I'm going to have to go with the Holy Shit! crowd.

Want. More. Now.

Loved the letters section. Loved loved loved it.

They're probably not going to include the letters section in the paperback, are they? Has this been with every issue (did they do something in the first, like an essay?)

There were letters columns in each issue, but only the second issue had information directly from Joss himself about how he developed the idea for the comic. (This information was relayed by the editor, Scott Allie).

After reading this issue, I have to agree with all of the comments. Oh my! And the letters column was absolutely hilarious.

I did find it interesting that Joss wrote in the letter column that he can't see anybody but Karl drawing Mel -- that indicates that if we want to see more Fray, it may take a long while.

I'm definitely going back and re-reading the entire series tonight.

Dudes! I mean... gentle readers.... Uh, anyhoo, last FRAY finally hittin'! I've been planning that ish since before I wrote! Happy to see it reach fruition. But check out th' gaffe! On the title spreaed, the first two paragraphs have been inverted! It don't make no logical sense! Grr. (Arrgh.) But still, a sense of completeness, coupled with the fact that I just finished shooting the first Angel of next season.

Hope you guys dig, and as for more... well I have this movie I'm trying to write, but I definitely have ideas. By th' by, Scott Allie called me after I turned in the letters page stuff:

Scott: You wrote: "I can't imagine anyone but Karl drawing Mel".

Me: "Yeah."

Scott: "But... you CAN, right?"

It was so cute. Fact is, I don't think I'll be able to snag Karl for the next series. I'm into seeing a new artist's vision, but still... look at that last page. Neal Adams. Bryan Hitch. Karl Moline. I'm just sayin'.

I saw Karl at Comicon and gave him one of the Scythes that props had made for Buffy. His face was a thing to see.

Anyway, just wanted to hit th' thread, 'cause I actually finished something! All HAIL!

Hey Joss, nice gesture with the scythe (axe) - that was really cool. Glad to hear the big day's arrived for Fray, as a lot of us have been greatly enjoying the story and looking forward to its pentultimate chapter.

So how'd the shoot for the season premiere go?

Heh. This seems perhaps an inappropriate time to mention that I didn't like the ending.

Spoilery: I felt like Urkonn's being a baddie came out of left field, and, to be sure, it resonated for me with the way that Giles was (mis)used in the last season of BUFFY. I felt like, does every father/male teacher figure in the Slayer storyline *have* to turn out to be bad, or, at the best, get discarded?

Then again, it's been five million years since I read the whole thing starting from the beginning, and there may be things I missed.

I am relieved to know that Joss jossed himself, because I sat there after "Chosen" wondering how FRAY worked now.

The character in question wasn't evil, he just wasn't altruistic.

Interesting that this once again brings up one of the inherent tensions of the Slayer, between the hero and the soldier. Mel is struggling to be the hero, which was pretty far from her uncalled state, but it was still much closer to her original state than the soldier. The character in question did his action trying to evoke the soldier in Mel, but instead got the hero, probably much to Mel's own surprise.

Honestly, that surprise was one of the true surprises of the series. Virtually everything else was set up and foreshadowed, whereas the foreshadowing for this was suitably buried to keep it a true surprise.

Fact is, I don't think I'll be able to snag Karl for the next series.

Probably not. For people not in the know, Karl Moline is currently working for a company called Crossgen out of FL, which is experimenting in bringing back the 'bullpen', so that all of their writers and artists work in a single space. For those reasons, all of their creators are 'exclusive' to Crossgen, with a few negotiated exceptions. On the other hand, people should check out Karl's current title for Crossgen, Rte 666, a horror title in an alternative 1950s America.

On the title spreaed, the first two paragraphs have been inverted! It don't make no logical sense! Grr. (Arrgh.)

I didn't notice. I just assume you were going for disjointed thoughts. I don't think it'll throw people off that much. Just have them fix it for any reprintings. (That way my copy will be *extra* collectable...)

Michele: I didn't think it came out of left field so much, because I was bothered that it was the demons that sent Urkonn in the first place. Why would they go out of their way to aid the Slayer? You do make a fair point about the comparison with Giles (and Wesley, and the Watchers Council, and her Dad). However, my complaint would be more about Giles betraying Buffy, because there was far more trust built up over the years there, than Urkonn betraying Mel.

Oh my! And the letters column was absolutely hilarious.

Well, Joss posted last night, so he'll likely never see this comment, but his last paragraph in the letters section -- "I write stories. Mostly about girls....and the Getting of Power," make me goosebumpy and teary, what with Chosen and all.

And I was totally bereft about Urkonn killing Loo. Because I *loved* Urkonn from the very start. He was my MAN, in a big motherfucking way. But, dude -- betrayal! Made me sad.

And also Harth kissing Mel -- freaked me out in 2 ways: (1) reminded me so very much of Faith kissing Buffy in "Enemies," because Harth and Mel are (roughly) a lot like Faith and Buffy; and (2) YIKES! No likey the bro-sis kissing!

I really dig Mel. And I can't wait to see how Joss un-josses himself.

[edted becauce I keep using the italics shortcut when I want whitefont....duh....]