Certainly better than "Buffy: Season 7", Fray captures some of the goofy spirit that made the television show so enjoyable for so long. However, despite Whedon's best efforts (or maybe because of them), it still feels like a toothless attempt at TV series.

There are no emotional connections deep enough to surprise or shock the reader, although that doesn't stop Whedon from 'shocking' revelations at every turn.

The art is better than average, and supports the gimmicky future that Whedon has built.

Still, a mildy entertaining (if self-indulgent) contribution to the Buffy mythos, if not to the comic book industry as a whole.

A fun read. Good storytelling and great artwork. Fray is not Buffy. She is a street rat and a thief, and very spunky. Worth reading!!! ~~~Liandre

Which means snappy dialogue, great action scenes and interesting plot. The art is excellent, and there's even a giant dinosaur in there somewhere! It's very different from Buffy, Fray is more like the anti-buffy; a thief('grabber), working FOR the mutated bad guys and running from the cops. Oh, and she's a brunette. Highly recommended, especially if you're a Buffy fan.

I have officially been converted. I can now say that I'm a Joss Whedon fan. I never watched his previous vampire sagas, Buffy and Angel, however, I did catch his excellent series Firefly, his sci-fi series which was more up my alley.

Fray is also a futuristic tale, taking place 200 years into the future of the Buffy universe. It has been a very long time since the last slayer, and the time has come when one has to be called upon. Enter Melaka Fray, a thief with a complicated history. While she's a crook her older sister, Erin, is a police sergeant. To top it off, four years ago her twin brother Harth was killed by a vampire when he was helping her steal and she has never forgiven herself for it. A demon named Urkonn finds Mel and reveals to her that it's her destiny to become a slayer.

That is the set up, and the pay off is quite enjoyable. The story moves along at such a rapid pace that it was impossible for me to get bored. Whedon's writing is very cinematic with plenty of conflict, twists, and surprises. We're introduced to Mel plummeting from a skyscraper and hitting every flying car she can on the way to break her fall. There's a lot of action in every chapter, but plenty of humor, drama and witty dialog in between to balance it out and keep me satisfied.

The artwork by Karl Moline works really well. I had never seen anything he worked on prior to this. I always took the time to appreciate the landscapes of this alternate future, and he's just as adept at illustrating a good fight scene as he is at getting across a character's emotions through facial expressions and body language. Inker Andy Owens, does well and the colors are provided by Dave Stewart whose work I'm very familiar with who is joined by Michelle Madsen here.

A very enjoyable read all the way through. And if you need proof that you don't have to be a Buffy fan prior to reading this to appreciate it, then consider this it. Bring on the sequel!

This is a decent story, but nothing that exciting. Melaka Fray is a cross between Dark Angel, Faith and Tank Girl, if you want a comparison.

In the future, there are plenty of mutants, so vampires go less remarked on than they would if they wandered around in the current day.

She has no Watcher, except for a demon that turns up to tell her a few things. Apparently being born with a twin brother has done a few odd things.

Her sister is a cop, which also gives her grief, and the vampires are growing in nmumbers and organising.

A great story written in the future of the Buffy-verse. What makes it so great, is that you don't even have to be a Buffy or Angel fan to pick up this book & like it. Buffy fans well still be happy with the obscure references through out the story but non fans of the show won't miss out on anything if they don't pick up on them. The characters & their development through out the story were very good. The story itself was a solid read as well as a good ending that leaves you wanting more.

Joss Whedon's "Fray" is exactly what I've been looking for; a tale set in the Buffyverse that's long enough to satisfy my need for a Whedony tale. While the Buffy: Season Eight comics are great (9/10 for the most part, in my humble opinion), the issues that have been released so far are choppy, mostly because they, unlike "Fray", are the OPENING chapters of a larger story. "Fray" is standalone, and it's tells a great tale that, listen up continuity freaks like myself, is canon.

The story, like any Joss comic, is integrated with a few non-linear scenes. In the case of "Fray", this helps the narrative flow immensely. The flash-backs into Melaka Fray's past make the impact of the big-surprise-twist in the story very effective, and just adds to the entire emotional wallop. And quite a wallop it is. I've never, as of yet, been brought to tears by a comic, but I can say that "Fray" almost brought me to the misty-eyed point. The combination of stupendous characterization, an epic story that has huge (and very relatable) themes, and beautifully quirky art just make this item a great overall package.

Some of the finer points are Melaka Fray herself, who is a much more likable slayer than one Buffy Summers, who can be--at times--a bit annoying with the whole "You don't understand my suffering, so I can mistreat you attitude." Don't get me wrong, I love the Buffster, I'm just saying that it's great to meet a more... erm... lighthearted Slayer. Her, Loo, Urkonn, even the villains are so well done that I find myself aching for a sequel, or perhaps a movie adaptation.

This trade paperback (or 'graphic novel', for you uppity folks) isn't only for fans of Buffy, Angel, and Joss Whedon. Anyone who has an open mind for fantasy will pretty much enjoy this eight issue miniseries, if not for the sheer beauty of the volume.

10/10 Classic.

What does Joss Whedon do when he wants to write about a vampire slayer who's not Buffy? He taps into the past, of course -- or looks into the future.

Fray, written by Whedon and illustrated by Karl Moline, leaps a couple of centuries down the road to a time where flying cars are commonplace and demons roam the Earth. It's a time when people no longer believe in vampires -- a 21st-century slayer, possibly Buffy, vanquished all demons and half-demons from our dimension, we're told -- but now the vampires, or "lurks," are back. And, with a few hundred years of peace in their wake, they find a world without a slayer, a world where the council of Watchers has fallen into disarray and madness, a world where no one is prepared to face or resist them.

At least, not until young thief Melaka Fray is suddenly flooded with power. And a demon, for reasons of his own, takes the place of a Watcher and begins her training.

Fray collects an eight-issue miniseries that is too short by far to tell the full story of Melaka's adventures. After all, Buffy had a feature film, seven seasons of television and a host of comic-book yarns to work with, and she still has storytelling potential to spare. But this book does a great job of introducing an exciting new character, defining her futuristic world (did I mention the flying cars?) and populating it with an interesting array of allies, sidekicks and adversaries. I hope there's more to come.

by Tom Knapp, Rambles.(n e t) editor

Although I am not generally a comics reader, I bought Fray because I was interested in more of Joss Whedon's work. Luckily I was able to come to this story after it had been compiled into this graphic novel. Although I can't assess it in reference to other comics series or characters, I did find it a good work on its own, although its relation to the Slayerverse certainly made parts of the story more fun to follow.

What I found most interesting about this story was what it revealed about Whedon's preoccupations. Certainly viewers of his various television series will recognize certain character dynamics, storylines, and style of storytelling. In a television series it is often difficult to determine what any given person's contribution was or what sorts of stories receive approval for airing. Here, Whedon is able to write as he likes and the results are interesting to consider in light of his other work.

Overall the story pleases and leaves one wanting more. Which is what any writer should want.

I'm going to keep it short sweet and neat for the sake of time and money.

Joss Whedon is a story telling genius and probably one of the few "celebrities" that should I meet I would probably get tongue tied and act all goofy-like in front of.

Fray was something I heard about and tried to find in local comic shops (I live in LA) and none of them had it or "could get it" - which seems stupid since if they REALLY wanted to get it I'm sure they could have. Anyway, I got it from Amazon as soon as I could and I was not dissappointed. He takes the Slayer lore and weaves a fascinating new tale set in the future, one remarkably similar in dialogue to Firefly incidentally - almost an amalgam of style between current modern day speech and the forthcoming Firefly dialect.

The story is top notch and it has new twists that even most hard core Joss fans wouldn't see coming.

All in all, if your a Buffy fan - get this. If your a Joss fan - get this. Or if you just like REALLY good storytelling in graphic novel form - get this.

Just get it.

If you're like me, you want to take the Buffy and Angel DVD boxed sets to your grave, and you MUST read the "Buffy: Season 8" comic that Joss Whedon and company are releasing in March, '07 from Darkhorse. I ordered "Fray" to prepare myself for this extraveganza, and found myself pleasantly surprised and absorbed by the graphic novel style (in spite of a few disconcerting moments of, "wait, who the heck is thinking in the yellow box?" or "Which speech bubble do I read first?", etc.) This was a wonderful short story told in Joss's characteristically fantabulous voice. And the artwork was really fun to interact with - especially the characterization of the characters (and the non-male-gazedness of the female body (less TNA and more facial expressions!)).

The reason for 4 stars (and not 5) is, surprisingly, a weakness in characterization (usually Joss's strong suit). The portrayal of Fray's brother in the past is not nearly sympathetic enough to cause the hurt later on, and he's incredibly difficult to connect with (I think maybe the eyeglasses were a poor choice.) Otherwise, though, the characters are as strong as you might hope!

For a long time I have have loved Joss Whedon's work, though I am no fan of the Buffy or Angel television shows. Joss has a tendency to mix a fantastic story with incredibly witty dialogue. In this particular work, I think he sets the bar high with a great plot--not the most original, but told very well--and fantastic character development and dialogue. The artwork is also nothing short of amazing. I thoroughly recommend this to anyone, sci-fi lover or not.

I enjoyed Fray. It's not a towering piece of epic art, but it's a good story and fun to read. Since it's Joss Whedon, there's snappy dialogue, teenage girls with superpowers, and flying cars. Also a hellmouth, abyssal sidekicks, and a hybrid axe/spear legendary weapon.

One thing I love about the way this man writes science fiction is, he doesn't get caught up in the technology. Other (lesser) writers focus on the complexity of their rayguns, space ships, and artificial planets. Whedon focuses on the complexity of his characters. Fray is a graphic novel about people, not so much glittery space things that incinerate worlds (though there is a humongous insecty demon). It's about family, as all Joss's stories are.

Anyway, I liked it. It didn't blow up my mind real good, but it was very cool. And ultimately, I think that's what Joss was aiming for.

All right, we know that all you Buffy fans love this book (hello, Joss Whedon is GOD and all that he does, is perfection). HOWEVER, if you are NOT a Buffy fan, or even a Joss Whedon fan - you will STILL love this!

Set well into the future - so far into the future, that mutations are a common thing (Melaka Fray's boss is a fish), and the concept of "vampire" has disappeared (they are now known as "lurks" - viewed by most as just another gang with the same weird mutation). Fray starts off as the perfect anti-hero. She has a smart mouth, proud to be a petty thief, and emotionally damaged by the death of her twin brother.

Ah...but that's when Joss works his magic. To those unfamiliar with his work, at this point, you are probably thinking "eh, this is trite. I've read books like this before", and you would be completely and absolutely wrong.

Smart, funny, with more plot twists then an old Chris Claremont story arc, this book will pull you in, and keep you guessing until the very last page (and then you'll scream "WHAT? That's IT??? Tell me there is a freakin' sequel!").

Oh yeah, and for those that tend to cry over a good story...keep a box of tissues next to you.

Is this THE future, or one possible future? In any case, this is a fantastic story telling the return of the slayer in the future. After all demons were banished from the Earth (I assume by Buffy), the slayer legacy ended. We no longer had a need for them. While Season 7 of Buffy saw new slayers called all over the world, in Fray, the world is back down to one slayer. Demons and vampires are back, and Fray has one hell of a battle on her hands.

Come on.. its by Joss Whedon.. you knew it was going to be good.. the artwork is outstanding and just like his tv/film productions, pictures serve to bring out the inherent beauty and texture of Joss's ideas. Read it.. Own it... Love it..

As an insane fan of Mr. Joss Whedon, I bought Fray hoping it would be good. Well, it wasn't. It was great.

I didn't know if I would like Fray, but I loved her. I sat and read it during my classes and never felt the least bit silly that I'm almost 30 and I was reading a comic book. I gasped at plot twists, I laughed at the jokes, and I sniffled at the sad parts. (and it's Joss. You know there is a sad part. Bastard!)

My only complaint is that I wish there were more.

Great graphic novel, I am a fan of Firefly and thus was turned onto this book. I never watched much buffy, but now I want too :)

Great read, great story, great characters.

Fans of the Whedonverse have pretty much given up hope of a new Buffy/Angel type TV series. Fray is the cure for your jones! Excellent artwork and a "would have known it was Joss even if his name wasn't on the cover" story, Fray will leave you hungry for more!

This comic TBP is amazing. Joss Does a great job of twisting the vampire lore yet again. Buy this product. You won't be disapointed. The artwork and story are amazing.

Let me preface this by saying I'm not a Buffy or Angel fan, nor am I particularly familiar with the intricacies of the "Buffyverse". That said, this is a solid, fun comic book for those who like dystopian settings and strong heroines. For those like me, who aren't clued in to the whole Buffy mythology, the story starts as a pretty straightforward one about a young female cat burglar in a generic megacity of the future. While there are flying cars and all that, there are also extreme mutations due to the ravaging of the ozone layer. Our heroine lives in a slum, acting as a "grabber" for a weird merman creature while trying to keep out of the hands of her cop sister. While she's fairly reckless and carefree, she's also haunted by the death of her twin brother at the hands of a powerful thug years several years ago.

One day, a ram-horned, red-skinned, cloven-hoofed demon shows up to tell her she's a "slayer" and that he's got to train her to meet her destiny-which is to save the world. It seems that some powerful being is assembling artifacts to open a gate to another dimension, where many bad demony things live. Helping him is his vampire army (here called "lurks"), one of whom is the heroine's nemesis from years ago. It's not clear why the demon wants to help her, and she's rightly skeptical and dismissive, forcing him to prove to her the direness of the situation. After a nice buildup, the book climaxes in a huge showdown, with plenty of action and gore. Unfortunately, despite the exhilarating finale, the ending leaves most important plot points totally unresolved and the reader begging for a sequel.

Like Whedon's writing for Firefly, there's some nice sarcastic humor liberally sprinkled throughout. There are also unexpected twists and setbacks, along with healthy doses of futuristic slang. The artwork and inking are outstanding, highly commercial and polished, but in a good way. The artists' concept sketches at the end show how Natalie Portman's character in "The Professional" was the basis for the heroine, and just how influential that old 1st edition AD&D Monster Manual was! All in all, good stuff that leaves the reader wanting more.

Not that far a jump between Buffy and Serenity, and that's in a good way. One of the things that stood out to me with this story was the little details. Money being called sils, the different slang used by the characters, and the fact that when the world is about to be consumed by an army of vampires, nobody actually knows what a vampire is (they call them "Lurks"). Moreover, this slayer is a whole different player than Buffy. Malaka Fray is a thief living in the shadows of a Metropolis-like future city where a small part of the population is already mutated from exposure to the sun, and the 'lurks' thrive in this darkness, ignored by the population as being nothing worse than lepers. She is contacted and trained, not by the Watchers, but by a demon whose masters seek to use her power to avert an impending apocalypse. I know, another one. It's another day in the life of a Slayer, with a brand new style.

I will admit to knowing crap-all about comics, so don't look to me for any kind of informed or constructive thought vis a vis the artwork; I came to "Fray" only because the name Joss Whedon was attatched -- and it appears I'm not alone among the comic's readers.

I enjoyed "Fray" -- it came complete with the Whedon wit and strong woman at the center of the story that I found entertaining about his "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" -- but, in the end, found it somehow lacking. Some of this, I suspect, has to do with the fact that the words lie inert on the page, unread by an actor; Whedon has always written dialogue to be spoken, and it's difficult to put the inflection one is used to into words floating in bubbles over people's heads. That may just be a mental block on my part, and I found it to be less distracting as I settled in with the characters and got a better idea of what they (particularly Mel Fray herself) talked like, but at first it was a little strange to see lines that felt designed to becoming out of the mouths of Eliza Dushku or David Boreanaz emanating from the mouth of some unmoving chick with blue hair. If you know what I mean.

The real problem was that it was just too short. I read the whole thing in the space of about an hour, I think, and when I was done with it, I found myself feeling like there ought to be more just about to happen. Instead, there were a lot of concept drawings and stuff, which were interesting to a certain degree, but not as much as a continuation of the actual story would have been. It felt oddly truncated, and pieces felt left out: we see Mel chop into a demon's skull, but never see what happens inside. It becomes clear that some characters are guilty of various kinds of treachery, and they are dead within a few panels -- and it's kind of hard to figure out exactly what's happening in those panels to boot.

That said, the book certainly has its pleasures, not least of which is a central character who seems to have the promise to own up to the complexity and humor of her spiritual ancestor. Mel Fray is essentially one step up from a street kid, and seems to have been living on her own for years, and as a result seems to be more of an adult than past slayers when we first make their acquaintance; her learning curve is sharper than Buffy's or Faith's. She dresses in a colorful, futuristic form of risque punk chic, and seems to have more hair than she really knows what to do with, at least at first. In fact, I have occasionally seen reference to her physically "maturing" over the course of the story, but the only real manifestation of that that I spotted in an admittedly cursory reperusal was the fact that she started putting her hair up. Mostly, I noticed her progression of ever-more-luridly-colored outfits, which don't really "mature" in any particular way.

At any rate, this was an amusing diversion, and I guess it did its job in that it left me wanting another one, but in the end I felt it was a little stunted and incomplete.

I am a big fan of Buffy and Angel. I was getting the monthly installments for a long time, then I saw the ad for this. A nonBuffy-Buffy comic? I had to have it.

I was not disappointed. I found a solid story about a world in which the Slayer line was not moving forward. The evils they had fought and kept at bay, had become parts of the greater future society.

Then Fray comes into play. With a demon watcher and a desire to steal things more than to kill things, it was something I looked forward to reading each month. I found I had a great story from Whedon that was not starring Sarah or David on my TV. I enjoy the artwork and keeping coming back to read this title.

The only thing keeping me from giving this 5 stars is the fact that the pacing is a tad uneven and the story is a tiny bit rushed. Overlooking that this is an excellent comic by one of the greatest modern writers in any genre (hey Joss, why not try a novel?). I think that it might be intreting if someday this was adapted into a film to be an official sequal to the Buffy and Ange show, but first let's finish Angel. What happened in that alley??!! (sorry non Angel watchers)

Comic books are a recent addition to my life. Until recently, I had always assumed that they were kids stuff, a medium for preteens. While I realized that the stories had potential (thanks largely to movies like Spider-man 1 and 2, Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Begins, and X-Men 1 and 2), I thought that the comic versions were out of my league. I was wrong. After reading the first six issues of Joss Whedon's (creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly) Astonishing X-Men, I knew that the man could translate his genius to the comic medium. After reccomendations for Fray, I finally picked it up and read it. I could not have been more pleased.
Set in an unknown year in the future (a couple centuries have passed), Melaka Fray lives in the slums of Manhattan. The world is a scary place to live in; even the dirtiest and most run-down of neighborhoods in America today have nothing on the sheer desolation of Melaka's world. Dirt and darkness are everywhere, and due to holes in the ozone layer, many people have mutated. Unlike Buffy and Angel, the source material for Fray, there is no magic in the world, it has all disappeared from the world due to some events in the 21st century. Also, there are very few actual demons, however, there are creatures known as lurks. Not much is known about them, but it is assumed that they are screwed up steroid junkies who, for some reason, crave human blood.
Anyway, Melaka Fray is a runner/grabber (read: thief) for a mutated fish creature. She is fast, agile, and strong, which come in handy when pulling jobs. Turns out that she's a vampire slayer. Trouble is that she doesn't know what a vampire is. A demon known as Urkonn is forced to come back to Earth and explain to Fray about vampires/lurks, slayers, and her destiny.
As the story unfolds, we learn about the twisted home life of the Frays, involving sister Erin and (twin) brother Harth. Melaka must train to fight off an impending war against the undead, and must rally the support of a population of humans that has grown apathetic towards most things.
As usual, Whedon gives us a great story, fleshed-out characters, and tons of witty dialogue. The scenes of action are great, the scenes of emotion are powerful, and the humor is on par with Whedon's work. Also, this book introduces the slayer axe (that was later brought into Buffy's final season).
This book will appeal to so many people. If you are a Whedon fan (especially if you enjoy the Buffyverse), you will like this book. If you are a comic book fan, you will like this book. If you are a person who enjoys a good story, you will like this book.

You watch this man's TV shows, the movies that he has written screenplays for, and his comic book work and they all add up to a big zero. He can not write compelling characters. They all sound like parts that he only writes for the no talent hacks who have appeared in his films. The Fox Studio did not want him to direct X-Men 3 because he makes unreasonable demands on almost everything like wanting only certain prodcers to work with him or the budget to be right for his wreid needs and almost everything else. The dialoge in this book is so corny and so stupid as to be unreadable. You would think a spoiled five year old child wrote it. His so called legion of fans are only a small number that hang out on second rate comic book web-sites like Comicbookresources.com and such. Now he is doing the Wonder-Woman movie for Producer Joel Silver. Why not, Let the no talent hack writers.directors work with the no talent hacks at AOL Films.

Joss Whedon's "Fray" is about a vampire slayer in 23rd Century named Mel Fray. In her nightmare world (a little reminicent of "Blade Runner") people have forgotten about magic and now vampires (now called Lurks) and other monsters are common place. But a new and charismatic leader has emerged and wants to open the gate to let full blooded demons back into our world. It is up to Fray to learn the skills of the slayer and stop the war. The story is set in the Buffyverse, but it is fairly independent of Buffy. Only a few vauge references connect Fray with her more well known counter part. In fact Fray has more in common with Faith than Buffy, as Fray is a career theif. But there are a few things left over from Buffy that I liked. The syth that Buffy used to shut down the Hellmouth has somehow managed to survive to Fray. The Watcher's council is still around, but they are now insane men who have a habit of incinerating themselves. Also the main bad guy's plot to reopen 'the gate'. The gate sounds an awful lot like the Hellmouth; I think that this nightmare city is on top of what used to be Sunnydale. But do not let the comparisons fool you, this is a very compelling story in it's own right. While there isn't any Watchers around, there is a demon named Urkonn who is charged with getting Fray up to speed. He is a brooding demon with a hidden agenda. Fray is also unique in the circumstances of her birth; she was a twin, and her brother got the memories of the past slayers while she got the strength and power. The end is traditional Whedon apocalypse cliffhanger, but still a good one. It would be interesting to see "Fray" become it's own series.

"Fray" is a graphic novel that extends the mythos of Buffy the Vampire Slayer into a distant and not very pleasant future. But its reference to the standard BTVS canon are just that--vague references. The world of "Fray" is a totally different realm in which Slayers and vampires alike are forgotten (although the latter exist as "Lurkers") and Watchers are ineffectual madmen. The title character, Fray, is a petty thief called to be a new Slayer and guided by a demon of dubious intentions. The storyline follows her as she learns what her destiny is, how her mission is intertwined with her own family troubles, and how she accepts her new role as Slayer.

I picked this up basically because it was written by Joss Whedon and because even a story tangentially related to Buffy sounded intriguing. Unfortunately, I was disappointed by the quality of the story. I didn't find the characters particularly sympathetic nor was I bowled over by the artwork. Compared to other comics and graphic novels that I've read, this one was lacking. Some readers may find it enjoyable; frankly, I didn't. If you're a fan of graphic novels generally, the odds are higher that you'll like this one. But if what you're really looking for is a Buffy fix, you can do better elsewhere.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon wrote this eight issue mini-series for Dark Horse Comics. Taking place in the 23rd century in a Blade Runner-esque world; young "grabber" (pretty much a thief) Melaka Fray finds her world turned upside down when a mysterious demon named Urkonn tells her that she is the Slayer. Faced with a newfound destiny, a tragic past, and plot twists and turns galore; Joss Whedon's Fray is pure brilliance from beginning to end. Whedon's interpretation of future dialogue is amusing to say the least, and his quirky humor which has always been apparent throughout his various television shows is here as well. The art by Karl Moline and Andy Owens is amazing stuff indeed; bringing a surreal look to the dark and gritty future world while showing Mel mature more and more as each chapter passes. The only problem with Fray is in it's pacing. From the time that Mel accepts her destiny to the end of the book, the war against the vampires happens too quickly. If you can get past that though, you'll find some pure comic genius here, Joss Whedon style. Hopefully, Joss will do a much requested follow up to Fray after his current run on Marvel's Astonishing X-Men (also highly recommended).

I bought this book in part because Joss Whedon is the writer of this and is the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The storyline is set centuries after Buffy and is the story of a young slayer who is more like the Faith we know than Buffy.
I found the setting to be depressing, if that is the future it's sure going to be miserable, but the artwork is great- and the story isn't too bad either.

I was really impressed by this superb graphic novel written by Buffy creator Joss Whedon. While I was expecting a fun and interesting addition to the Slayerverse mythology, I wasn't expecting such a surprisingly nifty take on the mythology that Whedon had established in Buffy and Angel.

The story takes place at some indeterminate place in the future a couple of hundreds years in the future. No Slayer had been called in ages because magic had moved out of earth's dimension. But the vampires have returned, and for the first time in generations a new slayer has been called. The trouble is, apart from being a thief, she doesn't have many of the marks of a slayer--no dreams, no instincts, only the raw physical fighting ability. She is a slayer, but a flawed one.

FRAY is filled with great graphic designs, a fine central storyline, a remarkably complex set of character relations, and some quite stunning plot reversals. I love the conceit of a not-quite-complete-slayer. The fighting skills are clearly the most important part of being a slayer, but Fray has no sense of her heritage, of her destiny, of her vocation. If Buffy at least struggled against her fate, Fray hasn't a hint of what her fate is. When tells the demon who would train her that she really hasn't had the dreams or visions of previous slayers, she is telling the truth. This makes her even more isolated than other slayers, more a loner.

I think anyone who enjoys either graphic novels or any of the work of Joss Whedon is going to love this. Hopefully there will be a follow up. The story ends with things definitely open to future development. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

If the pivotal moment in the original story of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" was when the blonde walked down the alley and kicked the butt of the monster that attacked her, thereby reversing generations of horror movie stereotypes, then the key moment in the story of "Fray" is when her Watcher shows up to train her in the fight against the vampires and our heroine pauses a beat (i.e., a frame with no dialogue) before asking "What is a vampire?" This is because Joss Whedon's story is set in the 23rd century, some two hundred years after "a Slayer, possibly with some mystical allies, faced an apocalyptic army of demons. And when it was done...they were all gone. All demons, all magics, banished from this earthly dimension." What happened to that particular Slayer? The chronicles do not say, apparently, but we learn that she was the last to be called. That is, until Melaka Fray.

Fray is a grabber, who works for Gunther, a guy who has been mutated into a fish (this is a future where apparently a hole in the ozone and other ecological problems create mutations on a Stan Lee-like level), grabbing artifacts and sundry items of value, all the way trying to avoid her sister, Erin, a copy. In an interesting parallel to "BtVS," Melaka develops a relationship with and is trained by her second Watcher, the demon Urkonn of the D'avvrus, who looks like a demon with the lower half of his face ripped off, and who is frequently enraged by the young woman he is trying to teach to be a Slayer. This is because Fray has no frame of reference regarding why anybody should want to fight the lurks. If Urkonn cannot get Fray to accept her calling, then (altogether now) it could be the end of this futuristic world as we are learning to know it. The result is interesting and can certainly help to fill the void left by the end of Whedon's cult classic television show.

Ultimately, the eight issue of Dark Horse Comics' "Fray" are about the calling of a Slayer. After all, there has to be something pretty interesting going on if a Slayer has finally been called after two centuries, and there are several familial entanglements with which Fray has to contend. Besides, you should not be surprised when you get to Fray's final battle to learn that once again Whedon is playing with our expectations, albeit this time within the context of his own Slayer mythos. He is also obviously setting us up for a sequel that should have more of a payoff than this first effort. Working with Whedon on this project are penciller Karl Moline, who created Fray's look, inker Andy Owens, and colorists Dave Stewart and Michelle Madsen. The artwork is growing on me, because while the backgrounds are a lot sparser than I would like to see in a futuristic setting, Fray's face has some nice qualities and you can actually see how she matures over the course of the mini-series. The back of the book has an extended sketchbook by Moline showing the development of the characters and alternative cover ideas.

Fray is a new chapter in the history of the Slayer. Buffy is long gone and so is the vampire menace. But as the years have gone by, the demons are slowly managing to get back into our world.

Fray is thief, plain and simple. But she does have a good heart and tries to take care of others. But years ago her antics resulted in the death of her twin brother. Little does she know she is about to be tapped for something greater.

First a man tells her she is the chosen one (then he sets himself on fire). Next, a huge demon tells her the same thing. But Fray has not been experiencing the signs the demon tells her about; there are no dreams. The demon must convince her of her heritage and train her before another power can open a gateway that will let all of demonkind ravage the Earth once more.

This is a very-well crafted tale and shows the Joss Whedon's genius. One can only hope that there will be more tales of Fray in some form or another. If you like Buffy, you will love Fray.