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Angel: After the Fall

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Angel Comic Books
Angel: After the Fall
Publication date 21 November 2007
Published by IDW Publishing
Includes Original Comics Angel: After the Fall #1-17(Then leads into Aftermath)
Creative Team
Written by Brian Lynch
Artist(s) Franco Urru
Penciller(s) Franco Urru
Inker(s) Franco Urru
Colorist(s) Ilaria Traversi and various.
Comic Book Collections
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Angel: Aftermath

Angel: After the Fall is the canonical comic book continuation of Angel. A seventeen-issue storyline, it eventually became an ongoing series.

The series spawned a prequel/spin-off title Spike: After the Fall, featuring Spike.

Contents

Summary

The premise of the series is that Los Angeles is feeling the aftermath of main character Angel taking a stand against the demonic Senior Partners in season five, who have retaliated by sending Los Angeles to hell. The series picks up some time after the season five finale, "Not Fade Away" and shows that Wesley remains contractually bound to the sinister Wolfram & Hart and the Partners; Gunn has become a vampire capturing victims under the pretence that he is rescuing them; and 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. Angel himself, and a friendly dragon, is trying his best to remain a champion of good in this situation.

Story arcs

First Night

Characters

Issues

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 tamed 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 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
At Wolfram and Hart, Angel is healed through mystic chants that fix his mortal wounds. 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 back 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. Lorne becomes the new Lord of all Los Angeles, while Angel goes to 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, a "care bear stare", 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.
Riot Control #16 16 January 28, 2009
Writer: Brian Lynch with Joss Whedon Penciller: Franco Urru
At the conclusion of Angel: Season Five, all of Angel's efforts to save his friends and his city resulted in a hellish existence for all of them. Now, in the penultimate chapter of Angel: After the Fall, a final, climactic battle will see Angel live free or die for the final time.
After the Fall #17 17 February 25, 2009
Writer: Brian Lynch with Joss Whedon Penciller: Franco Urru
At the conclusion of Angel the Series, Los Angeles and all its citizens were cast into a hellish dimension. Since then, Angel has sought redemption while dealing with the death and destruction brought on by his actions. But will anyone survive to see the conclusion?

Cover Gallery

"A" covers

Issue 1

Issue 2

Issue 3

Issue 4

Issue 5

Issue 6: First Night
Part 1

Issue 7: First Night
Part 2

Issue 8: First Night
Part 3

Issue 9

Issue 10

Issue 11

Issue 12

Issue 13

Issue 14

Issue 15

Issue 16

Issue 17

Issue 23 - Epilogue

"B" covers

Issue 1

Issue 2

Issue 3

Issue 4

Issue 5

Issue 6

Issue 7

Issue 8

Issue 9

Issue 10

Issue 11

Issue 12

Issue 13

Issue 14

Issue 15

Issue 16

Issue 17

Issue 23 - Epilogue

Variant covers

Issue 1 "Director's Cut"

Issue 5

Issue 6

Issues 6-7

Picture Gallery

Angel battles Illyria.

Los Angeles in Hell.

Connor dies.

References

Retrieved from "http://buffy.wikia.com/wiki/Angel:_After_the_Fall"
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