Will stepping into Giles’ shoes help Angel and Faith atone for their past?
What They Say:
Left in a near-catatonic state following the events in Buffy Season 8, Angel will need a seriously rude awakening if he’s to make amends for his ill-conceived deeds. Enter rebel Slayer with a cause–Faith Lehane. Together they’ll have full access to the Watcher files and opportunities to make amends for all they’ve done . . . and will do.
The Review:
Though Giles was brutally murdered by Twilight at the end of Buffy’s season 8, his Watcher files ensure that the work he left undone can still be completed. As his heir, Faith gained the book that documents his life work and uncompleted tasks. Angel is tortured by guilt over his actions as Twilight, especially Giles’ murder. In his search for atonement, he decides to take over the commitments Giles left behind.
Faith must make some difficult choices of her own. She continues to support the slayers, who feel betrayed by Buffy. Yet she must hide Angel from them while she assists him in his tasks, or the former slayers would take their revenge on the man they still see as Twilight. Can she keep this delicate balance? Can she help Angel maintain his fragile grip on sanity? And just what is Angel’s master plan?
I love the fact that Giles’ voice and character will have a chance to continue in this series, despite his death. The flashback to his Watcher duties that started out the issue set the stage for his influence maintaining its place of importance. It was a powerful sequence, well drawn and full of revelations about the sacrifices Giles consistently made in his role as a Watcher.
Angel’s and Faith’s powerful personalities shine through in this issue. They share a common bond – the desperate desire to use their lives to right the wrongs in their past. While Faith seems to be more focused on doing what good she can, Angel still harbors the desire to actually fix the past. Yes, I do love the way he broods- I always have – and he’s just perfect in this issue. The tension between Angel and Faith, as they try to trust one another while maintaining a healthy level of caution, kept me hanging on their every interaction. Their voices and actions are “spot on”.
The artwork is perfect for the story. The combination of vibrant colors in action sequences and more muted colors in flashbacks hit just the right note with me. As I’ve come to expect from the Buffy comics, the characters are drawn with incredibly expressive and lifelike faces.
In Summary:
This was a fabulous start to the series, and I love the fact that it will run in parallel to Buffy season 9. Even if you missed out on the events of Buffy’s season 8 run, though, you will be able to pick up and enjoy this comic. There is enough backstory filled in to keep you from confusion, and you’ll love the story.
Angel and Faith are a powerful pair, and fun to watch in action. I was excited by the flashback sequence of Giles – as I love to learn more about his past – and by the feeling that I will get to continue to see these flashbacks in future issues. Giles is a compassionate and strong man, and his legacy lives on in this tale. As the story ends we get to see some of the “big bads” who used to work with Twilight, setting the stage for the struggles to come. We also, finally, hear Angel’s grand plan for continuing Giles’ life work. Those are two great hooks that have me ready to come back for more!
Grade: A
