Boom!Bangel

Mrs Gordo

Mrs Gordo

Bangel extremist...
Joined
Jul 11, 2017
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Location
Texas
Black Thorn
I figured since our little section here has been quiet as of late, I'd pop in and ask you all about the new Boom!Bangel developments.

For those of you catching up, Buffy and Angel have finally met in the new comics and are working together in Hellmouth (2019) #1:
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So here are a few questions, to those of you who have read the issue, do you like what you see of this re-telling of the Buffy and Angel dynamic? What is it that works for you and what is it that doesn't? How does it compare to canon Bangel? Do you think it will become a love story or do you believe it will stay platonic? How would you feel if they didn't go the "love story" route?

For those of you who have not read it, how do you feel about the Bangel story being reimagined in Boom! ..? Would you prefer they left the story alone or are you excited about the prospect of seeing it told from a new perspective/new writer?

As a matter of full disclosure, I haven't read many of the Boom! comics and I just picked up and read the Hellmouth story, because - uhhh the bangel art looked pretty - 😉
 
I stopped buying the comics about 2ish months ago, so I'm behind and don't know that I'll ever catch up....but if I hear good stuff about the Hellmouth crossover then I might be tempted to jump back in.

Overall I'm not opposed to getting a new take on Buffy and the Bangel story. I really loved the original, so it's hard to imagine a new story that I would enjoy as much, but I'd give it a shot. To be honest though, at this point I'd rather see a tv version of a reboot than this comic version.

Given Buffy and Angel each have their own title I don't see much hope for a love story. I suppose my hope is that the two of them work well together and form a deep meaningful friendship. I don't know, really. Actually, I kinda wish this was being told by people who didn't watch BTVS and know all the characters backstories. I could be totally off but at times when reading interviews with the writers and the first few issues it felt like they kept certain parts of the show/characters they liked and got rid of what they didn't. It didn't feel like a clean cut new telling of Buffy. I'm rambling now....sorry!
 
It feels more like IWRY/Sanctuary than WttH/Harvest. This is a more seasoned Angel than the one we initially meet on the show. This Angel sees himself as Buffy's equal. In fact, he is kinda treating Buffy like the junior partner.

The first meeting (when Angel wears the devil mask) between them feels more like vintage Bangel. Just like on the show, Angel is feeling Buffy out. He is mysterious and non-committal.

I am pretty sure there will be romance, but it won't be on the same on-true-love level that we saw on the show. If there is no special connection between them, then what would be the point of a cross over?

It has also been established that Buffy is no longer dating Robin, so the time is ripe, as I am sure Buffy and Robin will pick things up again pretty soon.
 
brinkster130 said:
I could be totally off but at times when reading interviews with the writers and the first few issues it felt like they kept certain parts of the show/characters they liked and got rid of what they didn't. It didn't feel like a clean cut new telling of Buffy. I'm rambling now....sorry!
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I agree with this entirely, and it turned me off a bit. I felt like they took all of the gripes they had with canon and they wanted to "fix" them in this story. I guess the problem is I - uhh - really like canon and I don't have alot of problems with it as a whole so I don't need anyone to fix the story. But I will say I actually did enjoy Hellmouth. I'm a bit lost bc I haven't read anything since the first two comics on each title but I have seen enough panels/pages to know kinda what's up.

I'm trying to enjoy this for what it is - which is not MY Buffy. But it's hard not to make the comparisons. Like for example, Angel is VERY AtS-like at this point. He's got a mission, he's confident, etc. I think the problem is there is a missed opportunity to see all the growth that we saw from btvs to ats - and specifically how that growth was related to meeting and falling in love with Buffy.

That being said, as I said above, I did kinda enjoy this take on B/A. It reminded me of early seasons 1, think Hellmouth when Buffy's all "I really didn't like him." And Angel's all: I didn't say I was your friend / "I thought you'd figure it out sooner." I was a big fan of those early episodes when they traded some snarky remarks. This comic has some of that same banter style - maybe a little played up.

It's a different Angel character that is for sure. And so it won't be the same but I'm going to stick around and see if they keep me engaged.
 
WillowFromBuffy said:
This Angel sees himself as Buffy's equal. In fact, he is kinda treating Buffy like the junior partner.
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I'm behind on the Angel comics but I was reading this more as "last time I worked with someone - they died" Angel vibes. But yes it is certainly more AtS-Angel than BtVS-Angel which loses a good amount of appeal for me.
 
The art was better in this issue though Dino's vampire face is awful. She's the worst drawn out of the lot. Spike was drawn quite well though.

I don't think Bangel is going to be a romantic ship.

The whole Spike plus some random mortal (smart of Dino not to go after a named character) is the KEY to opening the hellmouth seems to suggest that maybe Dawn isn't going to be a part of this canon. Opening the seal and the Key talk seems to be elements from Season 5 and 7 of the show.

The characters seem to lack chemistry with each other, including Buffy and Angel, and seems to be relying on the show to make the audience think that there's a connection. The scene with Giles and Anya was flat and clunky. The scooby dynamic is still off, I just don't buy that they're good friends. Again they're relying on the show to fill in the character relationships.

Better than the previous issues, but not exactly a high bar. It was okay, just wish they'd sort out the Dino art when she's in vampire form, a rictus grin isn't a good look on anybody. Sure, she's supposed to be evil, but the way she's drawn make you wonder why Spike wants to wake up to that every evening.
 
I've been buying them all but I haven't had the chance to start reading them yet… I've been extremely busy with school and work so I'm behind on everything. The fact that @Mrs Gordo is excited about it does make me impatient to have the time to read them though. Maybe after my mid-semester exams next week 🙂
 
Mrs Gordo said:
I'm behind on the Angel comics but I was reading this more as "last time I worked with someone - they died" Angel vibes.
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Yes, but on the show, Angel refuses to go with Buffy to the Master's lair, while in the comic, Angel does not want Buffy to come with him to the Hellmouth.
Mrs Gordo said:
But yes it is certainly more AtS-Angel than BtVS-Angel which loses a good amount of appeal for me.
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It feels like AtS-Angel with double the grouchiness and none of the charm.
 
I've only read a couple of the Buffy ones and the Hellmouth crossover, but, unfortunately, I don't see them shipping the two romantically, in order to avoid a(nother) shipping war between the Bangels and the Spuffies. Also, he has his own comic series.
From a non-real world POV, I could see the two characters go from allies, to friends, to boy/girlfriends. Then, of course, the curse would come in.
 
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