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 you...
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reviews
Feb 12, 2011
Lyndsey
rated it: 
Confirmed - VAMPIRES DO NOT SPARKLE. Not even in the future. And not in the graphic novel Fray or as I shall refer to it: the Gospel According to Joss. I don't know what Edward Cullen is, but he is not a vampire. THIS is a vampire:
He doesn't need to sparkle.
My long-standing suspicions have now certainly been confirmed. Vampires, or "lurks" as they apparently call them in the future, are bad-ass, blood-sucking jerks who don't give a flying frak about your f More...
He doesn't need to sparkle.
My long-standing suspicions have now certainly been confirmed. Vampires, or "lurks" as they apparently call them in the future, are bad-ass, blood-sucking jerks who don't give a flying frak about your f More...
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Feb 04, 2008
Dani
rated it: 
I'll admit it. If Joss Whedon wrote his grocery list on the back of a gas receipt and published it, I would wait in line all night, twitching and drooling to buy the first copy. Then I would moon over it to all my friends, blissfully ignoring their obvious contempt. "Eggs and Milk!" I would exclaim, "Criminy, he's a genius! Genius! And oranges, who would have thought? What style! What humor! What daring!"
Then I would drain a pint of my blood, put into a jelly jar More...
Then I would drain a pint of my blood, put into a jelly jar More...
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Dec 17, 2009
Teresa
rated it:
I. Love. Fray. :)
It tells the story of a teenage vampire slayer (sound familiar?), but in my opinion this character is a step up from Buffy. Melaka Fray is a 15 year old thief. In her futuristic world, vampires are known as "lurks", and the police chase her in flying cars. All of a sudden, she is greeted by an enormous, demon-looking Watcher who tells her that she is her generation's Slayer. Oh, and by the way, her brother had been killed years earlier by lurks, so she is n More...
It tells the story of a teenage vampire slayer (sound familiar?), but in my opinion this character is a step up from Buffy. Melaka Fray is a 15 year old thief. In her futuristic world, vampires are known as "lurks", and the police chase her in flying cars. All of a sudden, she is greeted by an enormous, demon-looking Watcher who tells her that she is her generation's Slayer. Oh, and by the way, her brother had been killed years earlier by lurks, so she is n More...
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Dec 23, 2008
Meghan
rated it: 
About as good as S1 Buffy, which is to say, it has its moments. It's basically Fray's origin story, so by the time you get to the end you're kinda like: OKAY LET'S DO THIS THI--what? It's over? But I'm told that there's a Fray arc in the Buffy S8 comics, so, soon as that trade busts out I'll see how I feel about everything. Okay? Good.
Also I thought the drawing was pretty strong.
Also I thought the drawing was pretty strong.
Nov 05, 2008
Amy
rated it:
To be honest I don't read a lot of American graphic novels/comic books. I normally read manga. However, since Joss Whedon wrote it, I knew Fray would be something worth looking into. I am so glad I checked it out! This is now on my Must Buy List.
There was so much to love in this book. The Slayers world re-tooled in a futuristic environment that had forgotten about vampires and demons. A strong female lead that kicked ass but had a lot of vulnerability. A twisty plot line that keeps More...
There was so much to love in this book. The Slayers world re-tooled in a futuristic environment that had forgotten about vampires and demons. A strong female lead that kicked ass but had a lot of vulnerability. A twisty plot line that keeps More...
Feb 07, 2012
Ronyell
rated it:
INGREDIENTS FOR THE PERFECT VAMPIRE SLAYER STORY:
* 2 cups of Joss Whedon’s writing
* 2 tablespoons of one tough heroine
* 2/4 teaspoons of demons and vampires
* 1 cup of pure action-packed fun!
And what do you get? BUFFY!
Well actually, you get “Fray” this time, same premise but different character.
What is this story about?
One hundred years in the future, Manhattan has become a dark and crime More...
* 2 cups of Joss Whedon’s writing
* 2 tablespoons of one tough heroine
* 2/4 teaspoons of demons and vampires
* 1 cup of pure action-packed fun!
And what do you get? BUFFY!
Well actually, you get “Fray” this time, same premise but different character.
What is this story about?
One hundred years in the future, Manhattan has become a dark and crime More...
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Dec 26, 2011
Lorrain
rated it:
Completely AWESOME! I'm stunned I never picked this up sooner! Just finished reading it this week. What can I say? Joss is a genius!!!
It's incredible after watching the series (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and reading the comics (Buffy Season 8, the beginning of 9 & Tales) to come and read Fray. I say this because for a time I thought that some of Joss' ideas for the end of the TV series, along for the end of Season 8 comics were an afterthought or thought of during the creative process of pr More...
It's incredible after watching the series (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and reading the comics (Buffy Season 8, the beginning of 9 & Tales) to come and read Fray. I say this because for a time I thought that some of Joss' ideas for the end of the TV series, along for the end of Season 8 comics were an afterthought or thought of during the creative process of pr More...
Dec 23, 2011
LH
rated it:
Fray is one of those books that keeps on giving. Originally published as a collected edition back in 2003, I remember hunting it down with an obsession bordering on, and excuse the tautology, the obssessed.
It tells the story of Melaka Fray, Slayer of the Future. Whedon handles "Future" well. He handles it with a sardonic clarity that particularly bears weight in these times. As he phrases it in the introduction "The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer." But as More...
It tells the story of Melaka Fray, Slayer of the Future. Whedon handles "Future" well. He handles it with a sardonic clarity that particularly bears weight in these times. As he phrases it in the introduction "The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer." But as More...
Jun 28, 2011
Dana
rated it:
I started watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer for the very first time a little over a month ago. Today I finished the last episode of Angel and found myself sort of befuddled, a little bit lost, and verging on depression. So I went to the library and picked up every Whedon-canonical comic book in existence.
Fray is the second one that I read (the first being Origin, which was not that great.) I pretty much adored Fray. The characters were rich, alive, snarky, and troubled which is what More...
Fray is the second one that I read (the first being Origin, which was not that great.) I pretty much adored Fray. The characters were rich, alive, snarky, and troubled which is what More...
Dec 05, 2010
Librarysteph
rated it:
Title: Fray
Author: Joss Whedon
Penciller: Karl Moline
Inker: Andy Owens
Colorists: David Stewart and Michelle Madsen
Letterer: Michelle Madsen
This graphic novel came out years ago, before I was interested in graphic novels, so I am late reviewing it but I would like to talk about it anyway in case someone else missed out on the initial publicity.
Why I picked up this graphic novel:
•I liked Buffy
•loved Angel
•have sp More...
Author: Joss Whedon
Penciller: Karl Moline
Inker: Andy Owens
Colorists: David Stewart and Michelle Madsen
Letterer: Michelle Madsen
This graphic novel came out years ago, before I was interested in graphic novels, so I am late reviewing it but I would like to talk about it anyway in case someone else missed out on the initial publicity.
Why I picked up this graphic novel:
•I liked Buffy
•loved Angel
•have sp More...
Apr 20, 2010
Michael
rated it:
Joss Whedon's Fray takes his familiar tale of a young slayer and her watcher against incredible undead/demonic odds and casts it hundreds of years into the future with dark and interesting twists. The protagonist, Malaka Fray, is as energetic and surly as Buffy (a.k.a. The Vampire Slayer), to be sure, but a street brawler/seasoned criminal instead of a cheerleader, unburdened by dreams of fighting evil, and spends half the strory petrified of vampires and avoiding her fate. Her watcher, in turn,
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Mar 24, 2010
Nicole
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Nov 01, 2009
Vickie
rated it:
There's nothing I can say about this that hasn't been said before. I am also a confessed Whedonite, and I would marry him if not for the fact that he works too much and would never be home in time for dinner and I totally wasted this roast that took all day to cook!
Ahem. 50's housewife flashback aside, this is an excellent, stand-alone comic. It's like the Buffy movie that never was. While the setting with its tired trope of flying cars and post-apocalyptic ghettos underneath floatin More...
Ahem. 50's housewife flashback aside, this is an excellent, stand-alone comic. It's like the Buffy movie that never was. While the setting with its tired trope of flying cars and post-apocalyptic ghettos underneath floatin More...
Sep 15, 2011
Vicki
rated it:
Bad day. Started bad, stayed that way.
Melaka Fray is just your typical post-apocalyptic future girl - pulling grab jobs, hiding from an overprotective sister in the law, and jumping from flying cars. That is until a big red demon shows up to let in her on the news around town: She's a Slayer, and it's her destiny to rid the world of vampires.
Before we get started let me say two things 1) I promise this will not be a Joss Whedon fangirl love letter and 2) Don't worry about the More...
Melaka Fray is just your typical post-apocalyptic future girl - pulling grab jobs, hiding from an overprotective sister in the law, and jumping from flying cars. That is until a big red demon shows up to let in her on the news around town: She's a Slayer, and it's her destiny to rid the world of vampires.
Before we get started let me say two things 1) I promise this will not be a Joss Whedon fangirl love letter and 2) Don't worry about the More...
Mar 19, 2011
Jen
rated it:
Lit. class review:
The cover shows a girl holding a battle-axe of some sort, a hulking beast-type-thing in a trenchcoat with rams horns coming out of its head, and a small, creepy man lurking in the corner. Behind them is the NYC cityscape. The back cover indicates this is the story of a young girl named Fray who discovers that her destiny is to battle mutant crime lords and rouse the city to defend itself against “a demonic plot to consume mankind.” Interesting.
Beginning of c More...
The cover shows a girl holding a battle-axe of some sort, a hulking beast-type-thing in a trenchcoat with rams horns coming out of its head, and a small, creepy man lurking in the corner. Behind them is the NYC cityscape. The back cover indicates this is the story of a young girl named Fray who discovers that her destiny is to battle mutant crime lords and rouse the city to defend itself against “a demonic plot to consume mankind.” Interesting.
Beginning of c More...
Aug 08, 2010
Lizzie
rated it:
Apparently we have had this book for like two years. Um thanks Meg! I will bring it back now.
I don't exactly see what's not to like here. It's a good fight and it's good canon. And it's rather funny. I guess I'm kicking off an extra star mostly because the atmospheric elements just aren't my favorites. If it weren't for the snappy Whedon dialogue it would feel just like dozens of other comics, and mostly I prefer comics that stand out. And here not a lot does. Lots of grubbin More...
I don't exactly see what's not to like here. It's a good fight and it's good canon. And it's rather funny. I guess I'm kicking off an extra star mostly because the atmospheric elements just aren't my favorites. If it weren't for the snappy Whedon dialogue it would feel just like dozens of other comics, and mostly I prefer comics that stand out. And here not a lot does. Lots of grubbin More...
Aug 15, 2011
Virginia
rated it:
I picked this up as a total impulse purchase at the comic store – I liked the cover, it looked interesting based on the blurb on the back, I’d never read it or heard of it. So I was not really conscious of this being a Thing I Should Read. But apparently it is, at least for anyone who is a fan of Joss Whedon. (Which I am not, really – I like some of the things he’s done but not everything.)
I never finished watching Buffy – I LOVED the show while they were in high school, but I thi More...
I never finished watching Buffy – I LOVED the show while they were in high school, but I thi More...
Feb 26, 2011
Richard
rated it:
Finally, finally, a Buffy graphic novel from Whedon that's worth reading. Set hundreds of the years in the future, the story is the tale of a new Slayer being called, and she's no Buffy Summers. Distinct from the TV series, set in a darker, grubbier world, the book nevertheless manages to reflect the very best aspects of the TV show and effortlessly turn it into panels. The characterisation is as crisp as the dialogue, and demonstrates that Whedon really can do this comic book thing as well as h
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Feb 09, 2011
Katherine
rated it:
Language is somewhat reminiscent of the patois created for "Firefly"; the book has a vibe similar to season seven of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", with a touch of season five "Angel". Joss Whedon fans will most likely enjoy "Fray" far more than non-Whedonites who are looking for a graphic novel of a dystopian future filled with mutants, demons, vampires, filthy poverty, laser guns, cops, thievery, crime bosses, traitors, blood, fists, and a smart-mouthed, ass-kicking girl and her stabby-handled ax
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Jun 08, 2010
linnea
rated it:
Slayer of the Future!
So I've been reading Buffy Season Eight, which is in comic book form (and still going on!). While I was looking for info about that, I found this book, which is another Joss Whedon comic book, set in the Buffy-verse, but in the future! Melaka Fray is a kick-ass thief in the dystopic underbelly of futuristic Manhattan. It feels vaguely cyberpunk (in my mind, could be just the crazy slang they use and all the flying cars and wacky hair colors--these things mean cyb More...
So I've been reading Buffy Season Eight, which is in comic book form (and still going on!). While I was looking for info about that, I found this book, which is another Joss Whedon comic book, set in the Buffy-verse, but in the future! Melaka Fray is a kick-ass thief in the dystopic underbelly of futuristic Manhattan. It feels vaguely cyberpunk (in my mind, could be just the crazy slang they use and all the flying cars and wacky hair colors--these things mean cyb More...
Nov 15, 2009
Meredith
rated it:
Whedon has very little time to suck us into this new Slayerverse, but he does it! It helps, I think, to be a fan of the series and know a bit about the Slayer mythology in the first place, but readers who are new to the Buffy story will probably like this too. I didn't much care for the art style, but I will say that the action is masterfully drawn - you can almost see what Mel Fray would look like in action. The dialog is snappy (really, what else can be expected from Joss Whedon). The stor
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Aug 21, 2010
Matt
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Sep 18, 2010
Jessica
rated it:
Anything Joss Whedon is fun! I love that Fray takes us into the future and although it is a part of the Buffy Vampire history, she has nothing to do with the plot. I found Fray's slang to be slightly annoying, I know it is the future and English probably will be butchered horribly but still do not really like "toy". I did not like the ending because I felt it was very unresolved. However, Buffy Comics Fray is introduced so more is revealed but for a graphic novel I still think it shoul
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Jan 24, 2009
Ryan
rated it:
This is a kick-ass story, Whedon's first attempt at comics, that transports us into the future. There's still a vampire slayer--and flying cars, naturally--and still baddies out there. Fray is a street-wise freelance thief/courier, capable of taking care of herself. When a demon appears and tells her she is the Slayer, she reluctantly agrees to learn from him as various plots swirl around. excellent story, check it out, and do notice the Scythe...hmmm. I can't wait to read the next collecti
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Feb 09, 2010
Jennifer
rated it:
Hundreds of years from now, there are flying cars in what's become of Manhattan, vampires are called lurks, and teenage Melaka Fray makes a living as a grabber for a mutant. And then a giant demon comes to call and tell her who she really is: one girl in all the world, a chosen one.
This was worth reading, Buffy-lovers. Joss takes the Slayer mythos and does some stuff that will feel familiar, but incorporates twists and turns that are not. Also, Fray comes up in Buffy S8, so if you'r More...
This was worth reading, Buffy-lovers. Joss takes the Slayer mythos and does some stuff that will feel familiar, but incorporates twists and turns that are not. Also, Fray comes up in Buffy S8, so if you'r More...
Mar 05, 2010
Amanda
rated it:
This was just all kinds of awesome! I loved the character of Mel and her trials of becoming the next Slayer. The action was great and the storyline kept you guessing. A wonderful look into a new world where slayers were no longer needed and thus not known. As the vampires reemerge Mel is called and has to fight her way to learn about her calling. I would love to see more with this character. Perhaps since the Buffy comics are doing so well Joss Whedon will consider doing more of Mel's world.
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Feb 20, 2011
Rose
rated it:
Well if anyone could turn me into a graphic novel geek it'd be Joss Whedon. Darn you Joss. No matter. Geeks are awesome. This was a very enjoyable read. Fray is a very cool character. Like a lot of female characters in the Whedonverse she is strong & tough but has a vulnerable side & a big heart. There was humor laced throughout the entire book of course, as is Whedon's way. And Loo was the most adorable little thing ever! I was moved almost to tears with her outcome. I'll definitely read anoth
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