I wasn't nuts about the artwork for Angel:AtF, either. As for the story, I'm waiting for it to develop. I wasn't gaga for the first issue in the Buffy S8 arc, either. That, however, has really grown on me.
I loved the last Faith arc, minus Buffy's so totally negative reaction. Despite the ""It's old, it's strong, and...it feels like it's mine. I guess that means it's yours", I felt Buffy showed Faith in Chosen that she felt Faith was a worthy succesor. She threw the scythe to Faith, not to anyone else, when she thought she was done for. That said a lot to me. But I adored the Steed/Peelness of the arc, I want more. Hee. I feel the biggest problem we have right now is backstory of the missing months from the end of TV season 7 to the start of comics S8. I want resolution on giant Dawn, I want to know why she's so buddy/buddy with Willow, when I don't think season 7 did anything to show Willow/Dawn bonding of any type. I want to know why Buffy and Giles are on the outs. (Not sure that needs whitefont, I don't remember if it's been mentioned earlier, so better safe than sorry.) There's still too much stuff missing, in my mind. And I don't know how much of that Joss intends the season 8 comics to give us. Still, overall, I'm enjoying it. It's just nice to see the gang working together, again.