Spike: After the Fall - Issue 2

[platitude]

Just saw on the IDW website that Spike ATF # 2 is listed as one of the comics out this week on 8/6. Happy Spike #2 week!

[lorneisaboltsfan]

I was pretty disappointed to find that Angel wasn't coming out this week, but at least we get Spike (along with Buffy). If issue 1 was any indication, 2 should be pretty good. I'm honestly not sure what I'm expecting to happen though.

[iloveromy]

This issue is the tits.

Angry Spike driving a mack truck... need I say more?

After the plot puzzling first issue which I didn't particularly care for, the story is now developing into something I can really sink my teeth into (ok i'll stop).

She Who Shall Remain Nameless is a pretty sick bad girl. Her powers are, well, um, ...wow. Imagine what The Beast did to Wolfram and Hart, only more evil.

Highlights of the good:

Spider wearing a duck t-shirt. I really wanted the duck in her arms to come to life and be a part of the series (you'll see..he's cute)

Illyria doing her thang.

I really want to know who the Street Fighter 2-Lightning-Struck-Guy is.

Spike's inner monologue about the dragon.

Did I mention Spike driving a Mack truck?

Lynch really does know how to plot out big battles. I think he is at his best when he lets loose with The Crazy.

Lowlights of the Bad:

Ok is the colorist an intern? Seriously! It looks like someone poo'd all over the page and then let it set in a window corner at Blockbuster to get the colors all sun bleachy.

That's it!

Can't wait to see what happens next!

Love ya, Mean it!

Iloveromy

[Emmie]

After I finished reading the last page, I said out loud in an uncontrolled reaction: "Damn, that was cool."

And it really was. I have an order to which I read my comics on release day. The hierarchy goes Buffy then Angel then Spike. I read Buffy issue 17 first today and I wish I'd read Spike 2 instead. That was awesome. I'm going to post my thoughts in a bit after I've read it again. Its quality demands another reading.

[iloveromy]

Totally warrants a reread. I'm going to do it now.

[hitnrun017]

Very, very good!

Spike's inner-monologue was great! It's been my favorite part about the last two issues. I'm very pleased there was a lot of Fred, especially because of how little we've seen of her in Angel: AtF so far. The action was great and I loved the little part with Spider. I'm already in love with this villian, whatever her name is. Hott, evil, strong women are just way too cool. Looking forward to seeing more of her.

Franco's pencils were genius. That two page spread of The Dragon was amazing, probably my favorite piece of art in all of Buffy/Angel/Spike comics. Brian DID post it on his blog, and I thought it was just going to be a small panel, but it was so much better bigger.

Now, I'm also confused. What the heck was going on in those first couple pages? Why did The Dragon bring Spike up there? And what WAS that yellow thing and what did it mean? I feel like I missed something since it wasn't mentioned again.

[Emmie]

Ok my thoughts are pretty much full of praise for Brian Lynch and Franco Urru. I loved the entire issue.

* Spike meets Dragon. First off the inner monologue was genius, then Dragon taking Spike up to W&H to see a man on fire. I interpreted that as Dragon trying to get Spike to help Angel, who was being tortured in a manner similar to Billy when he was in a hell holding dimension. Like they're trying to brainwash Angel. But also the look of regret on Dragon's face as Spike leaves - it's amazing how Urru drew him looking so mournful. This further makes me think the lit up man was Angel because who else would Dragon want to help?

* Maria and her duck shirt. Adorable. I finally like her now, where as before I was judging her for wanting to kill Angel. Only Spike can get away with saying that and still retain the love.

* Mack truck hits Illyria. Spike smiles as Big Blue emerges. Airbag hits Spike in the face. Hehe.

* That villain is seriously badass. Stealing the life force of the people around her - no wonder she has her goons looking for humans to round up. She needs to feed off them. Plus the last panel is hauntingly disturbing and tragic. All the people Spike tried to protect, wasted away and reaching for him in desperation while he's unable to help them. Spike tries to be the hero (follow the examples of Angel and Buffy) and is handed this crushing failure.

Excellent issue.

The issue did feel short, though. Was the first one only 22 pages?

[Wyndam]

I absolutely loved this issue. One of the better Buffyverse single issues I've ever read. Just fabulous work by Brian and Franco.

In regards to the beginning where the Dragon took Spike up to see Angel (I'm assuming that was him). Could that have perhaps been the ritual Angel had to do in order to heal his broken back? I'm thinking it was that or something totally wonky. Either way, it was a great sequence. Spike "deciding" not to fight the dragon was hilarious as well.

Rest of the issue was also great. Loved the introduction to the Big Bad. She's so bad ass and she knows it. She made short order of Illyria, and whatever she did to turn the civilians to rotten creatures was crazy. The last shot of Spike chained up was really powerful. Spike and Illyria are in some deep crap now.

[iloveromy]

The "Street Fighter 2" Flaming guy says some pretty cryptic things. I don't have the issue in front of me but I'm wondering if it might not be a dead or a tortured x Wolfram and Hart employee. That part reminded me of a video game. You know, like Resident evil or even an old Lucasarts game like The Dig... Where you discover something really bizarre that you know you will come back to later. I'm really curious to find out who it is.

[brandonr]

This junks defs amps up the energy from the first issue!!!

The villian chick is bad ass, and her new wave Chinese Water Torture in the form of chaining Spike to the wall so that he can witness all the people she sucked the life force from laying around him....just the sheer fact that he couldn't protect them at all definitely has to weigh on his mind. I'm predicting that he kills the bitch by the end and then all her snake-faced goons bow down to his magnificence.

Its funny that Illyria doesn't emerge when all those humans are being put in peril, but she comes out when placed in front of a truck by the Big Baddess to protect herself from being struck down. Seems like theres some sort of level or criteria that must be met for Illyria to break the Fremory facade that she's been having on even now and then.

The eletro-charged yellow thingy was definitely Angel. The giveaway was the Dragon wanting Spike to help, and, like others said, the Dragon wouldn't do that for anyone but Angel. And I'm guessing that whole thing was the process by which Angel was turned into a human, because we haven't been told exactly when that takes place, and Angel was still a vamp at the beginning of the alley fight, and I'm supposing most or all the way through that fight.

I can't wait for Issue No. 3, because this series is definitely shaping up to be more than I expected.

OOOO! I almost forgot to say that the two page monologue panel with Spike and the Dragon was SCHWEET. Those Lynchian Words make me flutter.

EDIT: I also wouldn't be surprised if Illyria kills Big Baddess by the end of the series, and then Spike just takes credit for it by calling himself the Lord of Beverly Hills when it really is Illyria.

[hitnrun017]

If it was Angel, which after rereading I think it is, I don't think it was him turning human. We saw him turn human in issue 4. What Wyndam said makes the most sense I think, healing his broken back.

[Whedon Fan]

The ending completley made this whole issue for me. Really creepy. The rest of the issue was good too and I can't wait for the next issue any new on a date yet?

[brandonr]

Aug 7, 2008 14:35:42 GMT -5 hitnrun017 said:

If it was Angel, which after rereading I think it is, I don't think it was him turning human. We saw him turn human in issue 4. What Wyndam said makes the most sense I think, healing his broken back.

That's true, we did see him turn human in issue 4 and get teleported to the roof top. But just that flash in the mid-panel doesn't necessarily mean that we're not seeing the INSIDE of that yellow-electro thingy that was going on in Spike issue 2.

Though, I will concede that it's more likely something else going on, even if it is Angel getting healed.

And it could even be something else entirely that's happening to him, given his erratic and non-sensical speaking.

[platitude]

I was excited for this issue, but I loved it far more than I thought I would. It was so good! I loved the use of Spike's vamp face in this issue, like when he is driving the truck and when the big bad mentions Illyria at the end and he yells "where is she?!". Especially the later time cause it shows so much emotion.

And I guess the dragon hoped that Spike would be able to help Angel? I see that some people have thought other things, but I thought he was being tortured by Wolfram and Heart. I dunno.

[vampmogs]

I really liked this issue. The first issue was great but nothing really... well happened. But this issue was fantastic and has definitely peaked my interest a lot more!

What I loved;

Spike coming to the rescue (or attempting to anyway) in the truck. That was very awesome and cool, if it had been on TV it would have been one killer scene.

How inspired Jeremy is in Spike in particular and to a lesser extent Illyria. That was really nice to see and good for Spike to have someone who believes in him that much.

An insight into Angel. Even thought it's a Spike story we still got some Angel which was a very pleasant surprise. But man.. poor Angel. Every time he suffers it just makes me respect him more. It looks incredibly painful. If Spike only gets a quick feel of what the magic feels like and hightails it out of there I'd hate to think of the agony a human Angel must be feeling actually living in it.

The big bad. This villainess is very scary, and a great addition to the Buffyverse. Not only does she take down Illyria but her powers are very, very creepy. It was horrifying seeing all Spike's people rot like that. She's also incredibly cruel, not only does she refrain from dusting Spike, she chooses to have all the people he couldn't save rotting around him and crying out for help. That's gotta hurt. Don't even want to know what she is going to do to Illyria/Fred.

What I'm confused about;

What was that whole thing with Spider? I didn't get it?

Things I'm left thinking about

Who was Angel talking to? Was it just ramblings to anyone or anything or was it someone specific? I've been discussing this with a few other fans and we've been thinking that perhaps he was talking to Cordy? It certainly fits with the things he is saying, and like Wes maybe he's hoping she's there watching over him? It could also be Wes off screen (or panel) as it makes sense as well.

Spike gave up a little too easily with Angel. I know he didn't know it was Angel but still...He got a taste of how painful this was and just gave up? He didn't try and save the guy and I dunno, I didn't like that. But Spike's still finding his way in the world, it's good that he's not portrayed as perfect.

Overall a really nice issue, much better than the first issue and I can't wait to see how it all unfolds. A very nice side piece, I prefer it more than 'First Night' surprisingly.

[lorneisaboltsfan]

Really awesome issue, everything was perfectly done (especially the spike/dragon part). Did anyone else notice that the woman that was giving orders before the Big Bad showed up looks like Lord Voldemort? lol

Anyway, can't wait until issue 3...Is it weird that it's only been basically a few weeks since issue 1 came out, and we're already halfway done?

[faithnspike]

I thought maybe the yellow thing was Wes being sent back to angel and co. How the character asked “Now I know how you must have felt/” (possibly to Lilah who has gone through it) and talking about how he wants to do what’s right. Especially when the yellow person said “not talking about what they try to prevent me from doing. Perhaps he wants to help Angel while our friends at WrandH want him to do their bidding

[Wyndam]

Aug 8, 2008 18:25:08 GMT -5 faithnspike said:

I thought maybe the yellow thing was Wes being sent back to angel and co. How the character asked “Now I know how you must have felt/” (possibly to Lilah who has gone through it) and talking about how he wants to do what’s right. Especially when the yellow person said “not talking about what they try to prevent me from doing. Perhaps he wants to help Angel while our friends at WrandH want him to do their bidding

Well we saw the exact moment Wesley came back to L.A. from the dead in Angel: After the Fall Issue 7 (First Night part 2), so it probably wasn't Wesley. The fact that the dragon was remorseful and wanted Spike's help, plus the fact that we know Angel did some pretty heavy magics in order to help heal his back, points to Angel being the one with the yellow fire embrace thingy.

[NileQT87]

i actually thought it was kinda cute that it looked like angel was giving spike a hand-nudge. lol. ditto with spike calling him a "nutjob".

[faithnspike]

It seems to be Angel by lynch’s coments today. Strange. I guss wrandh really did make angel human. Makes some of the speech weird.