Graphic Novel Review: ANGEL: BLOOD & TRENCHES

Joss Whedon's immortal vampire Angel has gotten a new lease on life thanks to IDW publishing. In addition to the ongoing series IDW continues to publish stand alone series as well of which BLOOD & TRENCHES is one of the latest. This is a monumental series in the Angel universe as it has famed comic book writer and artist John Byrne at the helm who has done the series a service by doing the entire series in black and white with splashes of red (and a few sporadic other colors thrown in from time to time).

This series finds Angel behind enemy lines during WWII and battling the demon Kakistos (from the Buffy, the Vampire Slayer television show). Like Byrne's version of the recent Doom Patrol series for DC, this series jumps back and forth through time as you get to see events unfold through several of the main characters. Angel finds himself caught behind enemy lines trying to prevent Kakistos from turning German soldiers into unstoppable vampire killing machines. Hot on his tale is Colonel Geoffrey Wyndam-Price who will stop at nothing to kill Angel and rid the countryside of the German pestilence.

Byrne's artwork gives the series an edge not seen in many mainstream comics as the series looks more like a sketch book than a finished piece of art. The artwork and story are unpredictable and dangerous and that is one of the series' greatest assets. Although I wasn't a particularly huge fan of the story itself (like I was with his take on the Doom Patrol), there is much to be said for what he is trying to accomplish with this series and I think the die-hard fans will enjoy the story very much. This series has all the required action and story of the best Angel tales. This is not a grand tale like the ongoing series but this reminds me of the best of the stand-alone episodes of the show.

Byrne also provides a great "Afterword" that details how he got involved with IDW and this project and it is a great look into the mind of one of the medium's greatest artists. The graphic novel also artwork and sketches from some of the original cover art to the series which is also nice to look at.