Urkonn seeks out Melaka because The Slayer is needed again.

This wildly contrasts with the Buffy Summers era, when there are thousands of Slayers – as per Buffy’s and Willow’s action at the end of the TV series - and the fact of Slayers’ existence is known by the populace. In Fray’s time, there are no Slayers – or more specifically, no Slayer knows they are a Slayer.

In Season 8, the Seed is destroyed, erasing magic from Earth, and leading us to suspect that might be a link to “Fray.” But then magic is restored to the world in Season 9, so apparently it’s not a link. For instance, there is no magic in Fray’s world. That’s a cool continuity touch, but “Fray” also raises deeper questions of how it all ties together. The first connection actually came in “Buffy” Season 7 (2002-03), when Buffy wields the same scythe that Melaka receives from her pseudo-Watcher, the demon Urkonn, in Issue 6 (March 2002). We wonder if we’ll encounter anything that links up. Taking place in the evocative futuristic/post-apocalyptic cityscape of Haddyn (presumably somewhere in what used to be the USA), “Fray” – gorgeously brought to life by Karl Moline (pencils), Andy Owens (inks) and Dave Stewart (colors) - stands as a goal line as we read the “Buffy” Season 8-and-beyond comics (which are still going today). Demons and vampires – called “lurks” – can be found in the slums, but no one knows their historical significance. Written by Joss Whedon when he had free moments while overseeing three TV shows, it’s the complete origin story of Melaka Fray, a Slayer called to duty in the 23 rd century, long after Slayers and magic have been forgotten by the populace. While most of the Dark Horse “Buffy” comics released during the show’s TV run are considered non- or quasi-canonical – and are rarely talked about by fans - a glowing exception is the eight-issue “Fray” (June 2001-July 2003).

Fray by Joss Whedon