On Nov. 21, 2007, as the still-ongoing television writer’s strike was just beginning to attract attention, legions of fans of one show finally got their wish with the publication of “Angel: After the Fall #1,” the comic-book continuation of the cult television show “Angel.”

The series follows the adventures of its titular hero, a centuries-old vampire who regained his soul through a gypsy curse, which causes him to feel remorse for his years of debauchery, murder and otherwise bad behavior.

In the show, which spun off from the likewise cult hit “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” Angel roamed the city of Los Angeles attempting to atone for his past sins, occasionally saving the world in the process. The show’s themes of redemption and a decidedly murky morality made it a hit among those weary of cookie-cutter sitcoms and family dramas.

At the height of the show’s popularity (it ran from 1999 to 2004), a number of comic books sprung up around the franchise. After the series’ thrilling, unexpected conclusion, which ended with Angel and gang facing off against dragons, demons and other agents in the employ of demonic law firm Wolfram and Hart, a number of other “limited” series emerged. But the outcome of the battle was never addressed until now.

“Angel: After the Fall” occupies an interesting intersection of comics and television. The main story comes from show creator Joss Whedon.

“It will definitely use Season Six’s proposed stories as inspiration, but it’s not exactly Season Six,” Whedon said in an interview with Wizard Entertainment.

However, the book is written by veteran Angel comics writer Brian Lynch, with haunting art by Franco Urru. Whedon has always catered to his fans, but there was a legitimate concern that the series wouldn’t translate over from the screen to the page. But Whedon had two points to his advantage.

His comic book continuation of Buffy, currently on issue #10, is receiving rave reviews. Also, the comic book format lacks the budget constraints of a television show. The only limits to the action are those of the creator, and Whedon fans know there’s no danger there. But issue one is even quite shocking.

As mentioned, the issue begins with Angel, trench-coated and with sword in hand, rescuing a girl from a particularly gruesome demon—a familiar image. But a turn of the page reveals an apocalyptic vision hitherto unrivaled in the Angel mythos.

It turns out that Angel survived the battle, but with a pesky catch: the entire city of Los Angeles has been cast into hell. The gorgeous two-page image of the city burning, with grotesque touches such as a skyscraper-sized gaping mouth standing amidst the Los Angeles skyline, is a lasting image.

Angel has always succeeded best in its mixture of horror and comedy, and this issue shows it at its best, particularly in the reintroduction of old characters. The return of charismatic street tough Charles Gunn must be seen to be believed. Granted, the reliance on old characters and the expectation of at least a limited acquaintance with the show’s storyline may throw off readers who are attracted to the book by Tony Harris’s beautiful painted cover.

However, the book actually begins a number of months after the final episode, meaning that at some point in the projected 12-issue story we’ll be brought back to that alley, and interested neophytes who stick around long enough may find themselves wanting to seek out old episodes of the series anyway.

Reporter: Paul Mirek - 01/16/07