ANGEL hardcover.

Went to the Book Expo today. Signed a hundred or so Director's Cuts, met a lot of great people, really really fun. There were big ads on all the doors for ANGEL:ATF, FIRST NIGHT and SPIKE:ATF. I will post pictures when I'm not so tired.

Also got my hands on the ANGEL:AFTER THE FALL hardcover. Again, tomorrow, I'll post pictures...

...but it is stunning. Just amazing. Hardcover, embossed cover, first five issues (all reprinted beautifully, it looks like a whole new book), amazing chapter pages (really gothic and classic), my intro, the script to issue 1 with my notes, all the covers ever (including the wedding cover!) Franco's original sketches for all the leads, a sweet cloth bookmark attached in the book, PLUS the original series proposal. Man is it in-depth. I think I'm leaving something out. Many pictures later in the weekend.

This book is THICK. It's a long, long read. Jam-packed with stuff. IDW has outdone themselves. It's not just the first five issues, it's loaded with every piece of info you'd want to know about the book. I couldn't believe it. What a classy, cool production.

Answering Questions Part 3

Sorry for the delay on this one. I recorded this last week but it was so damn boring I redid it. It wasn't the questions, they were great, the answers were lackluster and blaaaand.

Hopefully this one is entertaining and informative. Some SPOILERS so beware!

CLICK HERE and listen!

And because it deserves to be seen as much as possible, David Messina's cover to ANGEL:ATF # 8 again, in all it's glory:

Aw Gunn.

ANGEL:AFTER THE FALL # 8 is on sale soon! In addition to Gwen's story and a sweet short tale featuring how citizens of Los Angeles dealt with going to hell, it's chock full of Gunn revelations.

Gunn's tale is co-scripted by Mr. Scott Tipton (he of the brilliant WESLEY issue of ANGEL SPOTLIGHT, a ton of great STAR TREK books, and ANGEL:AULD ANG SYNE), and one of the covers is by Tipton's frequent collaborator David Messina (aforementioned STAR TREK books, AULD ANG SYNE, and Spike's FIRST NIGHT tale). Here it is now!


I so love this cover. It reminds me of Art Adams' work, which is the highest compliment I can give an artist. I hope you like it too.

More answering of your questions later today!

Whoa!

Interesting thing happened this week. Someone sent me a link to a thread on a board that calls for Betta George's blood. Out-and-out hatred for the character. Which is so odd, because he really doesn't do anything remotely annoying in the series, he's basically just reacting to the shenanigans around him. Note to me: maybe don't return to that board.

Buuuuut, to balance out that negativety, the lovely Fenderlove sent me a picture. A lady Fenderlove knows (heretofore known as "Friend of Fenderlove") got a Betta George tattoo on her calf! Here it is:


I couldn't be more happy. It means the character meant enough to someone that they wanted to have him permanently on their person. And THAT is awesome. Thank you, FOF!

Answering Questions Part 2

We have more! For you!

Warning: some spoilers about whether or not 2 certain blonds will be appearing in AFTER THE FALL. We cover surprises, easiest characters to write, most difficult characters to write, artist wishlists, and I ramble about Spider. Because this is off the cuff and there are no edits. Jazz on the scene comic Q and A!

So CLICK HERE and listen!

Answering Questions Part 1

Hey y'all. A while ago, I asked people to post any questions they had for me about any of the AFTER THE FALLses or EVERYBODY'S DEAD.

Here's the first 6 questions answered!

I am sorry I'm not really eloquent, I am super tired. Towards the end I ramble a whole lot.

Topics discussed include Kate, Women in ATF, more Kate, my sideburns, ANGEL/SPIKE ATF complementing each other, and my sideburns again.

Anywhere, here you go!

ANGEL Director's Cut tomorrow!

Hope you guys dig. It's got my full script, which is kinda cool and scary. Now you guys'll see that it's allll Franco because I write stuff like "Angel chops at the demons with the large knife-like thing (you know, the choppy things that pirates or ninjas have). The demon's like aaaaargh because it hurts. Franco, should I cut my hair? You can't see me but it's getting long."

ANGEL # 1 Directors Cut

My copies came in the mail today. Forgive the reverse images, just wanted to give you an idea as to how cool this thing is. It's hardstock, reprinting issue 1 (with some corrections). Original script in the back, along with my notes. Such a classy book. Here are the pics:


The cover, by the super talented Alex Garner. Shiny gold lettering!



The back cover. Again, sorry for the reverse imaging.


One of the pages. Check out Gunn's new hoodie. We gave him a blood red sweatshirt to make him stand out from his other vamps, and so there's no confusion on that last page. Always thinking here at Team Angel.

And finally---



The script, along with the notes. So cool.

Hope you guys liked the little preview, definitely check it out, it's worth finding.

Have a good Friday!

Review of EVERYBODY'S DEAD # 3

Every time a Whedon-related books comes out, I head on over to Pat Shand's review blog and check out what he thinks. I find myself agreeing with him 9 times out of 10 (the one time was when he said I was getting chunky in the ass...what's THAT about? Hello, I just had a kid).

Anyway, he's also reviewing EVERYBODY'S DEAD, and as the third issue came out today, he has a review of it RIGHT HERE!

And for goodness sake, go buy it already. It's wonderful.

Five Reasons to Buy EVERYBODY'S DEAD

Tomorrow, EVERYBODY'S DEAD # 3 comes out. If you're reading it already, hopefully you don't need to be convinced. If you're still on the fence about reading it, here are some facts that may convince you.

1. Like ANGEL:AFTER THE FALL? It's written by the guy that co-plots and scripts that.

And as such, it's got some of the same stuff that makes ANGEL so wonderful. Romance, comedy, human interaction in the middle of some truly horrifying supernatural occurances. See why Rolling Stone called EVERYBODY'S DEAD "The Must Read Book of 2008".

2. Fan of Dave Crosland?

Sure, who isn't? The mad artistic genius behind SCARFACE:SCARRED FOR LIFE and PUFFED is penciling and inking EVERYBODY'S DEAD. Combine that with the coloring artistry of one Len O'Grady, and EVERYBODY'S DEAD is easily the prettiest, poppiest, happiest zombie comic book on the stands. See why National Geographic called EVERYBODY'S DEAD "Eye Candy for the soul."

3. You can relive your college experience/prepare for your college experience/see what college is like via this book.

It's a frighteningly realistic look at college, only it's cooler because there are also cannibal zombies at every turn. See why Maxim Magazine called EVERYBODY'S DEAD "a better comic than the world deserves."

4. No skrulls. No counting down.

You're welcome. See why Game Informer Magazine called EVERYBODY'S DEAD "even better than any video game out there, but why are we covering comic books, we never do. Seriously, this is weird."

5. I wrote it specifically for you.

Yes, you. If you don't buy it, all this work is for naught. See why The Wall Street Journal called EVERYBODY'S DEAD "fucking kick ass seriously".

Check it out, you'll be glad you did.

Comics on Comics # 1 is up!

CLICK HERE and watch a bunch of a comedians and myself talk about geek-related topics. Do it! DO IT!

Thrice Dead!

EVERYBODY'S DEAD issue 3 comes out this week! This is where the mayhem REALLY kicks into high gear. Zombie attacks, emotions running high, romances being rekindled, this is a fun issue. Hope you guys seek it out and read it. I think you'll dig.

Wow!

Someone forwarded me this review.

This is the kind of review that makes me all sorts of giddy. Save for misspelling my name and calling Franco "Francisco". You know what, misspell our names. If you like the book that much, you can call us Shirley and it's a-okay.

Question me!

Do you have any questions regarding ANGEL:AFTER THE FALL # 7 or the series in particular? Do you wanna inquire about EVERYBODY'S DEAD? Do you want to ask me how my sideburns stay so wonderfully groomed?

Ask away! In the comment section, just slap your question up and I will answer it podcast-style! And I promise to get to this one, work is hectic but I will do it.

Thanks to everyone who came out to comics on comics last night. I think it came out pretty awesome, and it'll go online early next week. BUFFY and ANGEL were talked about, a whole lot. As was EVERYBODY'S DEAD. And monkeys. And video games.

Okay, ask away! And leave your name, because "the ninth question from anonymous" will get old really quickly.

I'm cutting everyone at midnight Friday! So get the word out!

Summer Lovin'

Chris was nice enough to shoot this over my way this morning, and now I'm nice enough to put it up.

Hope you guys enjoy ANGEL:AFTER THE FALL # 7 today!

Comics on Comics and Lynch on Vampires

Just a reminder about a few things:

1. ANGEL:AFTER THE FALL # 7 is out tomorrow! I think you'll all dig it, it's what the experts call "really awesome".

2. Comics on Comics tapes tomorrow night at Meltdown at 8 PM. Get thee to Sunset Blvd. and sit in the audience. Watch me try and keep up with actual stand-up comics as we discuss geek-related topics. I saw the list of topics, BUFFY and ANGEL are on'em, so get there, get a seat, and enjoy!

3. SPIKE:AFTER THE FALL # 1 is available in the new Previews. Not sure if stores know about it, so you gotta say "hey, ANGEL:ATF sold so well, SPIKE:ATF will sell as well, you should order a billion copies". All we need is ONE store to order a billion copies and we're good. Seriously, though, you need to tell'em about it if you want to make sure they'll carry it.

UPDATE: I just saw the colored art for issue 1. This is the best comic ever. I am amazed at how beautiful this book is.

4. The newest ANGEL and EVERYBODY'S DEAD are also available for pre-order so for Gosh sakes, remind your retailer to pick them up too.

Back to work for me! Thanks everybody!

ANGEL:AFTER THE FALL # 7 is out this week!

I'm excited, not only do we get the Wesley FIRST NIGHT story (drawn by Mr. Nick Runge, who is currently drawing ANGEL:AFTER THE FALL #11...the Wesley story got him the gig, I think you'll see why.

It also contains what I think is my best Whedonverse writing until SPIKE:AFTER THE FALL. This story is a continuation a Connor's FIRST NIGHT story, only this chapter is starring...

...oh it's a doozy. I love how it came out. My favorite thus far, hope you guys dig it.

Plus more from Betta George, with some revelations that will make you go "huuuuh?" and "woooow" and a little bit of "more now please".

DEAD laid to rest

Yesterday I finished writing the script to EVERYBODY'S DEAD # 5. It's been over ten years working on these characters and to finally reach the end of their first story feels wonderful. I owe it all to Mr. Chris Ryall. The fact that Dave Crosland and Len O'Grady provide such wonderful pencils, inks and colors makes the decade+ wait so worth it.

Of course, their story isn't over, and if the planets align, we will get a sequel. Keep'em crossed!

Boom

http://www.ryalltime.blogspot.com/

Get there. Now.

ANGEL:AFTER THE FALL fun facts

What's good for the blond british goose is good for the brunette brooding goose. I now present to you, some hints about the future of ANGEL:AFTER THE FALL!

1. Betta George makes a fairly Earth-Shattering discovery in issue 10.

2. Angel gets a new yet oddly familiar nickname in issue 9.

3. Connor reveals a whole hell of a lot to Angel in issue 9.

4. We find out who turned Gunn in issue 8.

5. Nick Runge handles the art for issue 10, save for 2 pages, which have to do be done in a different style for story purposes.

6. Death is coming.

Comics on Comics!

Are you free next Wednesday? Wanna sit in the audience and watch a bunch of funny people and myself talk about comic books? Come to the taping of COMICS ON COMICS! It'll be on the posted on this thing I've heard of called "the internet" so if you laugh at something I say (and oh, please do), you will hear yourself later and go "oh that wasn't very funny".

Please come out and watch the show, it'll be great. These guys are nice and funny and you can check out some of their other work at:

http://www.comicsoncomics.com

There are three interviews with me and Dave Crosland up as well, check'em out!