There are moments where it seems Whedon is about to tread down familiar ground - reluctant slayer, stubborn mentor, all-powerful vampire - but takes sudden turns to keep Fray from predictability. He infuses the most horrific or tense moments with levity. Whedon has a great sense of dialogue and timing. And when it's over, more questions remain and the door is left wide open for a sequel. So why does this slayer fear the vamps so much? And what business does a demon have acting as Watcher? Fray has sufficient mystery to make each page-turn worthwhile and sustain the action through all nine issues. The lurkers aren't a particular problem for Fray, she's been going toe-to-toe with the nefarious human element for years and can handle herself just fine. Once again, evil can hide in plain sight. In Fray, he keeps the vamps grey and ugly, but changes the population to match. With Buffy Whedon made evil almost impossible to distinguish, because the vamps could look just like us. They're known as lurkers and they are more often the subject of open mockery than shrill screams in the night. Vampires aren't even called vampires anymore.

In the future, radiation has mutated a number of citizens, making a giant horned demon seem almost in-place with society. It's made all the worse by the impending vampire infestation.

Fray's a loner who can handle herself just fine in combat, but Whedon has deftly avoided any obvious comparisons between his new creation and everyone's favorite blonde slayer.Īs with most sci-fi tales, the future is a crappy place to live. There's no gang of Scoobies, not high school love drama, no Wiccan best friend. That is until the vampires come banging at her door.įray is not Buffy set in the future. She doesn't take orders and she has no cares for the problems of the world. As her demon tutor attempts to teach her the proper ways of a slayer, Fray continually heads off in head-strong fashion. Not only does Fray not believe in vampires, she doesn't even know what one is.

Fray by Joss Whedon