Summary: After the big reveals in Volume 1, Volume 2 takes a step back to look at what happened between the end of the Angel the TV show and the beginning of Angel: After the Fall... specifically, how each of our main characters (except Angel himself), and a few of the minor ones, spent their first night after Wolfram & Hart sent all of Los Angeles into Hell. Each character's story is only a few pages long, each is done by a different artist, and each is in a very different style. (Lorne's story, appropriately enough, is done in verse!)

Review: Eh. These short stories are interesting enough, I suppose, but I didn't really find much here to get worked up about one way or the other. Maybe because I was able to extrapolate how characters got to where they were at the beginning of Volume 1, that I didn't really have a pressing need to have it spelled out for me here. I think the story I found the most interesting was Connor's, mainly because it featured a surprise - but very fitting - reappearance from someone who I'd thought was long gone. Funny what you can do when you're in a graphic novel and have an unlimited number of guest stars, eh?

Actually, what I enjoyed most about this volume was not the story itself, but rather Brian Lynch's notes and commentary. He's a funny dude, and the stories behind the stories are oftentimes more interesting than what's happening on screen. And the fact that the Groosalugg's blog (which provides the recap of Vol. 1 at the beginning of this book) lists him as "Listening to: Cries of my enemies, squeals of lust from the local townswomen. Also Coldplay." just makes me giggle. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: It doesn't provide a whole lot of new information that couldn't have been guessed at from Vol. 1, but on the other hand, it doesn't take long to read, so... at your leisure. ( )

If you don't know how the television series Angel ended, you'd best steer clear of this review.

Lynch and Whedon backtrack somewhat with this second volume of ANGEL: AFTER THE FALL. There's a framing story that takes place at the same time as the events at the end of the first volume, but this installment is mostly concerned with what our heroes were up to on the night Wolfram & Hart sent Los Angeles into Hell. They took a three-issue break from the main storyline to provide us with a series of (very) short stories about Spike, Connor, Lorne, Wesley, Kate, Gwen, the people of Los Angeles and Gunn.

I could tell you I wasn’t miffed that this didn’t take up right where that big cliffhanger at the end of the first volume left off, but I’d be lying. That complaint aside, though, this was good. It helps fill in some of the gaps left by that sudden transition from united alleyway showdown to broken up gang. I especially enjoyed the chance to catch up with Kate. I’d always wondered where she got to. Here’s hoping she continues to play a role in the series.

The problem with the stories is that they’re all quite short. Since Lynch squeezed so many stories into such a small space, they don't always have the depth as I was hoping for. They’re good, yes, but they’re not really on the same level as the first volume.

I think I actually enjoyed Lynch’s comments on the stories more than the stories themselves. He discusses the arc as a whole, then goes over the plotting and art involved with each story. His commentary was often hilarious, and it got me thinking about the stories in a whole new way.

If you enjoyed the first volume, this is definitely worth reading; however, I'd caution you to expect good, rather than great, things from it.

(This review originally appeared in a slightly different form on my blog, Stella Matutina). ( )

I'm so glad this book was made because I enjoyed After the Fall but really felt out of the loop. The uncertainty was as much distracting and intriguing. It kind of drove me crazy to have characters like Gwen and Nina tossed into the fray with little explanation, so First Night settled things down for me, and now I'm ready to dive back into the story. And, can I say, Wesley is so cool. ( )