Review: Fray by Josh Whedon

Publisher's Weekly Summary

Readers familiar with the film Blade Runner will recognize similar elements in Melaka Fray's futuristic world: lots of darkness, grit and flying cars. Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Whedon admits he isn't trying to reinvent a vision of the future; he reserves his enormous talent for creating heroines possessing superhuman talent and enough spunk and charisma to bewitch the most skeptical audience.

Tough but reluctant vampire-fighter Fray lives in the bad part of town and makes a living doing heists for Gunther, a blue and scaly criminal operator who directs operations while submerged in a living-room sized tank. So when an enormous, goat-hoofed demon shows up at Fray's apartment, she's not terribly fazed, but she certainly isn't ready for his message: she, Melaka Fray, is destined to kill vampires. Where Fray comes from, vampires are known as "lurks," and a horrific incident in which they killed her brother has left her leery of the whole lot of them.

Furthermore, Fray's had none of the dreams or visions that are the slayer's usual preparation for a lifetime of fighting and sacrifice. All things considered, she's not interested. However, when one of Fray's close friends is also wiped out, she's drawn into the battle despite her better judgment. From then on, it's futuristic war, as the story takes some delicious, unexpected twists involving siblings and betrayals. Whedon's trademark nail-biting plot reversals, tossed-off jokes and surprisingly complex relationships characterize the book, and Moline and Owens' art brings a wholly absorbing gut-level edge to Fray's world. It's a stunning, irresistible package.

First Impressions

Buffy the Vampire Slayer remains a  pop-culture icon; gaining positive reviews, numerous awards, and boasting one of the most rabid fanbases I've ever seen. That being said, I'm always taken aback by the relative quiet surrounding the continuation of the series into the eighth season, and, as in this case, into the future, where the series continues with the struggles of a smart mouthed, ass-kicking-thief-turned-reluctant-slayer by the name of Melaka Fray.

I found Melaka to be immediately likeable, and was engrossed in her story almost instantaneously. Just take a look at the opening of the first chapter, which reads:

Cross Buffy with Faith and
you're still not as badass as
Melaka Fray

Bad day. Started bad, stayed that way. Woke up sore from last night. Didn't find the fingernail in my breakfast till I was chewing it. Then Gunther forcing me to pull a job when I'm spent...tough one, too, in the uppers. All bad enough. But Ruebrin's boys showing up on the grab and tossing me off the roof, that was..

...well, actually, that was kind of fun.

Engaged? I certainly was.

Melaka Fray continues Whedon's longstanding interest in promoting strong female leads (think no further than Buffy, Faith and Willow if you have any doubts). The only thing as strongly apparent as Whedon's feminist bent is his total control of the writing. His trademark wit, dynamic characters, proactive message, and snappy dialogue saturate the work to the point of savory goodness. I'm not sure if that description will make sense to anyone other than myself, but frack it, I think it sounds snazzy, so in it stays. Whedon brings the savory goodness.

Joining Whedon in this graphic novel venture are two formidable illustrators --Karl Moline and Andy Owens. 

Buffy fans will particularly enjoy the many interesting references made to the slayer and watcher lineages. Notice the axe on the cover? I've already said too much...

The supporting cast are also fascinating in their own right. If any of my readers may recall, there was one episode of Buffy where Giles was turned into one of those brutish looking demons with massive tusks. Well, one of said same species of demon serves as a sort of makeshift-watcher to Fray, and their reluctant bond is nothing short of hilarious. One of my favourite characters in this graphic novel is Gunther, a twisted cross between a derranged male mermaid and a hideous sea beast, whose hobbies include acquiring shiny and illegal items through less than scrupulous means, and looking up women's skirts. Fray's family also bear some peculiar qualities, but of that I cannot divulge any information without spoiling the story.

Final Thoughts

If you are a fan of Josh Whedon or the Buffy universe, you will love this graphic novel. No question. If you are not a fan, then you can likely skip out on this purchase.

Oh, one last thing...

A certain aspiring author had Fray's
biohazard tat tattooed on  him as tribute
to Whedon's Buffy universe. Nerdy much?