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DanielW · Last edited by DanielW on Mon Sep 06, 2010 2:22 am; edited 3 times in total

because I've been slack, here's an early thread.

angeliclestat · Transforumer Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 1308

This is out next week isn't it? Am looking forward to getting it.
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Double Dutchess · Transforumer Joined: 28 Apr 2009 Posts: 1122

There's a preview of #33 here:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=5287&disp=table

It has a pretty big spoiler.

The art doesn't look as good as I had thought it would. Brian Denham is definitely going to be missed. And I don't like Jenny Frison's cover. Angel doesn't look much like Angel, in my opinion. The falling angel is nice though.

Buffyversefantic · Transforumer Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 2869

Yeah,pretty big surprising spoiler.Can't wait to find out more on this.I like the art but agree that Denham will be missed.

Jean-Vic · Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 1:48 pm Post subject:

James just got very interesting. Did not see that coming!! Shocked

How anyone can give up on this series yet is beyond me. It's picking up and I'd be interested to see where this all goes.
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Shade of Pale · Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 6:24 am Post subject:

That's a welcome plot development !

angeliclestat · Transforumer Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 1308

Ok...v interesting. I wonder if his 'Sister' is the strange looking woman on the cover for #36?

The art seems fine....but Denham was better suited. Hope he will be back.
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Double Dutchess · Transforumer Joined: 28 Apr 2009 Posts: 1122

Alex Jamieson · Private Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 9 Location: London

I quite like the art but it's true it's not as tight as her work on A Hole in the World.

Jbreeny · Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 6:15 am Post subject:

Ok has been delayed over here again? Because my LCS doesn't have it listed as coming out this week.

angeliclestat · Transforumer Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 1308

hawkedup · Transforumer Joined: 29 Nov 2007 Posts: 1221

Spoilers for Issue 33:

I agree with you, JV. Willingham is an expert story teller and it's quite sad that there are Whedon fans that have given up on the title when there was so much potential from the first issue Willingham wrote. Especially since all of their complaints are starting to be addressed in very good, well written, and surprising ways. For instance:

In #33 it is revealed that not only is James not an angel (putting the bigger mythology inconsistencies of the Aftermath arc to rest) but is actually a demon apparently about as powerful as a Senior Partner (putting them in the same "You Can't Even Comprehend My Power" category) who is not trying to take over the world, but buy it from his demon/fairy sister. I for one did not expect James to end up being a bad guy. Brilliant. The dusting of severed limbs thing is addressed again and it is overtly hinted that this is a sign of something big coming on the horizon, although it is unclear whether or not the something big and the James story arc are connected as of yet. Also, the issue of Gunn's character "reset" after Hell is introduced.

With every issue of Willingham's arc I feel more and more like I did back when I was watching the next new episode of Angel.

Buffyversefantic · Transforumer Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 2869

I have my copy of Angel #33 too.hawkedup did a nice job of hitting some of the major points of the issue.This issue does start answering things.

1)James isn't a angel.We don't know what he is yet but he is evil.He's involved in using the world to farm demons using human hosts.At the end of the issue he sends that freaky lady from the cover of Angel #36 after Angel and Spike.She is a soul eater and Angel & Spike being souled vampires make them look very appetizing.

2)The whole dusting of appendages and growing back limbs is explained in this issue.Angel gets both his hands and feet ripped off by James and they begin growing back shortly afterwards.In ancient times,vampires could do this but not for many centuries.It's speculated in the issue that something very old from the first age of vampires has returned and vampires are now reverting back to their old ways hence the dusting of limbs and the growing back of body parts.Something ancient is causing this.

3)We get more talk about how a large of amount of prophecy and fate surrounds Angel.He's a player on the larger stage.

4)James goads Angel during their fight about how much of Angelus is on Angel's surface and shines through.Angelus informs everything Angel does from every thought to every mood.

5)In the Eddie Hope backup,Eddie goes after Gunn even though he's not on Eddie's list.But Eddie thinks he should be.Even though Gunn isn't a vampire anymore,Eddie feels Gunn is still guilty and needs to pay.

hawkedup · Transforumer Joined: 29 Nov 2007 Posts: 1221

Alright, I have a bit more time so I'd like to talk some more about the issue.

After After the Fall, the series started to lose direction. What Willingham did in the first 5 issue of mini-arc is take a step back and re-introduce us to these characters and where they are right now while also introducing new elements and addressing questions that go all the way back to first seasons of the television series. He was building a foundation on which he could base this title. Unfortunately a lot of people didn't appreciate this, but I'm hoping that now that the series is becoming a mixture setup and payoff (rather than pure setup as in the first 4 issues) people will give it another chance.

James: Issue 33 (Willingham's 6th issue and the first of what seems to be a new mini-arc centered around James) Willingham addresses the problem of James and the whole Aftermath story arc, which is something I wasn't sure was going to happen. I had no problem with Willingham's arc taking on the characters introduced (plus Kate) in Aftermath, but I didn't expect any of them to take center stage so soon. I always knew that Willingham would use every character (and use them right) eventually, but I expected James to end up as a sort of Groo character from Season 3, fighting the good fight in the background. Making his whole angel back story a lie and turning him not only bad but hella evil just... It makes sense in my head. It's Joss without feeling like a ripoff of Joss, if that makes any sense (for example: the Illyria/Dark Willow similarities were a bit too canny for my tastes). In a matter of a couple pages, James went from being the least interesting character to the most interesting character. If Willingham can do that with James, imagine what he can do with all the characters in Team Angel.

Laura: So far we don't know much about Laura, but I'm liking her more and more every time we see her. The reveal that she's at least 50+ years old (and I'm thinking she's much older than that) is interesting. I don't think she's a vampire, but there's definitely something mystical going on around her. From her credentials, I can't help but wonder... Why did she seek Angel out the way she did? Does she think she can do the most good on his team? Does she admire him? Or is it a completely different reason than we've seen so far? Either way, I'm surprised to find myself thinking over her as part of the team already. She's only been a member of Team Angel for a few pages but I've already accepted her as the new Wesley. Notice how I said the new Wesley and didn't even cringe or anything. You can tell right away she isn't some Wesley clone even if she used to be a Watcher. Wesley himself was introduced as a Giles clone, and when I first saw Laura I wasn't keen on the idea of a Wesley clone. But after this issue, I don't think I need to fear that. I don't know. Maybe it's because Angel thinks of her as part of the time. Or maybe it's because she charged headlong into accusing James the way she did.

For some reason I'm thinking the "old power" that's responsible for the limb dusting is tied to Connor's army. It also appears that the Shanshu prophecy might be trivial in the whole grand scheme of things if there are prophecies about Angel affecting the higher planes (where I'm guessing James/Myr came from). Either way, the series is finally starting to hint at more overlaying themes and arcs and I couldn't be more excited.

POST #33 SPOILERS

Willingham said in a recent interview that Spike's storyline, when it's finally introduced, is going to have him... becoming interested in prophecy. I don't know where or when the tie-in is going to come, but I have a feeling Spike is not going to like the fact that Angel is apparently going to get even more important as time goes on.

END POST #33 SPOILERS

Jean-Vic · Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 4:30 pm Post subject:

Thanks for those posts Hawkedup.

I would like to say first, I had my doubts about Willingham's. I wasn't sure, but I decided to stick with him and I said all along that if something good came out I would admit I was wrong. Well, I was wrong to doubt him, and I'm glad I stuck around. I just wish others would as well because this looks like it could go to good places. Why didn't they get this guy over on S8? Wink

As for the Angel ongoing, it needs always be remembered that it is an ongoing. There is no rush. ATF was a limited series so the story had to come thick and fast but in an ongoing it can involve a lot more buildup. People just need to try and be patient with it. I know that's difficult considering most dislike the way Spike is written, but a resolution has been promised and things look like they are picking up. Just remember it is an ongoing and things will take time.

Really interested to hear that Angel is going to become to even more important in the grand scheme of things. I mean, whether intentionally or not, Whedon made Angel the most important character of either series by making him THE PIVOTAL PLAYER in The Apocalypse, and now it seems Angel will become even more so. Hmm, I don't know what to make of Spike being jealous of Angel being THE VAMPIRE. If Angel is to play some large role on the higher planes (something not dissimilar to what they are doing over at Buffy) would Spike really be jealous considering how far they've come. I hope BW will maintain and develop their budding friendship.

Looking forward to more.

However, I do disagree with what you said about ATF. I agree that after First Night it went a bit mad for a few issues, but BL really pulled it back together for the Angel/Gunn issues. Sadly though it did feel rushed at the end in the big final battle and developments like that did need a bigger pay off.
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