Spike: After the Fall, Part Three is the first issue of the Spike: After the Fall comic book miniseries. Written by Brian Lynch and illustrated by Franco Urru, it was originally published on September 17, 2008, by IDW Publishing.
Synopsis[]
- Defeated, tortured and beaten. The forces of evil are rising, threatening to destroy everything he holds dear. He is broken, he is alone. And he has them all exactly where he wants them. Spike's story continues, brought to you by the original Angel: After the Fall team of Brian Lynch and Franco Urru! The Sharp Brothers offer a special variant cover. And ask your retailer how to get the "grindhouse"-inspired version of their cover, too![1]
Summary[]
While imprisoned, Spike daydreams about shopping at Bed Bath & Beyond with Fred, only to be surprised when Angel appears as a store employee. In the vision, Spike admits the fantasy serves as a distraction from the ongoing torture inflicted by the female army enslaving him.
Upon awakening, Spike reflects on the harsh conditions of his captivity — forced labor, regular beatings, and being reduced to eating rats. During a torture session, he mocks Non by claiming that, after spending time with Xander Harris, he can endure anything. After he insults her attempt to clean up her appearance, Non leaves Maria to continue the torture.
Alone with Spike, Maria warns him not to antagonize Non, revealing that keeping him alive for the past month has been a challenge. When Spike questions her concern, she kisses him and admits she was impressed that he spared her life and reunited her with her army. She also confesses to finding him physically attractive. When she attempts to kiss him again, Spike proposes a deal: if she can free him, Illyria, and any surviving members of his camp, he will do whatever she asks. When Maria insists that defeating Non is impossible, Spike kicks her away and argues that her army of female demons is nearly as powerful as Slayers. With the right motivation, he believes he can convince them to rise up against Non — if Maria brings them to him one by one.
In Team Gunn's lair, Non absorbs energy from the corpses of three Slayers she has killed. When she mentions how easily they were defeated, Gunn points out that they were newly activated. He confronts her for bringing Noelle, a Sadecki demon, into his territory. Non explains that she requires a stronger telepath — such as a Splenden beast — to read a vampire's mind. After revealing she has Spike in captivity, Gunn asks if Illyria is also being held. He abruptly attacks Non and Noelle, leaving them injured. As they retreat, Gunn remarks that he doesn't care what happens to either, though he admits to "kinda" missing Spike.
Outside, Non tells Noelle that, although she is disappointed with how the meeting with Gunn went, she will take pleasure in killing Spike and Illyria. Meanwhile, Gunn and the three Slayers, no longer zombified, prepare to fight.
Noelle takes Spike from his chains and brings him outside, where Illyria is being restrained. Wielding an axe, Non announces her intent to publicly behead Illyria and Spike. She also accuses Maria of betrayal, declaring she will face execution too for growing too close to Spike. When Non attempts to strike Illyria, the axe shatters upon impact. Illyria stands and declares that, while she can respect the torture and attempted killing Non carried out, she refuses to kneel before her. With a powerful punch, Illyria knocks Non to the ground.
Fearing Illyria might revert to Fred and be harmed, Spike fights his way toward her. However, Illyria accuses him of "intercoursing" with Maria, whom she dismisses as a "lesser." Caught off guard, Spike fumbles for an explanation. Illyria suddenly interrupts him with a kiss, declaring that she is once again his priority.
Spike and Illyria are interrupted when Non attacks Jeremy. Secretly hoping Jeremy survives so he can finally propose to his girlfriend, Spike rushes to save him. Suddenly, Connor appears and stops Non by shooting an arrow into her back.
Continuity[]
- The story is set between Spike's appearances in After the Fall, Part Six and After the Fall, Part Two.
- It's established that one month has passed since the previous issue.
- Spike mentions having lived with Xander, as they first shared the Harris residence's basement ("Hush" to "A New Man") Later, Spike briefly stayed in Xander's apartment ("Him", "Conversations with Dead People," and "Sleeper"). Years later, the two would rent an apartment together in San Francisco (I Wish, Part Two to One Year Later).
- After the city is restored, Non will seek revenge against Gunn in Become What You Are.
Appearances[]
Individuals[]
- Angel (Only in visions)
- Winifred Burkle (Only in visions)
- "Ms. Clean"
- Connor
- Charles Gunn
- Maria Harley
- Alexander Harris (Only mentioned)
- Illyria
- Jeremy Johns
- Noelle
- Non
- Tank
- Spike
- Jeremy Johns's girlfriend (Only mentioned)
- Unidentified Slayer I (After the Fall)
- Unidentified Slayer II (After the Fall)
- Unidentified Slayer III (After the Fall)
Organizations and titles[]
Species[]
- Demon
- Old One
- Phinn Klakatuu (Only mentioned)
- Sadecki demon
- Splenden beast (Only mentioned)
- Human
- Vampire
- Zombie
Locations[]
- Los Angeles
- Beverly Hills
Behind the scenes[]
Distribution[]
- Spike: After the Fall, Part Three was the 75th best-selling comic issue in its publishing month, with 31,059 sales in September 2008 at comic specialty stores.[2]
Collections[]
Pop culture references[]
- Spike imagines himself at a Bed Bath & Beyond store.
- Spike compares Non with the sixties model Twiggy.
- Non calls Maria by the name Benedict Arnold (1740–1801), the American military officer who led the British army against the very men whom he had once commanded.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ "JUL084069 SPIKE AFTER THE FALL #3 (OF 4)." Previews World. Retrieved on January 27, 2020.
- ↑ "Top 300 Comics Actual--September 2008." ICv2, October 20, 2008.