Issue: Angel and Faith #1
Release Date: August 2011
Writers: Christos Gage
Art: Rebekah Isaacs
Colors: Dan Jackson
Letters: Richard Starkings and COMICRAFT’S Jimmy Betancourt
Cover: Steve Morris
Alternate Cover: Jo Chen
25th Anniversary Cover: Georges Jeanty with Dexter Vines and JD Mettler
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
It seems that the Buffy and Angel comics are trying to live within the same timeline, which I appreciate. Angel’s paying for his part in Twilight and he’s suffering the consequences of his actions. But what I find a bit perplexing, and maybe sad, is that everyone has turned their backs on the Watcher-killer except for Faith. Instead of sitting in a jail somewhere, which is where we left him, he’s setting up house with the second Slayer in an act of repentance. Perhaps, together, they can save the world.
I like that the comic started with an old case file from Giles. He gave his life for the cause and the things he left behind are enormous. Someone has to continue his cases and go back to check on those undone. It seems as if that someone is the newly-formed team of Angel and Faith. Or maybe Angelus and Faith, since he seemed to slip into that mindset for a while during the fight. Must I remind you that, while I’m not so keen on Angel, I adore Angelus beyond the telling of it? Give me a heartless vamp bent on blood any day. Sadly, that’s hardly ever Angel.
So, what’s the plan for the two-man team? It looks as if they’ll just continue to fight the good fight, together, despite how the world sees them. I like that Angel and Faith are the outsiders who, despite their past actions, still want to bring some good into the world. The problem is that it’s hard to forgive those past actions when they came at the price of innocent lives.
But, in the meantime, Faith’s got her own little side project. Nadira, who was a former Slayer herself, has lost her team. The girls died at the hands of some sort of laser-powered enemies called Pearl, Nash, and Twilight. Yes, that Twilight. And since the enemy is essentially Angel, Nadira wants revenge upon him. That puts Faith in a tight spot. Does she help her friend get the vengeance she deserves or does she protect the vampire that seems to be good again? And there’s a certain guy named Whistler who would like to get in on some Angel action as well and he’s willing to recruit Pearl and Nash to do it. It doesn’t seem like our do-good vampire is going to get out of any of his predicaments quite so easily.
However, the impending doom of possible death isn’t so much important to Angel as is his ultimate mission. Faith thinks he’s trying to pick up where Giles left off, saving people and ridding the world of evil. It’s a worthy cause and would fall in line with the whole penance thing he’s got going. But, no, that’s not Angel’s plan at all. He doesn’t want to take the place of Giles, he wants to bring the Watcher back to life. Zombies anyone? Let’s hope, if his plan succeeds, Giles won’t be one of the undead. We’ve got enough of those at the moment.
Rating: 3 / 5 Stars
