Joss Whedon

Girls & Monsters & Flying Cars

In a world long without magicks and demons, what’s a Slayer to do?

If you’re 19-year-old Melaka Fray, you put your superhuman strength, dexterity, and resilience to use as a professional thief. Or “grabber,” in future slang. That it just so happens to frustrate your estranged big sister, who was recently promoted to sergeant in “the laws,” to no end? Icing on the cake!

Set in New York City hundreds of years in the future, Fray introduces us to a world show more (mostly) free of vampires. Locked away in another dimension by an unnamed 21st century Slayer, they’ve gradually and inexplicably been resurfacing in Mel’s neighborhood. Seemingly harmless and commonly mistaken for drug addicts or human mutants (which all too common given the regrettable state of the environment), few have paid these “lurkers” any mind. That is, until they begin to plot to open a gate to hell – and the next Slayer is called. Unfortunately, all the Watchers have since been bored into madness, and Mel’s hapless Watcher sets himself on fire at their first meeting. Standing in as Mel’s trainer and mentor is Urkonn, a goat-like demon with a mean punch and a shady agenda.

Though firmly rooted in the Buffyverse, Fray easily stands on its own. (One need not have prior experience with Buffy or Angel to enjoy Fray – though it’s highly recommended!) While the story is familiar – girl meets vampire, girl kills vampire – here it gets a futuristic makeover. Witty like a certain blonde we all know and love, Mel is nonetheless her own Slayer: brash, short-tempered, sticky-fingered, always willing to throw a punch for a friend or fellow “freak.” Juxtaposed with a dreary, dilapidated city landscape, Mel practically jumps off the page in her vivid blues, purples, and greens. The artwork contained within these pages is simply stunning.

I also appreciate Joss’s care in creating Mel. His main rule: “No cheesecake. No giant silicone hooters, no standing with her butt out in that bizarrely uncomfortable soft-core pose so many artists favor. None of those outfits that casually – and constantly - reveal portions of a thong.” While Mel’s pants sometimes seem to ride a little low, I think Joss and his team mostly succeeded. Mel is lithe and sexy (I covet her biceps!), without being reduced to some cartoonish male fantasy.

Mel’s supporting cast of characters is almost as memorable as the Slayer: Urkonn makes for an imposing Watcher (the biggest “guard dog” ever); boss Gunther is ssssimply captivating; Erin, Mel’s sister, is one BAMF; Harth’s story provides an interesting twist to the Slayer mythology; and Loo. Oh, Loo.

The story ends on a vaguely unfinished note, with paths left open to multiple future storylines. Sequel please?

My only complaint is the casual use of the word rape, i.e., to describe something that most definitely does not constitute rape: “[War is] decency raped to death.” While war is inarguably brutal and destructive, one cannot “rape” an abstract, intangible idea or concept like decency. Decency can be corrupted, twisted, or misused, but “raped”? Let’s save that verb for the sexual violation of live animal bodies, mkay?

http://www.easyvegan.info/2013/04/01/fray-by-joss-whedon/ show less

I took a quick glance at some of the other reviews as I went to add this volume and was kinda shocked to see so many "meh" comments about it! I actually really had a blast reading this: the writing felt true to the characters and was quippy without being annoying, the artwork was vibrant and expressive, and the plot was a delightful time-travel-y ride! I LOVED getting to see Melaka again; I read "Fray" for the first time last year and thought it was fantastic. Maybe I'm a bit biased because show more I'm a sucker for time-travel play (and centaurs tbh), but truly "Time of Your Life" is my favorite volume in Season 8 so far. show less

Unengaging graphic sequel - apparently the first 'episodes' in a notional Season 8 - to the TV Series, 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'. It misses the point - the Buffy series was fantasy, sure, but it was also about the psychological development of, and the tensions within, its Scooby Gang.

'Season 8' (at least based on reading this first volume) is filled with stereotypes and seems a forced attempt to drive the 'girl power' message of the last minutes of the final show of Season 7 to ridiculous show more lengths. Much of this comic is just silly, portentous and disconnected.

It also gives us a clue as to why Joss Whedon literally lost the plot with Firefly, less so with Serenity, when he tried to paint on a much bigger canvas. The point was that Buffy was not such a big canvas in time and space when you got down to it.

It was a small town living under the shadow of many dimensions and, as HP Lovecraft and Stephen King have both shown us, a relatively tight 'real' universe can often be more effective at making us believe in cosmic horrors than a world of limitless fantasy ... perhaps Whedon should leave big fantasy to the top graphic design 'auteurs' like Alan Moore and Mike Mignola who can create characters and situations that are limitless from the start.

The novel is also ridiculously expensive for what it is. There is something irritating about a marketing mentality that hooks kids on a product and then prises £11.99 of their pocket money for something so unstimulating. It feels like exploitation.

Perhaps it gets much better in Volume 2 (and afterwards) but I am not going to bother to find out. I don't believe in completism for its own sake.

If Whedon cannot continue the story on the small screen in episodic form, then I, for one, will be happy to close the mythos with the Scooby Gang (minus Anya) standing by their commandeered school bus, looking down into the gaping hole that was Sunnydale and the (presumed) vapourised grave of the redeemed Spike. And so it goes .... show less

from Brian:

Joss Whedon is known (and beloved) around the world for being the creator of various cult-favorite television series Buffy The Vampire, Angel, and Serenity. He has recently become the driving force
behind the Avengers movies, providing humor and nuance to larger-than-life superheroes. These world dominating Avengers movies however, was not the first time Joss Whedon tried his hand at comic-book based storytelling. Eleven years ago, Joss Whedon created the X-men storyline I am show more reviewing. The big question is whether this graphic novel compendium stands the test of time, and if it is easily digestible for comic book fans not too familiar with the X-Men universe.


The answer is an unequivocably yes. The story combines Whedon's trademark wit, and complex exploration of characters. Though these superheroes' origins are from comic books, Whedon brings soul stirring human drama to their plight, culiminating in a climax that knock many "serious" dramas down a peg or two.

The art in the book is fantastic, pulpy and streamlined, the writing quick like Whedon's series. There's even a fantastic scene where the usual grumpy Wolverine is stoically trying not to burst out laughing.

Every character within this ensemble is given a chance to shine, with Whedon showing his trademark ability to balance all their needs, push the story, and even introduce a new compelling character in the green haired, green sunglasses wearing Agent Brand.

What also cannot be stated enough is Whedon's terrific ability to create strong female characters. What he does in introducing Agent Brand and with giving the story's main arc to master of intangibility Kitty Pryde (a minor character in many of the incarnations) is pure...genius.

A must-read. show less