Review: ANGEL #5
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Creator: Joss Whedon
Writer: Bryan Edward Hill
Artist: Gleb Melnikov
Colorist: Roman Titov
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Reviewer: Tony Farina
Summary
Angel #5 spends very little time focusing on the titular character. In fact, he is only in it at the end. This issue actually ends just before Buffy #9 begins. There is a giant crossover getting ready to happen there. So, for now, Angel is getting the band together.
We focus on Gunn and the hows and whys he kills vampires. Spoiler alert, his bestie was killed by a baddie called Lukas. He sucks. Pun intended. Angle offers him a job. Gunn takes it all in stride. Better than I would for sure. Of course he is out killing vampires every night so when the new boss tells you that the red stuff in the fridge is not wine, you don’t blink.
Positives
Angel was always the weak link of the Whedonverse. In this rebooted universe, it is much better. The writing is snappier. The characters are tweaked just enough for us to connect. Seeing Angel in LA before he meets Buffy adds a whole new layer of fun. Bryan Edward Hill is on point here. He is such an amazing writer. If you see his name on a book, you should pick it up.
Gleb Melnikov is really doing some excellent work as well. There is a lot of dusting of vamps in this issue and he really makes it seems, well, dusty and disgustingly beautiful. I love it. Also, his work with Lukas is so good. You know he is bad as soon as you see him. Feast your eyes. The look on young Gunn’s face is priceless and just tells us everything we need to know.
Negatives
Some people may dislike that nothing really happens here, but honestly a ton happens that will matter later. Angel #5 is not going to be the last issue and so, as Fred tells us, Angel will need us later. Well, we will need Angel now as he heads to Sunnydale, but the team, they have stuff to do. We can let them sit. We needed them there though, just in case.
Verdict
I have to say that I am loving the rebooted Whedonverse. Fans both old and new should rejoice. The big Hellmouth crossover is coming and isn’t that going to be fantastic? I submit that it will be. I mean, who doesn’t want to watch the Master come back again and watch the Scoobies take him down, but this time with cellphones? I do.
