Angel vol.2 #1

Written by: Brett Matthews & Joss Whedon
Pencilled by: Mel Rubi
Inked by: Chris Dreier
Cover by: Mel Rubi

This September, get ready for an intense and darkly romantic new Angel thriller, written by none other than series creator Joss Whedon. Angel's searching for a kidnapped child, only to stumble upon a force of unspeakable evil and unimaginable power. Acclaimed penciller Mel Rubi (Aliens vs. Predator vs. The Terminator) takes us from the darkened, mean streets of Los Angeles, to the dizzying heights of the city's skyscrapers, and face to face with some of the strangest, the most grotesque, and the most unsettlingly seductive creatures Angel has ever faced. Joss Whedon has retooled and reinvented his creation for comics and given us a story that is much too big for the small screen. If you think you know Angel, think again.

Kristina says:
    Art: 5/5  Wow! Although I'm not entirely happy with Mel Rubi's rendition of vampire Angel, the art in this issue is amazing. I was almost crying when the first couple of pages of panels were just art. The detail and definition in the artwork work really well - there isn't too much detail that it overtakes the art, and there's enough that everything is defined. No sacks of bones here. The characters looked very much like themselves as well.
    Cover: 5/5  Great blend of dark and light colours. The new title lettering reflects the different take on this series. I have high hopes for this series.
    Story: 4/5  Hmmm...this issue definitely gave out a lot of information - there's a vision Cordy had, a commercial she's working on, Angel's cell phone issues, demons cropping up and attacking him, and even Gunn makes an appearance. I know they are just laying down the base for the rest of this series, but without a concrete thread to follow, this story is hard to get through. Thank goodness for the art!
    Overall: 4.5/5
 

Angel vol.2 #2

Written by: Brett Matthews & Joss Whedon
Pencilled by: Mel Rubi
Inked by: Chris Dreier
Cover by: Mel Rubi

The search for Angel continues as L.A.'s resident vampire with a soul throws down with a walking volcano. Can Angel survive the molten menace long enough to unravel who's behind the bizarre series of attacks? Will Wesley, Cordelia, and Gunn arrive to find Angel, or his ashes? All this plus a fistful of clues, an armor-clad assailant, and a mysterious evil mastermind. This intense, action-packed, new Angel thriller is written by none other than series creator Joss Whedon. Penciller Mel Rubi (Witchblade / Aliens / Darkness / Predator: Mindhunter) brings some of the strangest and most horrific creatures ever conceived to life for this four-part Angel event.

Kristina says:
    Art: 5/5  Ah man - more pages of panels that are just art, no lettering! Admitedly, there are some panels were Angel and some of the other characters don't look like themselves, but on the whole, they do. There are some nice touches - Angel resting on top of an angel statue, the truck bearing down on Gunn's war truck, and the panels with the Galahad-type knight.
    Cover: 5/5  Again, an excellence balance of colour and details here. The fluidity of the art conveys motion, and also showcases the three "demons" that are after Angel. Interesting choice to place this shot in front of what looks like a church - it fits in with the storyline of Jacob and his family.
    Story: 4.5/5  Ah, the threads of this story are finally starting to come together. There's a new player in LA, and he's out to get Angel. Judging by the fangs, and blood-drinking, he must be a vampire. Apparently he has something to do with Angel's past. I'm really happy with how the story is starting to filter down to the main arc.
    Overall: 4.5/5
 

Angel vol.2 #3

Written by: Brett Matthews & Joss Whedon
Pencilled by: Mel Rubi
Inked by: Chris Dreier
Cover by: Mel Rubi

The onslaught continues as the unknown evil that has been menacing Angel and his friends finally reveals itself. Can Angel, Wesley, Cordelia, and Gunn put the pieces together in time or will Angel's past put an end to their future? This thrilling, new Angel epic is co-written by none other than series creator Joss Whedon and pencilled by Mel Rubi (Witchblade / Aliens / Darkness / Predator: Mindhunter), one of the hottest pencillers in comics.

Kristina says:
    Art: 5/5  Even in sepia tones, Rubi's artwork is amazing. The details really bring Zheng and Angel's fight to life. I'm impressed with the quality of his work now. His rendition of vampire Angel doesn't seem to bother me so much anymore. It seems more like Angel now. Again, panels of just art and no lettering make me go crazy! I can't get enough of Rubi's artwork!
    Cover: 4/5  Hmmm...not a big fan of this cover. I mean, 1920's looking Zheng and Angel are good, but the colour balance just isn't the same as on the previous two covers. It's gotten darker, which can be a good thing, but I like colour.
    Story: 4/5  Finally the cryptic pieces of this series are becoming less cryptic. The focus has shifted from the Angel Investigations team to Angel, which is good. I'm curious as to how this arc ends - Zheng mentions Angel's soul, and it is clear there is something more going on here. I still want to know more about the Galahad-type knight, and the two other minions working for Zheng. Hopefully this is resolved in #4.
    Overall: 4.5/5
 

Angel vol.2 #4

Angel vol.2 #4

Written by: Brett Matthews & Joss Whedon
Pencilled by: Mel Rubi
Inked by: Chris Dreier
Cover by: Mel Rubi

A hijacked Angel comes to grips with his past -- figuratively and literally--as he finally learns the depth of the connection between himself and Perfect Zheng. Will either survive their deadly dance ten thousand feet above Los Angeles? Don't miss the stunning conclusion of this four-part Angelevent, written by Brett Matthews and series creator Joss Whedon, and featuring pencils by comics sensation Mel Rubi (Witchblade / Aliens / Darkness / Predator: Mindhunter).

Kristina says:
    Art: 4/5  The art was still good in this issue, but I found a lot of the characters regressed a lot. They didn't look as good as they did in the previous three issues. Use of colour and definition was still very, very good. Angel looked especially off - like Rubi had forgotten what David Boreanaz looked like.
    Cover: 4.5/5  This cover is dark, like #3, but I like it better. There is a clearer sense of motion, and more contrast between light and dark colours.
    Story: 3/5  This is the big development that took almost ten months to work out? What? Granted, it raises some interesting questions about Angel and his soul, but I don't think it was worth such a long wait. We also lost Jacob's point in this story, even though his father (I think) makes an appearance at the end of this issue. But what was the point of that? It is clear that there are no plans to resume the series in the near future. I would have been happier with an ending that tied up more of the loose ends. I feel cheated almost - this last issue did not live up to my expectations of the series.
    Overall: 3.5/5