Angel: AtF issue 1 summary and analysis

[moscow_watcher]

Angel: AtF issue 1 summary and analysis

Summary:

"It all started with a girl."

Season 6 starts with Angel saving a girl. In Hell. Or, rather, in Los-Angeles that has been sent to Hell. On the first panels Angel seems to be "back to the beginning" - he is a lonely hero who helps the helpless. But the more we find out the creepier it becomes.

The girl is a former lawyer who has now turned into a looter (people adapt quickly). Angel and his friend the dragon patrol the city and try to save the remaining people. Angel gives the girl the car and the address of safe place. But he prefers to stay anonimous. Because he blames himself for LA's current chaos. "I tood a stand. Wolfram and Hart has sent an army. There were losses on both sides. And then Wolfram and Hart sent Los-Angeles to Hell".

LA has been divided into zones where different demon lords rule. The majority of humans are their slaves. Sun and moon are on the sky day and night. The sun doesn't hurt vampires. The moon influences werewolves in a weird way. The remains of human resistance, including Nina and Gwen, have a headquarters in a hotel in Santa-Monica. Their leader is Connor.

Ghost!Wesley inherited Lylah's position of Senior Partners's representative on this plane. He tries to play the peacemaker between Angel and the demon lord whose minions Angel has killed. In one of the funniest and the creepiest twists Wesley assures the demon lord that Angel will be punished: he will be grounded and Wesley will "take away his TV privileges".

Obviously, SP still have plans for Angel. The plans may have something to do with a mysterious orb. There is a drawing of the orb at the wall of Angel's office. And on the next panel we see the identical orb embedded in the chest of a blue slimy demon who proclaims himself the lord of Westwood. A group of creatures who look like humans attack the demon and get the orb. "Yay team Gunn!" their leader proclaims. So, Gunn is fighting the forces of darkness again? Not exactly: the last panels reveals that he's a vampire and he feeds on the girl-slave from demon's harem.

Analysis:

Pre-cyberpank dystopian traditions usually depicted two versions of Hell. The first, mostly represented by European authors (Kafka, Orwell, "Brazilia" 's Terry Gilliam) explored bureaucratic dictatorships thwarthing an individual through paperwork and red tape. The second, very popular in Hollywood (Escape From New York, Escape From Los Angeles as well as countless B-movies), plunged poor humanity into chaos, anarchy and barbarism.

The originality of Angel: After the Fall lies in choosing the third way. Or, rather, paradoxically combining the first two. There is chaos, anarchy and barbarism in Hell - but bureaucracy still has the last word in every wrangle. And - it's very realistic. (Believe me. I lived in Soviet Union the first 30 years of my life)

Another radical change in season 6 is the total absence of humans in the regular cast. Angel, Spike and now Gunn are vampires. Wesley is a ghost. Illyria is a God. Nina is a werewolf. Gwen and Connor have superpowers. The battle for humanity is waged by non-humans. Humans are just extras in the war of superhuman beings.

Or so it seems. Judging by occasional leaks by actors and writers, Angel: AtF is Joss Whedon's "plan A" for season 6. And Joss has always been blatantly, glaringly antropocentric. Either the team Whedon/Lynch have some unexpected aces in their proverbial sleeves or... or Joss' worldview has changed.

And here I approach a theme that may be even more volatile than Spuffy/Bangel wars so I beg you not to throw stones at me.

The set-up - how would you behave in Hell? - is a sore point for modern America. Because in current political situation liberalism doesn't work. Liberalism is unable to defend the world against terrorism. When it's kill or be killed, you kill. You can't be kind in the world where cruelty is strength. You can't allow the luxury to be noble in the world where the noblesse is regarded as weakness and will kill you and your friends.

Do you remember the scene in "You're Welcome":

ANGEL What's a code 7, Eve?
EVE I don't know. (Cordelia glares at her) Seriously.
CORDELIA OK, this is getting us nowhere. Angel, torture her.
[...]
ANGEL I can't just... torture her.
FRED He's right, Cordy. If we sink to their level—

This is Cordelia, Angel' moral compass. A woman whose body and mind had been raped by demons and gods who used her "for the greater good" and killed her. Unlike Angel, she knows she's already dead and this is her last chance to do something worthy. Unlike Angel, she doesn't have any illusions anymore.

Obviously, a year later Angel also doesn't have any illusions. "Cavemen win. Of course the cavemen win," said Fred in AHITW before she died, thus destroying Angel's argumentation in favor of the astronauts. To win you have to be a caveman. To sink to their level. And Angel can. He can be ruthless, cunning, dangerous. He can unleash his inner Angelus.

Now, I know that Joss has always been a diehard liberal. But, judging by the dilemmas his characters face in Serenity and AtS season 5, lately he is ready to explore the opposite viewpoint and, probably, accept some ideas. So, one of the most compelling aspects of Angel: AtF is exploration of the hard choices Western society faces today. Genre gives the chance avoid the trap of political correctness, inevitable in case of realistic stories (as happensin the current batch of political movies - Rendition, Lions for Lambs etc. about torturing the prisoners and sending people to death). Genre stories can tell unpleasant truths more openly. Hopefully Joss Whedon and Brian Lynch won't miss the chance.

Brian Lynch seems to be Joss' perfect accomplice in this risky and dangerous adventure. His Spike comics revealed subversive mentality, gallows humor and ability to think out-of-the-box. His current issue of Angel has great narrative twists and sharp dialogs. Here are small tasty bits and and pieces I loved the most:

-- Urru's art. Bleak grungy visuals evoke the mood of "Escape from New York", "Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome" and other post-apocalyptic classics.

-- Angel + Dracon = Drangel Forever! (Seriously. Great idea. Two mythical creatures patrolling a desolate ruined city... awww!)

-- Parasite that heals Angel. "If it was used to heal, mutate, murder..." The idea of using a murder weapon as a healing tool may be foreshadowing of future means of saving the day.

-- The fact that there are both humans and demons in Connor's team is very interesting, especially given the inventiveness in their depiction (the guy with a tentacle growing from his gut is creepy).

-- The first demons we see have wings. Wings + tail = sinister and paradoxically funny.

-- The "ART" piece of "Wolfram and Hart" logo is priceless.

Some spoilery speculations.



This panel of Spike Shadow Puppets was spoilery, after all: Spoiler!Wesley's skin color suggested that he'll be back in undead state. So I suppose the rest of puppet stuff could be spoilery too. Illyria may split into Illyria and Fred; still don't know what to think about two Gunns.

The barrier Angel mentions is confusing. If they're in a different dimension, why do SP need a barrier? Maybe LA is still on Earth?

I wonder what triggered Angel's decision to start the war at this particular moment. Judging by Connor's mention of hundreds of cars with dragon claws in their backyard, Angel continued to help humans at least several months without starting a war. Why now? Was is the decrease of the supplies? Parasite's poison? Wesley taking away his TV privileges?

It would be neat if the girl Angel saves on the first panel possesses some knowledge or artefact crucial for breaking the barrier. This way "It all started with a girl" would sound deliciously ambivalent in hindsight.

To sum it up:
Issue #1 looks and sounds very promising and may establish a new tradition: to make season 6 the most compelling and controversial season of any Joss-related show.

Comments

[dreamsofspike.livejournal.com]

okay, soooo headed off to Vintage Stock to pick up the issue :) i was never into comics until Buffy and Angel, but this series is sounding pretty good...thanx for the info, love :)

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

I hope you'll like it. I have started reading comics only when the first issue of BtVS season 8 has been published and they slowly grow on me.

[http://users.livejournal.com/woman_of_/]

Oh I loved your anysis, your really went into the heart of the first comic. With Brian I do think Joss can go to new levels of depht. They can both be deep and dark. Which is why I think Joss choose Brian.

Ok sorry gotta go now, my friend has arrived. So much to talk about in future issues

[sl-podcast.livejournal.com]

Well technically - Joss isn't going anywhere. This is all Brian and the folks at IDW.

Joss just gave his blessing on their storyline.

(one who likes to be accurate).

But amazing analysis. I totally forgot that panel in Shadow Puppets!

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

Oh I loved your analysis, your really went into the heart of the first comic.
*blushes* Thanks!

With Brian I do think Joss can go to new levels of depth. They can both be deep and dark. Which is why I think Joss choose Brian.

Yes - "Spike: Asylum" was disturbing and dark. And funny. I think it's a very Jossian trait - to combine dark with funny. I adore Joss' last contribution to AtS - A Hole in the World. The episode is incredibly dark and heartbreaking; and, at the same time, it features the funniest Spangel scene ever - "cavemen vs astronauts" argument. A scene which, in hindsight, might be a foreshadowing of season 6 themes and issues...

[lynnenne]

The originality of Angel: After the Fall lies in choosing the third way. Or, rather, paradoxically combining the first two.

Well put! I didn't recognize it before, but you're absolutely right. And it is very realistic - perhaps moreso than either tradition on its own.

The set-up - how would you behave in Hell? - is a sore point for modern America.

Indeed it is, and I am looking forward to seeing how Whedon and Lynch tackle these kinds of important and relevant questions.

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

I am looking forward to seeing how Whedon and Lynch tackle these kinds of important and relevant questions.

I hope they'll be able to convey the complexity of Angel's moral dilemmas and the choices he has to make. I read in an article that Joss commented on Lynch's first draft: "I think it's really well done, and I think this would be entertaining. But it's safe, and I don't want you to play safe." Writers' willingness to step on the dangerous ground, to stir up fans and make them argue is very brave and compelling.

[beloved4always.livejournal.com]

I've read a few recaps/reviews of the comic and yours was the best for me. Not only do you clearly & concisely recap what happens (really great for those of us who haven't read it) but your comments and analysis are quite thought provoking. I hope you keep doing this MW - it's really appreciated. thanks!

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Hopefully, my recaps will eventually seduce you to read the comics. :)

[ntshpp.livejournal.com]

Я не буду скачивать «Ангела». Not interested. Герои там, IMHO, сплошь моральные уроды, получившие по заслугам.

Хотя, описания почитать можно.

С нетерпением жду Buffy 8.09. :)

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

сплошь моральные уроды, получившие по заслугам.

Мдям, суровый приговор. Ну что ж - насильно мил не станешь. :)

А девятый выпуск Баффи я тоже жду с нетерпением.

[makd.livejournal.com]

Excellent analysis. [applause]

I sincerely hope you will analyze future episodes of A:ATF, as well. This was thought-provoking and deeper than much of what I've read thus far on the issue.

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

*blushes and curtseys*

Thank you - but I'm afraid my next review will turn into whining about writer's disrespect towards Spuffy...
Seriously - I'm looking forward to the next issue, but, at the same time, I'm very cautious. Lynch thinks that Buffy didn't love Spike and, while Buffy is far, far away, I suppose, writer's mindset influences all the stories he tells.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Or so it seems. Judging by occasional leaks by actors and writers, Angel: AtF is Joss Whedon's "plan A" for season 6. And Joss has always been blatantly, glaringly antropocentric. Either the team Whedon/Lynch have some unexpected aces in their proverbial sleeves or... or Joss' worldview has changed.

Thank you so much for saying this. It's what I've felt ever since BtVS Season 7, that something very intrinsic about the overall attitude of the universe had been altered. For better or worse, it does seem a reflection of the post-9/11 American mindset (S7 Buffy's ticking timebomb-esque nation-under-siege plotline and desperate-times-require-desperate-measures attitude had a lot more in common with the likes of 24 than I would have previously expected from someone of Joss's political leanings). I've never been able to see the end of AtS as a fabulous example of Angel at his most heroic - the carnage he was set to unleash in the name of good was not a simple case of Good vs. Evil, but far more complex and gray, if not outright black, if you judge by results instead of intentions. Perhaps we're lucky that it's been a few years - if the first issue is any indication, we might be in for some good nuance on this topic which, as you say, is an extremely sensitive subject.

The originality of Angel: After the Fall lies in choosing the third way. Or, rather, paradoxically combining the first two. There is chaos, anarchy and barbarism in Hell - but bureaucracy still has the last word in every wrangle.

Great observation! Although I am finding a little similarity here to some post-apocalypse stories, where a vestige of civilization is struggling to survive or build anew in a barren, hostile environment - the wrinkle here seems to be that Wolfram & Hart's beauracracy is the vestige of civilization, because once-normal humanity seems well on the road to becoming part of the chaos (the "warriors" in the arena). Which, now that I think about it, makes Connor's multi-species gang sort of symbolic of that fusion.

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

I've felt ever since BtVS Season 7, that something very intrinsic about the overall attitude of the universe had been altered. For better or worse, it does seem a reflection of the post-9/11 American mindset (S7 Buffy's ticking timebomb-esque nation-under-siege plotline and desperate-times-require-desperate-measures attitude had a lot more in common with the likes of 24 than I would have previously expected from someone of Joss's political leanings).

Agree. I suppose it has started even earlier, in season 6, albeit on a subconscious level. If you check the dates on the scripts, you notice that Life Serial is the last pre-9/11 episode; All the Way has been delivered September 17, Once More, With Feeling - September 18, Tabula Rasa - October 5. But I suppose these three episodes had been on different stages of completion by 9/11 so the writers were finishing the stories started in a pre-9/11 mindset.

But with Smashed (delivered October, 17) the tone had radically changed and the show became much darker.

now that I think about it, makes Connor's multi-species gang sort of symbolic of that fusion.

Connor's gang intrigues me. In a barbaric world cruelty is the ultimate strenth - so, if a civilised person deals with barbarians he has to be cruel to be taken seriously. At least that's how it works in RL. I wonder if Connor also had to make some hard choices.

Of course writers could use him as a "white hat" opposition to Angel's grayness (as a compensation of his behavior in season 3-4), but I hope they'll make him as complex and controversial as his father. After all, Connor has spent the first 16 (?) years of his life in a barbaric world.

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

Interesting review.

The themes of "kill or be killed" are certainly very strong in both S6 and S8. Our heros are still struggling with what it means to be on the side of right--which is an even more interesting question now that the scope of their fights has broadened for both Buffy and Angel.

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

Thanks!
Yes, Joss has considerably "greyed" his universe, and character's moral choices are much harder. I hope Joss and Brian Lynch won't compromise the theme and won't go for "easy" solutions.

[bluekaty.livejournal.com]

Great review! I haven't read the comics yet but I'll try to get it as it sounds really good. Drangel forever I've always liked me dragons, so I'm thrilled by this new ship :D

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

Thank you!
I hope you'll read the issue soon. It's dark and captivating.

[shapinglight]

Great review, Moscow. The best I've read, I think. I agree, it's all shaping up to be very promising from lots of angles and I particularly like what you say about the different ways of depicting Hell.

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Deborah!
Up the thread, the_deadly_hook has made an interesting comment about Joss' attitude changing after 9/11. Obviously, in later seasons he was compelled to explore more global problems. Jasmine's arc may be regarded as a metaphor of the failure of socialism; season 5 is a verdict to the corporate society. And season 6... I'm salivating, thinking of possibilities. :)

[empresspatti.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to thank you for thoughtful and provoking analysis.

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

You're welcome!

[marvelgirl-art.livejournal.com]

васкез, мое тебе глубочайшее почтение. прекрасный "разбор полетов". я опять читала и жалела, что вживую ты никогда не раскрываешь никому свою "идейную сокровищницу"))

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

*расшаркивается*
Знаешь, "вживую" почему-то не получается. Чукча не оратор :)))

[aycheb.livejournal.com]

Genre gives the chance avoid the trap of political correctness, inevitable in case of realistic stories (as happensin the current batch of political movies - Rendition, Lions for Lambs etc. about torturing the prisoners and sending people to death). Genre stories can tell unpleasant truths more openly.

I’m not sure what you mean by this both in the sense of whether it’s ‘political correctness’ rather than straightforwardly divergent opinions on the efficacy of torture that drives the message of these movies or why genre is more suited to putting the conservative view. Does 24 count as genre (because that series is openly pro-torture)?


The set-up - how would you behave in Hell? - is a sore point for modern America. Because in current political situation liberalism doesn't work. Liberalism is unable to defend the world against terrorism. When it's kill or be killed, you kill. You can't be kind in the world where cruelty is strength. You can't allow the luxury to be noble in the world where the noblesse is regarded as weakness and will kill you and your friends….

…To win you have to be a caveman. To sink to their level. And Angel can. He can be ruthless, cunning, dangerous. He can unleash his inner Angelus.

Angel unleashed his vampire self in the fight with Hamilton and look where it got him and the rest of LA. When it's kill or be killed, you kill and everybody dies. If anything the current direction of the story looks like a condemnation of pro-active aggressive policies against evil (and terrorism) being as they are directly analogous to Angel’s plan to take out the Black Thorn.


It would be neat if the girl Angel saves on the first panel possesses some knowledge or artefact crucial for breaking the barrier. This way "It all started with a girl" would sound deliciously ambivalent in hindsight.

It was all too ambivalent for many people as it was given all the confusion about which girl. I can’t help thinking it would have been neater and more subversive to begin with “It all started with a boy.” It was Connor that got Angel into the whole W& H deal in the first place not any girl.


Angel + Dragon = Drangel Forever!

I could take the dragon better if its introduction had been less detailed. The only way I can see Angel and the dragon figuring out they were on the same side two minutes into a fight involves much signaling of eyes. Sometimes less is more.

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

I’m not sure what you mean by this both in the sense of whether it’s ‘political correctness’ rather than straightforwardly divergent opinions on the efficacy of torture that drives the message of these movies or why genre is more suited to putting the conservative view. Does 24 count as genre (because that series is openly pro-torture)?

I'll try to explain by the example of Joss' favorite show Battlestar Galactica. It's a genre show that deals with hard choices in a fantastic setting of future war between people and robots. The pilot episode features a scene in which the president had to let several spaceships die to save the rest. Thousands of people die, including woman and children. In another episode the military leader orders (albeit reluctantly) a genocide of the enemy civilisation and one of his officers sabotages the decision.

Can you imagine the controversy such a scene in a realistic movie could cause? Yet the genre allows writers to explore hard dilemmas without accusations of these or that political agendas. It's a fantasy. It's genre.

Angel unleashed his vampire self in the fight with Hamilton and look where it got him and the rest of LA. When it's kill or be killed, you kill and everybody dies. If anything the current direction of the story looks like a condemnation of pro-active aggressive policies against evil (and terrorism) being as they are directly analogous to Angel’s plan to take out the Black Thorn.

Interesting point. I've got the impression that within season 5 Angel's decision was depicted as a right one and the final shot was a celebration of Angel's heroic ways. Obviously, the next season is set to subvert the previous one.

As to "you kill and everybody dies" - it's a civilized astronaut's attitude. Caveman's logic is simpler - "you kill and your enemy dies". That's why they win and astronauts lose.

I can’t help thinking it would have been neater and more subversive to begin with “It all started with a boy.”

I can imagine the uproar amongst slashers if season 6 would start with this line! :)

[mrs-underhill.livejournal.com]

On Joss and liberalism. Joss might be a liberal, but he also is a die-hard feminist. And the current cultural clush happens to be with a very misogynistic culture. I don't think we can trust Joss to remain liberal in that clash: he might think that injustice against women should be fought by any means necessary. He might - I don't say he thinks that way for sure.

Also my original reading of NFA was that it was a very anti-liberal message, even a neocon message. But later I saw they were careful enough to muddle it up and balance it sufficiently, to avoid tying it into one of the political sides. Still I think the sentiment during NFA was more anti-liberal than liberal. But now the situation is different as USA and the world are dealing with the results of hard-core approach to the war on terror - which are not pretty. I think Angel-6 will be more ambiguous and more hesitant to take a side. Already it seems to deal with the fall-out of a war or a revolution which often ends in chaos, barbarism and the rule of the strongest and the most devoid of morals.

The observation that our Champions for humanity are now devoid of humanity is a very astute one. Where would that lead? Would they try to get in touch with their humanity again in the series? Maybe Angel, Spike and Gunn all shanshue in the end? Also demons and humans forming an alliance was often a topic on AtS, where demons stood in for various cultures and not for innter demons. Here we also have Betta George which is a clearly benevolent demon too. Woudl be interesting where they will go with it.

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

nteresting observations, Nata.

I'm going to say something - pity there is no English equivalent of Russian word крамольный - something dangerously subversive. I always had the impression that Joss exploits feminism, liberalism and other "-isms" as long as they suit his narrative tasks. He's not a politician, he's a storyteller. When he tells a story about a girl, he looks at the world through her eyes and becomes a feminist. When he tells a story about a tortured man who tried to atone for his sins, he accepts his mindset.

I agree that human/demon community under Connor's leadership is very important and may be a tip-off that from now on you don't need to be human to be a good person. Then again, we don't know how Connor has won his leadership. Maybe he had to cut off some ears and other demonic appendages to be taken seriously. :)

[lilred26x.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed your review. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

Thanks for commenting! I'm glad so many people get interested in Angel: After the Fall.