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Angel Comics (Buffy Vampire Slayer)
Angel: Smile Time
Collecting the plushests tales from IDW's Angel-verse!
From the same team behind IDW's bestselling series from creator Joss Whedon, Angel: After the Fall, comes three tales about the fan-favorite puppet characters! This collection features the re-adaptation of the fan-favorite episode Smile Time, the mini-series Shadow Puppets (which include puppet Spike and Lorne), and atale of sweet pupppety love on Angel's first date from the special collection Angel: Masks.
From the same team behind IDW's bestselling series from creator Joss Whedon, Angel: After the Fall, comes three tales about the fan-favorite puppet characters! This collection features the re-adaptation of the fan-favorite episode Smile Time, the mini-series Shadow Puppets (which include puppet Spike and Lorne), and atale of sweet pupppety love on Angel's first date from the special collection Angel: Masks.
184 pages, Hardcover
First published August 29, 2009
95 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 4, 2015
Angel: Smile Time is a graphic novel with three stories.
The first one is a graphic version of the episode Smile Time. Wonderful to read. Poor Angel is turned into a puppet and must fight evil demonic puppets.
Spike needs a new car and finds out that Angel is puppet...
Angel reveals to Nina that he is puppet...
The second story is a short little interlude about Angel (still a puppet) out on a date with Nina. A sweet story, but of course not everything goes as plan...
It's hard to be little...
The third story is Spike: Smile Time. Spike travel to Japan and get turned into a puppet. Already read this one the other day so I skipped it. But it's a great one!
Spike still knows how to fight despite being a puppet...
A great Angel graphic novel collection! Funny, sweet and lots of action!
4.5 stars
Review also posted on And Now for Something Completely Different and It's a Mad Mad World
The first one is a graphic version of the episode Smile Time. Wonderful to read. Poor Angel is turned into a puppet and must fight evil demonic puppets.
Spike needs a new car and finds out that Angel is puppet...
Angel reveals to Nina that he is puppet...
The second story is a short little interlude about Angel (still a puppet) out on a date with Nina. A sweet story, but of course not everything goes as plan...
It's hard to be little...
The third story is Spike: Smile Time. Spike travel to Japan and get turned into a puppet. Already read this one the other day so I skipped it. But it's a great one!
Spike still knows how to fight despite being a puppet...
A great Angel graphic novel collection! Funny, sweet and lots of action!
4.5 stars
Review also posted on And Now for Something Completely Different and It's a Mad Mad World
September 9, 2024
If you love the Angel episode "Smile Time" this graphic novel is essential reading!
The first story is "Smile Time" which simply retells the episode in comic form. It's fun but not as much fun as watching the episode.
Then there is the Spike story "Shadow Puppets." This is why you need to pick up this book! Spike and Lorne travel to Japan to take down the relaunch of Smile Time. Before jumping into this adventure, you must read the excellent Spike graphic novel "Asylum." Shadow Puppets brings back firestarter Beck and the telepathic fish Betta George. The writing will have you laughing out loud. The story delivers puppet ninjas plus puppets Spike and Lorne and a few more familiar faces in puppet form that I don't want to spoil.
Finally, the book ends with a short story called "Mystery Date," in which puppet Angel and Nina go out to breakfast as they discussed in "Smile Time," but all does not go as planned! I can never get enough of puppet Angel, and this story was perfection!
The first story is "Smile Time" which simply retells the episode in comic form. It's fun but not as much fun as watching the episode.
Then there is the Spike story "Shadow Puppets." This is why you need to pick up this book! Spike and Lorne travel to Japan to take down the relaunch of Smile Time. Before jumping into this adventure, you must read the excellent Spike graphic novel "Asylum." Shadow Puppets brings back firestarter Beck and the telepathic fish Betta George. The writing will have you laughing out loud. The story delivers puppet ninjas plus puppets Spike and Lorne and a few more familiar faces in puppet form that I don't want to spoil.
Finally, the book ends with a short story called "Mystery Date," in which puppet Angel and Nina go out to breakfast as they discussed in "Smile Time," but all does not go as planned! I can never get enough of puppet Angel, and this story was perfection!
August 11, 2019
Read for Book Roast's Magical Readathon: NEWTs Exams. Subject: Charms, E Level. (Comic/Graphic Novel/Manga)
I mean....how could I not absolutely adore this? In fact, the only reason it gets 4 stars instead of 5 is because the drawings of the characters makes both of my eyes twitch so much I can barely see.
Along with the novelization of the episode, we have two extra stories, both revolving around the Smile Time episode. One is Puppet!Angel going on a date with Nina, the other is set many years ahead, when Spike and Lorne go off to do battle against the Smile Time demons after they've moved their madness to Japan.
All I need to say about that is: Puppet!Spike and Puppet!Lorne. Along with a few other characters we might recognize. Though two of the puppets are absolutely unrecognizable until it's specifically spelled out.
Again, if you can't make the graphic novel characters look like the actors who played these characters for AT LEAST four years....
36 books in 31 days: Book 15
I mean....how could I not absolutely adore this? In fact, the only reason it gets 4 stars instead of 5 is because the drawings of the characters makes both of my eyes twitch so much I can barely see.
Along with the novelization of the episode, we have two extra stories, both revolving around the Smile Time episode. One is Puppet!Angel going on a date with Nina, the other is set many years ahead, when Spike and Lorne go off to do battle against the Smile Time demons after they've moved their madness to Japan.
All I need to say about that is: Puppet!Spike and Puppet!Lorne. Along with a few other characters we might recognize. Though two of the puppets are absolutely unrecognizable until it's specifically spelled out.
Again, if you can't make the graphic novel characters look like the actors who played these characters for AT LEAST four years....
36 books in 31 days: Book 15
February 26, 2010
OMG OMG. I haven't read the comicization of the episode which I think is a little silly, but the story set just after it was cute and Spike's puppet story? HOLY SHIT AMAZING. I'm going to read that shit when I'm upset because it made me laugh sooo hard. I think Bryan Lynch is the best writer in the Angel comicverse and I wish he'd written for the show. He's my hero. Spike and Lorne and Betta George...OH THE EPIC WIN!
October 20, 2019
3 stars
This graphic novel had the hilarious Smile Time done in graphic form, which was funny (but the live action is so much better). We see a children's show up to no good resulting in Angel being transformed into a puppet alongside the other storylines from the show. Will say no more to refrain from spoilers.
The other subsequent stories were puppet related ranging from a date gone awry and a trip to Japan. We saw some incarnations of other puppet characters, but not done as humorously as Angel; however maybe the allure wore off.
Also, some of the later stories had taken place after another Spike story, told in comic form, that may leave you a little in the dark. It did for me, but still followed the story fine.
A nice nostalgic read that reiterated my love of Angel, Spike, Buffy, and the entire team.
This graphic novel had the hilarious Smile Time done in graphic form, which was funny (but the live action is so much better). We see a children's show up to no good resulting in Angel being transformed into a puppet alongside the other storylines from the show. Will say no more to refrain from spoilers.
The other subsequent stories were puppet related ranging from a date gone awry and a trip to Japan. We saw some incarnations of other puppet characters, but not done as humorously as Angel; however maybe the allure wore off.
Also, some of the later stories had taken place after another Spike story, told in comic form, that may leave you a little in the dark. It did for me, but still followed the story fine.
A nice nostalgic read that reiterated my love of Angel, Spike, Buffy, and the entire team.
May 26, 2017
I give it 4 stars because it's just a truly fantastic and brilliantly funny story. And that story had been already told in the last season of Angel. The comic doesn't add or expand on anything that the show did. It gave exactly what the show did. The art was amazing. The flow of the narrative was crisp. The pacing of the panels was great. It was a fabulously done story board for the tv show. I didn't mind reading it, I loved it!, but the format of comic didn't add any new dimension to what I already enjoyed immensely.
HOWEVER! The book also has a Spike Smile Time story. And it was nothing like Angel's. And, in my opinion, it jumps the shark. Clever at times, and sometimes, too clever for its own good.
HOWEVER! The book also has a Spike Smile Time story. And it was nothing like Angel's. And, in my opinion, it jumps the shark. Clever at times, and sometimes, too clever for its own good.
December 12, 2019
I love puppets and I love vampires, so this was all fun for me!
Sure the stories could have been better developed, but there are so many hysterical vampire puppet jokes that who cares (and where else are you going to get vampire puppets - except the film "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and the musical Dracula puppet show at the end, which is one of my favourite things ever in the universe)!
Sure the stories could have been better developed, but there are so many hysterical vampire puppet jokes that who cares (and where else are you going to get vampire puppets - except the film "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and the musical Dracula puppet show at the end, which is one of my favourite things ever in the universe)!
April 22, 2024
Angel is shocked when an investigation into a demonic production company which appears to be stealing children's souls turns him into a puppet - much to Spike's delight.
Tipton adapts 'Angel: Smile Time' and keeps all of the humour and excitement. The artwork is superb and the character likenesses are excellent.
Tipton adapts 'Angel: Smile Time' and keeps all of the humour and excitement. The artwork is superb and the character likenesses are excellent.
August 15, 2024
The original material hits better than the teleplay transposition, but that's to be expected when your material is fully unencumbered by a TV budget.
The more surprising part is that the Spike/Lorne pieces are so much better than the Angel bits.
In a just world they would have the cover here.
The more surprising part is that the Spike/Lorne pieces are so much better than the Angel bits.
In a just world they would have the cover here.
December 30, 2018
Hilarious collection of stories involving the nefarious Smile Time gang and puppetized Angel, Spike, Lorne and Gunn. Great fun as Spike is attacked by hundreds of Ninja puppets when he and Lorne travel to Japan to stop the newly reestablished Smile Timers. Very highly recommended.
May 18, 2021
It was fun to see the comic-version of one of the funnier episodes of Angel. The ones after it? They were ok. The second one was a bit unnecessary. The third one with Spike and Lorne was a bit better, but still. Glad I read them, but yeah.
April 22, 2022
Angel puppet stories. The TV episode surprised me. The comic is also fun but predictable
September 24, 2024
Loved the episode, loved the comic!
June 21, 2010
Ok, I really don't get the whole, take an episode of a tv show and then draw it, almost shot for shot, the same as the show. Even if it is the best episode of Angel ever, hands down, still... Also the whole, bringing back Smile Time... again, even if it's the best episode ever, maybe it's the best cause it's just that one time. I'm going to call it Weeping Angels syndrome, once, sometimes, is all it should be, even if you want to see the whole cast of Angel as puppets, just don't do it, walk away, no matter how funny. And stop referencing comics I haven't read yet, ie, Asylum!
March 14, 2014
Fantastic! 5/5 stars.
When I bought this edition, I didn't know it came with Spike: Shadow Puppets too. I already had that comic in Spanish, but hey, double gain for me!
This is basically the Angel episode "Smile Time" put into comic strips almost frame by frame so don't expect novelty or strange things here. But it being one of the best episodes of Angel, makes this comic automatically a fantastic ...read? Also, it comes with a little post-episode story featuring Angel and Nina *wink, wink. Nudge, nudge*
When I bought this edition, I didn't know it came with Spike: Shadow Puppets too. I already had that comic in Spanish, but hey, double gain for me!
This is basically the Angel episode "Smile Time" put into comic strips almost frame by frame so don't expect novelty or strange things here. But it being one of the best episodes of Angel, makes this comic automatically a fantastic ...read? Also, it comes with a little post-episode story featuring Angel and Nina *wink, wink. Nudge, nudge*
August 21, 2014
In this collection, alongside Angel: Smile Time re-adaptation, you also get Angel: Masks one-shot, and Shadow Puppets mini-series that is actually the longest and the best story of the three.
All of the stories are interesting, funny, and right kind of goofy, and feature the dialogs that sound exactly like they would in the tv show.
Even though the artists change from story to story, the art is pretty similar, and looks pretty good, you can easily recognize all of the characters from the tv show.
Overall, a great collection, and a great read even for non-fans.
All of the stories are interesting, funny, and right kind of goofy, and feature the dialogs that sound exactly like they would in the tv show.
Even though the artists change from story to story, the art is pretty similar, and looks pretty good, you can easily recognize all of the characters from the tv show.
Overall, a great collection, and a great read even for non-fans.
April 5, 2018
I really enjoyed reading the comic version of 'Smile Time' and the added details made the story even better! I liked the cute mini issue on Angel's first date with Nina and how they just get along so well. Shadowpuppets is such a good story line! I enjoyed all four parts, it was so witty and had a lot of jokes about 'official canon' which were funny. There was surprise guest appearances (puppet versions anyway) that had me cracking up! Overall, a good book to read to expand on the Buffyverse and have a bit of a laugh at how funny and cute the puppet versions of characters are!
September 7, 2009
Okay, I usually liked the original Buffy series much better than the Angel spinoff. But, the "Smile Time" episode of Angel is one of my favorites - of either show. I just plain enjoy the hell out of it. The same can be said for the graphic novel based on the episode, which has been combined in this issue with a Spike vs. Smile Time demons graphic novel follow-up. Also very funny.
December 30, 2009
3 stories about vampire puppets from the Whedonverse! The first one a translation of the episode Smile Time by Ben Edlund(The Tick). The next two stories are entirely new, and hilarious, including Angel's date with Nina the werewolf, and puppet Lorne and puppet Spike! And tiny puppet ninjas! And more! It's puppetalicious.
December 8, 2014
Wee Puppet Spike! Wee Puppet Ninjas! Wee Puppet Angelus! Visual cameo of Joss Whedon in front of a computer! Genetically altered attack helper monkey! Metatexualism about Spike and Angelus fan fiction! Perfect thing to curl up with a dog and read on a rainy July morning.
Full. Of. Win.
Full. Of. Win.
Read
January 3, 2016I want a Lorne puppet now!!!
January 11, 2013
The adaptation of the classic episode of Angel doesn't quite work in comic book form, but the 4 parter, with Spike taking on Smile Time in Japan, has plenty of snap.
August 4, 2015
I loved this episode so much and it still creeped me out with the kids and their freaky smiles. In comic form, it was still just as good.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews