The Reading Rainbow Coalition discussion

Fray
by Joss Whedon

Hundreds of years in the future, Manhattan has become a deadly slum, run by mutant crime-lords and disinterested cops. Stuck in the middle is a young girl who thought she had no future, but learns she has a great destiny. In a world so poisoned that it doesn't notice the monsters on its streets, how can a street kid like Fray unite a fallen city against a demonic plot to consume mankind? Joss Whedon, the celebrated creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, brings his vision to the future in this unique tale. As inventive in the comics medium as in that of television of film, Whedon spins a complex tale of a skilled thief coming of age without the help of friends or family, guided only by a demonic Watcher.

I just happen to be reading this now. Nearly 3/4 of the way through, it's already become a favourite.

Has anyone finished this? I got through it last night and it was great. It made me want to watch Buffy (just starting on Season 5) and wish that this had been made into a series as well, or maybe a mini-series. It's basically Buffy, but in the future! I mean, really, what else can you ask for? I hope he revisits this again someday and keep writing Mel's story since he puts such an interesting spin on her origins.

What did you guys think?

I wasn't that impressed. Not a bad read, but not great. Then again I never liked Buffy either, gave the first two seasons a shot but it didn't click.

Denise wrote: "Has anyone finished this? I got through it last night and it was great. It made me want to watch Buffy (just starting on Season 5) and wish that this had been made into a series as well, or maybe a..."

I really enjoyed it. I wish there were more, since this one volume was just a really great intro to what should come next.

Denise wrote: "Has anyone finished this? I got through it last night and it was great. It made me want to watch Buffy (just starting on Season 5) and wish that this had been made into a series as well, or maybe a..."

While not really a full sequel I know Fray makes an appearance in the Buffy Season 8 comics.

@Max Makes sense, if you are not already a Whedon fan it seems less likely that you would enjoy this.

@Kim As with most Whedon enterprises, there's always a whiff of even more potential that leaves you wanting more! That more than anything else seems to have become his trademark. :)

@Adam Joel mentioned that. If I ever finish watching the actual show, I might actually get to read the comics someday too :)

Actually I am a Whedon fan, just not a Buffy fan. Everything else he has done has been great.

Re-read it and liked it just as much the second time around. Has a nice list of Whedon hallmarks:

It's smart; it's funny; it has a believable, strong, fallible female central character; also unforeseen plot twists; and somewhere along the line, a character you like dies (unusually though, they deserve it this time).