ANGEL gets a relaunch with a four-part mini-series, but this first installment isn't really anything better than the comic's original run.
Set in season two of the TV series, there are now four regulars for writers Matthews and Whedon to deal with. However, only Angel really gets anything to do.
Cordelia has somehow managed to drag Wesley along to a commercial shoot, but all the pair really do is try to get through to Angel on his cellphone. Failing to do so, they call Gunn on his instead.
Gunn at least gets to reveal that something weird's going on - vamps are staking themselves, but once again, that's about it.
At least Angel does something - rescuing a kid and returning him home, and then fighting a female half human/half serpent thing.
Of course, it's difficult to judge how the story will pan out, but I had expected the title to get relaunched with more of a bang than this. Hopefully, the cliffhanger will lead into something better next time around.
Art-wise it's okay, but nothing special. Cordelia in particular seems very strangely drawn.
Overall, a pretty average start to this mini-series, and given that Joss Whedon is on board, I'd expected it to get off to a much better start.
LONG NIGHT'S
JOURNEY....
Written by BRETT MATTHEWS
& JOSS WHEDON
Pencils: MEL RUBI
Inks: CHRIS DREIER
Letterer: PAT BROSSEAU
Colours: MICHELLE MADSEN
& DAVE STEWART
DARK HORSE COMICS
RATING: 5/10
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