Hi all. I was doing some browsing a couple of days ago and came across some reviews of the first three issues of ANGEL: After The Fall. The reviews got me interested in the characters and the world of ANGEL again, and also got me thinking about the viability of adapting the comic, either in part or in full, for the medium of fanfiction; specifically as a 'virtual series'. Although I'm currently involved in a 'virtual series' called Virtual Firefly (check out my sig for more info), I thought I'd seek out other fans' opinions and gauge the interest in adapting the comic into a VS. I'd like this discussion to cover the following points: premise (of the comic), characters, and 'arcs'.
Premise
The thing that struck me about the comic's overall premise is that it is so totally Joss that it can't help but work. The idea of the Senior Partners sending L.A. to Hell shows how scary they actually are, and makes Angel's fight even more complicated than it already was. One thing that I do think should've been addressed from the get-go, though, is the whereabouts of all our primary characters.
Characters
The thing that I didn't quite understand about the comic/season's 'regulars' is the inclusion of Gwen. The other regulars are more than obvious given that they're the 'last ones standing', so to speak, of the apocalypse in "Not Fade Away", but Gwen is a character who wasn't even mentioned in ANGEL S5. Given how "Not Fade Away" and Season 5 ended, it would've made more sense for the regulars to simply be Angel, Spike, Gunn, Illyria, and Connor, with Wes being a possibility as well. In terms of recurring characters, it would make more sense to start out with Nina and Harmony, and introduce others along the way, which'd allow for the inclusion of Gwen and characters like Oz and/or Willow (both of whom were mentioned by Joss as being intended to have roles in the series had it been renewed)
'Arcs'
The character arcs conveyed through the first 3 issues of ATF are really interesting, particularly Spike and Illyria's. Gunn's arc is also interesting in that it parallels Spike's from BtVS Seasons 5 & 6. Another interesting idea is the possibility that, as mentioned in the After The Fall Discusison thread, Angel may have gotten the thing he'd been somewhat fighting for for most of his time in L.A.: his humanity. Such a thing would really shake up the 'status quo', as it were, and make his fight all that much harder, especially since he'd be bereft of some of the things that made him such an effective fighter.
You could also, like I said above, re-introduce Gwen by showing her run into Connor, hit it off with him, and agree to help him out with the 'safe house' angle (creating an interesting dynamic once Angel found out).
Premise
The thing that struck me about the comic's overall premise is that it is so totally Joss that it can't help but work. The idea of the Senior Partners sending L.A. to Hell shows how scary they actually are, and makes Angel's fight even more complicated than it already was. One thing that I do think should've been addressed from the get-go, though, is the whereabouts of all our primary characters.
Characters
The thing that I didn't quite understand about the comic/season's 'regulars' is the inclusion of Gwen. The other regulars are more than obvious given that they're the 'last ones standing', so to speak, of the apocalypse in "Not Fade Away", but Gwen is a character who wasn't even mentioned in ANGEL S5. Given how "Not Fade Away" and Season 5 ended, it would've made more sense for the regulars to simply be Angel, Spike, Gunn, Illyria, and Connor, with Wes being a possibility as well. In terms of recurring characters, it would make more sense to start out with Nina and Harmony, and introduce others along the way, which'd allow for the inclusion of Gwen and characters like Oz and/or Willow (both of whom were mentioned by Joss as being intended to have roles in the series had it been renewed)
'Arcs'
The character arcs conveyed through the first 3 issues of ATF are really interesting, particularly Spike and Illyria's. Gunn's arc is also interesting in that it parallels Spike's from BtVS Seasons 5 & 6. Another interesting idea is the possibility that, as mentioned in the After The Fall Discusison thread, Angel may have gotten the thing he'd been somewhat fighting for for most of his time in L.A.: his humanity. Such a thing would really shake up the 'status quo', as it were, and make his fight all that much harder, especially since he'd be bereft of some of the things that made him such an effective fighter.
You could also, like I said above, re-introduce Gwen by showing her run into Connor, hit it off with him, and agree to help him out with the 'safe house' angle (creating an interesting dynamic once Angel found out).
