Yesterday IDW issued a press release confirming the return of Joss Whedon’s Angel in a five-issue mini-series that picks up where the TV show left off. Titled Angel: The Curse, the mini follows Angel as he searches for the Gypsy clan that cursed him with a soul years ago.
First, let me say that I’m a huge "Angel" fan. The series was easily my favorite show on television. But as excited as I am to hear the character is returning, I can’t help but wonder, how will Angel fans who don’t read comics know his adventures are continuing?
I’m not trying to be pessimistic here. I think Angel is a great concept for comic books. And some Angel fans are so fucking passionate about the character and his world that they will definitely make the leap and follow him to comics. Just how enamored with Angel are these people? Well, when viewers heard the TV series would be cancelled after five seasons, a very public "Save Angel" campaign was launched. The remarkable effort, which included a guerilla mobile truck with the slogan, “We’ll Follow Angel to Hell... or Another Network,” didn’t rescue the show, but it did get the attention of the WB big wigs. Now there’s a possibility that the station will bring Angel back in made-for-television movies.
But what about the less crazy fans; the ones who watched the TV show every week, but won’t be logging on to the latest “David Boreanaz Is A Sex Muffin” Website to see what IDW has planned? How will they be reached?
Well, I don’t know what IDW’s marketing strategy is for its Angel comics, but I’d really like to see some kind of promotional effort that directly targets this audience. The Angel Season 5 DVD collection comes out on February 15. Wouldn’t it be cool if the DVD set included a preview of The Curse, or a note letting fans know the series will live on as a comic book? I’d also like to see Joss Whedon publicly promote the Angel comics in some way. He’s not writing The Curse, which will likely disappoint some hardcore fans, but an endorsement goes a long way. And the guy who got the writing gig — Jeff Mariotte — has written a bunch of Angel novels and co-wrote the first behind-the scenes Angel companion book, so Joss should be pretty pleased with the choice.
According to IDW, The Curse is only the first of many Angel comics planned by the publisher. I’d really like to see Angel succeed as a comic book and the way to ensure longevity is to attract the TV audience that doesn’t have a clue about comics. These fans want to find out just what the hell happened to Angel and his merry band of suckhead destroyers. Hopefully IDW finds a way to let them know they can.
If it follows season 5 ANGEL....why not...I didnt like the ending of season 5 my self,and I dont think its coming back in the near future to TV....You all can sit and wait...But Ill buy it too see why hes looking for the gypsy clan that cursed him.....Sounds like a good beginning too me.
Simply the comic book series is another medium...not a sequence to the tv series.
The television show ended on "Not Fade Away" and the story of the show too. Any other "continuation", to me, if not on the tv show, will be considered as a ’what if’. A different take on what would happen if the story continued
But not the official stuff.
I think it’s really cool that there’ll be a comic book, tho! It’s just that it’s like the Angel’s novels, it’s another stuff/medium.
This is a perfect example of how out of touch the producers, writers, etc. of the show were with the fans in the last season.
The really loyal, die-hard fans like me who had been with Angel since the beginning, and followed him from BTVS didn’t want a comic book-type hero! We wanted the dark and broody gorgeous vampire we fell in love with back! We were in it for the romance.
I think the Nina character pretty much killed the story for me anyway. Like I said, I was in it for the romance, and there simply wasn’t any in the end. I was one of those B/A fanatics who watched with the desperate hope of one last Angel/Buffy moment.
I fought tooth and nail like a rabid fangirl with all the time, money, and resources I had for an Angel Season Six. In the end I felt betrayed and abandoned by almost everyone involved with the show.
This is my opinion only, but in my heart, I believe (I hope) Joss will try some sort of t.v. spinoff. He was obviously passionate about the series, and he loved the fans. I think he is brilliant enough to come up with something new, yet have some of the old aspects of the series.
actually i am going to add it to my comic pull list next time i go to the shop and i havent even considered buying a buffy angel/comic since buffys origin tpb
I really hope Joss comes up with something new from the Buffy/Angelverse as well, but it will have to be TV or a movie for me. I’d love a new show to watch. I’m not into comic books.
You know, a lot of the responses here don’t shock me. You’d think more people would be excited about any continuation of ANGEL. But, once again, I see exactly what I expected to see: bitching.
Unfortunately we have yet another case of fannish ingratitude. Once again we see people complain that something just isn’t good enough. Once again, a group of fans show that there is virtually no pleasing them, an all-too-typical "all or nothing" approach.
If comics aren’t your bag, then don’t read them. Simple as that. Don’t poo poo all over the party of those of us who will be all-too-happy to read "The Curse".
To be honest I think the problem is that anything other than a JW tv series will only be demi-cannon at best. It sounds a good concept but I think that it the problem.
Darkangel I’m sorry but I think you need to grow up. I hate militant Bangle shippers. Ok I’m in both opposing camps I Cangle and Spuffy who sometimes feels victimised by Bangles, but apart from that I do believe that although Buffy and Angel’s relationship was a good thing while it lasted which strengthed them it was ended by Angel for good reasons which have not gone anyway and they have been apart too long and experienced too much apart for the restart of their relationship to be anything more than a sappy pandering to the Bangle mob. I liked Nina it was good to see the broody one in a relationship with someone who obviously adored him and I hate the hard time she was given by the Bangle mob who still hanker for something that isn’t workable.
No I won’t. I never read comic’s and won’t for this....next they will tell us that Angel or Buffy will be turning into a cartoon....What’s after that??? Ads for cereal or toothpaste from the Vampires with a Soul...No thanks
I didn’t feel the fans’ efforts in trying so hard to keep the show going for another season were appreciated very much at all. Several of us really put a lot of time and money into showing how much we loved the show and wanted it to continue.
Joss seemed so pre-occupied with the Firefly movie and X-men that he hardly acknowledged us. He just kept his distance and left us to fight for the show on our own. The WB just snubbed its nose at us.
As for being a rabid fangirl, hey, we watch the shows and buy the DVDs. What’s wrong with that? :D
For those of you who liked Nina, I think you’re missing the point. If her character had been there long enough to have had any depth and there had been more drama/romance in the relationship it wouldn’t have been so bad. But for those of us who had watched the show for years and loved the whole Buffy/Angel romance from the beginning, and were led to believe that Buffy might be there in the end, throwing Angel into bed with Nina like that was a real slap in the face. It showed that Buffy fans didn’t matter.
Angel and Buffy together were like molten lava hot, Angel and Darla were steamy hot, Angel and Cordy were really sweet together, but Angel and Nina left me cold.
I guess I’m still too upset and missing the show too much to think about it in comic book form. :(
Simply the comic book series is another medium...not a sequence to the tv series.
The television show ended on "Not Fade Away" and the story of the show too. Any other "continuation", to me, if not on the tv show, will be considered as a ’what if’. A different take on what would happen if the story continued
But not the official stuff.
I think it’s really cool that there’ll be a comic book, tho! It’s just that it’s like the Angel’s novels, it’s another stuff/medium.
I completely agreed. I’ve been saying the same thing. I wouldn’t consider it an actual continuation. It would drive me mad. THEN, I saw how you thought it’d be cool. I mean continue a TV show with COMICS?! Come on. I have nothing against comics or comic readers. But, I’m sorry. That’s just dumb. Angel is too great of a show. BUT, since Joss won’t be writting them. I will not and REFUSE to accept it as a continuation. BECAUSE, I know! Cliffhangers SUCK. But, it couldn’t have ended any better. I mean-if they would have done it when the fight was through. We would know for a fact who died. And that would too would suck. And plus, that’s how Buffy ended. After the fight. That’s just gay to do a repeat. You know. It would’ve been better to have a 6th season. But, since the stupid wb thought it HAD to end. I think this was the best way. I also am against movies. First of all-so is DB. And like I have said-the ending was perfect. Even a spin-off would be dumb. Since when to spin-offs of spin-offs work? Well, since it’d be considered buffyverse. Yeah, it’d prolly make it. But, still-who’d it be of? I mean, We know everything about Spike. No matter how much we hate it. His story’s over. Gunn? He’s prolly dead-but, still...that just wouldn’t float. Nor would an Illyria one. There’s nothing left of it. And it kills me. But, it’s true. Leave the show alone. Leave it be before you completely ruin it. NOW, if they insist on TRYING to continue on with some buffyverse-ness. How about a Darla’s past novel series. That’d be cool. You know-her and Angelus. Or just her before Angelus. That’d be awesome. Please, donot hate me for my words. Cuz, as much as I hate it. There’s nothing left, and like I said. No matter how much you want to believe it. There is no more Spike story. We know everything. This is not an opinion. It is a fact. We know everything about spike. Now, i’m not saying nothing up there isn’t an opinion-cuz technically it is. Just the Spikeyness isn’t.
I saw one mention of Nina-and knew I had to post. SHE SUCKS! She’s annoying. Not that this counts-but ugly. Angel only was "with" her, cuz ofcourse, depression and stuff. He recently lost his love. Cordelia. (sorry, Bangel fans-but he did love her.) And we all know he didn’t really give a crap for Nina, besides the what’s it called. Damsel in distress way. He just always felt like he to save the women. You know? He had no feelings for her-still had his soul. I think 99% will agree that she blows. Rather you’re a Cangel, Bangel, Frangel, or any Angel shippiness fan. Cuz, she sucked. And many of us wanted to vomit seeing it. And they had NO chemistry together. ATALL. Not one widdle spark. I mean-Angel and Lorne had more spark than them!!! Angel and Doyle had more! Angel and (what’s a one time character???)...Angel and FORD (Jason Behr-btvs) had more chemistry! Did I make my point? Think so. K. Laterz.
CANGEL FOREVER!!! Or, to not start a HUGE fight with the bangel lovers-DOWN WITH NINA!
Darkangel I’m sorry but I think you need to grow up. I hate militant Bangle shippers. Ok I’m in both opposing camps I Cangle and Spuffy who sometimes feels victimised by Bangles, but apart from that I do believe that although Buffy and Angel’s relationship was a good thing while it lasted which strengthed them it was ended by Angel for good reasons which have not gone anyway and they have been apart too long and experienced too much apart for the restart of their relationship to be anything more than a sappy pandering to the Bangle mob. I liked Nina it was good to see the broody one in a relationship with someone who obviously adored him and I hate the hard time she was given by the Bangle mob who still hanker for something that isn’t workable.
Yes. me again. Cangel shipper here. Cangel is beautiful. THEY obviously adored eachother. And they WERE inlove. I was pissed when Cordy was taken to be a ’higher being’. But, if not-you know it would’ve led to Angelus sooner. Cuz, they would’ve slept together. And that would’ve changed some...kinda alot. ANYWAYZ. I hate Bangel. HATE. It was annoying how Buffy jerked him (and all her men) around. They were kinda cute together, but they didn’t have as much "chemistry" as Cangel did. Or even as much as Frangel (Who i also support, but NO WHERE NEAR as much as Cangel) did. I can’t believe, YOU, a Cangel shipper like Nina. And I donot just hate her because Angel and Nina slept together- she was annoying from the minute she appeared on screen. But, I think Joss just felt like annoying the crap out of all of us. Bangel, Cangel, Frangel, Spangel, ANY angel relationship shippers-cuz I haven’t met even 2 people who like NANGEL (?!). As I have said, NO CHEMISTRY. The reason I am a Cangel shipper, is because they seriously had to most chemistry. They just fit. They were beautiful. Tis why "Waiting in The Wings" is one of my favorite episodes. -sigh- wish there would’ve been more epis like that. And it seems as though we’ve gone completely off of subject. I know I am gonna get lots of nasty comments about my comments. But, it’s just so. Charisma and David have the best onscreen chemistry I have ever seen.
Mandy’s right. It hurts to say it, but the show is over. I don’t want to see Angel turned into a comic book super hero. It was bad enough that they portrayed him that way in the last few episodes. I want to remember Angel as the dark and broody vamp who was mysterious, cultured, worldly, read French philosophy by a fire, went from living in a haunted old mansion to a film noir-type detective agency to the Hyperion (I missed the gothic-type atmosphere after they went to W&H)...the dear boy who drew portraits, loved ballet, wore stylish clothes, and was wise, but also a bit vain...he had style. I dont want to think of him as the bumbling dork they made him into who wore the same duster EVERY day! Oh, except when they put him in that silly jacket! :P I’ll always be a Bangel because Angel’s character was created to love Buffy. Real people change, grow, move on, etc. Heros don’t. Their hearts remain true. The whole "Forbidden love of all time" is such a huge part of what makes Angel’s character so romantic. Having said that, I absolutely love Cordy! I love Spike as well! Anyway, to get somewhat back on topic, I’m simply not someone who enjoys comics, but I LOVE novels. I think Mandy’s idea about Darla’s story sounds GREAT! I’d love more vampire stories, especially if they were somehow linked to the Buffy/Angelverse, only with new vamp characters added in. Please, someone write something like that!
P.S. I hadn’t thought about it, but Nina was really a slap in the face to ALL of us, no matter what ship we are.
That’s the only episode of Angel (or Buffy for that matter) that I will NEVER watch again.
I want to remember Angel as the dark and broody vamp who was mysterious, cultured, worldly, read French philosophy by a fire, went from living in a haunted old mansion to a film noir-type detective agency to the Hyperion (I missed the gothic-type atmosphere after they went to W&H)...the dear boy who drew portraits, loved ballet, wore stylish clothes, and was wise, but also a bit vain...he had style.
Wow. You described him so beautifully. lol. Perfectly. -sigh- I suddenly miss Angel (the show and character) more. ’Specially the hyperion days. I did like the 5th season. But, am I the only who noticed that they RARELY actually went out and fought?! Like never-cept for the finale. That made me so freaking mad. And noones ever seems to have noticed-or atleast mentioned it.
I guess I have mixed feelings about the 5th Season. There are things I really love about it and things that really bug me. It seemed like it was sort of all over the place. I mean, Angel’s character seemed so different from one episode to the next. One minute they’d have him saying things (and wearing things) that the original Angel never would have, the next it would seem like we had the old Angel back again. I know he was supposed to be being tested by the PTB and the character was evolving, growing, etc. But sometimes it went too far and he seemed too unAngel-like. Maybe there were too many different writers. Maybe it was just me.
I did kind of miss the fighting too (I think maybe David’s knee surgery had something to do with that). Still, Angel was definitely the best thing on TV.
Wow, I really hope this comic isn’t all about him trying to get the gypsy curse removed so he can be happy with dog girl. That would really suck!
Wow, I really hope this comic isn’t all about him trying to get the gypsy curse removed so he can be happy with dog girl. That would really suck!
Wouldn’t it though! I’m just glad it’s not Joss writting it. Cuz, then it’d seriously be like a continuation. So, I’ve calmed down a bit since my first rant. (In. Hold it. Out.) I’m still not gaga about the idea. But, knowing Joss isn’t working on it helps me a bit. But, I still believe novels would be better.
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