IPTAT: Vampire With A Soul
Spin-Off Superstars - Part One
I’m putting together a team… multiple teams, in fact. Welcome to the special announcement of the next fearsome foursome that will enter the tournament of fantasy fictional smackdowns.
Fictional heroes, villains, and everyone in between have formed unlikely alliances to answer a common calling: which group of kindred characters is the mightiest of them all? United by a shared theme, troops of four fabulous fictional characters will figuratively compete in a tournament of television, movie, and literature’s finest where only one foursome can be crowned kings and queens of popular entertainment. Join in on the roll call to learn more about these similar characters and delve into their individual histories. It's time to assemble the analogous all-stars and find out who is the best, one team at a time.
The Sequel Soldiers advanced over the Sinister Supers and will fall back to do a little recon on their potential future opponents.
Before the figurative fracas begins, we will first get to know the second set of competitors.
3: Spin-Off Superstars
Characters who outgrew their original shows and flourished in their own series
Angel (Angel)
Saul Goodman (Better Call Saul)
Frasier (Frasier)
White Canary/Sara Lance (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow)
The roll call continues as we are ready to meet the next team in this tournament of all-star characters. The following foursome share a unique link—-they each originated as supporting characters that grew to be so popular that they spun-off into their own series. These breakout fan-favorites possess individual qualities that deserve their own spotlight, but can they band together when it’s time to put it all on the line—-especially when they don’t know how or where they’re even competing yet? It’s time to set off on a new path and greet these stellar standouts.
Spin-Off Superstars, assemble!
1. Angel
First appearance: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997), in his own series: Angel (1999)
Popular entertainment of 1999:
Fight Club - film starring Edward Norton and Brad Pitt
The Sopranos - television series starring James Gandolfini
The Perks of Being A Wallflower - novel written by Stephen Chbosky
David Boreanaz brought his signature brooding style as the vampire with a soul Angel, the primary love interest of Buffy Summers (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar) in the pilot episode of Buffy in 1997. His popularity rose and it wasn’t long before he struck out on his own, leading his own titular series. Expanding the Buffyverse was no small task, but Angel and his supporting cast carried the show for five seasons and the lore lives on in comic books and other forms of media.
Angel’s origins trace back to Ireland in 1727 when he was born, given the name Liam. In 1753, he was sired by the vampire Darla and Liam became known as Angelus. Over the decades, Angelus and Darla wreaked havoc throughout Europe, rampaging as a deadly bloodsucking duo. Angelus’ horde grew as they took on an English girl named Drusilla, who Angelus took particular joy in torturing her into madness before turning her into a fellow creature of the night. They would later take on an ill-fated British poet named William who would later take the name Spike. The pack thrived on feeding off the innocent and corrupting the pure. Angelus’ reign as a sadistic demon would come to a crashing halt when he scorned the wrong family.
Angelus crossed paths with the Kalderash, a Romani clan, and their confrontation resulted in him killing one of their kin. The clan elder cursed Angelus with a soul so that he’d suffer the burden of experiencing the guilt of all of his past atrocities. Now going under the name Angel, he hid himself away, leaving Spike, Darla, and Drusilla. The weight of the horrible memories of his misdeeds wasn’t the end of the curse—-if Angel experienced a true moment of happiness, he’d lose his soul, reverting back to his wicked ways.
Angel survived living in squalor, drinking blood from rats and wherever he could find blood that didn’t come from attacking an innocent. Angel received aid from a half-demon named Whistler who eventually led him to Sunnydale where he first saw the once-in-a-generation Slayer, Buffy. Angel’s mysterious presence created distrust among Buffy and her peers, but his assistance with their battles against the forces of darkness gradually developed into a romantic relationship between Buffy and Angel. Angel experienced true bliss and Angelus was once again unleashed.
Angel’s time in Sunnydale saw an onslaught of nefarious monsters, terrifying beasts, and other dangerous creatures, but he and the other Sunnydale heroes emerged triumphant. Angel realized his fate was not with Buffy and that he was needed in Los Angeles where he could better help the helpless. During his time in L.A., Angel was joined by familiar faces from Sunnydale, met - and lost - new allies, welcomed a complicated relationship with his son, Connor, and fought off Armageddon once or twice. Just another day at the office for this soul-endowed vampire.
With his vampiric abilities and legal experience from taking over an evil law firm, Angel has proven he can lead his own way into danger.
The eight-team bracket will determine who is the most gifted (and potentially ruthless) squad of them all. The Spin-Off Superstars are entering the arena at their individual peaks, but the scenarios have not been announced yet. Their opponents in this fantasy face-off? The team of Immortals - eternal characters who have a hard time dying.
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