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Angel: Season 11
Angel: Season 11, Vol. 3: Dark Reflections
Chasing a vision that links his shameful past with impending doom, Angel reluctantly uses the time-traveling power of Fred’s alternate form, the goddess Illyria. Not quite sure what will bring changes to the future with only pieces of Angel’s vision to guide them, they find themselves aboard a cargo ship on the high seas.
112 pages, Paperback
First published April 4, 2018
3 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Corinna Sara Bechko
198 books135 followersCorinna Bechko has been writing comics since her horror graphic novel Heathentown was published by Image/Shadowline in 2009. Since then she worked for Marvel, DC, Boom!, Image, and Dark Horse, among others, on titles such as Planet of the Apes, Star Wars: Legacy, Savage Hulk, Aliens/Vampirella, Invisible Republic, and Green Lantern: Earth One. She was recently short-listed for the Aeon Award for her prose short Sooterkin. She is a zoologist by training.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 1, 2018
[Read as single issues]
Angel and Illyria take one final stop on their trip through time - back to Ireland, the night before Angel (or Liam, I guess) becomes Angelus. No, Angel, please don't try and stop it - have you not been watching Legends Of Tomorrow? Or Doctor Who? Or Timeless? Or literally any time travel media? Stop, dude. Stop.
I still don't feel like this is an Angel story. Yes, okay, this is probably the closest we've gotten in twelve issues, but it still doesn't feel like the kind of story that Angel needs to get involved in.
We do get some good exploration of his relationship with his family, but that's off-set by a weird romantic pairing that is definitely NOT needed. The best part of this is the final exchange between Fred and Angel during the last fight, which wraps everything up far too conveniently, but it's a good exchange that helps put the entire season into perspective.
Geraldo Borges returns to art for this final arc, and it's fine. The Buffy/Angel comics never aim for artistic excellence, since they're just trying to emulate the actors that have embodied the characters.
Okay, but forgettable. We really didn't need this story.
Angel and Illyria take one final stop on their trip through time - back to Ireland, the night before Angel (or Liam, I guess) becomes Angelus. No, Angel, please don't try and stop it - have you not been watching Legends Of Tomorrow? Or Doctor Who? Or Timeless? Or literally any time travel media? Stop, dude. Stop.
I still don't feel like this is an Angel story. Yes, okay, this is probably the closest we've gotten in twelve issues, but it still doesn't feel like the kind of story that Angel needs to get involved in.
We do get some good exploration of his relationship with his family, but that's off-set by a weird romantic pairing that is definitely NOT needed. The best part of this is the final exchange between Fred and Angel during the last fight, which wraps everything up far too conveniently, but it's a good exchange that helps put the entire season into perspective.
Geraldo Borges returns to art for this final arc, and it's fine. The Buffy/Angel comics never aim for artistic excellence, since they're just trying to emulate the actors that have embodied the characters.
Okay, but forgettable. We really didn't need this story.
December 24, 2017
A completely pointless season. The only ramifications are on the characters, and they’re awful. Illyria has been assassinated as a character, and they’re all out of character in general. Worst contribution to the Buffyverse possibly ever. It’s sad that this is considered canon. I hope the next writers can fix things.. 1/5 Stars.
April 28, 2020
Angel is smarter than this series writes him to be. Art's good though.
July 31, 2018
Meh. Just meh. The Angel series this season was...lacking. Faith was a better partner for Angel than Fred/Illyria and there was no point to this story as it seems like the threat they started time traveling for only existed because of the time travel, which yeah, time travel paradoxes and all but this wasn’t as nicely laid out. Also, the art in this series doesn’t work for me. Fred is just a generic girl face and has none of Amy Acker’s expressions and Angel never even resembles David Boreanaz. And another thing...
*Spoilers ahead*
Angel and Illyria hooking up? Um. No. Illyria would never even think about romance. I was almost interested when Fred later said something about one of them can’t make a decision the other is completely against, implying that Fred also wanted to hook up with Angel but then it’s immediately dropped and Angel isn’t like “wait, what?”
This whole thing felt like bad fan fiction.
*Spoilers ahead*
Angel and Illyria hooking up? Um. No. Illyria would never even think about romance. I was almost interested when Fred later said something about one of them can’t make a decision the other is completely against, implying that Fred also wanted to hook up with Angel but then it’s immediately dropped and Angel isn’t like “wait, what?”
This whole thing felt like bad fan fiction.
September 23, 2018
The character of Fred is the only one that seems to make any sense in this finale. I liked the parts about how you can't change the past, but everything else was just weird and seemed out of character.
September 14, 2019
That season was soooooo bad I just can't really review it without getting angry. Everything was very obvious, full of plotholes and characterization was so bad.... I don't get how you go from the first Angel and Faith season that was so good and then write that kind of BS...
March 9, 2026
Admittedly, I haven’t read the first two volumes, and after finishing this one I’m not even sure I want to—which is saying something considering how much I adore the Buffyverse.
Angel, mate… do you not watch any TV shows or movies about time travel and how badly it messes up the timeline? The repercussions are always disastrous. I get it—wanting to save his little sister Kathy, the only member of his family he actually got along with. I can absolutely empathize with that motivation. But it really undermines the personal growth Angel went through in earlier seasons, both on Angel and Buffy, as well as in the comic series.
That said, it’s always fun seeing flashbacks with Darla and Angelus and all the mayhem they got up to in their heyday. Their interactions with future Angel and Fred/Illyria were entertaining too—especially with Darla and Angelus sensing that something bigger was going on but not quite being able to figure out what.
Also… what the heck?
Angel and Illyria/Fred are now a couple?! I always thought he had a thing for blondes—Buffy, Darla, Kate—and the occasional brunette, mainly Cordy.
The only real progression here seems to be the changing dynamics between Angel and Illyria, and between Illyria and Fred.
Angel, mate… do you not watch any TV shows or movies about time travel and how badly it messes up the timeline? The repercussions are always disastrous. I get it—wanting to save his little sister Kathy, the only member of his family he actually got along with. I can absolutely empathize with that motivation. But it really undermines the personal growth Angel went through in earlier seasons, both on Angel and Buffy, as well as in the comic series.
That said, it’s always fun seeing flashbacks with Darla and Angelus and all the mayhem they got up to in their heyday. Their interactions with future Angel and Fred/Illyria were entertaining too—especially with Darla and Angelus sensing that something bigger was going on but not quite being able to figure out what.
Also… what the heck?
Angel and Illyria/Fred are now a couple?! I always thought he had a thing for blondes—Buffy, Darla, Kate—and the occasional brunette, mainly Cordy.
The only real progression here seems to be the changing dynamics between Angel and Illyria, and between Illyria and Fred.
September 7, 2024
really hate when people fuck with time travel… like wtf angel. though tbh angel was so funny for trying to end his existence. and especially when Fred finally mentions Connor won’t be born if he and darla don’t hook up and hilariously angels like would that be so bad? while i know he meant it in a mercy way to not have any suffering for him, i personally mean it in a mean spirited way so.
but frankly angel does need to exist so we get spike… unfortunately there is no spike without angelus’ existence and spike is needed in the world. wild take, I know but I’m a simple lady.
and why did Illyria and angel hook up… she’s in Fred’s body. That means he did things with FRED’S BODY…. weird shit as always with this shit.
anyways can’t say that im sad to see these comics end. a huge letdown after angel and faith series tbh.
but frankly angel does need to exist so we get spike… unfortunately there is no spike without angelus’ existence and spike is needed in the world. wild take, I know but I’m a simple lady.
and why did Illyria and angel hook up… she’s in Fred’s body. That means he did things with FRED’S BODY…. weird shit as always with this shit.
anyways can’t say that im sad to see these comics end. a huge letdown after angel and faith series tbh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2018
We get to see Angel have the chance to change history. He is back in Galway in the 1700s and it’s the day Darla turns him. If he stops it he can save his entire family and himself and wipe out all the bad he has done.
For some reason Fred and Illyria have decided changing the past is bad (despite them fixing and changing Illyria’s past). The end of the story is cheesy and lame and makes the whole 12 issues pointless by proving Fred/Illyria right in their “don’t change the past” convictions.
They end up stopping Angel. I think of all the ends I could of seen Angel have that one would be pretty cool.
For some reason Fred and Illyria have decided changing the past is bad (despite them fixing and changing Illyria’s past). The end of the story is cheesy and lame and makes the whole 12 issues pointless by proving Fred/Illyria right in their “don’t change the past” convictions.
They end up stopping Angel. I think of all the ends I could of seen Angel have that one would be pretty cool.
September 13, 2022
This whole season was just awful, and now this volume’s whole premise is to say they never should have done any of it?? And now Angel is in a relationship with both Illyria AND Fred? Is that what’s happening?? I just don’t understand. Why did any of this even happen?
Borges is back as the artist here, and his characters are slightly more accurate, but on the whole the quality is completely inconsistent. Also I feel like the colorist didn’t even read the script— see the aunts fighting over which dress to pick out, Angel picks the green one and they say “what green one?” Except there clearly WAS a green one. 🤦🏻♀️
Man, I’m glad THAT’s over. Back to Buffy season 11.
Borges is back as the artist here, and his characters are slightly more accurate, but on the whole the quality is completely inconsistent. Also I feel like the colorist didn’t even read the script— see the aunts fighting over which dress to pick out, Angel picks the green one and they say “what green one?” Except there clearly WAS a green one. 🤦🏻♀️
Man, I’m glad THAT’s over. Back to Buffy season 11.
December 24, 2017
Read as individual issues.
This season was entirely pointless, there are no changes to the world around Angel and Fred, and the story is going in circles. None of the characters have grown or learned anything, and the story has been plauged by simplicity, bad characterization, mediocre art, deus ex machina use of Illirya and a lack of urgency.
The only progression is the changes in the relationships between Angel and Illyria, and Illyria and Fred. The worst entry into the Buffyverse so far.
This season was entirely pointless, there are no changes to the world around Angel and Fred, and the story is going in circles. None of the characters have grown or learned anything, and the story has been plauged by simplicity, bad characterization, mediocre art, deus ex machina use of Illirya and a lack of urgency.
The only progression is the changes in the relationships between Angel and Illyria, and Illyria and Fred. The worst entry into the Buffyverse so far.
June 17, 2018
S trpělivostí je konec. Pořád by to mohla být příjemná nenáročná počtená, ale Angel vyplňuje snad každé klišé spojené s cestováním časem, chová se jako natvrdlý puberťák a v momentě nouze největší se proti všem přesvědčením vyspí s Ilyrií, snad aby plivl milé Fred do tváře ještě víc. A celá zápletka s vizemi nedojde vůbec nikam? Nechci věřit tomu, že tahle rozhodnutí producentsky posvětil sám Joss. Jestli (nebo spíš až) se Buffyverse na komiksové stránky vrátí, hlasuji všemi prostředky pro to, aby Corinna Bechko zůstala mimo veškeré dění.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2018
Hmm, read all three volumes in 24 hours which probably helps me feel more favourably towards it than people who read one issue at a time over a lengthy period.
I felt this was the weakest of the three and it was increasingly annoying that the illustrators in these three volumes seem to have such difficulty representing Angel in a way that actually looks like him! (If people can manage to draw Buffy, then why not Angel!). The ending seemed kind of crap and maudlin (and illogical - why on earth should they have suspected the paradox).
The Fred-Illyria-Angel dynamic certainly became interesting not sure how they're going to proceed with that.
I felt this was the weakest of the three and it was increasingly annoying that the illustrators in these three volumes seem to have such difficulty representing Angel in a way that actually looks like him! (If people can manage to draw Buffy, then why not Angel!). The ending seemed kind of crap and maudlin (and illogical - why on earth should they have suspected the paradox).
The Fred-Illyria-Angel dynamic certainly became interesting not sure how they're going to proceed with that.
March 2, 2020
This was the best of the three collections but still left a lot to be desired. The Fred and Illyria stuff was obnoxiously repetitive and ultimately creepy (not in a good way). It takes a lot to sell me on time travel and this was one of the worst for logic. I liked the Liam scenes and thought they captured Angel’s character here better than in the first two collections.
February 18, 2020
This whole plot for Angel in season 11 is truly unbelievable to me. I feel like he would never time travel due to the consequences so him and Illyria time traveling just seems too far fetched for me. Sorry not buying it.
August 9, 2020
The plot seemed kind of pointless. It felt like a “hey let’s play around with time travel” kind of thing. I think the Angel series just had a much different tone than the Angel and Faith series which was disappointing.
August 16, 2018
Huh? What was the point?
September 19, 2018
So so bad and awkward and just no. So glad this Angel plot line is over.
January 1, 2019
Overall, this season was quite disappointing, but I gave it three stars because I enjoyed the arc about Liam.
July 7, 2019
I basically said it all in my review of volume 2 of this arc.
January 9, 2020
Well thank God that’s over. Maybe the next season will be bett... oh wait, they’ve cancelled it. Seems fair.
April 15, 2021
I really didn't enjoy this series. Story was all over the place. Probably the worst book in the Buffy/Angel series for me.
January 20, 2022
"Grief and nostalgia seem twin burdens of having both a soul and a long life"
June 22, 2024
4.5 stars
April 3, 2020
I really enjoyed this time travel story. I stick by what I said of the previous volume: this story would fit perfectly into the TV show universe, which is rare for graphic novel Buffyverse (not always in a bad way).
I thought Angel seemed a little too "I'm the worst" and "woe is me"--not because it's out of character, but because we've been through this before. For example, when they're battling the Big Bad at the end, they discover its weakness (I'm doing this with minimal spoilers): but Angel doesn't want to do it because...it'll make him sad? Angel, honey, we've seen you give up everything time and time again to save the day. I'm not buying this. That was my one qualm! Angel briefly forgot his character development in this time travel arc.
I thought Angel seemed a little too "I'm the worst" and "woe is me"--not because it's out of character, but because we've been through this before. For example, when they're battling the Big Bad at the end, they discover its weakness (I'm doing this with minimal spoilers): but Angel doesn't want to do it because...it'll make him sad? Angel, honey, we've seen you give up everything time and time again to save the day. I'm not buying this. That was my one qualm! Angel briefly forgot his character development in this time travel arc.
October 31, 2018
Whiny Angel. Time Travel. Confusing Fred/Illyria body sharing. Eh. Not my fave.
September 9, 2023
not great
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews