moscow_watcher: (fate)
[personal profile] moscow_watcher


Summary:
Looks like everything that happened in issues 1-5 was Angel's diabolically clever plan to destroy the evil lords of Hell-A. With Wesley's help Angel had found a file on Hagun Shaft (I use the spelling from issue 4, although in current issue it's "Hagan Shaft") in W&H archives. Turns out it's a device that serves as an instrument of suicide for immortals who want to go in style. Then he recruited Teeth aka Shark Demon to create the impression that Hagan Shaft is the most powerful weapon against superheroes. Angel's goal was to gather all the lords in one place and then activate the shafts. Still unclear what was his plan regarding the shaft sent to Illyria - the one that conveniently had been taken away by Spider - but maybe we'll find out later.

While Angel's plan gets executed, Gunn and his vampires monitor the battle. Gunn gets concerned that somebody could kill Angel before he, Gunn, kills him... but once the menace is over, he says that Angel winning the battle and reassembling the Fang Gang is exactly what he needs for his own plan.

Lorne becomes the boss of Hell-A. Angel and his team return to Hyperion. There they find Wesley's corpse in a coffin. Upon seeing it Fred turns into Illyria again. She says she tries to suppress Fred but she awakes in her when she sees faces of people she loved. "You're staying with me," she says.

Thoughts:

There is a certain "finale" vibe on the battle panels. It's an epic fight. The destiny of the whole city is at stake. There is something disturbing about the battle of such scale taking place in the middle of the season. What next? Could Lynch make the real finale bigger and better? Or it's a conclusion of one story (say, a kickass two-parter season opener) and the start of the next story (a regular episode)?

There is a lot of loose threads hanging. A wonder if Lynch will mention Hagun Shaft again - the one that is left somewhere. I wonder where is Nina whom we saw at the beginning of the battle in issue 5. But the question that intrigues me the most is why Lynch needs Wesley's corpse in his story. Looks like it's under some preservation spell. The most logical explanation is that Lynch plans to resurrect the character to make Fred\Wesley\Illyria triangle more poignant. As long as Wesley is a ghost, the situation with Fredliria isn't particularly urgent. Neither Fred nor Illyria could lay claim to him. But if\when he's back in flesh the situation becomes a real torture to all parties involved.

Possibly in the next issue the main focus of the narrative will shift to Fred-Wesley-Illyria. Maybe it's my inner shipper speaking, but it seems to me that their story has more potential than Angel's and Spike's arcs.

Gunn's plan remains as obscure as it was before the battle. It includes the orbs that suspiciously resemble The Orb of Thesula, and Slayers who either are kept in prison or trained to fight vampires. Judging by Lynch's previous comics, there has to be a big twist. I mean, B-I-G. Like, for example, a trick mirroring the Scythe spell in Chosen and creating a generation of souled vampires (so that all Slayers could find their soulmates :) No, I don't think this is exactly what happens next, but it has to be something that exceeds the scale of the battle in the current issue.

Interestingly, the psychological difference between regular vampires and regular humans becomes more and more blurry. A vampire who wants to get Gunn "into yoga or something"? Priceless.

The art is uneven. There are very beautiful panels, especially close-ups; looks like the artist used processed promo shots and screencaps. And there are very schematic, rough, offhand drawings that mostly don't work. But there is at least one that works nicely: a panel of the squad of Spike's trainees fighting demons, styled as ancient petroglyphs. Inspired.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-25 06:05 pm (UTC)
elisi: Edwin and Charles (Default)
From: [personal profile] elisi
Very nice review. I am still struggling to find something to say - this is partly because I've only speed-read through issues 8 & 9 once, and partly because of Doctor Who (two episodes left of the season and the suspense is KILLING me!). Also these issues are more about wrapping up, I presume the story will kick back into gear next month. (Comics are so SLOW, which is another problem!)

See - nothing original to say. Maybe my brain is broken.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-25 06:59 pm (UTC)
ext_7259: (Default)
From: [identity profile] moscow-watcher.livejournal.com
Hey! Glad to see you online!
Using the occasion to ask about the next chapter of My Immortal *puppy eyes*

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-25 07:18 pm (UTC)
elisi: Edwin and Charles (Default)
From: [personal profile] elisi
Hey! Glad to see you online!
Oh I'm here. I just lurk.

Using the occasion to ask about the next chapter of My Immortal *puppy eyes*
ILU! As it happens I have today finally finished a very rough draft of the chapter 3! It'll need A LOT of work, but I'm always better at editing than writing, so having it all 'on paper' is a big step. Also I should have more time for writing in the next week! ::crosses fingers::

(Seriously, having someone ask about it is *such* a boost! And it's a fun chapter too - I want to work on it! *g*)

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-25 07:58 pm (UTC)
ext_7259: (Default)
From: [identity profile] moscow-watcher.livejournal.com
Yay!

I leaving for a week on Saturday, so if you post next week I won't be able to read it immediately (I'm only saying it because I don't want you to think that I'm rushing you and then don't read the chapter)

*smooches*

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-25 08:16 pm (UTC)
elisi: Edwin and Charles (Default)
From: [personal profile] elisi
Now I am wondering if there is any way I could have it finished before then... probably not! Although who knows? I could try - I really want to get it going.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-25 09:07 pm (UTC)
ext_7259: (Default)
From: [identity profile] moscow-watcher.livejournal.com
Oh, please, take your time - in no way I intended to hurry you! I'm very intrigued but I'm ready wait as long as necessary! <3

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-25 07:46 pm (UTC)
ext_15392: (Default)
From: [identity profile] flake-sake.livejournal.com
Yay, great review!

I'm wondering too if the hagun shaft, Spider grabbed, will play a role sooner or later. Seems she knew what the thing was for too, otherwise she would have brought it to battle.

The final panel really looked like Illyria planned to resurrect Wes or something.

I agree about the artwork too. Some panels are great and some look pretty much unfinished.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-25 08:15 pm (UTC)
ext_7259: (Default)
From: [identity profile] moscow-watcher.livejournal.com
Thanks!

I'm glad that I'm not the only one who thinks that Illyria may want to resurrect Wesley. When I initially started thinking about it, the idea seemed too fanfic-y to me.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-25 11:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] littlesoprano15.livejournal.com
Oh, you're not the only one! I've always hoped that that would be the case, and figured it was pretty likely. Fred built a machine to re-corporealize Spike once, using the massive power source of the conduit. Fred could build the machine and Illyria could provide the power source (to be really fanfic-y, they could use Illyria's tears or something). Then, let the angst begin!

That panel where Illyria tried to cup Wesley's face and her hand went through-- broke my poor little Weslyria-loving heart. In a good way. That, and the fact that she is so attached to/in love with Wes that she is willing to make herself vulnerable (which, formerly being all about power, she hates) in order to have him by her side. Awwwwww!!

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-25 08:13 pm (UTC)
shapinglight: (Default)
From: [personal profile] shapinglight
Great review, Moscow, as always.

I can't believe that such a big point was made of Spider taking the remaining Hagun shaft if something isn't to be done with it later in the story. Kill Illyria? Kill Gunn? Try to kill Angel (though of course it won't work on him). We'll see.

I hadn't thought about what Angel might have done had he seen either Illyria or Spike standing with the other lords. Suspect this wasn't something that was thought of, though could be wrong.

Also, I really, really hope the art improves next issue. We've been assured it will.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-25 08:42 pm (UTC)
ext_7259: (Default)
From: [identity profile] moscow-watcher.livejournal.com
Thanks!

I hadn't thought about what Angel might have done had he seen either Illyria or Spike standing with the other lords. Suspect this wasn't something that was thought of, though could be wrong.

I can imagine Angel sacrificing Illyria to save the city (and then brooding a lot about it).

Kill Illyria? Kill Gunn? Try to kill Angel (though of course it won't work on him). We'll see.

Again, Illyria is the most probable candidate, because unlike Angel and Gunn, she doesn't know about the mechanism of the shaft (she turned into Fred before Angel activated them).

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-25 09:59 pm (UTC)
shapinglight: (Default)
From: [personal profile] shapinglight
Yes, you're probably right. I like to think that Angel would have been less willing to sacrifice Spike, but I fear that's just my desperate inner Spangel 'shipper talking.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-25 11:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] littlesoprano15.livejournal.com
Great review! This whole issue of Angel sending the Hagun Shaft to Illyria has got me pondering, too. That's a good point, that she turned into Fred before she saw what the shafts did. Illyria could know what a Hagun Shaft is to begin with, since they could be from her era ("forged in the first fires"). She also may still be aware even when Fred is present. Still, that remaining Hagun Shaft has got me worried for both Illy and Gunn (though Gunn might well want to end his vampire existence).

Angel probably had to send a Hagun Shaft to Spike and Illyria because not doing so could reveal his plan to the Loan Shark and the other demon lords. That one of them could be holding it during the activation (even just wielding it against the other lords) was a risk he had to take. He might have figured Illyria would know. He might have overlooked it, but Wes wouldn't have.

THAT'S what I can't figure out-- Wes' involvement in all this. Was he willing, also, to sacrifice Illyria if need be? My impression all along was that Wes didn't know Illyria was alive, but with him so involved in the plan and with his connection to the SPs, that just seems like a major suspension of disbelief now.

Spider taking the Hagun Shaft could have been to protect Spike or even Illyria. She seems interested in using Illyria's power somehow, and she might need Blue Thunder alive to do it.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-26 06:07 pm (UTC)
ext_7259: (Default)
From: [identity profile] moscow-watcher.livejournal.com
Illyria could know what a Hagun Shaft is to begin with, since they could be from her era ("forged in the first fires"). She also may still be aware even when Fred is present. Still, that remaining Hagun Shaft has got me worried for both Illy and Gunn (though Gunn might well want to end his vampire existence).

Good point. But if writers want to write Illyria as clueless about shaft's powers, they can do it. With Gunn they can't because he was there and seen them in action.

THAT'S what I can't figure out-- Wes' involvement in all this. Was he willing, also, to sacrifice Illyria if need be? My impression all along was that Wes didn't know Illyria was alive, but with him so involved in the plan and with his connection to the SPs, that just seems like a major suspension of disbelief now.

Hard to say. As much as I love Wes, I think he tends to put duty above feelings. Remember his and Buffy's standoff in Choices? And, in hindsight, he was right. They saved Willow, but as Wesley predicted, many people died during the Ascension, as a consequence.

I think that in a similar situation on AtS he'd act the same way.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-25 10:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/woman_of_/
Excellent review, and a lot less negative than mine. I was disappointed in this issue.

You brought up a lot of points to think about

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-26 06:17 pm (UTC)
ext_7259: (Default)
From: [identity profile] moscow-watcher.livejournal.com
I was disappointed in this issue.

I read your review but didn't comment because I would have started to persuade you that the issue is better than you think... I'm sorry it didn't work to you. Maybe it was the long wait that raised the expectations too high.
Hopefully you'll like the next issue more.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-25 10:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] caromiofic.livejournal.com
Hmm, perhaps Wesley is meant to be resurrected to get back to what Joss had planned for him if the series continued, since if we'd gotten S6, no one on Angel's team would have died in NFA? I'd love to know if any of the original ideas/notes are making it here, more than ending up in a hell dimension, and Fred re-emerging in Illyria. Damn the WB!!!

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-26 06:43 pm (UTC)
ext_7259: (Default)
From: [identity profile] moscow-watcher.livejournal.com
I'm 99% sure that Fred re-emerging in Illyria was Joss' plan A from the very beginning. Amy Acker is a very good actress and Joss' friend. By season 5 it was obvious that she outgrew her goody-two-shoes character. Hence, Illyria.

But.

Fred's last words in AHITW are "Why can't I stay?" It's pretty clear that she addresses them to Illyria. If Joss had put out such a feeler it couldn't not lead to more interaction between Fred and Illyria.

As to Wesley, Joss killed him only because the show was ending and he was dropping all the bombs he had.

Damn the WB!!!

*joins* :)

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