Series
Description
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 or 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.
Language
Original publication date
2003-11-26
Publication
Dark Horse (2003), Paperback, 216 pages
ISBN
1569717516 / 9781569717516
Library's review
This dystopian sci-fi/fantasy graphic novel is one of the finest works of Joss Whedon, and can easily hold its own against his more famous accomplishments on TV and film. It is possibly my wife's favourite graphic novel of all time (though I suspect Jeff Smith's "Bone" gives it competition for the
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top spot), and is certainly on my own top 10. While technically set in the far-flung future of his Buffy the Vampire Slayer world, it doesn't require any knowledge or familiarity with that to read this. And the art by Karl Moline is gorgeous, clear and memorable -- everything I want in the graphic part of a graphic novel. Show Less
Similar in this library
Awards
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2005)
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (Selection — 2005)
User reviews
LibraryThing member pokylittlepuppy
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
I guess one of the difficult things here is that Melaka is just pretty solitary -- and slayers do always feel solitary, but not to us, they don't. And so we've got a little bit of Mel, who mostly is just hardness, and a little bit of backstory, which is really just one sliver. And Joss is usually thorough in his concepts, but we don't know when or why this setting. Where'd this society come from? How's it work? The back cover says this is Manhattan, but really, says who? Where?
This unknown severed history does work ok with the idea that the slayers' line is starting again after a really long time of quiet. I like the idea that the way we expect it to work isn't really going to be how it works. And I could get behind the exploration of the unique idea of a slayer's twin, though this story was set up pretty black-and-white. Her little neighbor is cute. I kinda liked the fish.
It's a decent offshoot. I'm interested to see how she turns up in Season 8. I'm glad to have read this before I get there.
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
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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 grubbiness. A few weird creatures. Tough-livin' heroine. Some good some bad. Not too much depth below the surface of the setting.I guess one of the difficult things here is that Melaka is just pretty solitary -- and slayers do always feel solitary, but not to us, they don't. And so we've got a little bit of Mel, who mostly is just hardness, and a little bit of backstory, which is really just one sliver. And Joss is usually thorough in his concepts, but we don't know when or why this setting. Where'd this society come from? How's it work? The back cover says this is Manhattan, but really, says who? Where?
This unknown severed history does work ok with the idea that the slayers' line is starting again after a really long time of quiet. I like the idea that the way we expect it to work isn't really going to be how it works. And I could get behind the exploration of the unique idea of a slayer's twin, though this story was set up pretty black-and-white. Her little neighbor is cute. I kinda liked the fish.
It's a decent offshoot. I'm interested to see how she turns up in Season 8. I'm glad to have read this before I get there.
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LibraryThing member fyrefly98
Summary: Melaka Fray is just a girl. Born and raised in the slums of a future Manhattan, she works as a minor thief in a city where mutants and monsters raise no more comment than the flying cars. Burdened by the secrets of her past, and with no thought of her future, Melaka is unaware that she is
Review: Who misses Sunnydale? Fray pulls off a seemingly impossible feat - it walks the fine tightrope of managing to be both familiar and novel, to give us something new without disrupting established continuity, and to be recognizable to fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer while still being accessible to newcomers to the the Whedon-verse. If you haven't watched BtVS, a) get on that, but b) Fray is still understandable - she's a petit, sassy, edgy girl with a dark past who kicks some serious monster butt. If you have watched BtVS, well, Fray's a petit, sassy, edgy girl with a dark past and a long history who kicks some serious monster butt. (Personally, I think she's more like Faith than like Buffy - that'd be the tough-girl/bad-past side coming out - but regardless, she's still a Slayer, with all of the attendant issues of separateness and loneliness and loss that we watched our girls struggle with for seven seasons.)
As a story, Fray reads like the story arc of a season of Buffy, condensed down and minus the more one-off episodes. It's recognizeably a Joss Whedon story, complete with plenty of snarky humor, witty dialogue, a unique (and catchy) argot in the speech patterns of the characters, and plenty of action. Joss, as usual, also doesn't pull any punches in the drama department - even apart from all of the demons and monsters, life for his characters is not particularly pleasant. By the end, things aren't exactly resolved - like in Buffy, averting one apocalypse is no guarantee that another one isn't right around the corner - so it was a little unsatisfying... but unsatisfying in the way that means that we're left wanting more of Fray's world, and its tiny, butt-kicking heroine. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: For Buffy fans, it's practically required reading, and it would serve as a good introduction to graphic novels for those who haven't encountered them before. For other folks, it's a fun story featuring a very different kind of superhero, and because it's a one-off, it can be picked up and enjoyed without having extensive background knowledge, and without committing to a series.
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part of a long line of Slayers, and that it is her job - and her destiny - to fight against vampires (now so common that they're called "lurks", and mostly ignored by the authorities) and to protect humanity from a terrible demonic apocalypse.Review: Who misses Sunnydale? Fray pulls off a seemingly impossible feat - it walks the fine tightrope of managing to be both familiar and novel, to give us something new without disrupting established continuity, and to be recognizable to fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer while still being accessible to newcomers to the the Whedon-verse. If you haven't watched BtVS, a) get on that, but b) Fray is still understandable - she's a petit, sassy, edgy girl with a dark past who kicks some serious monster butt. If you have watched BtVS, well, Fray's a petit, sassy, edgy girl with a dark past and a long history who kicks some serious monster butt. (Personally, I think she's more like Faith than like Buffy - that'd be the tough-girl/bad-past side coming out - but regardless, she's still a Slayer, with all of the attendant issues of separateness and loneliness and loss that we watched our girls struggle with for seven seasons.)
As a story, Fray reads like the story arc of a season of Buffy, condensed down and minus the more one-off episodes. It's recognizeably a Joss Whedon story, complete with plenty of snarky humor, witty dialogue, a unique (and catchy) argot in the speech patterns of the characters, and plenty of action. Joss, as usual, also doesn't pull any punches in the drama department - even apart from all of the demons and monsters, life for his characters is not particularly pleasant. By the end, things aren't exactly resolved - like in Buffy, averting one apocalypse is no guarantee that another one isn't right around the corner - so it was a little unsatisfying... but unsatisfying in the way that means that we're left wanting more of Fray's world, and its tiny, butt-kicking heroine. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: For Buffy fans, it's practically required reading, and it would serve as a good introduction to graphic novels for those who haven't encountered them before. For other folks, it's a fun story featuring a very different kind of superhero, and because it's a one-off, it can be picked up and enjoyed without having extensive background knowledge, and without committing to a series.
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LibraryThing member the_bibliophibian
I have decided that Joss Whedon is God and that nothing he does is wrong. This may sound fanatical, but I'm basing that supposition on the fact that, to date, I have found nothing that he is done that was wrong. Fray is one of the better not-wrong things in his portfolio. If you loved Buffy the
If you have already read Fray, heads up: Mel makes a second appearance in Time of Your Life, the fourth volume of the Season 8 comic series of Buffy. I haven't read it yet, but (see above) Joss Whedon is never wrong, and I have every confidence that it will be fantastic.
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Vampire Slayer, you will probably enjoy this book. If you enjoy science fiction more than fantasy, you will be pleasantly surprised to find flying cars, ray guns, and sprawling, futuristic urban decay alongside the vampires and creepities. If you just want a kickass heroine who doesn't take any crap, well, you already know that Joss Whedon supplies those without the ridiculous man-contrived accoutrements such as double-D breasts and skimpy, oft-torn clothing (God bless him). Also, there's a giant snake. You just can't go wrong with that.If you have already read Fray, heads up: Mel makes a second appearance in Time of Your Life, the fourth volume of the Season 8 comic series of Buffy. I haven't read it yet, but (see above) Joss Whedon is never wrong, and I have every confidence that it will be fantastic.
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LibraryThing member akhelene
This was the first graphic novel I had ever read and it completely changed the way I looked at comic books. The writing is trademark Whedon -- fantastic story, witty dialogue, and characters that you are immediately drawn to. The icing on the cake is Karl Moline's fantastic art, which helps to give
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the series a gritty, futuristic look. Show Less
LibraryThing member poetontheone
In the midst of reading Buffy Season Eight, I learned that Fray was going to make an appearance, so I figured I'd acquaint myself with her story before she dropped in. This graphic novel immediately draws you in, but doesn't take you anywhere too deep. You learn who she is, a hard ass street kid
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who gets by how she can. Just as you get to know her, the conflict begins and before you know it the ride is over. The character is in interesting, the story is engaging, and the art is phenomenal. Malone's drawings and the phenomenal colors really make this world come alive. Whedon really has something here, but it's really only enough to whet the appetite. A could really be mind blowing. Even if Fray seems rushed, it's still holds up better than parts of Season Eight. Show Less
LibraryThing member TeenBookReviews
Set in a future world where magic and demons have been banished from the human dimension, Fray chronicles the emergence of the next Slayer as demons begin to cross over again. First let me say that I will read/watch pretty much anything that Joss Whedon puts his name to, I think he is one of the
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most creative and talented artists of the 21st century. Fray is a departure from the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, yet retains some interesting similarities. Fray is no middle class girl from a good home, she is a thief and a fighter. In many ways Fray could not be more different from Buffy yet she faces the same challenges and betrayals of all the slayers before her: slay, protect, survive. Show Less
LibraryThing member jedziedz
High adventure graphic novel that follows Melaka Fray, the newest vampire slayer, as she learns who she is and takes on the lurks (vampires) of the underworld. Wonderful artwork, fast paced story, a ton of fun and easy to read, Fray's only downfall is it's somewhat predictable storyline.
LibraryThing member Black_samvara
A graphic novel of a future slayer. She's tough, gorgeous, complex and far more interesting than Buffy ever was. A future world where there are enough mutants that no-one cares if you have fangs what with the scales and fins. Fray has the strength but not the dreams of a 'destiny' and is leery of
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'lurks' after they killed her brother. Tres cool. Show Less
LibraryThing member egyarnetsky
Melaka Fray is an extremely strong, agile and skilled cat burglar or "grabber". Little does she know that she is the chosen one to fight vampires.
Graphic novels, like movies, can fall into the trap of beautiful looks and puny plot. However, Joss Whedon did a great job combining the art, story and
When dealing with imaginary places you have to create your universe and stay absolutely loyal to that vision. You cannot change the physics midway. Thus I appreciate how Whedon approached this chore: Whedon wrote in his forward: “My visions of the future are always pretty much the standard issue: The rich get richer, the poor get poorer and there are flying cars.” This simplicity allowed him to focus on a wonderfully convoluted plot and characters with illustration that work.
Graphic novels, like movies, can fall into the trap of beautiful looks and puny plot. However, Joss Whedon did a great job combining the art, story and
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character.When dealing with imaginary places you have to create your universe and stay absolutely loyal to that vision. You cannot change the physics midway. Thus I appreciate how Whedon approached this chore: Whedon wrote in his forward: “My visions of the future are always pretty much the standard issue: The rich get richer, the poor get poorer and there are flying cars.” This simplicity allowed him to focus on a wonderfully convoluted plot and characters with illustration that work.
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LibraryThing member jbushnell
Vampire slayer tales from a dystopian future. Enjoyable, but not essential.
LibraryThing member biblioconnisseur
This was terrific. Great pictures, good story, very fun read.
LibraryThing member jshillingford
Too bad they didn't do a spin off series for this. Joss Whedon envisioned the Slayer as an going heroine - it didn't end with Buffy. This story is sset well into the future when the knowledge of the Slayer's very existence has been lost. But, a new slayer has arisen, and her name is Fray. Excellent!
LibraryThing member paghababian
I've only started reading graphic novels in the last year or so, so I don't have much to compare this to, but I really loved this story. Even if you've never heard of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this story would be accessable and enjoyable.
Fray follows Melaka Fray as she is called to her duty as the
I especially liked this story because there were questions left to ponder at the end. There was a lot of mythology that was hinted at but not explored, and I think there is definitely room for more Melaka Fray out there.
Being set in the future, Fray feels a lot like Buffy meets Blade Runner.
Fray follows Melaka Fray as she is called to her duty as the
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Slayer. There has been no Slayer for a few hundred years, but a new threat arises, and Mel must become the woman she was born to be.I especially liked this story because there were questions left to ponder at the end. There was a lot of mythology that was hinted at but not explored, and I think there is definitely room for more Melaka Fray out there.
Being set in the future, Fray feels a lot like Buffy meets Blade Runner.
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LibraryThing member melissathelibrarian
A graphic novel about vampire slayers by Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this novel has the same wry humor, but takes place several hundred years in the future. The slayer has cool futuristic slayer tools. Lots of demons and monsters; a few vampires; tons of blood, gore, and
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butt-kicking. Show Less
LibraryThing member franoscar
Graphic novel. This is a very well done work. The premise is that the door was closed in the 21st century but now demons are trickling back in, and a Slayer is called. But she has a twin brother who becomes a vampire...and things are complicated.
LibraryThing member kayceel
Soooooo awesome! Fray is a thief, lives in a *really* bad neighborhood (and world, really), and is a slayer but doesn't know it. Oh, and she totally kicks butt. This is many years after Buffy, and though vampires are still around, no one knows them by that name anymore - they're simply "lurks" who
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hide out in the slums, and so are left alone. Fray is tough and scrappy, but messed up, and she's a very convincing reluctant hero. Excellent for those who miss Buffy, adore vampires, or simply want an action-packed horror comic. It won't disappoint. Show Less
LibraryThing member Bert.Cielen
Basically Joss Whedon doing a sci-fi version of his Vampire Slayer idea. WHICH IS AWESOME.
Ah, if only a TV channel could spend truckloads of money on bringing this to the small screen, but alas I fear that even in this day and age it would be far too expensive and not draw sufficient viewers.
Ah, if only a TV channel could spend truckloads of money on bringing this to the small screen, but alas I fear that even in this day and age it would be far too expensive and not draw sufficient viewers.
LibraryThing member katekf
Joss Whedon's first series of comic books goes back to the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer but in the far future to follow Melaka Fray who's the last Slayer though she doens't know it. The dark city she lives in is called Haddyn and divided between those who are rich and live above and those
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below. Her journey to come into her own and help save her city is fraught with complications as she learns what happened to her twin brother and fights with her cop sister, Erin. The violence is hard but well done so that mature reader who's comfortable with vampires will find this an enjoyable read. Melaka Fray is also the kind of heroine that comic books need more of who's strong and herself without needing anyone else and will fight for what she needs. A graphic novel that's worth recommending. Show Less
LibraryThing member rampaginglibrarian
The slayer legend continues--some 200 years into the future a young girl doesn't know what a vampire or a slayer is but slowly begins to see she has a destiny (must i say it yet again?--Joss Whedon is a genius--just not my favorite medium)
LibraryThing member quantumbutterfly
Hundred of years after Buffy has unleashed the power of all the slayers, somehow magic has removed itself from the world. There has not been a slayer for a very long time, the Watcher's Council has gone a little crazy, and even the term vampire is not to be found in the language; now they're known
Melaka Fray is a young woman in a HUGE city who makes her money thieving for a mutant client when she's approached by a large demon and told she is the slayer. She has no idea what this means, no prophetic dreams, no greater sense of purpose, but she certainly has the physical abilities of one. The lurks are slowly gaining in numbers and seeking a takeover, directed by an unknown leader. She needs to figure out what this destiny means, fight the lurks (armed with the legendary scythe), and evade her cop sister and haunting memories.
We've gotten yet another spin on what a Slayer can and cannot be. I'm in the midst of reading Season 8 as well, and I wonder how that storyline may progress to lead to this kind of future.
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as lurks. Melaka Fray is a young woman in a HUGE city who makes her money thieving for a mutant client when she's approached by a large demon and told she is the slayer. She has no idea what this means, no prophetic dreams, no greater sense of purpose, but she certainly has the physical abilities of one. The lurks are slowly gaining in numbers and seeking a takeover, directed by an unknown leader. She needs to figure out what this destiny means, fight the lurks (armed with the legendary scythe), and evade her cop sister and haunting memories.
We've gotten yet another spin on what a Slayer can and cannot be. I'm in the midst of reading Season 8 as well, and I wonder how that storyline may progress to lead to this kind of future.
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LibraryThing member comfypants
The writing is solid - the material isn't anything special, but it's execution and pacing is flawless. The artwork pretty wonderful.
LibraryThing member mamzel
Written by Joss Whedon, this graphic novel portrays a slayer centuries after Buffy did her thing. Fray is a troubled young woman who works as a runner (think cat thief) and likes to get into fights. She is approached by a hideous monster named Urkonn who tells her that she is descended from a long
The story and graphics are fabulous. I love this futuristic slayer and that the same old battle to save humanity continues.
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line of slayers and he will train her since monsters will be invading this dimension soon. Fighting ensues.The story and graphics are fabulous. I love this futuristic slayer and that the same old battle to save humanity continues.
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LibraryThing member Chloebats
4P
"Bad day. Started bad, stayed that way. Woke up sore from last night. Didn't find the fingernail in my breakfast til I was chewing it. Then Gunther forcing me to pull a job when I'm spent...tough one too, in the uppers."
"Bad day. Started bad, stayed that way. Woke up sore from last night. Didn't find the fingernail in my breakfast til I was chewing it. Then Gunther forcing me to pull a job when I'm spent...tough one too, in the uppers."
LibraryThing member arsmith
pretty cool concept.