FreakAngels, Volume 4

FreakAngels #4

by Warren Ellis, Paul Duffield (Illustrator)

Twenty-three years ago, twelve strange children were born in England at exactly the same moment. Six years ago, the world ended. Today, eleven strange 23-year-olds live in and defend Whitechapel, maybe the last real settlement in flooded London. The Freakangels have lived in fear of the return of Mark, the twelfth of their kind, whose psychic powers far exceed their own. Now he's back, and his arrival forces the group to reflect on their shared past... a time when they used their power in tandem and flooded the world. Presenting, for the first time, the tragic history of the Freakangels! The fourth chapter in award-winning author Warren Ellis' post-apocalyptic web comic series!

Episodes #0073-0096.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Steampunk, Post Apocalyptic

144 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 2010

About the author

Warren Ellis is the award-winning writer of graphic novels like TRANSMETROPOLITAN, FELL, MINISTRY OF SPACE and PLANETARY, and the author of the NYT-bestselling GUN MACHINE and the “underground classic” novel CROOKED LITTLE VEIN, as well as the digital short-story single DEAD PIG COLLECTOR. His newest book is the novella NORMAL, from FSG Originals, listed as one of Amazon’s Best 100 Books Of 2016.

The movie RED is based on his graphic novel of the same name, its sequel having been released in summer 2013. IRON MAN 3 is based on his Marvel Comics graphic novel IRON MAN: EXTREMIS. He is currently developing his graphic novel sequence with Jason Howard, TREES, for television, in concert with HardySonBaker and NBCU, and continues to work as a screenwriter and producer in film and television, represented by Angela Cheng Caplan and Cheng Caplan Company. He is the creator, writer and co-producer of the Netflix series CASTLEVANIA, recently renewed for its third season, and of the recently-announced Netflix series HEAVEN’S FOREST.

He’s written extensively for VICE, WIRED UK and Reuters on technological and cultural matters, and given keynote speeches and lectures at events like dConstruct, ThingsCon, Improving Reality, SxSW, How The Light Gets In, Haunted Machines and Cognitive Cities.

Warren Ellis has recently developed and curated the revival of the Wildstorm creative library for DC Entertainment with the series THE WILD STORM, and is currently working on the serialising of new graphic novel works TREES: THREE FATES and INJECTION at Image Comics, and the serialised graphic novel THE BATMAN’S GRAVE for DC Comics, while working as a Consulting Producer on another television series.

A documentary about his work, CAPTURED GHOSTS, was released in 2012.

Recognitions include the NUIG Literary and Debating Society’s President’s Medal for service to freedom of speech, the EAGLE AWARDS Roll Of Honour for lifetime achievement in the field of comics & graphic novels, the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire 2010, the Sidewise Award for Alternate History and the International Horror Guild Award for illustrated narrative. He is a Patron of Humanists UK. He holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Essex.

Warren Ellis lives outside London, on the south-east coast of England, in case he needs to make a quick getaway.

Reviews

[Jan Philipzig · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a slow-burning third volume, this fourth volume delivers all kinds of twists and action. I love how the story jumps around from one plot thread to another, and how each new piece of information makes everything else appear in a different light. We even get to sneak a peek at what happened when “the world ended” six years ago, one that turns the whole story into a crude, horrifically flawed yet undeniably potent case of youth rebellion.

Come to think of it, FreakAngels now reads like an updated, shrewdly reshuffled version of John Wyndham’s 1957 science fiction novel The Midwich Cuckoos (made into two movies, both titled Village of the Damned, in 1960 and 1995). In both the novel and the comic book, a group of children with supernatural abilities is born in England at exactly the same time, and in both cases they represent a growing threat to the establishment as they grow older.

Unlike the authorities of The Midwich Cuckoos, however, those of FreakAngels find themselves unable to remove the threat by taking out those powerful kids. As a result, the kids of FreakAngels actually manage to overthrow the status quo. Coming of age amidst its ruins, they try to build and govern a new world, and the story ultimately revolves around their all too human efforts to do so.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

So after that pretty awesome cliffhanger in Volume 3, the 4th book opens with.. a flashback! Part of me was annoyed because I needed to know what was going to happen immediately. My first thought was, "MAN! I'm glad I wasn't reading this on a week to week basis". However, once I realized the flashback was finally going to give me some information about how the world ended up in the state it's currently in, I was satisfied.

The fourth entry in the Freakangels saga is a pretty awesome one and may be the best yet. Not only does it contain two rather big events and loads of pretty graphic violence, we're treated to a glimpse into the 14 year old lives of the Freakangels. What we're shown makes certain current situations that much more heartbreaking given the personalities that have developed. For example, given the general consensus on the outlawed Freakangel Mark, it's hard not to like him in these flashbacks - it makes you wonder what went wrong.

It's hard to really single out one character but I think I'm more than partial to KK. Not only does she have the technical know-how when it comes to building and creating new machines, she has some pretty great scenes and dialogue. I'm hoping she grabs a bigger role in the two volumes yet to come.

This is turning into quite the series. I've yet to be disappointed over any twists, turns or developments. No complaints from me.

On to book 5!

[Sam Quixote · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILERS

The fourth volume in this excellent series hits the ground running and doesn't stop until the final page. The Freakangels are in turmoil: Mark is back from the wilderness with murder in his eyes and Luke is on the run after shooting Kirk. This book is also the first time we see the Freakangels before they ended the world - and how they did it. Flashbacks go back to their 14th birthdays followed by the time they're being hunted by the government, to the moment when Mark suggests they link together and do something BIG to escape persecution - something like flood London.

Warren Ellis and Paul Duffield can't seem to write a bad Freakangels book, each one is better than the last. The pacing is perfect with action being the order of the day as we see Freakangels in a corner and then battling amongst each other as they figure out who they are and why they are the way they are. The story becomes even more interesting as Ellis slowly pulls back the curtain to reveal more about their abstract powers and hinting at a larger, deeper storyline. It's all very sci-fi, kind of like the film "Chronicle" crossed with "Akira" set in JG Ballard's "Drowned World" - in other words, three kinds of awesome.

This series should be adapted for TV, it'd be a huge hit and Duffield's large panels make it seem like you're reading a TV show/movie. But seeing as it's not, pick up the books instead which are utterly brilliant books and are quickly becoming one of my favourite comics series I've ever read. Fans of Warren Ellis need to read this, Freakangels is his masterpiece, and anybody interested in comics should check these books out, they're too good to be overlooked.

[Blindzider · Rating 4 out of 5]

History is revealed and the tipping point is reached for situation in Whitechapel. Lots of stuff happened in this volume. It'll be interesting to see just what changes in the relationships between the Freakangels and I still don't know where this will end up which is always a plus.

[Artemy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of long-awaited insight to what actually happened before the world went all post-apocalyptic. Some tensions get resolved, some new ones are introduced. Very, very tight volume. I read this one in like half an hour, probably, and now I feel like I've been through hell and back, just like the characters in the book. Man, Warren Ellis sure can write.

[Nate]

Well, that was a whirlwind of a book. It starts with a lengthy flashback to six years ago, with the young Freakangels being chased by military after they’ve already caused some damage. In order to escape capture, they quickly decide to bring about the apocalyptic event that’s been teased in previous books. On one hand, they’re careless, scared teens with god-level powers; on the other hand, they truly think they’re doing something righteous. And if that wasn’t enough, in the present day we see who was attacking Kait, as well as what happens to Luke. Violence, emotions, and shifting relationships play out horrifically. Ellis and Duffield, you mad bastards. This is great reading.

[Ostrava · Rating 5 out of 5]

"And then Quincy walks in..." 🥵

[OmniBen · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Zero spoiler review) 4.5/5
I had continually praised this book for its pacing. This beloved slowburner always seemed to know when to twist the throttle, and when to roll off and cruise on the merits of these interesting and engaging characters. Whilst reading this arc, as it kicks off with an unexpected gut punch, and then continues to build towards a thrilling conclusion, and finishing with a nice little emotional swell as and a twist or two as well. Ellis seems to have done it again. I wouldn't have expected him to go here so early, although given how the series was growing, it would have been strange to save this for the final arc. This was definitely the direction to this story I didn't know I wanted, which is always a coup in the writers cap whenever he can take the reader somewhere unexpected, and make them realise that was where it should have gone all along. If Ellis has upped his game here, than Paul Duffield has well and truly made his previous efforts look pedestrian by comparison. His art was never the most technical or extraordinary, but it suited this little indie title down to the ground. Here, some of his panels are just absolutely gorgeous, forcing me to stop the fairly furious and fast read this story is and just stare at them. So, an unexpected and satisfying direction to the story. Both creators on top of their game. This series really is becoming a firm favourite indeed. You really do need to check it out. 4.5/5


OmniBen.

[Krishnakumar Mohanasundaram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite thrilling.. We follow the events that happen within hours while a second flashback arc tells about how the angels caused the apocalypse...

It's the short time period the story happens that makes this (series) an interesting read.. In a post-apocalyptic settings where one could move the story for days and months, the author goes the other way and sticks to hourly storyarc and firmly within the freakangels clan...

We see Mark and how he is handled..
We follow Luke as he shoots everything and everyone...
We see KK hanging off a building after crashing her bike-copter...

And many more interesting things..

[Adam Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this look at what happens when a bunch of ... telekenetics ..? psychics ..? people with powers try and run a small society after they deliberately destroy the larger society with their powers.

It's a fun actiony superpower story but each trade flies by. One volume of Freakangels is like a single issue of Saga, Volume 1 but without the gorgeous, cinematic art.

I feel like i'm going to be able to read the final four volues in less than an hour and a half.

[Nigel · Rating 5 out of 5]

So how did a bunch of silly disaffected teenagers end the world? And now that it's ended, is there anything they can do about it? Luke's on the rampage, Mark is back and the Freakangles are discovering just how few limits there may be to their powers, which could be awesome or could be terrifying but probably both, and it certainly puts a strain on their relationships with each other.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

finally get some background info on the angels, which helps with a lot of the relationship context. I wish we found out earlier, but the flashbacks were very well done. the story continues to surprise, and the art is great. I just wish I could distinguish the characters more!

[Jake Kilroy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly exciting volume. Big backstory. Big action. Big reveals. Big cracks in the heavy emotional machine that is a dozen guilt-ridden paranormal young adults trying to operate like gritty superhero village leaders.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

finally, backstory. also, I love Arkady.

[Calvin Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent series

[Adam Šilhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pokračuje v nastaveném směru. Jsem rád, že jsem u FA zůstal.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

La trama y el dibujo se mantienen constantes en términos de calidad. Me gusta como Ellis puede hacer malabares con tantos personajes y hacerlos interesantes.

[Marie Graßhoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. So viele neue Informationen und Einblicke in diesem Band - ich muss das erst mal ordnen. Allein schon der Anfang war klasse - der Einblick in die Vergangenheit und den Vorfall, der alles so gemacht hat, wie es nun ist. Ich hätte nicht gedacht, dass sie damals schon gejagt wurden, die Armen. Und nun ja, bis zu einem gewissen Grad ist ihr Verhalten wohl nachvollziehbar; auch wenn es grausam war zu lesen, wie sie einfach über das Zerstören einer Stadt sprachen - und zu sehen, wie das Ganze dann außer Kontrolle geriet.
Wie es wohl dazu kam, dass sie alle damals verfolgt wurden? Denn in einer älteren Erinnerung sieht man ja, wie sie darüber nachdenken, ihre Kräfte zu gebrauchen, um den Menschen zu helfen. Ich frage mich, wie es am Ende anders kommen konnte hm.

Und Mark ist also wieder da. Hilfe. Der Einblick in das frühere Leben und auch das frühere Aussehen der anderen war ja sehr aufschlussreich und interessant, aber eine so große Veränderung? Ich hätte Mark nicht wiedererkannt, wenn Kait es nicht gesagt hätte. Krasse Sache.

Arkadys Fähigkeiten sind der Wahnsinn und auch dass Karl es tatsächlich geschafft hat, das Wetter zu kontrollieren; Wahnsinn. Das war schon ziemlich cool.

Und Himmel, ICH WUSSTE, DASS LUKE NICHT TOT IST!
Omg. Ich bin auch dafür, ihn am Leben zu lassen und war kurz echt erschrocken, als Jack ihn erschoss, weil er vorher so verloren ausgesehen hatte, im Regen. Hach. Auch wenn er ein super mieser Arsch ist. Aber irgendwie - hm. Auch die Sache mit Mark, der nicht so ganz übel ist, wie man sich ihn bisher vorgestellt hat. Gibt es denn echt keine Möglichkeit für alle, wieder friedlich zusammen zu leben und etwas für die Welt zu tun? Sie sehen doch, wie viel sie gemeinsam bewirken können. Hm :'(

Und das mit Jack und Sirkka war wohl das Traurigste. Die beiden sind ein echt eigenartiges Paar, aber ich liebe ihr Zusammenspiel einfach. Ihre Geschichte ist so dramatisch und es gibt keine wirkliche Chance für sie, zusammen zu leben - und trotzdem haben sie es irgendwie zumindest so halbwegs harmonisch geschafft. Aber nun soll es vorbei sein? Wah, bitte nicht! :'(

Das ist am Ende zwar weniger eine Rezension als eine Zusammenfassung von Gedanken, aber hach. Irgendwo muss ich sie ja teilen.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I just reviewed Freakangels 3 so if you want the broad strokes see that review. Rather than repeat myself about the pacing (Freakangels 4 covers the same day as Freakangels 3, going from afternoon to evening), I'll focus on the specifics of this book. The first half of the book is a flashback explaining how the world ended, what... the Freakangels did to cause it, all that back story. Necessary and it has it's good points, even some good artwork, but, again because of the pacing and the four-panel breakdown, it seems to go on forever, taking up half the book, or so it seems. It should be a quick aside - jump to the past, at the height of climax, dramadramadrama, DISASTER! - back to the story. Nope, long conversation, spoken exposition when it's obvious what's going on, and every thirty seconds asking myself, "Who's talking? Who are you? You all have different haircuts and are now completely indistinguishable from one another." This should be a pound the pages dramatic story, tons of stuff happens in this book. Death, zombies, a shootout. You'd never realise it from the sense of dissatisfaction that you've got to the end of ANOTHER book without progressing a single day. This is a universe without time apparently.

[KV Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is where I actually stopped reading FreakAngels weekly -- or rather, I stopped right before the cliffhanger at the end of book 3 because I had a few mad weeks where I couldn't get to it online, and that took the edge off. So I didn't pick it back up, deciding instead to wait for the TPBs now I'd kicked the habit.

Thank god I did, seeing the first bit of this TPB. For me, it was awesome to finally get the backstory bit. Loved it. If I'd been reading weekly, I would've probably punched something for them leaving it hanging that long (even though one can imagine who it is saying "Hello, Kait", still, wow.) Loved the other flashback even more, though. In a sappy, "Daaawwwww look how cute they were" way.

Particularly cool moments in this one for Alice and Jack with Luke and then the thing with Arkady and KK and, you know. All that. Good times. It's incredible how these little series of moments have built them all up. The plot, though it now seems to have some serious propulsion, is actually still moving quite slowly. And it's brilliant.

[Marco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourth volume in the FreakAngels series.
We get the first real look into the past of the "FreakAngels" as well as what their powers actually can do, both individually and as a group.

[Sevgi Temel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect connection. Best volume so far.

[Reenie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too much to say about this one - an awesome (if somewhat anticipated) ending to this part of the very ongoing story. Reading it all at once somewhat negates the frustration of going from a massive cliffhanger at the end of book 3 to what must have been nearly two months of flashbacks before the cliffhanger was attended to, and the backstory is definitely nice to have. In fact, the whole volume is full of nice moments, that just can't come quickly enough, dammit.

[Stephanie Krause · Rating 5 out of 5]

I obviously LOVE LOVE LOVE this series. Everything that's in print went on my Christmas list. Extremely glad that W.E. is planning to continue the free series at least through book 6... Now I'm just among the rest who have to wait for the weekly installments, since I'm all caught up now. Aww. Boo. Can't wait for more!

[Geoff Sebesta · Rating 4 out of 5]

surprised that it was willing to go back and fill in the moments leading to the apocalypse.

Finally getting used to the art. Each page is divided into quarters and the storytelling is real slow and clear. The artist can get some very subtle effects but man is there not a lot of story in each issue.

[Victoria · Rating 1 out of 5]

JUNE 2020, EDITED TO ADD: The author is a serial sexual harasser/assaulter. I've adjusted my rating accordingly and no longer recommend this series.

---

These just get better and better, with story arcs and character developments that I can't put down.

(a.k.a. Gahhhh! What happens next? What happens next?!?)

[Elh R' · Rating 5 out of 5]

... and, finally, all hell breaks loose !!!

Lot of things happening in this volume, we see a glimpse of what happens before the flooding, freakangels learn new skills, die and get reborn, and we see Mark at last.

Very chaotic volume in comparison of the "peacefully" volumes before.

Again 5/5

(God, I love this comic)

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half of this volume is a flashback to the big incident that caused the disaster that destroyed England. So it's good to have a little more detail on that. But there's still a lot of backstory left unexplored.

The second half is back in the present, moving the main story forward. Hard to say much else without giving anything away. But it's almost all action.

[Matt Piechocinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warren Ellis continues to impress with this series. As we look headlong into the debt crisis, I find myself thinking that, you know, maybe the Freakangels and the Authority have it right. I dunno ... it's good stuff.

[Derek Royal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series, and it's something I have been wanting to read for some time. This is a webcomics classic, and we discussed it on a recent episode of the podcast: http://comicsalternative.com/webcomic....