New from IDW -- Brian Lynch's "Spike: After the Fall"

[KingofCretins]

Well, this should be fun

Newsarama announces "Spike: After the Fall"

Spike: After the Fall will spin out of the "First Night" events seen in Angel: After the Fall and events in issue #7, and tells of Spike's first few months in hell and co-stars Illyria.

Spike: After the Fall will run four issues.

[Nina]

Ehm okay. Do we also get Gunn: After the Fall , Connor: After the Fall and Lorne: After the Fall?

To be honest, I'm not sure what I think about it. I know that Spike has many fans and that the comic will be fantastic for a lot of people, and if I can ... I'll read them. The more, the better ... but I don't know, if there should be a spin-off, I prefer a Gunn spin-off or something like that. Gunn is a real Ats character since season 1, and he is changed so much that it would be really interesting. Or Lorne? we know him since season 2 and how does he deal with this all after killing Lindsay ... or

Spoiler:

Connor who has to set up his team and the hotel.

These Ats characters have more interesting story lines than Spike in the first moths I think.

I don't want to say that he isn't important, but I think that his big part of the story just started in the last issue. I don't doubt that they will find enough story to fill those 4 issues but still ...

Spoiler:

the just vamped Gunn, the confused Lorne and Connor with his new team deserve it a little bit more I guess.

But if the Spike comics will be just as good as the Angel comics, they will be great and I would love to get those and read them.

[Enisy]

Brian Lynch is writing, it's gotta be good. And many fans found his characterization in Issue 2 jarring enough to ask for the backstory.

[Dorian's Kitten]

Well I'm excited! I'm really intrigued by what the heck is happening with Spike and Illyria and Spider and the

Spoiler:

scantily clad vigilante trainees. In fact I think that particular mystery is about the most interesting thing in A:ATF.

.

I am of course always interested in any Spike story we can get. I hope he gets some destiny. .

[sueworld]

Oh I'm really looking forward to reading this one!

Bring it on Brian!!

[KingofCretins]

Maybe we'll see how all that lingerie got strewn all over the Playboy mansion

This times up perfectly, if they mean to reveal Spider as some kind of villain.

DK, I think Spike's destiny is to take Sue to the "Enchantment Under the Sea" dance

[sueworld]

DK, I think Spike's destiny is to take Sue to the "Enchantment Under the Sea" dance

And do what with me exactly? All he'd end up doing is bumming cigs off me all evening and then trying to nick me wallet....

[Dorian's Kitten]

And do what with me exactly? All he'd end up doing is bumming cigs off me all evening and then trying to nick me wallet....

But he'd be hot while doing it. I've had worse dates.

I've recently decided that the powers must have a really interesting plan for Spike-either that or they had no plan at all and he surprised everyone. Either way-his is a great story. I hope they can work in some flashbacks. I love Spike flashbacks! Oooh maybe more Immortal stuff.

[Illyria_Fan]

Ehm okay. Do we also get Gunn: After the Fall , Connor: After the Fall and Lorne: After the Fall?

To be honest, I'm not sure what I think about it. I know that Spike has many fans and that the comic will be fantastic for a lot of people, and if I can ... I'll read them. The more, the better ... but I don't know, if there should be a spin-off, I prefer a Gunn spin-off or something like that. Gunn is a real Ats character since season 1, and he is changed so much that it would be really interesting. Or Lorne? we know him since season 2 and how does he deal with this all after killing Lindsay ... or

Spoiler:

Connor who has to set up his team and the hotel.

These Ats characters have more interesting story lines than Spike in the first moths I think.

I don't want to say that he isn't important, but I think that his big part of the story just started in the last issue. I don't doubt that they will find enough story to fill those 4 issues but still ...

Spoiler:

the just vamped Gunn, the confused Lorne and Connor with his new team deserve it a little bit more I guess.

But if the Spike comics will be just as good as the Angel comics, they will be great and I would love to get those and read them.

As with the majority of the comic world there will always be spin offs! Take Green Arrow for instance... We'll get Lorne/Connor/Gunn down the road don't worry about that

[ally]

I totally want a Connor spin off. Not only because I love him to bits, but because finally he is getting a role that doesn't sideline him as crazy/evil/stupid.

[Thomas]

It seems like a cheap way for IDW to make money. They're using one of the Buffyverse's most popular characters in his own comic that is really totally unneeded so IDW can make a name for it's self, because really, before Angel: After the Fall was released, how many of us actually even heard of IDW comics?

I really wish they'd just focus on Angel: After the Fall. After it's over, they can do a Spike/Illyria comic, but until then I don't see why they can't just wait. I'll still read it, don't get me wrong, but I wish they'd put it off.

[vampmogs]

I've recently decided that the powers must have a really interesting plan for Spike-either that or they had no plan at all and he surprised everyone. Either way-his is a great story. I hope they can work in some flashbacks. I love Spike flashbacks! Oooh maybe more Immortal stuff.

I like it that he doesn't have destiny. If he did, and especially with the PTB his story would be just getting too close to Angel's for me to think it wasn't a rip off. Vamp with a soul, vamp in love with Buffy, vamp champion... and then a destiny with the PTB? Nah ah, to me we should keep him destiny free and just wanting to help people. They played that card with the Lindsey pretending to be Doyle storyline, even putting Spike in Angel's iconic image from "City Of.." when he stakes the two vamps rushing at him, and whilst I understand what they were doing there, that was enough for me. I don't think these two can afford to be any more similar.

[ThePoet's<3]

Well it's no surprise that I say WOO and a big fat HOO!!!

I really don't care if it's a cheesy, money-making, fan-wanking, Bangel-tickin', cashin'-in spin-off. Just give me SPIKE!

And if they want to do a Gunn spin, Lorne spin, or Angel's Dragon spin - that's great! Just bring on the Spike spin!

Lynch is writing and Uru is drawing - *Cha-ching!!!*

(I just hope Joss has no input into the story...)

[Vampire in Rug]

Not too sure how I feel about this.

On the one hand, Lynch is great and it will no doubt be a good read.

On the other hand... it feels like a cash in. Do we really need to know the specifics on how Spike came about to meet Spider and live in the Playboy mansion? Like other posters have said, If we absolutly had to have a story about the first few months in hell, there are far more interesting options than to have Spike as the starring character. I'd rather read "After the Fall" from the perspective of Gunn, Lorne, Wes, Connor, Illyria, Gwen, Nina, Groo or Joe Citizen than Spike. And that's not due to a dislike of Spike at all. I just feel that given the current position of all the characters it seems like Spike has the least interesting story between NFA and ATF#1. But it's been proven that Spike's name sells comics and I can't help but feel that this is a big part of the reason Spike gets a starring role and not anybody else.

[sueworld]

But it's been proven that Spike's name sells comics and I can't help but feel that this is a big part of the reason Spike gets a starring role and not anybody else.

Oh do ya think?

Of course it's a good idea, but then I actually love the character, which I suspect you actually don't do.

There's a big gap in knowing how Spike got into his present situation with Spider and co which I personally would like to see fleshed out so to speak.

Whether folks on here like it or not Spike is one of the Buffyveres most popular characters, and so I don't think it unfair for the publishers to cash in on that fact.

Shadow puppets and Spike Asylum were both great little comics whith some wonderful writing in them, so I'm keeping my hopes up that this will be the same.

[vampmogs]

Of course it's a good idea, but then I actually love the character, which I suspect you actually don't do.

Don't fall into that trap, not everyone deals in those absaloutes Sue.

There's a big gap in knowing how Spike got into his present situation with Spider and co which I personally would like to see fleshed out so to speak.

I agree. But in saying that I hope it's only fleshed out more and not explained in the Spike series. It's an 'After the Fall' storyline, it'd feel odd if a big important detail such as this wasn't actually explained in that series. The Spike mini series should be a bonus on top of that, give us more insight into these situations. Kind of like how Btvs and Ats worked together and gave us more insight but neither series were dependant on eachother.

Whether folks on here like it or not Spike is one of the Buffyveres most popular characters, and so I don't think it unfair for the publishers to cash in on that fact.

They have every right to cash in on this as darkhorse did to try and cash in on the Buffy/Satsu reveal. This is business after all. But I do find it pretty funny that the same people who said that was a bad thing state they don't care that IDW are doing it because it involves their favourite character

Shadow puppets and Spike Asylum were both great little comics whith some wonderful writing in them, so I'm keeping my hopes up that this will be the same.

Brian is writing it, so it should be awesome.

[Vampire in Rug]

Of course it's a good idea, but then I actually love the character, which I suspect you actually don't do.

There's a big gap in knowing how Spike got into his present situation with Spider and co which I personally would like to see fleshed out so to speak.

And that's not due to a dislike of Spike at all. I just feel that given the current position of all the characters it seems like Spike has the least interesting story between NFA and ATF#1.

At the moment I'm just assuming that Spike and Illyria survived the alley battle and wandered aimlessly through LA for a bit until they came upon Spider and her girls. They took Spike prisoner until he charmed them and earned thier trust. From there he took over the abandoned Playboy Mansion and together with Illyria he established himself as a Lord of LA, acting publicly like all the other lords while secrety training Spider and the girls and rescuing people. For now, I'm happy to assume that's all there is to it. I don't feel I need to know more than that.

However:

How the hell did Lorne establish himself as a Lord? How did he get back in touch with Groo?

How did Conner meet Gwen and Nina? How did they form thier organization? What was it like when Conner first properly conversed with Spike and Illyria?

How did Gunn meet his gang? What were his first few months as a vampire like?


What were the first few months in hell like for an average citizen of LA? I think that would make a really cool story, a normal person suddenly forced to come to terms with the supernatural.

Like I said, I have no problem with Spike. And I'm well aware that he's one of the Buffyverse's most popular characters which is why IDW is going to tell the first few months from his perspective. But I can't help but feel just a little bit disapointed that there are far more interesting stories that probably won't be told because the starring characters might not be popular enough to support thier own mini-series.

[sueworld]

At the moment I'm just assuming that Spike and Illyria survived the alley battle and wandered aimlessly through LA for a bit until they came upon Spider and her girls. They took Spike prisoner until he charmed them and earned thier trust. From there he took over the abandoned Playboy Mansion and together with Illyria he established himself as a Lord of LA, acting publicly like all the other lords while secrety training Spider and the girls and rescuing people. For now, I'm happy to assume that's all there is to it. I don't feel I need to know more than that.

Oh but thats just your assumption, nothing more. To actually know what happened is something else entirely, and may end up surprising you.

I feel Spikes story can be as valid and interesting as any other characters.

How did Conner meet Gwen and Nina? How did they form thier organization? What was it like when Conner first properly conversed with Spike and Illyria?

How did Gunn meet his gang? What were his first few months as a vampire like?

I imagine that this will be touched upon in AtF.

[sueworld]

They have every right to cash in on this as darkhorse did to try and cash in on the Buffy/Satsu reveal. This is business after all. But I do find it pretty funny that the same people who said that was a bad thing state they don't care that IDW are doing it because it involves their favourite character

Wha? I don't get your comparison here at all. So you believe that this mini series for Spike is as controversial for some folks as the Buffy/Satsu reveal?

Don't fall into that trap, not everyone deals in those absaloutes Sue.

Well they don't have to read it then, do they. Must be some that want to though as I can't see IDW publishing this otherwise. I mean Shadow puppets and Spike Asylum proved that.

[vampmogs]

Wha? I don't get your comparison here at all. So you believe that this mini series for Spike is as controversial for some folks as the Buffy/Satsu reveal?

No not at all. I'm just saying that people shouldn't expect companies like darkhorse or IDW not to try and cash in on things, because they're a business that's what they do. But it's a little hypocritical for people to state things, like for example, "I don't care if it's just to cash in" because it's Spike when they're over in the season 8 threads expressing their distaste at the idea of darkhorse potentially doing anything to cash in on a storyline.

It won't be, because there's a lot of potential for Spike's story in this planned miniseries, but they could have a whole comic of Spike watching paint dry and these people would say it's fine IDW is trying to cash in but kick up a fuss over darkhorse trying to cash in on Joss' Buffy/Satsu story.

Well they don't have to read it then, do they.

I think you've missed my point. What I meant in saying "don't fall into that trap" is that you shouldn't automatically assume that because someone is raising their concerns over this or isn't gushing over it, that they necessarily don't like Spike's character. It's not that black and white, being a fan of Spike you should know that!

Must be some that want to though as I can't see IDW publishing this otherwise. I mean Shadow puppets and Spike Asylum proved that.

Of course there is, and the people who do will far outweigh the people who don't. Same goes for Season 8 and After the Fall. Not only is Spike a popular character, but it's also a new official canon storyline, either factor is going to draw a lot of people in.

I think some people are just a little upset it's focused on Spike instead of another character who has a great story to tell. Probably because the same characters always get focused on.. Buffy, Angel, Spike, Willow ect. That's because their the most popular, and personally I don't mind at all because a canon story is a canon story. I'd be just as excited about a Wes or Lorne focused storyline as I am this Spike one. It's all smooth sailing for me.

I hope this series puts Spike in some situations we've never seen him in before. Things that will get a lot of new reactions out of him and let us see new parts of his personality. It'll also be really interesting to see who is who's pet, Spike or Illyria because it's quite conflicting at the moment. I'm also really interested to see if this will raise anything controversial, cause so far Spike's characters been pretty untouched in Atf.