Episode 3154
Melaka Fray
Tue, 2025-Dec-23 00:46 UTC
Length - 3:03
Direct Link
Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.
The featured article for Tuesday, 23 December 2025, is Melaka Fray.
Melaka Fray is a fictional character in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics published by Dark Horse Comics. She debuts in the first issue of Fray (2001), a limited series in a shared universe with the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Living in the 23rd century, Melaka is a professional thief who learns that she is a Slayer destined to fight supernatural foes. She has a Slayer's physical powers, while her twin brother Harth inherited their prophetic dreams. Melaka discovers that Harth, whom she believed was dead, has become a vampire intent on bringing demons back to Earth's dimension. After stopping his plan, she remains a thief, but chooses to protect others as well. In Tales of the Slayers, she connects with her heritage by reading journals about past Slayers. Melaka reappears in the canonical comic book continuation of the television series, meeting the 21st century Slayer Buffy Summers in Season Eight and helping her defeat Harth in Season Twelve.
Melaka was developed by Buffy's creator Joss Whedon and artist Karl Moline. Whedon originally planned to write a comic about a different Slayer, Faith, but instead opted for a new character in a futuristic setting to avoid interfering with Faith's potential storylines. Fray was Whedon's first time writing a comic, although Dark Horse Comics had previously published Buffy comics without his involvement. His only request was that Melaka should not be drawn in the sexualized manner common with female characters in superhero comics. Although Melaka is initially characterized as tough, she is also shown as caring and protective of others. Her relationships with Harth and her older sister Erin are key parts of Fray.
Critics have had mixed reactions to Melaka in Fray. Some have praised her as a good protagonist, while others have criticized her relationships with other characters and capabilities as a strong female character. Moline's art has been the subject of critical discussion, as despite Whedon's intentions, some reviewers believed that the comic sexually objectifies Melaka. Academics have analyzed Melaka's character arc in Fray as an example of the hero's journey, with her last name also being examined based on its potential meanings. A fan film with Melaka was released in 2017.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:46 UTC on Tuesday, 23 December 2025.
For the full current version of the article, see Melaka Fray on Wikipedia.
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