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On television, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER has given us three Slayers. In print, Dark Horse and Pocket Books have given us several more, all pre-Buffy Summers. Now comes one from the far future - Melaka Fray... Joss Whedon's liking for comic books is well known, and its unsurprising that his first venture into a medium other than film or television is a comic book, or rather a series as BIG CITY GIRL is the first in an eight-part series. Of course, BIG CITY GIRL has the job of introducing Melaka and the story's other characters, as well as the setting. Taking the latter first, the futuristic setting is well set up, with Melaka's "boss" Gunther helping to demonstrate the idea of a world ridden with disease and radiation. Melaka has the potential to be a great character. She seems to have inherited Buffy's tendency for the occasional malapropism ("I didn't take the Senator's omelet"), but otherwise there's lots to like about her. Her relationships with other characters also set things up nicely, particularly her sister Erin and Loo (you have to love the stream-of-consciousness that Loo comes out with when she meets Mel). Elsewhere there's plenty of things happening that will almost certainly play a part in future installments - Melaka's boss Gunther, the Lurks and the guy who torches himself at the end and who happens to know that Mel is the Chosen One. Apart from the slight annoying "omelet" line (which I suppose could simply be a mistake), the dialogue is strong, with "voice-overs" accompanying the action on several occasions. Karl Moline's artwork is also good, capturing the setting well, and with some good panel layouts which gives the book a nice look. Melaka's day might have started bad, but her story certainly hasn't. Let's hope it stays that way. BACK TO THE TOP |
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