Fray

Whedon, Joss et al. (2003). Fray. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Comics.

Reading level: Grades 7+

"Bad day. Started bad, stayed that way."

Summary:
Melaka Fray (aka Mel) lives far in the future, where many humans have been deformed by environmental hazards. There is also a subculture of "Lurks," known to us as vampires. Mel finds out she is a slayer, and is trained by a huge demon named Urkonn. As she battles the lurks and tries to save the world from demon infestation, Mel learns more about her powers and learns to let go of the past.

Comments:
This was a pretty good graphic novel. There are a lot of the same elements that Joss Whedon included in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series, but Mel is a unique character. There is also a little crippled girl, Loo, who is probably the best part of the book. She only has one arm and one eye, yet Whedon makes her a fiesty little character. The ending was unpredictable, and included a nice plot twist. There was quite a lot of action in the book, and the plot moved at a very fast pace. I would recommend this novel to boys and girls who enjoy graphic novels, and to anyone who enjoyed Whedon's other works.

Rating: 4/5