Angel: After the Fall

*Angel: After the Fall*
Angel: After the Fall
	Cover of Angel: After the Fall #1. Art by Tony Harris.
Publication information
Publisher	IDW Publishing
Schedule	Monthly
Format	Limited series (#1–17); Spin-off ongoing series (#18–44)
Publication date	November 2007 – April 2011
No. of issues	44
Main character(s)	Angel Investigations
Creative team
Created by	Joss Whedon
Written by	Brian Lynch with Joss Whedon (#1–17); Kelley Armstrong (#18–22); Brian Lynch (#23–27); Bill Willingham (#28–38); David Tischman and Mariah Huehner (#39–44)
Penciller(s)	Franco Urru (#1–5, 15–17, 23–25); Nick Runge (#9–12); Stephen Mooney (#12–14, 26–27); Dave Ross (#18–22); Brian Denham (#28–32); Elena Casagrande (#33–44)
Collected editions
Hardcover, Volume 1	ISBN 1-60010-181-X

Angel: After the Fall, also known as Angel: Season 6, is a comic book published by IDW Publishing. Written by Brian Lynch and plotted with Joss Whedon, the series is a canonical continuation of the Angel television series, and follows the events of that show's final season.^[1]^[2] Angel: After the Fall was prompted by IDW Publishing and Joss Whedon after the success of Dark Horse Comics' Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight which is the official comic continuation of Angel's mothershow, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Angel: After the Fall sees the heroic vampire, Angel, coping with the apocalyptic aftermath of the television series after he took over and subsequently betrayed the demonic law firm, Wolfram & Hart. The city of Los Angeles has since been sent to hell by Wolfram & Hart as a result of Angel's actions. The series follows his attempts to rescue the people he has sworn to protect. The first issue was released on November 21, 2007.

Originally intended as a 12-issue limited series, After the Fall expanded into a 17-issue Angel series. After the Fall was then followed by an ongoing series, with rotating writers and artists but without the input of Joss Whedon. In addition to this, After the Fall has also spawned multiple spin-offs of its own. Spike: After the Fall bridges the gap between Spike's "First Night" mini-arc and his first appearance in After the Fall over four issues. A second five-issue spin-off, Angel: Only Human, picks up after #23, following Gunn and Illyria.^[3] A four-issue mini-series, Spike: The Devil You Know was released, teaming up Spike with Eddie Hope for a story set between Angel issues #32 and #33. A fourth four-issue spin-off featuring Illyria, titled Angel: Illyria: Haunted, was released beginning in November 2010. IDW also announced an ongoing Spike title, another "canon" title featuring explicit Buffy Season Eight crossovers.^[4]

In the editor's column in the back of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Riley one-shot released by Dark Horse Comics, editor Scott Allie announced that the Angel comics would return to Dark Horse in late 2011. It was officially announced on August 19, 2010 that the series would come to an end with a six-issue arc titled "The Wolf, the Ram, and the Heart", and Dark Horse reacquiring the license to publish Angel titles, beginning with a new line of comics named Angel & Faith (co-starring Faith, 25 issues) in August 2011, tying in with a launch of Buffy Season Nine.^[5]^[6] The planned Spike ongoing spin-off instead became an eight issue mini-series.^[7]

Publication history

Following the success of Dark Horse Comics' ongoing series Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, an official continuation to the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, series creator Joss Whedon wished to continue the story of Buffy spin-off Angel in the same medium. In September 2006, comic book writer Brian Lynch met Joss Whedon by chance in a restaurant near his home where he told Whedon about the imminent release of a spin-off comic by himself and artist Franco Urru, Spike: Asylum, published by IDW and based upon the character of Spike, a central character in both Buffy and Angel. To Lynch's surprise, Whedon was thrilled with Spike: Asylum, and Joss felt confident he had found a writer capable of capturing his characters' voices in the new medium, and was impressed with Franco's unique style.^[8] Whedon would later email Lynch, asking to meet up with him again in the same restaurant. Working together, the two plotted the events of a now 17-issue limited series for a continuation of the Angel saga, drawing from elements of Whedon's plan for a sixth televised season of Angel and several ideas proposed by Lynch. Whedon gave Lynch the freedom to write the series himself, only overseeing the project as if in the role of an executive producer.^[9]

Development into an ongoing series

The series later spun off into an ongoing series, with Kelley Armstrong taking over for her run, called Aftermath (#18–22). Brian Lynch returned for three stories, focusing on Gunn (#23), Drusilla (#24–25) (co-written with Juliet Landau) and Angel & Spike (#26–27). At San Diego Comic-Con in 2009, it was announced that Eisner Award-winning writer Bill Willingham was taking over as ongoing writer with issue #28 with a six-issue arc named "Immortality for Dummies" launching in December 2009, joined by artist Brian Denham. The series showed how Angel is kidnapped by the newly formed 'Immortality Incorporated'. While Angel fights to escape, his son Connor takes over the reins of Angel Investigations.^[10] Willingham finished his run on the series with #38, then David Tischman and Mariah Huehner wrote a six-issue arc titled "The Wolf, the Ram, and the Heart" (#39–44) that concluded the final Angel story arc at IDW Publishing before it moved to Dark Horse Comics.

Spin-offs

On March 11, 2008, it was announced that there would be a 4 issue spin-off titled Spike: After the Fall from July 2008, which will chronicle the time in between the events of the series finale "Not Fade Away" and After the Fall, continuing directly from the Angel: After the Fall issue "First Night, Part Three", focusing on the characters of Spike and Illyria.^[11] A second spin-off miniseries, Angel: Only Human, focuses on Gunn and Illyria following the After the Fall Epilogue wherein both seek redemption and an opportunity to come to terms with their humanity and the good and evil within them both.^[3]

Brian Lynch later announced a second, this-time-ongoing Spike spin-off from the Angel: After the Fall franchise. Spike will be set "a few months" after Spike has left hell, and feature in its supporting cast Groosalugg, Beck from Spike: Asylum, Betta George and Jeremy from Spike: After the Fall. Due to Dark Horse Comics' use of the Angel character in the Buffy Season Eight storyline "Twilight", Whedon allowed Lynch use of Buffy character Willow Rosenberg for his Spike series. Additionally, it is to feature the supporting cast Spike brings alongside him to Season Eight in "Last Gleaming" and act as a canonical lead-in to Buffy Season Eight, and therefore a spin-off to both.^[12]

Premise

Set some time after the season 5 finale, "Not Fade Away", Los Angeles is feeling the aftermath of Angel taking a stand against the demonic Senior Partners, who have retaliated by literally sending the city to Hell. Along with a dragon he befriended, Angel is trying his best to remain a champion of good. Wesley remains contractually bound to the sinister Wolfram & Hart and the Partners after his death, while Gunn has become a vampire capturing victims under the pretense that he is rescuing them. Angel's son Connor, ex-girlfriend Nina, and old acquaintance Gwen are working to provide a safehouse for the people of Los Angeles under siege by demons. Spike lives under the protection of Illyria, who is no longer in control of her powers and unpredictably assumes the appearance and personality of Fred Burkle.

According to Whedon, the absence of budget constraints allows Angel's world to expand in ways that were never possible with the television series, saying "It will definitely use Season 6's proposed stories as inspiration, but it's not exactly Season 6".^[13]

Publication

Maxi-series

Title	Issue #	Release date

After the Fall #1	1	November 21, 2007
Writer: Brian Lynch with Joss Whedon		Penciller: Franco Urru
Los Angeles has been a demon war zone for months after Wolfram & Hart literally sent the entire city to hell in retaliation to Angel's actions in "Not Fade Away". Angel, having befriended a dragon, rescues citizens from the destruction and sends them to Connor, Gwen, and Nina for sanctuary. Meanwhile, the deceased Wesley is now an incorporeal representative of Wolfram & Hart, and Gunn has been turned into a vampire.

After the Fall #2	2	December 19, 2007
Writer: Brian Lynch with Joss Whedon		Penciller: Franco Urru
Angel travels to Santa Monica to protect Connor from a demon lord whose son Angel killed. Gwen tells Angel that there's a new player in the game, and shows him a phrase written in blood. Angel realizes who the person is and heads to Beverly Hills, where he reunites with Spike, who has become lord of the area and lives surrounded by a harem of humans and demons. Angel and Spike fight briefly, and Illyria appears in defense of Spike. Meanwhile, Gunn has kidnapped Betta George and reveals that he blames Angel for being sired and wants revenge.

After the Fall #3	3	January 14, 2008
Writer: Brian Lynch with Joss Whedon		Penciller: Franco Urru
Angel is attacked by Illyria, and gravely wounded. The Hell dimension is playing havoc with Illyria's powers, and she is time-skipping as she did in "Time Bomb". Connor arrives revealing that he and Spike have been working as partners; Spike's "Hugh Hefner" lifestyle is part of his act. Angel confronts the Lords of Los Angeles, and challenges them to a battle for all of Los Angeles in two days. On the final page, Angel's inner monologue reveals his wounds are mortal, and he is no longer a vampire.

After the Fall #4	4	February 20, 2008
Writer: Brian Lynch with Joss Whedon		Penciller: Franco Urru
Flashbacks establish that Angel was turned human by the Senior Partners to restrict his ability to oppose them. At Wolfram and Hart, Angel is healed through mystic chants that fix his mortal wounds, but Wesley warns him that they are running out of the supplies to maintain the glamour that he is still a vampire. Two demons arrive and beckon Angel to follow them, while outside, Gunn prepares for an attack on the building. Angel and Wes are taken to the town of Silver Lake, which is ruled by their old ally Lorne, who notifies them of his neutral stance concerning the upcoming battle. After Angel has a reunion with Groosalugg, Gunn and his vampire minions plant a bomb in the empty Wolfram and Hart building, completely destroying it. Wesley's ghost fades away as Angel prepares for the battle ahead.

After the Fall #5	5	March 19, 2008
Writer: Brian Lynch with Joss Whedon		Penciller: Franco Urru
Wesley has been transported to a void, where he has an argument with a disembodied voice over his role of being the last representative of Wolfram and Hart. Angel's allies consider their options with Spike being the most vocal about his desire to depart. The battle begins with Angel and all his friends at his side, thanks to Lorne's last minute rousing. Spike asks Angel for help concerning Illyria, as Wesley is returned from Hell and joins his companions. Spike reveals he never would have come to aid Angel had he known Wesley would be there. Illyria turns her attention to the scene, notices Wesley's arrival, and reverts to Fred.

First Night, Part 1 #6	6	April 2, 2008
Writer: Brian Lynch with Joss Whedon		Penciller: Tim Kane, David Messina, Stephen Mooney and John Byrne
Bookended by images of Betta George in captivity, the 'First Night' stories of Spike, Connor, and Lorne are presented in three sections. In the first section, Spike switches from self-congratulation and thoughts of retirement into defending innocents—including Illyria, who initially appears as Fred. The second segment displays Connor's internal conflict as he considers rejoining the fight, and is then inevitably drawn into it. The third section is presented in a cartoonish rhyming style, showing Lorne's path from Lindsey's murder to becoming lord of Silver Lake.

First Night, Part 2 #7	7	May 7, 2008
Writer: Brian Lynch with Joss Whedon		Penciller: Tim Kane, Nick Runge and Stephen Mooney
The second 'First Night' issue initially focuses on Wesley's after-death awareness, including a visit from an unnamed female temptress who is acting on the Senior Partners' behalf. She pretends to be Fred, but Wesley is not fooled. The scene then shifts to Connor's situation; Kate Lockley arrives, armed to the teeth, and "rescues" Connor, taking him to her well-armed lair. In the present day, Betta George is still held captive by Gunn's lackeys, and it is shown that Gunn's vampires have been training against captive Slayers.

First Night, Part 3 #8	8	June 11, 2008
Writer: Brian Lynch with Joss Whedon and Scott Tipton		Penciller: Tim Kane, Fabio Mantovani, Kevyn Schmidt and Mirco Pierfederici
In the first section, Gwen is making out with a guy on the beach when Los Angeles is thrown into Hell. The change in scenery has caused the device regulating her power to stop working, causing her to accidentally electrocute her male companion. In the second section, a crazy guy is preaching about the end of the world when Los Angeles is sent to Hell. Finally, Gunn wakes up in a vampire's lair to discover he's been sired. Learning the vampires were ordered to turn him, he kills their leader and takes charge of the group.

After the Fall #9	9	June 18, 2008
Writer: Brian Lynch with Joss Whedon		Penciller: Nick Runge
Angel and his friends defeat the Lords of L.A., who have misunderstood the true purpose of the Hagan Shafts (what they thought were weapons are actually tools used by immortals to commit suicide). Lorne becomes the new Lord of all Los Angeles, while Angel goes back to the Hyperion Hotel to do what he does best: help people. Connor makes his feelings for Gwen known to Angel. Wesley takes Fred to his corpse, where she reverts to Illyria, who reveals that Fred is still within her.

After the Fall #10	10	July 2, 2008
Writer: Brian Lynch with Joss Whedon		Penciller: Nick Runge and David Messina
Angel has a comic book-esque dream where a superhero version of Spike is protecting the city while the mortal Angel is now an old man. Spike is left looking after Wesley. Angel, Connor, Gwen, Nina, and Illyria question a vampire over who killed the lord in #1. Illyria reveals to Connor, Gwen, and Nina that Angel is now human. Realizing that Illyria knew he was human through her ability to detect power, Angel tells Illyria to use her ability to search for the vampires "sitting on the power". Gunn has Betta George attacked by slayers, and eventually, a desperate George uses his ability to mentally freeze them. Gunn then has George attempt to contact help outside of L.A., but George is surprised to learn that Gunn has tricked him; Los Angeles going to Hell has been covered up. However, Betta George has also contacted Angel for help. Angel arrives, ready to attack, after Illyria detected Gunn's gang, "vampires atop a structure brimming with power". Angel is horrified, however, upon recognizing Gunn in their midst.

After the Fall #11	11	August 13, 2008
Writer: Brian Lynch with Joss Whedon		Penciller: Nick Runge
Angel sends Fred away with Nina on the dragon, while he attempts to rescue Gunn. As Angel discovers that Gunn is now a vampire and his own life is in peril, Connor, Spike, and Gwen return on the dragon to help with the rescue mission. Gunn reveals his visions to Angel, then uses a magical talisman to reverse the spells on Angel: his glamour and all the healing spells. Angel lies bleeding, broken, and dying as the cavalry arrives, only to be shocked by Gwen's apparent betrayal.

After the Fall #12	12	September 4, 2008
Writer: Brian Lynch with Joss Whedon		Penciller: Stephen Mooney and Nick Runge
Connor and Spike confront Gwen on her betrayal. Wesley is taken from headquarters to the scene of Angel's impending death, which spurs Fred's transformation into Illyria as she approaches the scene of a battle between Gwen and the dragon, whose name is revealed as Cordelia. On another plane, Angel is reunited with an apparition of Cordelia, meant to ease his transition. Wesley arrives and confronts Gunn with information from the Senior Partners: the visions are their own, and all they have wrought is part of a larger plan for Angel. He reveals Angel (and Angel alone) is still entitled to the future in the Shanshu prophecy, and delivers Angel a glimpse of it. Angel sees an image of himself as a vampire surrounded by dozens of dead bodies in the aftermath of an apocalyptic battle. This vision however, leads Angel to resign himself to death.

After the Fall #13	13	October 22, 2008
Writer: Brian Lynch with Joss Whedon		Penciller: Stephen Mooney
Spike finds Gunn's captured Slayers, but they overpower him and he is slain. The Senior Partners send their larger army (legions of dragons) to the scene of the rooftop fray, and Cordelia the dragon is killed. Gwen, seeking atonement, sacrifices herself to destroy the legion in an electrical discharge. Connor makes his way into the building and defeats Gunn in combat, kicking him through the window. Connor's pleads to a dying Angel and helps him realize that he would never become a soulless vampire again; Cordelia's spirit bids Angel farewell after reassuring him of his status as a champion of good. While the group desperately encourage Angel to keep fighting and survive, Spike re-emerges seemingly alive, accompanied by the three Slayers who killed him. Gunn, on the streets, encounters Illyria and through feigning sadness and remorse, triggers her transformation into Fred, before he surreptitiously shoots her in the chest.

After the Fall #14	14	November 19, 2008
Writer: Brian Lynch with Joss Whedon		Penciller: Stephen Mooney
A new demon army arrives in Los Angeles and takes Angel's body so that Angel can be resurrected to fulfill the prophecy. The source of Spike's own seemingly impossible resurrection is revealed as a five-minute time reset used by Gunn to train his vampires against Slayers. Groosalugg and his black pegasus, also named Cordelia, slay many of Wolfram & Hart's dragons. Despite being interrupted by the demon army, Gunn manages to successfully restore Illyria to her original demonic form, with the intent of using her fully restored powers to rewind time to before the Fall permanently. However, George looks within Illyria's mind: her frustration at being unable to create order leads her to decide to wholly collapse time - and with it, all existence.

After the Fall #15	15	December 17, 2008
Writer: Brian Lynch with Joss Whedon		Penciller: Franco Urru
Illyria continues trying to unmake everything, believing that Fred would want to end everyone's suffering. She lashes out at and kills Groosalugg and many of the Spikettes. Gunn mortally wounds Connor and is defeated, but not killed, by Angel. Angel comes up with a plan to stop Illyria. Betta George focuses Spike and Wesley's memories of Fred into her mind, which paralyzes her long enough for Wolfram & Hart's demon avatars to take her out. Connor tells Angel not to let them win and then dies.

After the Fall #16	16	January 21, 2009
Writer: Brian Lynch with Joss Whedon		Penciller: Franco Urru
Angel provokes Gunn into killing him after realizing that the Senior Partners' plans hinge on keeping himself alive. Angel's death causes the Senior Partners to reverse time to the moment before Los Angeles is sent into Hell, with everyone retaining memories of their time in Hell. While Spike and a now-humanoid Illyria attempt to hold off the demon army, a revamped Angel saves Gunn from being sired. They rush him to a hospital after discovering that Wolfram & Hart's Los Angeles branch has completely vanished. After meeting a resurrected Connor and several of LA's denizens who retained their memories, Angel realizes that he and his team are now publicly recognized heroes for their roles in saving the city.

After the Fall #17	17	February 11, 2009
Writer: Brian Lynch with Joss Whedon		Penciller: Franco Urru
One month has passed. Angel and Nina research the mystery of the vanished Wolfram & Hart building at the public library (a wing of which has been renamed for Fred and Wesley). Angel leaves Cordelia the dragon in the care of Groosalugg as part of an attempt to reclaim his anonymity. Meanwhile, Spike rescues Betta George from one of the resurrected Lords of Hell, who warns him that the Lords want revenge against Angel and plan to do it by striking against the ones close to him. Realizing who the first target is, Angel, Spike, and George rush to the aid of Gunn (who is in a coma), but Illyria is revealed to be single-handedly protecting him. This allows Angel to peacefully visit Gunn in his hospital room and forgive him for the actions Gunn took while in Hell. Leaving Gunn with an Angel Investigations card, Angel walks off into the night, once more looking to help the helpless.

Continuing series

Title

Issue #

Release date

#18: Aftermath, Part 1

18

February 25, 2009

Writer: Kelley Armstrong

Penciller: Dave Ross

After the Fall was followed by a five-issue storyarc titled Aftermath starting in #18; two weeks after the finale of "After the Fall", the storyarc will focus on the characters dealing with the events of issue #17. Novelist Kelley Armstrong (The Summoning) comes aboard to explore the many repercussions following the explosive Angel #17. Artist Dave Ross also comes aboard to present the first chapter of "Aftermath", wherein we learn who lived, who died, and who will be forever changed from the experience. Kelley Armstrong will write the arc, with Brian Lynch writing another continuation.^[14]

#19: Aftermath, Part 2

19

March 18, 2009

Writer: Kelley Armstrong

Penciller: Dave Ross

As Angel and the remaining survivors from their sojourn to Hell attempt to rebuild their lives and find purpose once again, they must also contend with the threat of a vengeful Lord, a mysterious cat-changer and a winged being from beyond...

#20: Aftermath, Part 3

20

April 22, 2009

Writer: Kelley Armstrong

Penciller: Dave Ross and George Freeman

Angel's attempts to return to normal have been upended by the cat-changer Dez. But who is she, and where does she come from? Find out here, even as a larger question—namely, who is Angel's angelic visitor from beyond, and who sent him here? — comes to light.

#21: Aftermath, Part 4

21

May 20, 2009

Writer: Kelley Armstrong

Penciller: Stefano Martino

The aftermath of the city's return from hell continues to plague Angel, leading to a confrontation with the Powers-That-Be and some winged visitors from beyond the pale, even as Connor and Gwen face off with Dez.

#22: Aftermath, Part 5

22

June 17, 2009

Writer: Kelley Armstrong

Penciller: Dave Ross

With the 'Angels' help, team Angel is able to release already captured 'Angels' but at what cost?

#23: After the Fall—Epilogue: Become What You Are

23

July 1, 2009

Writer: Brian Lynch

Penciller: Franco Urru

This issue focuses on the character of Gunn and how he went from being comatose in After the Fall #17 to his apparently quickly recovery in Aftermath #18. As Lynch announced: "This one is packed with big shake-ups. We see a couple of reunions, some fun cameos, characters charting new journeys, and Franco and I tell a little tale that serves as a wonderful capper to the AFTER THE FALL storyline."^[15]

#24: Drusilla, Part 1

24

August 5, 2009

Writer: Brian Lynch and Juliet Landau

Penciller: Franco Urru

This issue sees the return of Drusilla to the Angelverse. Set just before the Fall, we find Drusilla contained in a mental institution. Why is she there, and what will happen when she fights back?

#25: Drusilla, Part 2

25

September 16, 2009

Writer: Brian Lynch and Juliet Landau

Penciller: Franco Urru

Continuing from the massacre at the end of the last issue, Drusilla starts to have visions. But are they real?

#26: Boys and Their Toys, Part 1

26

October 7, 2009

Writer: Brian Lynch

Penciller: Stephen Mooney

At 'Sci-Fi Fest San Diego' Angel sees how Hollywood views the events of 'After the Fall'. But he is there for more serious reasons - the 'Flaming Sword' that killed him is up for auction. Who wants it the most and why? Spike turns up, curious about the movie, and the two vamps are forced to take on each other's identities to stop the sword from getting into the wrong hands. But when Chaos reigns - will Spike make a better Angel than Angel?

#27: Boys and Their Toys, Part 2

27

November 4, 2009

Writer: Brian Lynch

Penciller: Stephen Mooney

With a spell having turned everyone at the convention into their costumes, Angel must find a means to stop the spell before Spike - who has turned into a caricature of Angel - causes more damage than he can control.

#28: The Crown Prince Syndrome / A Devil Walks Into a Bar...

28

December 16, 2009

Writer: Bill Willingham and Bill Williams

Penciller: Brian Denham and David Messina

An all-new adventure begins as Eisner-winning writer Bill Willingham takes Angel down some pretty twisted roads as the group's (and its leader's) fame starts causing tension and testing loyalties. This issue also premiers the backup story of the devil Eddie Hope, which continues through issue #39.

#29: Immortality for Dummies / Lucky Number 13

29

January 13, 2010