Review: Angel #1 (of 8)

As Buffy is getting an “Old Woman Buffy” overture via an alternative universe, it seems only fitting that her vampiric paramour, Angel, get s his chance to shine in the er… moonlight. This new mini-series from BOOM! Studios looks to redress that balance.

A visitor from another dimension has landed on a world where Angel Investigations is still in place, with a couple of surprises. Firstly, Angel, and Cordelia of course, are stars in their own Angel Investigations TV show. Now Angel leads a double life; one part TV star, one part demon hunter. Of course the rest of the gang is around to help or hinder him, though there are a few differences to be seen; its theses differences that are going to be the make or break for this run.

Back in the day, I loved the Buffy show and I loved the first couple of seasons of Angel. In fact, I actually have all the previous run of Angel comics written by Bryan Edward Hill with art from Gleb Melnikov. This time around, Christopher Cantwell, of Iron Man fame, is charged with steering Angel into this alternative universe. In doing so he has to walk a tightrope between keeping things the same, yet also changing things up! Some of those changes are going to be irksome for long-time fans; I am not sure I like the idea of Angel not being brooding and all fangy at times, instead we get a lighter Angel who favours celebrity over his demon hunting role. Maybe this series will look to redress that. along the way, there is threat of an evil stalking the multiple universes of which only one person know. With the amount of changes to the original idea, this takes a second place in the order of things.

The art is provided by Daniel Bayliss who has a style that feels like caricature when it comes to Angel and Spike, but is woefully distant when it comes to the rest of the gang. I wonder if Charisma Carpenter withheld her likeness? There is a sense of chaos in the art that works well within the idea of a different universe. There is a sense of movement through the panels, though the last few pages get a little confusing. Colors are supplied by Roman Titov with assists from María Agustina Vallejo withe pair giving the world a pseudo neon look for the opening act, before moving into the more traditional dark inspired horror. Becca Carey’s lettering works well, in a streamlined style that isn’t cramped by the word balloons.

I may have said this before (thats a lie, I have definitely said this before), but I am a tad sick of alternative universes. As a one off, they are fine, but as it stands every publisher is doing it. When did it become norm to change everything in an effort keep things fresh? Has storytelling ideas, building on existing themes with new aspect become so difficult that it is now easier to start over regardless? Back to Angel, for fans of a lot the aspects of the TV show, you may be disappointed with some of the changes, though some do say that a change is as good as a rest. I will leave that last thought there to linger.

Writing – 3 Stars
Art – 3 Stars
Colors -3.5

Overall – 3 Stars

Written by; Christopher Cantwell
Art by; Daniel Bayliss
Colors by; Roman Titov & María Agustine Vallejo
Letters by; Becca Carey
Published by; BOOM! Studios

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network