a lot of the reasons are quite simply inherent in the fact that they’re telling different sort of stories and an unfortunate choice of artist for s8. I think I can agree with you there, apart from the minor difference that I thought 'The Long Way Home' was better. :) Comparing the two, it's rather like my view on BtVS versus AtS; I really enjoy Angel when I'm watching it: it has some classic moments (and some extremely funny ones) and can still be serious and dark; but when I turn off the DVD player I don't really think more about it. It's Buffy I get passionate (and scarily obsessive) about. With the comics, 'Asylum' seems to affect me in much the same way Angel episodes do.
That said, I agree that the fact that it concentrates on one single character and a straightforward plot throughout does make it much easier to follow. That's a strength; but then again the more discursive and ensemble approach of 'TLWH' means that, in my opinion, it'll have more staying power. I can see myself re-reading 'TLWH', and referencing it in meta, far more than I will 'Asylum'. Probably. :)
The fact that I like Spike as a character, rather than being "a Spike fan", is just maybe possibly an influence on my opinions as well. :)
Incidentally, are you planning to look at the earlier Spike comics? The TPB 'Spike' collects together three unrelated comics set in Angel season 5 - 'Old Times', 'Old Wounds' and 'Lost & Found'' while the TPB 'Spike vs Dracula' is a single story like 'Asylum', but with each chapter set in a different time period. To be frank, I didn't think they were as good as 'Asylum' which does have a gripping and well-written story, but I didn't hate them.
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I think I can agree with you there, apart from the minor difference that I thought 'The Long Way Home' was better. :) Comparing the two, it's rather like my view on BtVS versus AtS; I really enjoy Angel when I'm watching it: it has some classic moments (and some extremely funny ones) and can still be serious and dark; but when I turn off the DVD player I don't really think more about it. It's Buffy I get passionate (and scarily obsessive) about. With the comics, 'Asylum' seems to affect me in much the same way Angel episodes do.
That said, I agree that the fact that it concentrates on one single character and a straightforward plot throughout does make it much easier to follow. That's a strength; but then again the more discursive and ensemble approach of 'TLWH' means that, in my opinion, it'll have more staying power. I can see myself re-reading 'TLWH', and referencing it in meta, far more than I will 'Asylum'. Probably. :)
The fact that I like Spike as a character, rather than being "a Spike fan", is just maybe possibly an influence on my opinions as well. :)
Incidentally, are you planning to look at the earlier Spike comics? The TPB 'Spike' collects together three unrelated comics set in Angel season 5 - 'Old Times', 'Old Wounds' and 'Lost & Found'' while the TPB 'Spike vs Dracula' is a single story like 'Asylum', but with each chapter set in a different time period. To be frank, I didn't think they were as good as 'Asylum' which does have a gripping and well-written story, but I didn't hate them.