Eldre Koh, Angel, and Illyria enter a room…
Creative Staff:
Script: Victor Gischler
Art: Will Conrad
Colors: Michelle Madsen
Letters: Richard Starkings and Jimmy Betancourt
What They Say:
“United Part Two”
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):
It’s never easy not knowing what’s true and what’s false. The Eldre Koh we knew is still on his path for vengeance, but he shows a new face. He’s second guessing himself. He tells his story of becoming a Yataro, the highest warrior you can be as a Nitobe. You go on a rage for 30 days and 30 nights, returning exhausted and with days or perhaps weeks or memories gone. He might have returned to his town and killed the entirety of it. And his memory is clouded by the ritual. After his run in with Buffy, he’s questioning himself. Nadira says that revenge consumes you, and it does, but it’s not just a matter of revenge, but of honor. His people need to do this to regain what honor he can possibly have. The world is black and white to Koh where his vengeance is the light to strive to, but Buffy and Nadira give a much more gray perspective. His entire worldview is shatter by two little girls, from his point of view.
And Fred is back. Illyria looms in the body of Fred, ready to take over at any moment of weakness, but Fred is back. And she’s fighting. They were both “reset” by the seed’s destruction and it allowed Fred to regain control of her body, however temporary or permanent it may be. But Koh needs Illyria, the one who said she had information on his revenge. The information she has is disturbing. She was the one that set up Koh’s town—the Yatara’s—complete extinction. She wanted to control the Nitobe, but they would bow to no God. She manipulated them like a puppet master and got what she wanted in the end, at the cost of Koh’s life. Illyria is perhaps another redemption, swayed by what little sway Fred has in her body. She’s doing the right thing or maybe just wanted a new vessel. Old ones can’t die, but her vanity has waned in these twilight hours. Or maybe she just feels indebted to one who helped in the Deep Well.
Faith, however, wants none of it. She’s not here for Angel, Fred, or Koh. She’s here to be a consultant for Reese Zane and consulting she will do…with maybe a drink or two during the off hours.
In Summary:
This was a Faith-light issue and I’m glad for it. The way they’re juggling the Angel and Faith storylines is pretty much perfect in this issue, which is a godsend since I’ve been complaining about pretty much only that in these Angel and Faith issues this season. What this issue did great wasn’t big character moments or plot progression, but huge reveals and laying seeds. I loved the stuff with Illyria and Koh and it only makes you think and rethink their own motivations throughout this recent run. Think and rethink like Angel and Faith have done for a long time.
Content Grade: A-
Art Grade: A-
Released By: Dark Horse
Release Date: March 4, 2015
MSRP: $3.50
