Angel/Spike: After the Fall

[RoJoHen]

I was randomly at Borders tonight, and I found myself browsing the graphic novels. I found Spike: After the Fall and Angel: After the Fall Vol. 2 (not Volume 1, dammit!).

So the question: when do the two stories take place in relation to each other? I bought the Spike one because it was there, and I want to read it, but I didn't know if I should wait until I get a hold of the Angel series first.

I also saw the Angel Omnibus, which just seemed to be a collection of random stories. I was wondering what people could tell me about that.

 

[od0_ital]

Didn't know that Spike's volume was out already! Thanks for the heads up.

Without knowin' what's in it, I'd suggest findin' Angel: Volume One and Angel: After the Fall - First Night before anything else.

 

[Daneel]

The chronology of the hardcover collections is a little tricky. It goes like this:
-Angel: After the Fall vol. 2: First Night (shows what happened immediately following the battle in the alley, so it's sort of like a prequel to the first five issues of the series).
-Spike: After the Fall (picks up shortly after Spike's story in First Night).
-Angel: After the Fall vol. 1 (collects the first 5 issues of the series).

That's the chronological order. The publication order of the Angel volumes is obvious (I'm not sure, but I think volume 3 will be out by the end of the month), and the Spike hardcover collection just came out last month, I believe.

Hope that helps!

 

[RoJoHen]

So I should actually start by reading Volume 2: First Night? Because that's weird.

 

[Mike Farley]

Nah, read 'em in the order they were released. Angel vol 1, Angel vol 2, Spike, Angel vol 3.

Although, to be honest, I don't remember them well enough to state for certain that there's any intrinsic value in reading tham that way other than that's the way they were published (The Spike sereis actually came out roughly concurrently with the issues in Angel vol 3 I believe.)

The Angel omnibus you mentioned is reprints of the old Angel series originally published by Dark Horse back when Angel was still on the air.

 

[RoJoHen]

The Angel omnibus you mentioned is reprints of the old Angel series originally published by Dark Horse back when Angel was still on the air.

Are they any good?

My friend just made me watch Buffy and Angel for the first time. We wrapped up about a month ago, and all it did was leave me craving more!

 

[Daneel]

So I should actually start by reading Volume 2: First Night? Because that's weird.

You can if you wish, but it would probably be better to read it in publication order. Besides, reading Volume 2 first might spoil a few mild surprises in Volume 1. As I said, the list I made above is simply the chronological order, so you can think of Volume 2 as a prequel to Volume 1.

Ultimately, it's up to you. Enjoy!

 

[hyzmarca]

Volume 1 Throws you in the middle of the action, and it feels good. Things aren't explained, they're shown, and some of them do blow your mind. There is one revelation in particular that is best not spoiled.

 

[Ethros]

Yeah there's a big reveal at the end of Volume 1 (issue #5) that will be ruined if you read Volume 2 (#6-8) or Spike: ATF

Spike: ATF can be read after Volume 2 if you want, doesn't hugely matter, but I'd wait till after Volume 3 (#9-12) comes out to read it


The Angel Omnibus are IDW's previous Angel efforts (not Dark Horse's). Definetely not canon. And a bit pointless. If you can get it dirt cheap fine, but I wouldn't pay loads for it. Not related to and don't fit in with ATF at all


I would however recommend the TPBs of Spike: Asylum and Spike: Shadow Puppets. These are both by ATF writer Brian Lynch which got him the job on ATF. They fall into the category of "not really 100% canon but they can be if you want"
And feature a few charatcers that later appear in ATF, namely Betta George.
And they're both excellent reads

 

[Capt_Piett]

Aye; I have really enjoyed IDW's Angel:After The Fall series, as well as the Spike books. Asylum and Shadow Puppets were both very good reads. After The Fall has just wrapped up and the series has started a new arc, and it looks to be just as engaging as the first "act" was. I'd definitely recommend picking all the aforementioned series as you won't be disappointed.

I do share your frustration over the store only having the 2nd volume, as the local Borders I pass on my way home has volume 1 and volume 4 of the hardback versions of Walking Dead, but not Volume 3, which I need...rassum frassum....

 

[Ethros]

If your local book store doesn't have want you want, Amazon will be your friend

Aye; I have really enjoyed IDW's Angel:After The Fall series, as well as the Spike books.

Spoiler: Big spoilers for discussion of end of ATF, don't read if not read

What did you think of the ending to ATF. Personally I thought it was big letdown, I loved 1-15, but the way it ended was just lame. Obviously they had to get out of Hell-A, but in some Voyager style reset button mode was just crap. Bringing back all the characters who had died just felt a cheat to me

 

[Turtletrekker]

^

Spoiler: ATF ending

What I did like about the re-set was that everybody remembered what happened in Hell and not just our core characters. That took some of the sting out of the re-set for me.

 

[Ethros]

^

Spoiler: spoilero

Yeah, but I don't know. I think I'm just bloodthirsty! I like charatcers dying, and recurring characters dying, whether heroes or villians, has always been a staple of Buffy & Angel. So to kill off some beloved charatcers in cool ways was awesome, but then just bringing them all back felt like a con. Then again bringing characters back from the dead is another staple! I can understand Connor as what else would Angel have to live for without him, but the others...
And by the end the only people who were 100% gone were Wesley & Fred, and they were already dead before ATF anyway!

 

[Capt_Piett]

Spoiler: ATF Ending

I did like that they brought Illyria back with all of Fred's memories and feelings...it was rather entertaining to see the two Hell Lords scurry off like rats with their tails between their legs when they saw what Illyria had done to the last Lord. I really hope we get to see more of her; if nothing else, she'll be in the Fallen Angel relaunch this summer, which should make for an interesting crossover.

I was rather disheartened that it appeared that practically EVERYONE was dead or dying at the end of the series. I think it was totally fitting of Angel's character to do what he did, though I am curious as to what happened to the LA branch of Wolfram and Heart. As Turtle said, I think it's not QUITE a reset as everyone else retained their memories or what happened, and it was rather a creative way to restore everything.