I've been a slacker with my posting but I have been quite busy. In addition I hadn't got a copy of A&F #9 until today so apologies for the lateness for those who read my critiques. So without any further adieu...
Angel & Faith issue #9
After a cliffhanger ending to last issue, I'm quite undecided whether I like the events that followed as a whole. I mean there were good bits but I'm not so sure how I feel about the fall out.
Cover One. At first glance it doesn't seem like such an interesting cover, Angel throwing himself off a building. He's done that a lot in the series; even when it was on TV. But it's not what is drawn. It's how it's drawn. Morris has really gone for something different this time and I have to say I'm quite impressed. The chalky texture and pastel tones make for quite an effect contrasting with the dark colours of Angel's figure. The night sky is all whirley splodges of blue and pinks with highlights of yellow and orange. I would say its twilight veiled with sparing clouds but the spots of yellow stars make me think otherwise. Is it night or not quite? Angel leaps forth, broad sword in hand. Bellowing smoke from chimney pipes whirl about. And the Gherkin makes a faint appearance in the backdrop.
Cover Two. Well. It just looks bizarre to me. Created by Rebekah Isaacs with Dan Jackson. You can definitely identify Isaacs depiction of Drusilla and Faith's faces. But the bold back outlines are clearly not her style. It's intrusive! The cover depicts the familiar scene of the last page in issue #8 except this time Drusilla stands behind Faith, both hands placed on either side Faith's temple; Faith is in prayer, soothed by her touch; and the Lorophage Demon stands where we stand, only his long claws in view held out in front of him. All the figure are centred perfectly so that the image is symmetrical. The geometrical shapes makes the image very medieval. The bold black outline acts to superimpose the figures as if they were part of the stained glass background, like those holy figures often depicted in church windows. And so Faith's poised prayer and Drusilla's ritualistic pose in front of a halo around her head with the oncoming claws of the demon makes the scene so utterly strange. Is what's to happen an act of good or that of evil? One thing Faith's calm expression and poise is clearly unsettling. She looks as though she is about to take her holy vows but then we see the claws. That is what makes the image so strange. If she was drawn in pain like the actual image at the end of last issue the scene would look less strange; it would make sense. But in this case, no, it looks wrong and what's to happen is definitely wrong.
This issue essentially explores 'baggage'. It probably could use a better description but that's basically what it is. There are some great fight scenes. I never cease to marvel at the depictions of Drusilla, particularly the three panels of her slowly losing her self again. The tears that cascade down her cheeks are so moving and we feel for her (well, I did) in the second panel, the look of uncertainty in her eyes as we realise she's come to her last strand of sane thought.
And so the curtain closes for poor Drusilla and this Act ends.
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