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Note: This article is about the comic book series. For other uses, see Fray.

Fray was a comic book series from Dark Horse Comics.

Premise

Hundreds of years in the future, Melaka Fray was the first Slayer to called in a long time. The Watcher's Council was all but destroyed and she had not had any of the Slayer visions. Her only source of information was a questionable demon named Urkonn, who had his own agenda.

Continuity

The events took place before "Tales".

  • Fray's scythe was found by Buffy Summers, also a vampire Slayer, embedded in rock in Sunnydale. The scythe was later used to channel power into creating fully developed Slayers of the many Potential Slayers.
  • Sometime in the twenty-first century, "a Slayer, possibly with some mystical allies, faced an apocalyptic army of demons. And when it was done, they were gone. All demons, all magicks, banished from this earthly dimension," and the Slayer, whose fate is unknown, was the last to be called.
  • Discussing her connection to the Slayer line, Urkonn told Melaka, "In your dreams, you're someone else. A slave. A princess. A girl in school in a sunlit city." Fray's scar and her personality resembled Buffy in the alternate universe.[1]

Appearances

Publications

The series included eight issues, which were later collected in a trade paperbacks and a hardcover.

Issues

Cover Issues Release Date
Fray01 "Big City Girl" 1 January, 2001
Written by: Joss Whedon Artist: Karl Moline
You've never seen a world like this, and neither has she. She's Melaka Fray, a beautiful, young girl that's about to meet her destiny, whether she wants to or not. In the future, the world is a manmade, hopeless hell. Add to that vampires, demons and other grim, supernatural threats that cower in shadows and skulk late-night streets. When the forces of darkness come calling, Fray will be transformed from street urchin of a disposable society to its only savior. And, heaven help her if she fails.
Fray02 "The Calling" 2 July 4, 2001
Written by: Joss Whedon Artist: Karl Moline
Fray's world has been turned upside down. After finishing a routine breaking and entering job, she's returned to her apartment to find an eight-foot-tall demon. Now she's got another job proposal put in front of her, and her life will never be the same. Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, makes his comics writing debut with this epic, eight-issue saga of a young girl in a futuristic world where monsters are all but unheard of -- and now she's got to chase them all out of the shadows.
Fray03 "Ready, Steady ..." 3 August 1, 2001
Written by: Joss Whedon Artist: Karl Moline
As a professional thief, Melaka Fray has seen her share of danger and excitement. But is she ready for the challenges facing a Slayer? This issue, Melaka learns some of the history of the Slayers and comes to understand a little about what it means to her. Ready or not, here she comes! She's taking on the forces of darkness like no one else can. This Fourth of July, Fray has got more fireworks than your Uncle Al's barbecue!
Fray04 "Out of the Past" 4 October 17, 2001
Written by: Joss Whedon Artist: Karl Moline
Fray fends off an attack from the creep that killed her brother. Barely escaping with her life, she becomes determined to find the monster and stop him... forever! But she's being hunted as well...by a pack of blood-crazed vampires, and by the police led by her own sister. Fray discovers exactly what kind of creature is after her and it's not pretty!
Fray05 "The Worst of It" 5 December 5, 2001
Written by: Joss Whedon Artist: Karl Moline
Melaka's been keeping up the good fight. But, now that she knows the horrible truth about the vampire that's been stalking her, can she keep it up? No matter what she does, Melaka is not going to like it. Meanwhile, she's on the run from the thugs and the police. This calls for a very special blend of psychology and extreme violence. More thrills, chills, action, and drama from the critically acclaimed creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Joss Whedon!
Fray06 "Alarums" 6 March 27, 2002
Written by: Joss Whedon Artist: Karl Moline
After a crushing turn of events, Melaka's back on her feet, taking the fight into the pits of the city, the rat-infested warren she calls home. But are these street-urchin vamps behind the recent murder that set Fray over the edge? Entertainment Weekly made Fray Winner of the Week when it debuted, helping the first printing of the book to sell out. As Joss Whedon and his art team of Karl Moline, Andy Owens, and Dave Stewart take Fray into its last act, comics readers are in for all the twists and turns they’ve come to expect from Joss’s TV shows.
Fray07 "The Gateway" 7 April 23, 2003
Written by: Joss Whedon Artist: Karl Moline
The wait is over! Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, completes his vision of the future, the story of the future slayer. One of the fiercest battles in the history of comics, drawn in grand style by Karl Moline and Andy Owens, begins the climax to Dark Horse's runaway hit. So what do we have left for next issue? It just gets worse for this poor, young Slayer.
Fray08 "All Hell" 8 August 26, 2003
Written by: Joss Whedon Artist: Karl Moline
The Slayer's brother has led a vampire war to not only overtake Manhattan, but bring to earth a demonic dragon--but the harshest threat to Fray remains unseen and unnamed.

Collections

Cover Title Issues Release Date
FrayTPB Fray #1-8 November 19, 2003
Written by: Joss Whedon Artist: Karl Moline
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.
FrayHC Fray #1-8 November 26, 2003
Written by: Joss Whedon Artist: Karl Moline
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.

Behind the Scenes

  • The series was published by Dark Horse Comics beginning in 2001, with delays between the first six and the final two issues caused by Whedon's TV commitments, during which artist Karl Moline illustrated Route 666 for CrossGen Comics.
  • In Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, one of the Slayers is shown to be reading a Fray comic, a minor in-joke to fans of the series.
  • The Buffy comics set up much of what will be the status quo in Fray. For example, the loss of magic at the end of Season Eight, and the transformation of the Scythe in Willow: Wonderland.

References

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