That's why I like these comics by Brian - they are different in this respect. I looked over other IDW "Angel" comics and they are pretty much as you said - with snarky, tough, action-guy Spike. Left me cold. But Asylum and S:SP have a soul in them. Brian's Spike is vulnerable, toughness and snarkiness just a shield. How he felt for Beck in Asylum, and how sheepish and nice he was with Mrs.Konikoff - that compensated the lack of romance for me. That, and he also was shown to be lonely, missing being with someone. And thinking about Buffy.

Yeah, I'd agree with that. Brian really gets inside his head in a way that seldom happened in the show because of Spike not being the main character.

I love the scene with Mrs Konikoff. It's one of my favourites.