astridv: ("Synth" Hellbound; icon by Yoon Ha Lee)
astridv ([personal profile] astridv) wrote2007-03-24 02:10 pm
Entry tags:

Comic: "Synth" by yhlee and astridv (AtS/Fray xover; COMPLETE)

Well, it took a little while, but it's finally done. :o)

"Synth" is a crossover between AtS and Fray. ('Fray', for those who haven't read it yet, is a well-crafted tale, written by Joss Whedon himself, with gorgeous artwork by Karl Moline. In my opinion it's hands down the best of the Whedonverse comics out there, not to be missed!)

This comic is also a follow-up of sorts to [livejournal.com profile] yhlee's fic Radio Free. It is pretty much self-contained so should make sense even if you're unfamiliar with 'Fray' and 'Radio Free'. All you need to know is that in the aftermath of "Not Fade Away," Angel and Gunn are swept via dimensional slide into the future world of Fray, where there is only one Slayer (Melaka Fray) and Haddyn (once Manhattan) is divided deeply between the haves in the "uppers" and the have-nots in the warrens.

Disclaimer: AtS belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and Fox. Fray belongs to Joss Whedon. Joss is our master. This is an unofficial and unauthorized fan comic, no money is being made. Unless you all rush off to Amazon to buy "Fray", which you should, in which case someone somewhere will make some money (but not us).

The look of Fray's world and its denizens is loosely based on the designs that Karl Moline developed for 'Fray', but I didn't want to cling too closely to the source there.



Story: [livejournal.com profile] yhlee
Artwork: [livejournal.com profile] astridv
Many thanks to [livejournal.com profile] tkp for the invaluable beta, and to Birgit and Steffi, my favorite housemates, who provided many helpful comments. Dedicated to [livejournal.com profile] makd, for being a good ghost of the fandom. :)



























For those with a slow web connection: here is the comic split into six parts (each part still about 700 KB...):
page 1-2, page 3-4, page 5-6, page 7-8, page 9-10, page 11-12
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[identity profile] monanotlisa.livejournal.com 2007-03-24 01:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow. Astrid, this is utterly amazing -- both the story and the artwork. Wow. SelenaK will love it, too, I'm sure!

[identity profile] selenak.livejournal.com 2007-03-24 06:13 pm (UTC)(link)
She does, she does. This is so good! *is awed*

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wychwood: chess queen against a runestone (Default)

[personal profile] wychwood 2007-03-24 03:05 pm (UTC)(link)
This is *gorgeous*. I adore your visuals, and the layout, and the panels, and *all* of it; the flying cars and everything are awesome *g*, and the sort of watercolour style works really well for me. Plus you do a better job than most *official* tie-in comics of making the characters recognisable! *g* A beautiful piece of work.
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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-24 09:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you kindly! I'm happy you like it.

Plus you do a better job than most *official* tie-in comics of making the characters recognisable! *g*

*looks modest* I try. ;) The lack of likeness in some of the official tie-ins confuses me... after all, a tie-in is all about reading about familiar characters. And it's not like it's hard to find picture references in times of computers and screen caps.

Some of the Buffy and Angel comics are very good though, with satisfying likeness, too.
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[personal profile] minim_calibre 2007-03-24 03:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, WOW.
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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-24 09:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Hehe. ^_^

[identity profile] wisemack.livejournal.com 2007-03-24 04:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Fantastic! So much talent... you should be proud. ;)
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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-24 10:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks so much. :) I'm quite happy with how it turned out. *pets comic*
deepad: black silhouette of woman wearing blue turban against blue background (Default)

[personal profile] deepad 2007-03-24 04:23 pm (UTC)(link)
this is startlingly beautiful - both the visuals and the script. The tricksy overlapping dialogues, the non-linear panels, its so layered. And I haven't read either the fic or Fray, and it still made perfect sense.
(and the little B/A shoutout didn't hurt either ;))
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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-24 10:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks, I'm really glad you like it. Some of the unconventional dialog placement was born out of necessity, because space was so limited and the baloons were handy to direct the reader's eye in certain ways.

I can highly recommend Fray. I only read it when Yoon suggested this project to me - 'Fray' being sans Angel, I hadn't been interested before (yeah, so I'm a bit single-minded in my fannishness) - and once I read it I was thrilled. It's like discovering a whole new part of the Buffyverse, new canon. The writing is pure Joss.
ext_2333: "That's right,  people, I am a constant surprise." (Default)

[identity profile] makd.livejournal.com 2007-03-24 05:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Dear gods, but I love this!

Each page, each drawing brings me into the world of this comic. I love it. I love it. I love it.

thank you so much for doing this and sharing it with us.
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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-24 11:46 pm (UTC)(link)
And all it took was nine short months *g*. I'm pleased that you like it so much. I had fun drawing it. And the really cool thing: ever since I started with the fan comics, my drawing's gotten much faster, so at the end of the day I got more time rather than less. Fandom rulz.

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[identity profile] lakrids404.livejournal.com 2007-03-24 05:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Mostly excellent; you got the violence this time, but you still miss the other part.
;)
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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-24 11:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Hah. That'll have to wait for the next one :P

[identity profile] a2zmom.livejournal.com 2007-03-24 07:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Absolutely gorgeous work, both of you. Astrid, I think my favorite is the beautiful shot of Fray and Gunn on the roof, everything so different, yet in the end, not different at all.
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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-24 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh yeah, that's one of the scenes that triggered a particularly strong visual when I read it, so I gave it a whole page. I was also sorely tempted to end with a full-page view of Angel and Gunn walking off in front of the Haddyn background... but you gotta find an end somewhere.

[identity profile] scribesds.livejournal.com 2007-03-24 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)
I've not read the original story yet, and I have never seen Fray. But I did enjoy this very much. Interesting idea, and the graphics are gorgeous. Well done to both of you!

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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-24 11:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks so much. :o)
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[personal profile] liliaeth 2007-03-24 11:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Well this was good, esp. if I imagine that in the past Spike became human and ended up happy ever after (or at least for the rest of their lives) with Buffy.
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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-24 11:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Who knows. Like I said before, Spike tends to fall on his feet. ;)

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[identity profile] awmp.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 01:22 am (UTC)(link)
this is utterly stunning. I love the artwork! and everything else, too, of course!
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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 04:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you, I'm glad you like it.
yourlibrarian: Angel and Lindsey (Default)

[personal profile] yourlibrarian 2007-03-25 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
Another great comic. The artwork is wonderful, and the crossover idea is great. Especially with the new S8 (and likely S6 comics) coming out, it would be great if Fray got more attention. Very enjoyable, I'm glad I got to read it.
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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 04:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Glad you like.

I haven't even seen the S8 comic yet... my supply dried up when my comics dealer went out of business. I'm looking forward to reading it, but I'm even more excited about the possibility of an Angel S6 comics!

[identity profile] midnightsjane.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
Wow, this is so gorgeous! The art work is outstanding, with dialogue and storyline to match.
Great work, both of you!
I'm going to go tell my flist about it right now.
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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 04:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks for the rec! I still can't believe it's finally done. I think for my next project I'll try to do a quick one-pager or something.

[identity profile] dr-tan.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 11:29 am (UTC)(link)
Totally awesome comic! Really though, its fantastic! You can see in the artwork and the writing how much time you must have put in, and its great.

Hope you keep up the good work!
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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 04:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks! (Of course I can't take credit for the story, that's all [livejournal.com profile] yhlee's.) Drawing comics is a hell of a lot of work, but worth it - it's just so much fun. And a great stress-reliever, too.

[identity profile] spooforbrains.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 11:43 am (UTC)(link)
Loved it. I don't normally *do* comics (not even, I have to say, Fray, one issue of which I think I own somewhere. I don't really know why, I just don't get them) but I enjoyed this immensely. Is there ever going to be more?
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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 04:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Don't know yet if there'll be more in this verse. More comic... hm, I think so. Probably. :) Making comics gives me a kick like few other things, I'll just have to see if an idea for something new hits me. I do have two other finished comics (one X-files, one AtS post-'Smile Time'), which are both linked in my userinfo.

[identity profile] stimpson.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 11:59 am (UTC)(link)
Saw this linked on Whedonesque - AMAZING. Simply just an amazing piece of work. I haven't seen many - if any - fan comic pieces like this before. Well done :)
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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 04:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks so much, I'm glad you like it!

[identity profile] mmmchelle.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 01:02 pm (UTC)(link)
monanotlisa pointed me here, and I am show glad she did.

This is trememndously good--th artwork, the story, all of it.
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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 08:55 pm (UTC)(link)
monanotlisa pointed me here, and I am show glad she did.

Me too :)
Glad you like.

[identity profile] kindredspirit75.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 01:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Followed a link from sueworld's lj to this and am so glad I did! What an excellent piece of work you've both done. The artwork, dialogue and story is heads above some of the commercial comics out on the newsstands today. You should be proud. Kudos.
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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 08:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow, thanks! I'm really glad you like it.

[identity profile] elizalavelle.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 01:55 pm (UTC)(link)
This is amazing work! Thank you for putting all of the time into it, the result is great and I'm glad I got to read it :)
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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 08:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Glad you like. Yeah, putting together a comic takes ages, but it's worth it. I think it's a fascinating medium, with so many possibilities...

[identity profile] authoressnebula.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 02:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[livejournal.com profile] sueworld2003 pointed me here, and I have to say that your comic should be published by Dark Horse and Joss, because THAT is ten times better than most of the comics out there. And I know who the characters are because they actually LOOK like the characters! *gaspshock*

Well done. VERY damn well done.

~Nebula
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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 09:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Actually, I don't even know if such a crossover could ever officially be published... depending which company owns which characters. One of the huge advantages of fan art. ;)

I'm happy you like it and find the likeness satisfactory. Before I start drawing a fan comic, I usually spend a couple of hours just drawing the characters' faces, unitl I get a feel for them. (And I find those character studies useful when I do the actual drawing of the pages; sometimes I can just copypaste them into the actual comic artwork... yay for time saving.)

[identity profile] sp23.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 02:21 pm (UTC)(link)
This was amazing. Great story, great art, great characterizations. It makes me want do dig out my copy of Fray and reread it. :)
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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 09:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you kindly :)

[identity profile] joshtek.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 02:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Nice work. If I were Dark Horse, I'd hire 'ya.
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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 09:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Heh. Thanks!

[identity profile] catalyst2.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 02:46 pm (UTC)(link)
That is some really impressive work - art, layout, story and characterizations are all spot on! Love the NFA/Circle of Black Thorn panel at the top of page 12.

You've been linked to at Whedonesque (http://whedonesque.com/comments/12816) too, btw.
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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 09:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I saw. I'm quite excited about the Whedonesque rec.

Page 12 was one of those pages to draw itself... I loved yhlee's idea of Angel's dialog in front of the flashback motif, and I couldn't wait to draw that scene. Guy's so messed up... that must be why he's my favorite character. :)

[identity profile] kseenaa.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 03:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[livejournal.com profile] sueworld2003 recked this in her journal. And I must say, gawd damn, your a good artist! *has jaw on floor somewhere* Not to mention it is a great little story! Wonderful. *takes a bow*
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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 09:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, thanks. I'm pleased that you like it. (And that sueworld sent all these readers over to my journal :).)

[identity profile] roonblah.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 05:18 pm (UTC)(link)
A word: awesome.

The art is absolutely fantastic and the story leaves me wanting more (kinda hoping that more is coming, though this must have taken ages).

Whedonistique! Thank you for sharing.
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[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2007-03-25 09:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Whedonistique!

:D
Thank you!

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