Customer Reviews

Angel: Auld Lang Syne

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Angel: Auld Lang Syne is a highly entertaining graphic novel written by Scott Tipton with artwork by David Messina. Of all the Buffy books I've read, this one's my favorite.

Make no mistake--Angel's name may be on the cover, but this is a Spike story, through and through.

Reading this book after the "Spike" graphic novel, it became apparent to me what was later confirmed by reading interviews: Spike is Scott Tipton's favorite character, and it shows. Not that he is unfair to Angel or any other characters in his representation of Spike. It is merely that he writes Spike with love and enthusiasm that is clear on the page. He writes a faithful interpretation of the character, one full of the mannerisms and witty dialogue and attitude that we expect from Spike. He makes Spike's dialogue sound natural, not like he is "trying" or "reaching" to convey the character, nor does his depiction ever devolve into caricature as one could so easily do.

"Auld Lang Syne" takes place at an indeterminate timeline, sometime after Spike has regained his soul and become corporeal in LA, possibly after the end of Angel the Series, but never explicitly stated. Angel and Spike, separately, both encounter figures from their past who are dead, yet are somehow up and about and able to attack them and mess with their heads.

Spike encounters not only his mother, but also the two Slayers that he killed. This makes for fun battle scenes with the Slayers that were all too briefly seen on BTVS. (Later we actually get to see Angel battling the New York Slayer, Nikki Wood, as well. How cool is that?)

Naturally, when Angel and Spike run into each other, they think the other is another fake beastie from their past, and begin an epic mano-a-mano battle that lasts a full 19 pages! It's truly exciting and shows both souled vampires to the best of their fighting abilities. Their fighting techniques match their personalities, Spike being somewhat impulsive and impatient, Angel perhaps a bit more cunning. Their attacks get very creative. The back cover promises the "greatest head-to-head Angel/Spike battle ever," and it does not disappoint!

Finally, of course, though, they realize they're being played by a mysterious villain who set them against each other, and they team up to solve the mystery together. Seeing them help each other is just as entertaining as watching them fight each other. Rest assured it is not a carefree alliance.

Spike actually gets the main focus and glory in the final battle with the villain, though of course not without Angel's help.

The final scene is a searing insight into these former enemies/reluctant allies/eternal rivals. Despite their differences, they always live with one huge commonality, and I'm not talking about their souls.

Scott Tipton understands the Angel-Spike dynamic as well as anyone, and more importantly, he understands how to write them for maximum tension, humor, and drama.

I would really recommend any Buffy books Tipton writes for Spike fans, based on this volume and the Spike graphic novel alone.

(A note on the artwork: While Messina's work is not quite as realistic as Fernando Goni's, rest assured that the characters are drawn to look like the actors, and he does a good job. Angel and Spike are depicted very well.)

I find it difficult to decide what to read sometimes without being able to flip through the whole thing or without someone to recommend it to me so hopefully this will help.

Yes, this book is worth reading. If you are a fan of the buffyverse and Angel you will enjoy this story. I am a little confused about where it sits in the continuity but it is after the end of the TV show.

Like most TPB it is a little short (mostly because I enjoyed it and want it to continue) but the artwork is great and the characters act the way I have come to expect.

So, if you have missed new episodes of Angel, then grab this and maybe a few others and enjoy.

I've been following the Buffy comics, and absolutely loved Brian Lynch's "Spike: Asylum" series. But this was neither headed by Joss or Brian, and it shows.

I didn't have a problem with the drawings and coloring--that was fine. The story line could've been stronger, in my humble opinion. Angel's voice was okay, but for anyone who is a true fan, you will hate it whenever Spike speaks. There are words and phrases that he would never use (e.g. filly), and the phrases are used multiple times. Not only did it take me out of the story, it made me cringe every time I saw a bubble over his head. If you're going to read comics, stick with Brian Lynch in regards to Angel and Spike, because he actually watched the show and knows the characters.

This comic was pretty good, but nothing great. It had some nice obscure characters come back from Angel's past as well as Spike's. Overall though, the story was weak. The fight between Angel & Spike is over hyped, but still pretty good. I liked the way they ended the comic & of course the interactions between Spike & Angel are great. Though a mediocre at best story, still a must have for a Buffy & Angel fan, and the only reason why I gave it 4 stars instead of 3.

In this graphic novel, Spike and Angel are getting beat up by people from their pasts (most of whom are dead.) Who's doing this, and why?
I'm not a big reader of comics or graphic novels, but my deep love of everything Joss Whedon inspired me to pick this volume up. I don't really know how to review a graphic novel, but it seemed to me that the dialogue for Spike was better than that for angel. I don't think the graphic representations of the familiar characters were terribly accurate, but I understand that that's usually the case in a comic.
I suppose I would recommend this more to fans of graphic novels than fans of Buffy and Angel.