Spike: After the Fall

[goldenboy]

SPIKE GETS AN OFFICIAL STORY IN SPIKE: AFTER THE FALL

It’s a good time in comics for fans of Joss Whedon’s Buffy-verse.

Dark Horse is telling of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer’s adventures following the conclusion of her television series and IDW’s Angel: After the Fall is officially continuing that character’s story post Season Five of the television series’ finale.

But what about Spike? Does his official (read: approved by Whedon) story get explored and told anywhere?

While the character has appeared in Angel: After the Fall, there were certainly some questions left unanswered. Those burning questions will be answered in Spike: After the Fall miniseries launching in July from IDW, by Brian Lynch and Franco Urru. As for the continuity…hang on…

Angel: After the Fall #6, #7 and #8 tell stories of how the cast of characters was affected by the fight in the alley that ended the series. Issue #6 will feature Spike, Connor and Lorne; issue #7 will feature Wesley and a surprise return of a character from the Whedonverse; while issue #8 will feature Gwen, the effect of LA being thrust into hell on the city’s residents, and the fate if Gunn. Issue #9 will pick up from the cliffhanger at the end of issue #5, and will feature the new art team of Nick Runge and Art Lyon. #8 and #9 will both ship in June.

Spike: After the Fall will spin out of the “First Night” events seen in Angel: After the Fall and events in issue #7, and tells of Spike’s first few months in hell and co-stars Illyria.

Spike: After the Fall will run four issues.
SPIKE GETS AN OFFICIAL STORY IN SPIKE: AFTER THE FALL - NEWSARAMA (http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=149750)

[Clem Rocks]

OH **** YEAH!

A whole canon Spike comic and a new art team for the Angel one? LA just went from hell to heaven =D

[Canon]

Normally I would be really excited about this, but I'm really not feeling Angel: After The Fall and have a feeling that my opinion of this will be similar.

I'll still read it, I'm just not gonna get my hopes up.

But yay for more Spike :D

[thegifting]

GREAT NEWS. EXCEPT FOR URRU BEING ON THE PROJECT :(

They really need to replace him.

[Black Eye Guy]

I don't like this, I see it as them just trying to cash in on the comics success, I really don't think Spike needs him own comic at the moment.

Plus Im not mad on Lynch or Urru, so the idea of them having to add another thing to concentrate on doesn't sound cool!

[Lyri]

i like the idea of Spike getting his own story, with hopefully guest stars, but i'm really not happy with Urru doing the art. can't we get Georges to do it? lmao

i'd don't really want Lynch to write it either. i'd love to see Joss take the reins for this one.

[Dlou444]

Angel: After the Fall #6, #7 and #8 tell stories of how the cast of characters was affected by the fight in the alley that ended the series. Issue #6 will feature Spike, Connor and Lorne; issue #7 will feature Wesley and a surprise return of a character from the Whedonverse; while issue #8 will feature Gwen, the effect of LA being thrust into hell on the city’s residents, and the fate if Gunn. Issue #9 will pick up from the cliffhanger at the end of issue #5, and will feature the new art team of Nick Runge and Art Lyon. #8 and #9 will both ship in June.

Okay, am I the only one that noticed that Wesley and "Surprise" get their own book, GWEN gets her own book with maybe some Gunn, but Spike, Connor and Lorne have to SHARE ONE? I'd almost rather them ALL get their own book EXCEPT for perhaps Gwen and maybe Connor, although I'm intrigued as to what happened to him.
I'm just thinking the balance is off.

I kind of like Lynch. Urru I could take or leave...except for the fear of someone WORSE coming on board. He does seem to have a good relationship with Lynch, which is probably one of the MOST important things with combining story with art.

[alexa]

I'm not as excited as I am about BtVS, but still looking forward to it. I know Joss is super busy, but be nice if he or a former Angel writer would pitch in for a few issues along with Lynch. Angel kinda feels like the poorer neglected cousin of Buffy.

Yeah I noticed the character with Wesley.. I'm assuming Fred?

[Dlou444]

Yeah I noticed the character with Wesley.. I'm assuming Fred?

Gotta figure it could only be her or Cordy and Cordy with Wesley doesn't make a whole lot of sense....then again neither do Spike, Connor and Lorne!

I don't mind the Angel comics. Maybe because I've told myself I have to wait for the 2nd Tpb of Buffy and I'm actually reading Angel.
The comic book world is so different compared to an hour long episode. And I think Angel left a heck of a lot more that needed explaining, thus a much more difficult job in such a sectioned medium. Especially with so many of the characters spread all over and the need for "new" characters for our leads to interact with. Which isn't really Lynch's fault or Joss's. I blame the stupid networks for canceling the show the way they did.
And even in such a medium that is so sectioned they seem to be moving quite fast and trying to cover as many people and things as humanly possible.
In fact, I'm quite shocked at how fast it IS moving considering...N4H's favorite fish or not!

[Clem Rocks]

Gotta figure it could only be her or Cordy and Cordy with Wesley doesn't make a whole lot of sense....then again neither do Spike, Connor and Lorne!

Well Spike and Connor are working together, so it makes atleast a little sense...

[Lyri]

Hey, it's Lorne supposed to be on the other side of the city? Or at least far enough away that no one knew he was there.

[GATEGOD]

Wow. I just read this. Wow!! This is great news! This is amazing news!! The next issues of Angel and these Spike issues sound really entertaining and will help answer alot of questions. I can't wait!! Now for the character to be in the Wesley issue, the most likely choice will be Fred somehow because Wesley is dead or it could be Cordy... or Doyle.. haha I love the possibilities~but it will probably be Fred.

[DarklyDreamingDrusilla]

Definate excitement in this corner! I love Spike so I am extremely excited to see some simply Spike canon! Can't wait.

[alexa]

Is the Spike: After the Fall canon? Has Joss co-plotted his 4 spin-off issues? Just something I thought of.. hadn't seen it confirmed anywhere.

[palabravampiress]

I like Spike. I have a writer crush on him. I think he's an amazingly complex character with a well-crafted arc and a complex personality. I wish I'd written him.

Even so, I think that the character is overused. I think Spike would fit well into either the Buffy or the Angel comics, but I do not think he needs his own spin-off (unless he's going to Shanshu, of course).

[thegifting]

Angel kinda feels like the poorer neglected cousin of Buffy.

It is. Joss' focus on the two has always been 85/15.

[smgfan75]

great news, I love spike and this will be great. I'm glad that these questions will finally be answered once and for all, and one more thing, I can't really rag on the writers or artists too much, because they are very talented, and they are working on and continuing my two favorite shows. I can't wait for spike: after the fall, and have enjoyed everything that joss throws our way.

[Tranquillity]

I think this is great news! Any new Buffyverse stories are good stories. I LOVE After the Fall - possibly more than season 8 so, fo me, very exciting. Spike is more than capable of holding up his end of a four-part series - Asylum was very good, Shaddow Puppets pretty good. Anyone know if it Will be released at the same time as Angel (so we'll get two comics) or will it be our monthly instalment for those four months?

[Angel's Avenger]

GREAT NEWS. EXCEPT FOR URRU BEING ON THE PROJECT :(

They really need to replace him.


Yes they do.

More Spike! There's just not enough Spike in After The Fall. IMHO.

[Entiel]

Can I ask something?will Spike:ATF be released in the same time with the next Angel:ATF issues?if thy will be released together then I really love the idea because,hey,more comic books per month...if not still I love Spike so I'm still in a yay mood:D:D

[Allycat]

Is the Spike: After the Fall canon? Has Joss co-plotted his 4 spin-off issues? Just something I thought of.. hadn't seen it confirmed anywhere.

I've been searching the net for some kind of confirmation on its status as canon. The only thing I could find was this:

The series is information and stories that were going to be inferred/referenced/glimpsed at in ANGEL:AFTER THE FALL. Spike's situation in that was one Joss and I discussed, now I'm fleshing it out and adding new wrinkles to it.

I was adamant that we get Joss' blessing on telling Spike's story or else I wasn't going to do it. He was for it, I attempted a script, at any point ready to stop if it felt like filler or lazy or unnecessary. I wasn't for doing a spin-off, but a few pages in it was apparent this was going to work beyond any Spike story we've told.

There's a lot of heart, a lot of action, some humor, some horrible happenings. It's one of the only times I've been surprised while writing, I fell in love with the book pretty quickly. Bearing in mind I'm only two issues in and it could all go to pot, I think it's my best Spike writing so far.

Sorry I rambled, I'm really excited about it. Can you tell?

Source: Whedonesque : Comments on 15744 : (SPOILER) Spike:After the Fall-coming in July from IDW! (http://whedonesque.com/comments/15744#216253)

I guess you could take that to mean it's canon, but I'm still not sure. Joss (or at least his office) has to approve all plot-outlines for tie-in media, like the obviously non-canon novels and video games. The same thing could be going on here.

In the meantime, enjoy some covers. First two are by Franco, the last one is by the Sharp brothers. (The colours aren't finished yet though.)

spike1_franco_FabioMantovani.jpg (image) (http://bp1.blogger.com/_sWu0-rmtFZM/R9b9W1sWGiI/AAAAAAAAAV4/tEfi5MU6NMw/s1600-h/spike1_franco_FabioMantovani.jpg)
final+cover+Spike+ATF1.jpg (image) (http://bp3.blogger.com/_sWu0-rmtFZM/R9b9TVsWGhI/AAAAAAAAAVw/PYnZbeYIHf0/s1600-h/final+cover+Spike+ATF1.jpg)
Spike_Cover_Colors-1.jpg (image) (http://bp2.blogger.com/_sWu0-rmtFZM/R9b9PFsWGgI/AAAAAAAAAVo/fim8L5XeGcg/s1600-h/Spike_Cover_Colors-1.jpg)

[Clem Rocks]

Hey, it's Lorne supposed to be on the other side of the city? Or at least far enough away that no one knew he was there.

Angel knew he was there

Is the Spike: After the Fall canon? Has Joss co-plotted his 4 spin-off issues? Just something I thought of.. hadn't seen it confirmed anywhere.

Yes, it's canon

Can I ask something?will Spike:ATF be released in the same time with the next Angel:ATF issues?

No, S:AtF doesn't come out until July

[Black Eye Guy]

Yeah until I get a proper "this is canon" from Joss, Im not taking this cuz he always had to sign off on the comics and books and that didn't make them canon.

[Clem Rocks]

Yeah until I get a proper "this is canon" from Joss, Im not taking this cuz he always had to sign off on the comics and books and that didn't make them canon.

Would it be listed on Joss's website as canon if he doesn't want it to be canon? =|

[Dlou444]

A spin-off is different from a 4 comic streak, right? I think Spike could use one. Especially with how he "blends" with both shows so well AND can do things on his own. He could be hopping all over tarnation! And I DID love Asylum. Shadow Puppets was not as great, but still good.
If nothing else, I think Lynch "gets" the characters he's writing about.

[white avenger]

It would be nice to think that this is an experiment on Joss' part to see how Spike, usually somebody's sidekick up til now, could stand on his own, in preperation for a live action movie, but of course that's just the rambling of an old Spike fan.

[Allycat]

Canon!

Sorry about that, I'm just really excited right now. I asked on Chris Ryall (IDW's Editor-in-Chief) if he could confirm S:AtF's canonical status. Here's his reply:


Well, it spins out of the canonical Angel: After the Fall and is Joss-approved, so it's as canon as can be, yeah.

This is enough confirmation for me, unless someone can disprove it.

[GATEGOD]

Canon!

Sorry about that, I'm just really excited right now. I asked on Chris Ryall (IDW's Editor-in-Chief) if he could confirm S:AtF's canonical status. Here's his reply:



This is enough confirmation for me, unless someone can disprove it.

That does sound pretty good.

[Clem Rocks]

We knew that yesterday, it was said on Whedonesque that it was canon, not long after it was revealed

[CharmedSlayer85]

I don't know if I like the idea of giving Spike his own mini-series. I mean Spike is now apart of Team Angel and that's where he needs to stay. That's like giving Willow her own mini-series because she's popular enough to have her own fan following, however that wouldn't work cause she's part of the Scobby Gang.

[Allycat]

I don't know if I like the idea of giving Spike his own mini-series. I mean Spike is now apart of Team Angel and that's where he needs to stay. That's like giving Willow her own mini-series because she's popular enough to have her own fan following, however that wouldn't work cause she's part of the Scobby Gang.

Actually, I think that would work marvellously. Willow isn't as much a member of the Scooby Gang in Season 8 as she has been in previous seasons. What's more important, is that Willow has reached such a high power-level that she's is lots and lots stronger than Buffy. Unless the writers think of ways for Willow to be incapacitated during the big fights, it will be her and not Buffy, who has the best chance of beating the bad guy. I fear that she might outshine Buffy. And having her preoccupied or incapacitated all the time, might grow old.