 I loved Angel as a TV show. More than just a Buffy spin-off it was its equal, and perhaps, superior. Full of intricate plots and rich developing characters I just couldn't get enough of the adventures of the vampire with a soul and his gang of whacky do-gooders. I watched the entire 5 seasons on DVD in a matter of months. So, it was with great excitement that I learned of IDW's plans to continue Angel's heroic tales. Comics have been published focusing on Joss Whedon's manly hero for almost 4 years now, but this is the first time that an Angel title has been regarded as canon, though it's not referred to as Angel: Season Six, unlike Dark Horse's Buffy: Season Eight that's pleasing fans. Whedon oversees this title, scripted by Brian Lynch who's familiar with the universe after writing the surly Brit and sometime Angel ally in Spike: Asylum and Spike: Shadow Puppets. So, this should be pretty good right? I mean, at least as good as the Buffy book. Um...no. And I so wish I didn't have to say that. But here's why.
Firstly, if you're not a fan, like me, you will have absolutely no idea what's going on here. Of course, this is geared towards fans of the show, but a blurb to catch newbies up to speed, on the inside cover is just common sense. IDW also publish CSI and 24 comics based on those TV shows so I would think a mini summary would be standard in all these types of books with crossover appeal. What I can tell you is that since we left Angel and co. in that infamous cliffhanger moment in the last episode (which had all the good guys facing a whole mess of bad guys in an alley) Los Angeles is now in hell. Literally. Wolfram & Hart, the most evil law firm on earth, sent the city there to punish Angel for thinking he could defy them. But at least he gets to ride a dragon.
 This is a fantastic twist, and an unexpected one, as is the return of Angel's son Connor and the-aren't-you-dead Wesley. It's a welcome sight to see these beloved characters back though and Wesley seems to be in a sort of binding contract with Wolfram & Hart which allows him to return to the land of the living. It will undoubtedly take a few issues for Lynch and Whedon to explain just what has happened since the show's finale and how and who made it out of that alley alive. There's decidedly more questions here than answers, which is frustrating and to be honest I won't pick up any further issues, though when this first arc is complete I may be tempted to buy the trade. I could 'hear' the actor's voices in my head when I read this issue and it does make me want to watch the show again, but is that really what an adaptation is supposed to do? Franco Urru's art is just muddy. I mean, I know it's supposed to be dark, but this is ill defined and the colouring just seems flat. I didn't expect crisp pencils with Angel around, but this just comes off as rushed, with very little detail. Kind of like Tim Sale in its minimalist approach, but nowhere near as enticing. Disappointing, but maybe afer a few issues Lynch and Urru may get used to this world and I'll be excited over Angel once more.
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