I love the third cover. On the fourth cover, I like the artist's style, but the pose seems completely out of character for Illyria.

The art for the actual book is very impressive. It reminds me a bit of Terry Dodson (specifically when he filled in on Bendis' Daredevil for the White Tiger arc). I wish one of the preview pages actually had Illyria as Illyria, so we could get an idea of what this artist's rendition of her will look like.

WindTheFrog | March 31, 23:25 CET

It's nice cleanline art. Although the likeness of Amy Acker is a bit shaky, it doesn't have the look of reworked publicity stills that too many licensed comics do.

And WindTheFrog makes a good point - it's an odd choice, like a Spider-Man preview only showing us Peter Parker.

Craig Oxbrow | March 31, 23:32 CET

Nicola Scott's art is lovely as always.

We'll have a review up on fractalmatter.com of this issue tomorrow ;)

auferstehen | March 31, 23:40 CET

Yeah, I agree about the covers they look good, they're just a bit too ... jutty ? Though Amy Acker looked great in the costume I just don't see Illyria as a particularly sexualised character (apart from anything else, isn't the essence now inside Fred's body actually male ?).

I'm gonna be picking it up anyway but i'm looking forward to the Wesley one more.

Saje | April 01, 01:31 CET

I agree on the sexualization thing, but regarding the essence, remember that both Knox and Wesley initially refer to Illyria as "it," as in "It's called Illyria, a great monarch and warrior of the demon age." I think that means that the race of demons that Illyria comes from didn't have gender. If there are references to Illyria in later episodes as "he" (I'm not certain if there are) I think that's from falling into the habit of using masculine pronouns as generic, given that English-speakers don't typically refer to a living being as "it", rather than an indication that this particular being had a masculine identity.

barboo | April 01, 02:14 CET

Ah, that's probably where i've got that impression, thanks.

Saje | April 01, 03:00 CET

For those who didn't scroll down... there's a preview of Spike vs. Dracula on the same page.

Hjermsted | April 01, 03:07 CET

Thanks Hjermsted! My friend bought me a copy of that, so now I HAVE to continue. Sigh.

I need a comprehensive guide to Buffyverse and Firefly comics, because I'm lost.

numbereleven | April 01, 03:36 CET

I too am looking forward more to the Wesley one-shot. But Illyria is a very close second (and Wes may make a cameo of some sort, given the relationship Leary had with him). The art for this looks better than any of the previous one-shots, which by and large have had no better than serviceable art. And I like the fourth cover, even with the questionable pose.

Haunt | April 01, 04:11 CET

It's pretty much understood that comic artists will sex up anyone. And hello, she's a hot chick wearing skin-tight outfit. I'm entirely not surprised, and I say "right on" to comic artists. I so love those guys.

numbereleven | April 01, 05:45 CET