Angel #12 and BtVS #18 reviews

[moscow_watcher]

It's a rare occasion when you can read a new Angel comic and a new Buffy comic back-to-back, within an hour interval. It's even a rarer occasions when two comics happen to use so many common techniques - including the "somebody is riding somebody but it's not what you think, perverts" joke. It's even more rare occasion everything that was done right in one comic goes wrong in the other.

On AtF we have a small breach in the fourth wall - a street sign "Doyle" next to the poster "coming soon" - and it's a great hook-up. On "Buffy" there is a lot of breaches in the fourth wall,- "spoiler alert", "legend blender" - but they're pointless unless writer intended to flavor the mish-mash of cultural references with irony to make it more palatable.

On AtF writer and artist showcase Cordelia in a sexy outfit and shoes on high heels and it works because she's a ghost. Immaterial creatures can't join the fight so their outfits don't have to be practical. While on BtVS Buffy looks plain stupid in a decollete mini-dress and kinky boots during a vamp-slaying mission.

On "Buffy" comic the joke "Xander rides Dawn" drags on from the previous issue. Currently Dawn has been "ridden hard and put away wet". Ha. Ha. Look how mortified Xander is! Ha. Ha. I may be wrong but I have the impression that centaur!Dawn had been created only for this purpose. And the demolition of the castle was also servicing this joke. Neither Xander nor Dawn are shaken by what happened. After all, nobody significant died; castles are a dime a dozen in current Buffyverse; and it took characters only a second to figure out the evildoers: "Bomb. Plus magic. Equals... Warren and Amy" - so no intrigue there. (ETA: I wrote this paragraph yesterday and today I read girlpire's report where she mentions that Scott [Allie] said he thinks the whole reason Dawn's a centaur now is because Joss wanted to use the Dawn/Xander "ride me" joke. Heh. There is something me and Scott Allie can agree. :)

The problem with "riding" joke isn't its vulgarity. Problem is, it's post-punch-line. Faith's line in Salvage: "Like riding a biker" - is vulgar. But it's also incredibly funny thanks to perfect timing and ED's brilliantly casual delivery. While on Buffy #18 we don't have the luxury or actors' delivery and the timing is bad: it's a modification of the joke from the previous issue, the audience is already past it. What was moderately funny the first time is plain awkward the second time. I wonder if the next issue will feature a post-post-punch-line denouement in which Dawn will report the "riding experience" to Buffy or somebody else.

On Angel_AtF basically the same idea works as a sucker punch because of inventive build-up and good timing. The very first issue established that Angel's best friend is the dragon who, according to Angel, "was as misled as I was". In issue 2 we find out that Angel doesn't want other people to know dragon's name. Yet he whispers it to Connor and gets curious reaction: "That's what you went with? I'm serious, Angel. Weirder and weirder." Audience is intrigued but writer keeps us guessing until current issue; during a crucial moment, when Angel is on the verge of death, Connor addresses the evil party "don't make me give Cordelia the okay to bat you." - "Cordelia? Who's - " We turn the page and see the dragon.

And it's just the beginning. The discovery that dragon's name is Cordy is just the first emotional punch - the exhilarating one. The second, heartbreaking one, follows immediately on the next page and is even more powerful: a ghost of dying Angel separated from his body, meets the ghost of Cordelia. He explains to her that he imagined her alive and talked to her; that's why dragon, his only partner, decided that Angel has named him Cordelia.

Only two comics made me cry - "Chain" and this issue of AtF. The scenes where ghost!Cordy explains to ghost!Angel that she's "here to make his passing easier" is tearjerker par excellence. Angel and Cordy are already detached from their mortal coil; they both look at dying Angel with sympathy but without fussing about his imminent death. While on our plane dying Angel and fierce dragon named Cordelia still try to make things right. And, hopefully, they'll succeed.

And the best thing? It is never mentioned that Angel has been riding "Cordelia" for 11 issues and we've found out about it only now. It's up to fans' imagination. Although it's obvious that the scenes with dragon will never be same again.

I talk at length about these examples because they highlight the difference between BtVS and AtF. On AtF it's about characters. On BtVS it's about plot and jokes. For example, what are we supposed to think about Buffy's decision to use humans as a bait for "lurks" and let vampires kill them? Buffy's logic sounds utterly idiotic: instead of catching one of Harth's minions and beating the information about Harth's whereabouts out of him Buffy suggests to let vampires kill humans and then to follow their flying car hoping they won't notice her - which will be very hard, given Buffy's driving skills.

Either it's a clue that Buffy went evil or that the madwoman in question is actually her... or it's a case of lazy writing, putting plot necessities above character development and common sense. Writer needs to separate Fray and Buffy, because otherwise evil!Willow won't be able to influence Fray. Unable to come up with a plausible twist he uses the first idea that comes to his mind.

Don't get me wrong. I don't mind plot necessities being put ahead of character development in non-crucial plot twists. I can accept Fray's letting Buffy drive since her bizarre idea is just a set-up for a "Summers, you drive like a spaz" joke. But Buffy who can easily sacrifice humans? Everything in me protests against it, whether it's a crucial plot point or just a fleeting plot necessity that will never be mentioned again.

But is it crucial plot point or a fleeting plot necessity? Hard to say. We can't judge characters' actions because their motivations are too obscure. Turns out Fray hates Buffy. Weird. I didn't feel the hate vibe between them. But evil!Willow says it aloud and Fray doesn't argue. Or maybe Willow is hypnotyzing Fray. Or maybe a considerable amount of time has passed between Buffy's arrival and current events and we'll find out about it in the next issue. Or maybe... Wait, what is evil!Willow's plan? To destroy Buffy? Or to neutralize her and send back in time? Or to delete her memories of the future to avoid time paradox?

The latter option isn't as unprobable as it may look. Saga Vasuki's warning "do not look" shows that Willow's mentor regards time paradoxes seriously. And looks like Saga Wasuki knows much more than she reveals. Is "someone she trusted" future!Willow? And is Saga Wasuki a trustworthy source or she has evil plans of her own?

Or maybe the scene with Saga Wasuki serves another necessity - to showcase Nekkid!Willow? If so, we aren't supposed to pay much attention to vague plot clues, focusing instead on not-so-vague flirting vibes. Color me confused, I can't figure out writer's intentions.

While on AtF the plot is also twisted and also includes time-travel (a small but intriguing trip) and it's unclear who's behind the whole conspiracy. But we always know where characters are emotionally. And it's fascinating - to watch Gunn, a good-guy-turned-bad, who tries to be good on his own terms. To find inspiration in Cordelia who stayed true to herself. To ache for Wesley who, as helpless as he is, tries to help. And to watch, ache for and find inspiration in Angel who goes through hell and doesn't give up.

What's in store for Angel? Humanity and normal life? Writer toys with the idea as he inserts a panel in which Illyria time-jumps into a Hyperion room that features both Nina and a crib. OTOH, it's pretty possible that Illyria jumped into season 3 post-Lullaby timeline and Nina was just a hitchhiker. Anyway, the story demands Heroic!Angel and I suppose he's on the verge of another radical transformation (weird patterns on his skin may be the indication of something important being in progress).

So, am I too harsh on Buffy issue 18 and too rhapsodical on Angel issue 12? To be fair, there are things I like in "Buffy". I'm awed by Moline's art; his centaur!Dawn is very cute, his Xander is kickass and his Willow is incredibly sexy. He's good at facial expressions as well as naked women's bodies. He creates convincing canvas of future Manhattan. While on AtF, Stephen Mooney's best panels are those of processed screenshots (although they do have flair and feel of the show). And since when Gwen, instead of roasting the objects she touches, just throws them far, far away? Then again, I can fanwank that she has started learning to control her powers.

Next issues of BtVS and AtF should bring big revelations. Is Buffy the Big Bad of season 8? Is Angel still the favorite of Powers That Be? Is Erin Fray Buffy's descendant as stormwreath suggests? Current issue definitely showcases their likeness by identical hair, identical career inclinations and identical predicaments with their younger sisters. :)

Hopefully everything will make sense in a few years when I'll be able to read season 8 in its entirety.