People are good.
Creative Staff:
Script: Victor Gischler
Art: Will Conrad
Colors: Michelle Madsen
Letters: Richard Starkings and Jimmy Betancourt
What They Say:
“United Part Four”
The appearance of Fred Burkle wandering the streets of Magic Town has Angel concerned and absolutely determined to keep Fred safe and in control of herself—though the Old One Illyria is still within her and trying to get out. Another surprise for Angel is Slayer Faith Lehane’s return to Magic Town. Having parted somewhat awkwardly, the two are working together again: to help Fred and to deal with the sudden arrival of Eldre Koh, a demon bent on vengeance and seeking his friend Illyria.
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
And age old argument is just that: age old. As in will likely never end. There’s an argument for humanity’s mortality, their strength, their weakness, their versatility, their vulnerability, and all things in between. But in the end, there is indisputable fact. Humans have survived for longer than their belief in gods, at least for a part of them.
Illyria is learning that the hard way and directly through Fred. Fred’s a strong woman; she always has been. Her presence in the series has been a boon to a relatively stagnant Angel and Faith storyline. It brings a life that hasn’t been present because Angel, Faith, Koh, and most characters that get any focus are on a path to redemption, but the ways they go about it have been wildly different. In the first part of this season, it made the storyline seem disjointed and only fit together by the names on the cover. Now that they’re together, it’s become sort of same-y, especially with the introduction of Koh. Everyone wants redemption and no one’s selling.
Fred adds a character that doesn’t want redemption; she has nothing to apologize for the way Angel and Faith do. And I guess it’s wrong to call Koh’s quest one of redemption; it’s more a quest of getting over a huge event in his life: his vengeance toward Illyria. The path, however, feels the same as Angel and Faith’s. They’re working toward a greater them. Fred is literally fighting off the worse half of her.
Fred’s conflict has turned the main conflict of Angel and Faith literally to the external, to Illyria, and it’s refreshing. That’s not to say I hate Angel’s, Faith’s, or Koh’s journey for redemption / cleansing. Koh, especially, has a great moment with Nadira near the end of the comic that brings a humanity to his face. And that’s not even the right way to say it, but it brings a wave of emotions that he’s clearly been repressing and it feels good to see it there at all.
In Summary:
I hope Fred’s reintroduction brings new life to this comic. By all indications it will and I’m just sad they didn’t do it earlier. The separation between Angel and Faith was necessary, but it felt like it took forever. I suppose I have been reading these issues once a month for the past 14 or so weeks, so it feels a lot more stretched out as well. But Fred was the paradigm shift that Angel and Faith needed and I’m liking what they’re doing with it thus far.
Content Grade: B+
Art Grade: A-
Released By: Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: May 6th, 2015
MSRP: $3.50
