.

newcj | January 31, 15:28 CET

It's been a while since I watched "Epiphany", but I'm pretty sure Kate never said she was leaving town; my understanding was that Kate was supposed to be back at some point, but with Elisabeth Rohm on Law and Order, it never happened. So, could be her.

I think an appearance by Cordy in some capacity is the only thing (aside from the Buffster) that would merit all the secrecy, like the censored version of this cover on Chris Ryall's blog. It begs the question, though: if you want a character or plot point to be a big surprise, why put it on the cover? You know it's going to be available three months ahead of time; it pretty much has to be, for solicitation.

jlp | January 31, 15:30 CET

Perhaps After The Fall needs a witch.

Which witch? The only ones that haven't come back are Tara and that boy from Gingerbread. Tara?

dreamlogic | January 31, 16:57 CET

Ummm it was a play on what Willow says in Orpheus.

Simon | January 31, 17:25 CET

I think Simon is suggesting a "Charmed" crossover.

jcs | January 31, 17:26 CET

I think Piper and her Hands of Discontent would fit in in the Buffyverse, but the rest of that show can go jump in the Bay.

The "Angel" series did a great job on this -- I've been combing my memory, and I really can't find the female character, secondary, recurring, one-off, that could show up in "After the Fall" that wouldn't be at least somewhat interesting. I'm talking all the way back to that TV star from "Eternity", even.

If it's Kate, I think she'd have a lot of pretty interesting reflection on Angel's... changes.

KingofCretins | January 31, 17:40 CET

Cover goes OK for me, but it's a little bit too "sweet" for my taste . Don't know how to put it better ... nearly like on a romance paperback. Charles' so soulful eyes. (!?) Elektro Gwen's pose I have to say I find quite uncool. The color scheme ... (?) The silhouette in the background? Guess it's Buffy Summers, who's paying a visit to gone-to-hell L.A.

[ edited by cleveland on 2008-01-31 14:59 ]

cleveland | January 31, 17:52 CET

Mirage, Dracula is actually in the upcoming Buffy arc, "Wolves at the Gate."

And to whoever first suggested it: Yes, it would be totally awesome if that were Anne.

UnpluggedCrazy | January 31, 20:07 CET

Wait. Did someone say Gwen is Glory?

Nebula1400 | January 31, 20:34 CET

cleveland-Mr. Lynch has said that it's not Buffy.

Oh my God! Well not my God 'cause I defy him and all of his works...

Gwen is Glory!?!

menomegirl | January 31, 21:09 CET

I thought Ben was Glory!?!

SpikeBad | January 31, 21:21 CET

Now... do we suspect there might be some connection, between Gwen, and Glory?

KingofCretins | January 31, 21:24 CET

I wonder why the mystery person is so small in the first place. It's a pretty odd cover overall, with Giant Wesley, Gwen, and George just kind of floating in front of the city, and Gunn's head growing out of the buildings in the background. Very strange.

RaisedByMongrels | January 31, 21:25 CET

It begs the question, though: if you want a character or plot point to be a big surprise, why put it on the cover?

I suspect Brian Lynch doesn't get a ton of input on covers. Or, he draws them all himself under clever fake identities. In which case you are totally blowing his cover on the internet.

I accidentally made a pun there but I'm leaving it because I kinda like it. Also, I don't read this comic (no offense to any involved, I've just never been very into Angel), but the debates here are fun to read.

Sunfire | January 31, 23:03 CET

UnpluggedCrazy, I knew about Drac, hence me not able to wait to see Xander's reaction. Although a selfish part of me wants Vlad and Spike to meet, you know to discuss that old debt we all want to know about!

Mirage | February 01, 00:07 CET

Although a selfish part of me wants Vlad and Spike to meet, you know to discuss that old debt we all want to know about!

But they did! They met up in a really good IDW miniseries called Spike vs. Dracula by the legendary Peter David. It's an excellent read.

Simon | February 01, 00:59 CET

Simon, good sir, are you BEGGING for someone to invoke the dreaded c-word or what?

Haunt | February 01, 01:57 CET

But they did! They met up in a really good IDW miniseries called Spike vs. Dracula by the legendary Peter David. It's an excellent read.

Are you trying to lure us comic newbies on?

menomegirl | February 01, 02:02 CET

darn that zeitgeist!

Yes, darn him to heck and dagnabbit!

Are you trying to lure us comic newbies on?

Yes, we are :) Peter David also writes a really great series called Fallen Angel and presided over some of the best X-Men related stuff ever. Those of you who have read the Doc Samson issue of X-Factor (#87) know what I'm talking about. Plus he made the Hulk interesting for years and I didn't believe that that was even possible.

zeitgeist | February 01, 02:35 CET

This comic newbie went to her local comic store this evening to pick up the latest Angel comics with various covers, three in total. The guys there couldn't get their register to work, so they couldn't take my money and I couldn't bring the comics home with me. Every time I go there there's some other guy or girl who can't work the register, or talks to loud or too much or makes *me* feel bad for their weirdness. I'd go back to ordering online if it didn't take so bloody long for the things to arrive.

Caroline | February 01, 02:37 CET

Are you trying to lure us comic newbies on?

Yes. I actually think that the Spike vs. Dracula mini-series is the best IDW mini-series to date (with Shadow Puppets coming a class second).

That and I want to see three admins posts in a row.

Every time I go there there's some other guy or girl who can't work the register, or talks to loud or too much or makes *me* feel bad for their weirdness.

Comic book shop staff are in a world of their own. There's an interesting post about them over at a Marvel blog.

Link:

Simon | February 01, 02:43 CET

That and I want to see three admins posts in a row.

Bloody hell, that backfired on you... ;)

zeitgeist | February 01, 02:48 CET

Beg to differ with you. Spike: Asylum is the very best with Spike vs. Dracula second, Shadow Puppets third.

luvspike | February 01, 02:50 CET

Oh, but Simon, I have read that comic. I did love it so. But *pout* as great as it was, I want to see how it would've been for real or as canony real as it could be *blush*. It's the same with me enjoying the Spike/Halfrek comic where a part of me is giddy but another nerdy part wants the big man's say-so on the matter. Or at least casual wave.

I am still strong on the comic newbie card though, seeing as all comics I've read only relate to WhedonVerse (excluding manga of course *g*).

Mirage | February 01, 03:03 CET

pike: Asylum is the very best with Spike vs. Dracula second, Shadow Puppets third.

I couldn't get into Asylum at all. I found it very choppy in the storytelling department. Saying that Shadow Puppets was a hoot and After The Fall is proving to be pretty damn near perfect. When you can visualise the actors performing what you're reading, you know you're onto a winner.

Simon | February 01, 03:06 CET

To each his own. Asylum to me was perfect. As for saying it was choppy in the story department, that's the way I feel about the Buffy comics. I want to like them, but I just don't. After the Fall is turning out to be very good. I also have been reading the Supernatural comics, The Dark Tower and soon will be Locke & Key from Joe Hill. I would have never thought I liked reading comics, but I'm hooked.

luvspike | February 01, 03:30 CET

Happily, my local store is made of awesome and is within walking distance of my office. Sadly, work moves all the way across town soon so that dream is about to end. I will likely trek back here just to buy comics though. I never get any "Why is a girl here?" feeling there. Just "Ohhh you like Whedon. Read Torn."

Sunfire | February 01, 04:30 CET

I gotta say, Spike: Asylum and After the Fall have forced me to go to my local comic store, before which I had been to intimidated to step foot in. While I do kind of get the "Why is a girl in here" vibe that Sunfire was talking about, I just don't really stick around for a lot longer than I have to.

The first time I went in, I ended up having a long conversation with what ended up being the manager about Jo Chen which then lead to Runaways. And even though he kept calling her 'Joyce', and anther time an employee called Joss the dreaded 'Josh', I can forgive them. Because they're the only comic store in town, and they now recognize me on site.

Calleyzkat | February 01, 04:59 CET

Huh. I might just have to see if I can't find Spike vs. Dracula and the Asylum books this weekend.

When you can visualise the actors performing what you're reading, you know you're onto a winner.

I couldn't agree with that more. That's why I love Mr. Lynch's writing in ATF.

menomegirl | February 01, 05:05 CET

I really hope it's not Cordy since I really can't stand the idea of another dead character coming back in some way at this point.I try to give every story a chance but I will admit that this honestly might be the straw that breaks the camel's back for me on buying any character's death in the Buffy/Angelverse and taking the verse seriously anymore.

[ edited by Buffyfantic on 2008-02-01 04:34 ]

Buffyfantic | February 01, 07:26 CET

The more I look at the image zoomed in, the more I think the Mystery Gal is holding a gun in her left hand; so I'm gonna guess Kate.

jlp | February 01, 07:55 CET

I've been a comic collector for over thirty years, and at least in my own experience it's been about twenty-nine years since it was considered weird for a girl to buy them. That's a stereotype that I really just don't think means much these days.

But that's just me.

Haunt | February 01, 08:34 CET

January 30 2008