Broken Frontier

The history of Lin, the Angel’s predecessor, concludes. It seems not even the most noble of souls can withstand the darkness of Bete Noire.

Several issues ago, we were introduced to Lin, a mysterious woman from…someplace else…who once defended the city of Bete Noire much as the Fallen Angel does today. As recounted by Dolf the bartender, Lin had taken it upon herself to clean up the sinful, vice-ridden city, fulfilling the role that its magistrate, Dr. Juris, had abandoned. This began with the violent downfall of the crimelord Yurei. As the months went by, Lin’s good intentions slowly succumbed to the city’s evil until she became a vengeful force of destruction. Desperate measures were required…

As he often did in the first volume of Fallen Angel, Peter David once again playfully hints at the secret history of his characters and a connection to another heroine he once scripted. Although it is never made explicit (for legal reasons as much as storytelling technique), Lin bears more than a passing resemblance to a certain Girl of Steel David worked with. This makes for an amusing, metatextual story, one in which characters can unofficially migrate between worlds/publishers. This is a fun wink and nod for longtime fans that also raises many questions. Are Lin and the Angel connected in some way or simply shaped by the power of the city to fulfill the same roles? If they are separate people, why are their lives entwined by so many coincidences?

Beyond this little game David is playing, he creates a story that can be enjoyed purely at face value as well. This issue delivers the usual intriguing blend of complex morality, cosmic drama hidden just behind the curtain, and a slightly skewed take on superhero and urban fantasy tropes. Lin’s descent from bitter but well-meaning vigilante to angel of vengeance makes for effective and somewhat shocking drama. The ultimate resolution of the story feels a tad anticlimactic but the journey has been quite entertaining.

The issue’s art is provided by Kristian Donaldson, a departure from the moody, painterly ambiance of series regular J.K. Woodward. Donaldson has an appealing cartoonist-like touch that gives the characters a sleek, aerodynamic look. This, combined with the flatter tones of colorist Ronda Pattison, gives the story a more traditionally "comic book-y" feel, an appropriate decision given Lin’s apparent "secret identity." Donaldson also gets in on the act by making Lin and Lee facially similar and creating a sly cover image that evokes a classic DC Comics cover.

Fallen Angel continues to be a series that is absolutely maddening in its secrets at times yet nonetheless a fascinating and compelling comic unlike any other.