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Buffyversefantic
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 Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=user_review&id=5263
| Quote: | Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #14
by Greg McElhatton, Reviewer
I'm sure I'm not the only person who raised an eyebrow at some of the early, pre-publication descriptions of "Billy the Vampire Slayer." Kicking off in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9," Jane Espenson, Drew Z. Greenberg (who co-plotted the story with Espenson), Karl Moline and Andy Owens have introduced the first male Slayer, a gay teenager named Billy in a small rural town. And based on that brief plot snippet, it's easy to be a little worried about the potential idea that being gay is somehow linked to being female. Happily, I'm here to tell you that this issue doesn't go down that road at all, and instead Espenson, Moline and company have turned out a comic to be proud of.
In "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9" #14, Espenson makes it pretty clear that this isn't a comic about Billy becoming a Slayer because of being gay. Or rather, he's not chosen by the powers that create Slayers. Instead this becomes a story about a kid who's been bullied that learns to stand up for himself even as the world around him crumbles, and uses his life experiences to become a self-made hero. Taken on its own, that's a good sort of story no matter what, and watching Billy turn from victim to victor is the sort of tale that you can get behind easily. It's a standard hero transformation from Espenson and Greenberg, and that works.
In the greater context of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," though, there's an extra punch to this story. With magic having been wiped out from the world at the end of the previous series, no new Slayers are being called and in fact the lack of magic is making prospects a little grim for defeating the supernatural creatures still in the world. That's why "Billy the Vampire Slayer" works so well; it's about someone who doesn't get any sort of extra magical kick still finding a way to rise up and become a hero in the context of this world. It's one of the things that worked about the character of Xander over the years, and it's nice to see that echoed in Billy.
Moline's return to the world of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is a welcome one, and his art is strong. No one else draws characters quite like him, with their lanky but energetic forms, and I've missed them. When we finally meet Devon, there's something about his smile that suddenly makes his nickname of "Cute Devon" click into place, for instance. Then you turn the page, and the horror inside Cubesmasher Video is so grim and nasty that it makes that previous glimpse of Devon and Billy all the more appealing. It's a nicely drawn book, and I'm glad that Moline is back.
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9" #14 could have been a disaster, but it makes the comic all the more appealing in how well it succeeds. This is easily my favorite issue of the new series to date, and it's turned the book into one where I'm eager to see what happens next. All in all, a good show by all parties involved.
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Buffyversefantic
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| Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 4:31 am Post subject: |
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Second advanced Spike # 3 review.
http://comicsgrinder.com/2012/10/17/spike-3-review/
| Quote: | October 17, 2012
SPIKE # 3 Review
There can be little doubt after this third issue of “Spike” that Morgan and Spike have a lot of potential chemistry. The sequence of panels that have the two sitting down for a chat is teased out long enough to leave even the most ardent Buffy true believer uncertain of what will happen between these two. And that is no spolier, I’m sure. That is what we’re expecting to find and it is done well.
Part 3 of “A Dark Place” begins with a marvelous flashback that will leave you disoriented at first. In fact, it would be a crime to spoil that for you. We quickly enough find ourselves back where we left off: Pearl and Nash have crashed the scene in search of shards left over from the big blowup of the Seed. There are none to be had but that doesn’t stop anyone from a nasy fight. It’s during this scuffle that Spike and Morgan make their escape. And all of this leads us to the fine predicament that Spike is now in: Morgan is aboard his ship and she is calling the shots. This does not sit well with the ship’s crew of bugs one bit.
Sebastian, the bug left to worry the most over Spike, is beside himself in trying to warn Spike about Morgan. Has he fully considered this and that? Well, Spike must admit, no, he hasn’t considered this or that or anything, really. Victor Gischler’s script has given us a Spike we can believe in and viable rival to Buffy. There’s quite a delicious shower scene that shows us how close to the edge Gischler is willing to go, along with the help of the art team of Paul Lee and Andy Owens. Spike had been prompted by Sebastian to check in on Morgan just as she is stepping out of the shower stall. She snaps, “Go ahead and look.” Spike is surprised. Then she adds, “Through my clothes, I mean.” Well, she had to say that, all of that. Our boy Spike is playing with fire and only Sebastian can try to talk some sense into him.
The one thing, of course, than can instantly kill a date is if it’s clear either party is not showing interest. While not really a date, Spike and Morgan are both attentive to each other during their long talk over drinks. It leaves Spike a bit bemused and off guard. If he was really listening to what Morgan was saying, he might not be leaving himself so open. But who catches all the flaws on the first date? Well, maybe it’s not exactly a first date but maybe as close as Spike can get to these days. It’s close enough that he simply can’t see his loyal guardsman, Sebastian, as he’s flailing his little arms in the air in futile agony to warn his master.
“Spike #3″ is avialable October 24. Visit our friends at Dark Horse Comics.
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Buffyversefantic
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=41718
| Quote: | NYCC: Dark Horse's "Once More With Feeling" Buffy Panel
Jane Espenson, Rebekah Isaacs and a surprise visit from Nicholas Brendon highlighted Dark Horse's panel celebrating 15 years of Joss Whedon's Buffy, discussing the comics, the television series and how it all remains relevant.
Alan Kistler, Guest Contributor
Dark Horse and Previews offered a special variant edition of "Willow" #1 during NYCC
Saturday morning at New York Comic Con, Dark Horse Comics hosted "Once More With Feeling," its panel dedicated to discussing future plans for the universe of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Panelists included Director of Public Relations Jeremy Atkins, Editor-in-Chief Scott Allie, comic/TV writer Jane Espenson, "Angel and Faith" artist Rebekah Isaacs and editor Sierra Hahn.
Allie first shared a cover by Steve Morris displaying a young Rupert Giles conjuring a demon alongside a young Ethan Rayne, a scene that calls back a story hinted at in the original Buffy TV series. A David Mack cover was shown from the Willow's self-titled miniseries, wherein the character goes on an adventure to rediscover magic and further her personal growth. Other covers displayed an upcoming meeting between Buffy and Illyria and a fight with the villains of Season 9. For new readers who want a jumping-on point, a sampler of the Buffy universe is coming out in January and will bring folks up to speed on what's happening in the different titles.
The panel then turned to Espenson and her new character Billy, a young man who has been adopted into the slayers. "We introduced Billy, who's a 16-year-old kid who's story is very much like that of girls we've seen in our show; going along, feeling like an outcast, feeling like there's something special in me that's nobody's seeing. And then, instead of having a moment of calling, [Billy] has more of a moment of necessity of stepping up and decides to self-identify as a slayer. The mythology doesn't allow for boy slayers, but this is what I want to be.
"When this was announced, there was a lot of positive reaction, but there were also some people going, 'But the whole point of Buffy is female empowerment,' and, 'The whole point is that this is a mythology that is just for us and a biology-driven calling that's just for us,'" Espenson continued. "And I get that, but I also know how many young men have come up to me and said what previously only young women had said to me, which is, 'Buffy got me through high school. I identified with Buffy.' There is a way in which Buffy was speaking to young, gay men that hasn't been addressed. That feeling of being an outcast and being bullied and having something in you that you wanted to express and having a secret. All that stuff spoke to a population that we weren't addressing with the population of our slayers.
"People have read the issue now and they're going like, 'Oh, I get him, I love him. I get his struggle.' There's no usurping going on. It's more of as every group goes through and gets acceptance, they should put their hand out and help the next group through."
"As far as the mythology goes, Billie wasn't chosen, Billy chose," Allie added. "Billy doesn't have super powers, Billy is just rising to this challenge because he felt he needed to."
Atkins asked what Espenson thought kept Buffy's adventures and TV series relevant, to which she answered, "When high school stops being Hell, I think this will stop being relevant. Maybe. But there's something so universal about it -- about the underdog stepping up."
"I didn't really discover the show until just recently," Isaacs admitted. "The things that always stick with me are the friendships. I think that's always the core of Buffy stories. People who value each other for just who they are underneath the years, the clothing and style, the social groups. I like -- especially in the beginning seasons -- all these people who just couldn't fit in anywhere else, and they all form this lasting bond."
Hahn, on the other hand, is a longtime fan of the characters and original television series, having come to it from the time it debuted. "I was in high school and struggling through all these relationships -- I still go back and watch all those shows over and over and over again. And even though I'm not in high school, the stories are still relevant to who I am now. And as I develop and grow as a person, the stories still resonate, no matter what age you are, and that really speaks to the writing and that world.
"I started watching Buffy when I was 17, I never imagined I would be in Joss Whedon's living room helping to contribute to stories and ideas with all these people," Hahn added. "'Surreal' is how I would describe it. And there was karaoke and lightsaber battles."
"Turns out Joss Whedon's living room is just as awesome as everyone thought it'd be," Atkins joked, prompting laughter from the audience.
As the panel opened up to audience questions, a fan caused the panel to burst into laughter by asking for their least favorite episodes. Espenson said that although "Band Candy" was her first episode to write, she now looks back and sees many "mistakes." Allie admitted "The Body" was a tough one to watch and Isaacs pointed to "Go Fish," wherein Xander was seen sporting a Speedo swimsuit. As if on cue, Nicholas Brendon entered the room, causing cheers and pockets of standing ovations from the audience.
A young fan at the microphone said, "I'm 14 and I loved the show when I was growing up." Brendon laughed, repeating, "When you were growing up?" The fan joined in laughter, then asked Jane and Nicholas, "What was your favorite show to act in and to write?"
"My favorite episode that I wrote might be 'Superstar,' with Jonathan," Espenson replied. "That show was just fun to write. It was fun any time you got to sit down at the keyboard."
After a moment's consideration, Brendon said his favorite was "Once More with Feeling." "But also, I really enjoyed playing Renfield, because it was so different. It was such a departure from Xander, and my favorite line with Xander was in that episode, which was, 'This will not please the Master.' But really, I'm so fortunate in that it's so hard to pick."
"People talk about, you take a job and you want two of three things to be good," Espenson added. "You want the money, the people or the product to be good. And if you get two of those three, you've found yourself a dream job. And on 'Buffy,' it was all three. These are people that I will treasure forever that I met through 'Buffy,' enough money that I was able to do things like spend it on 'Husbands' now, so I could do dream projects from my heart, and the product is the reason we're all here."
At one point, the panel asked the audience which characters they would like to return to the Buffy universe who has not been seen for a while. The biggest answer seemed to be Anya, who met her end during the TV show.
"People are more excited about ['Buffy the Vampire Slayer'] now than when we were actually doing it, Brendon said, noting how packed the room was with fans. "I maybe did one or two conventions when I was actually on the show. I think it's kind of one of those things that's just built momentum. We should really thank Jane for that, because without her words, I wouldn't be here right now. And Joss, too."
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Buffyversefantic
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Buffyversefantic
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Joined: 07 Mar 2007
Posts: 2869
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| Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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Third advanced Spike # 3 review.
http://www.comicbooktherapy.com/advance-review-spike-3-51285
| Quote: | ADVANCE REVIEW Spike #3
By MrComicBook on Oct 22, 2012
The Buffy-verse has been consistently great during season nine, and the first big spin off can be officially stamped a success. Spike #3 is the transition issue for the series, and undeniably strong.
Spike #3 is all about the history between Pearl, Nash, and Spike. It’s a quick shot, but it speaks a lot about Spike as a character. He’s a troubled guy who is still trying to seek redemption, one quip at a time. It’s nothing completely new for the character, but Victor Gischler writes it very well. The new female character, still unnamed, is a nice foil for Spike. I would like some deeper explanation for who she is, but we still have two issues to go. Speaking of back story, it’s nice to finally have some deeper back story for Pearl and Nash. They haven’t been in Angel & Faith that often, and could use it. The Buffy-verse lends itself to great villains, as long as they have some connection to the hero. This new connection will go along way to keeping them around for some time. I’m liking the way that Gischler has been writing less references to Buffy. The entire series is about Spike trying to be a good person away from Buffy. References to Buffy have been slowly decreasing to just a slight mention in conversation. But Gischler stays away from having the unnamed female character be the stereotypical “rebound girl.” Think Martha Jones in Doctor Who.
Spike is a difficult character to write for. He’s like Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean; if he’s the main character, the story can go awry. They need someone to react off of, and be the best supporting character. Now, these types of characters can support their own stories, but it needs to be the right type of story. One like this series, where the main character is going along for the ride, and not out to do something himself. This then gives him the ability to react off of the situation instead of other characters. The Bugs have been good for some levity, but they don’t become the slapstick punching bags from Spike.
Paul Lee’s pencils continue to shine. They have a simple quality to them, but that’s all you need in a talking head book. There is minimal action, and there in lies the only mark against the book. The action is stiff, and the lack of backgrounds makes it a little hard to discern where everyone is in the room. * it’s a small gripe, and one that shouldn’t keep you from buying this book. Facial expressions are full, with the bumpy faces of Spike and Drusilla benefitting the most. Sometimes it’s hard for a penciler The Buffy family of books have had a lot of luck recently with nabbing great artists.
Spike is a great series for Buffyverse fans, which continues to be one of the strongest franchises in comics.
Spike #3 gets 4/5.
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ETA
Fourth advanced Spike # 3 review.
http://www.threeifbyspace.net/2012/10/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-spike-3-sneak-review/
| Quote: | Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Spike #3 – Sneak Review
Posted on 22 October 2012 by Nicci
** The following review while careful not to reveal any actual spoilers from this issue, it does tease the reader with hints as well as spoilers from issues past. Please feel free to purchase this issue on Wednesday **
Beautifully arted issue. For starters that Jenny Frison cover is freaking gorgeous and unequivocally sexy. Then once inside all of the characters are fantastically done, emotion and beauty brought to life flawlessly, I was very impressed. All around a very attractive, very sexy issue.
There’s actually not much to say about this issue sneak wise as it’s primarily action packed setup. I will say that I really enjoyed how Spike was written this issue. His character felt very complete and I think I’ve enjoyed the flow of it more than the first two issues for this reason. I get the feeling this means very good things for issue four.
As for our new mystery lady and her stated intentions, I like her. Not certain the writing staff really plan to ship her and Spike, but the potential setup is there. Not sure how I feel on this as to me relationships should start on trust and we’ve all just met her, but as separate characters I’m enjoying them. -N
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Buffyversefantic
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Joined: 07 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 5:37 am Post subject: |
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New Jane Espenson interview.
http://www.geekingoutabout.com/2012/10/22/graphically-speaking-an-interview-with-jane-espenson/
| Quote: | Graphically Speaking: An Interview with Jane Espenson
At this year’s New York Comic Con, I was lucky enough to interview prolific television writer Jane Espenson. Jane has had a long career having written on shows such as “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Dinosaurs,” “Game of Thrones,” and “Battlestar Galactica” and that’s still just a drop in the bucket. She is widely recognized as a soldier in the Joss Whedon Army of Scribes (my term, TM suckers), having written on all of his shows since “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” She currently writes for ABC’s “Once Upon A Time” and co-created the original web series “Husbands” with Brad Bell. Jane was gracious with her time and I managed to get through a conversation with her without getting nerd vomit all over myself. But man was it close. Slight SPOILERS ahead.
Me: You wrote an episode of “Game of Thrones” last year. Can you tell us about the process of adapting George R.R. Martin’s voice for the screen?
Jane Espenson: Well, I was a hired gun. David [Benioff] and D.B. [Weiss, the showrunners] brought me in and said “Lucky you, you get to write the one with the golden crown! Your chunk of the book goes from this page to that page.” They had broken it down into the scenes they had wanted in the episode, which I had to adapt to fit TV. It meant making it shorter, more concise and driven toward a single theme, pulling the very best from the page. It was really a joy.
So…Billy the Vampire Slayer!
[Enthusastic] Yeah! [Laughs]
That sounded cool. The slayers get their own Batman, in that he doesn’t have powers, but he’s still part of the team. My immediate thought was of Xander.
Well it’s out now, so you can buy a copy and see. The fact is, Xander could have called himself a slayer, but he doesn’t think of himself as a slayer. He doesn’t identify as a slayer. Here [Billy] is a boy that says “I choose. I wasn’t Chosen, but I choose. I like Buffy and I want to be a slayer.” I don’t think Xander wanted that. Also, vampires have changed. In season 9, we have what are called “zompires,” which are not as sneaky and plan-y. They’re a different breed. So Billy has a strong watcher named “Cute Devon,” and they have the tools to get the job done.
When will we see more of Billy?
Issue 15 is the second issue of the Billy arc. Drew Greenberg [another current Buffy writer] wrote the story together. I wrote issue 14 and he wrote issue 15. Whether or not Billy sticks around after that, I wouldn’t be surprised.
Well, it IS the Joss Whedon universe. Who knows what could happen?
That’s right. Anyone can die.
Where did the term “flobotinum” come from?
It was a word that was used in “Buffy” before I got there. It meant the “magical, mystical thing” for that given episode. But I have a feeling that predates it. I thought it came from “flogiston,” the term from early physics, which turned out to be disproven. But I guess that’s wrong. Who knows?
You’ve been writing in the Joss Whedon universe for over a decade. How do you still motivate yourself to keep telling these stories?
Because the characters keep changing. That’s one of the wonderful things Joss does and one of the great things about the [Buffy] comic book universe. We can take the characters forward through time, so now Dawn and Xander are involved and very committed. There are new emotional journeys for the characters to go on. You never run out of story, similar to “Once Upon a Time,” where the circumstances of the characters change, forcing the characters into new emotional places. Always story.
Speaking of “Once Upon A Time,” my girlfriend’s family watches it and they say “bring back the Huntsman.”
Of course they do. The Huntsman was lovely and beautiful [Laughs].
Can I ask you a ridiculous question?
Sure.
In Battlestar Galactica, Starbuck says “I’m not afraid of dying. I’m afraid of being forgotten.” In the present, we have a Starbucks on every corner. Please tell me I’m reading too much into that.
Wow…there was no conscious attempt to connect Starbuck to the ubiquity of Starbucks. But that name will not be soon forgotten, so I guess she’s alright.
Thanks. That was unbelievably nerdy of me.
[Laughs]
To this day, we mourn “Firefly.” Joss Whedon even said he still has stories to tell in that universe. Do you?
I wrote a short story that had to do with Kaylee and Wash [“What Holds Us Down”] trapped on a disabled ship, which Kaylee has to fix with no help while they’re being hunted. I absolutely loved it. I wrote it to be internal, so it wouldn’t be a great episode, but it made a great short story. But something like that where Kaylee has to do something awesome and mechanical under terrible timed pressure and isolation. I like that a lot.
Anything new coming out with your web series, “Husbands?”
Not only is “Husbands” a series, but we’re also doing a digital comic book. It starts October 24th. People can find out about it on the Dark Horse site or at the Love Husbands site.
I was wrong. Nerd vomit was everywhere. But hey, it was awesome. For the premiere of the “Husbands” digital comic book, check out the Dark Horse website (www.darkhorse.com) or the Love Husbands website (www.lovehusbands.com) this Wednesday October 24th. For more of Billy, check out Buffy the Vampire Slayer #15 on November 14th from the good folks at Dark Horse Comics. Follow Jane on Twitter @JaneEspenson and “Husbands” @TeamHusbands.
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Buffyversefantic
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Joined: 07 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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Fifth advanced review for Spike # 3.
http://fanboynation.com/spike-a-dark-place-3-review/
| Quote: | Spike:A Dark Place # 3 Review
by Emily Dorsett
Contributing Writer
Trouble for Spike continues when on a quest to forget about his love, Buffy, he falls prey to a woman of questionable intentions. In issue 3 of “Spike: the Dark Side of the Moon,” readers get to see how Spike reacts going down memory lane when he finds himself back on what’s left of Sunnydale. This may come as a shock, but he doesn’t handle it well.
Like the Buffy comics, the creators have a seamless way of blending past with present. Opening in Rome 1953, we come across a post sex, naked and satisfied woman who is about to be, guess what, killed. Ever attempting to be the villain, Spike continues to be the accidental hero. We taken from past to the present with unified drawings of a vamped Spike to modern day casual Spike.
Morgan is introduced into the Buffy mythos as a possible love interest for Spike. Labeled as a succubus (like it’s a bad thing), Morgan befriends Spike in order to acquire any remaining magical shards with plans to open a Hellmouth and return home. In true Joss Whedon form, the strong temptress explains that succubae or, “courtesan demons,” are more than sexual “gratifiers.”
Spike’s sadistic and dark comedic style translates well from the television series to the comic. The graphic novel does put too much emphasis on his edgy British slang, which comes off as forced. As a Spike fan, I like anything he stars in, though, for this series, I am more curious to see where the story goes.
Best Line of Spike Issue 3: “Hellmouths aren’t on every corner like Starbucks, you know?”
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Buffyversefantic
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| Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2012 2:12 am Post subject: |
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Brief summary of Spike # 3 from Maggie.
http://www.buffyforums.net/forums/showthread.php?t=19016&page=4
| Quote: | Overall reaction:
It's not bad. It's not awesome. We start with the flashback in the preview pages. Obligatory fight with Nash and Pearl. Spike and Morgan and the bugs escape. Bugs are worried that she'll be bad for Spike. Morgan and Spike talk and she tries to sell herself as a courtesan-demon. Spike might be going for that a bit. Sebastian and Frisky are monitoring the situation and Sebastian walks off saying "steps will be taken"
Spike's monologues are all about who he is now compared to who he was when he met Pearl. He's not that villain anymore. Not a standard-issue hero, either. No man's land. He discusses this with Morgan also. Seems to think it wasn't all bad being the baddest badass of all. She says she'd call it growth (his transformation). He likes this, and it softens him up to her -- provoking the previously mentioned reaction of Sebastian.
Plot news: Buffy realized the shards would attract bad customers and commissioned Spike to go back and collect them. He shot them into the sun. (That puts paid to old arguments premised on Spike not having seen Buffy between #40 and #1. He'd been her errand boy all along. But no matter, that argument has been moot for a long time anyway).
Random comments:
1. A species in which the female eats the male after mating makes a certain kind of sense. A species in which the male eats the female after mating makes no sense -- unless she's laid eggs already, which is not the case here.
2. Good drawing of Drusilla.
3. I think it's a pretty good capture of evil Spike.
4. I still can't get enough of the bugs. "Even now, master Spike is likely hatching some brilliant plan."
5. The Spike ruminations seem awkwardly set in. And a bit too by-the-numbers. Spike is in no-man's land. VG told us that in a lot of ways in #1. He doesn't need to spell it out here.
6. "Nobody's idea of a hero." Does Spike really think that at this point? Fred told him he was and I think he'd owned it in AtS 5.
7. A bit of nice writing: "I was feeling a little nostalgic for the old territory, but now that we've seen it, I guess we'll be on our way." About the hellmouth, but also about his old ways. OK -- not that subtle, but double-meanings! Good!
8. Nash: "I just never get tired of punching this guy". Have they met since the scene at the start? Nash doesn't punch him in that scene.
9. Somebody will have to explain to me what Spike does to get out of the hellmouth.
10. Not thrilled about Allie's comments or Zianna's seemingly confirming 's.
11. Also not thrilled about his closing statement: "I think Spike fans like a vampire with teeth, so to speak..." What's that supposed to mean?
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It seems that Scott Allie teases/jokes in the letter column about Spike losing his soul.From Zianna.
| Quote: | There was a letter talking about how much different Angel is with or without a soul, and wondering what would happen to Spike if he ever loses his soul and if he'll become a villain again and change as much as Angel does when he doesn't have his soul. And then directly asking whether we're going to see a soulless Spike in S9.
Allie replied..."what really is the nature of the soul, and good and evil, in the Buffy world? Will we strip him of his soul this season...?" |
Would they really repeat a version of the same story that was just told recently so directly in the Brian Lynch Spike miniseries? |
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Buffyversefantic
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| Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2012 11:18 am Post subject: |
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http://fandomania.com/spike-3-comic-review/
| Quote: | Spike #3 Comic Review
Posted by Kimberly Lynn Workman
Issue: Spike #3
Release Date: October 2012
Writer: Victor Gischler
Pencils: Paul Lee
Inks: Andy Owens
Colors: Cris Peter
Letters: Richard Starkings and COMICRAFT’S Jimmy Betancourt
Cover A: Jenny Frison
Cover B: Steve Morris
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Spike’s trying to make his way on his own, but with tag-along passengers and bug minions, it’s hard to do. Unfortunately, the wait to see how it all works out is prolonged another month, considering this issue felt more like a bridge than anything. We got to touch on a bit of the backstory between Pearl, Nash, and Spike, though not enough. We also got to see Spike being lured under Morgan’s spell and his bug minions being concerned. The plot’s advancing, just not as quickly as usual.
We began with a flashback to Rome in 1953, where an 18-year-old Pearl was sent by her mother to get pregnant. I’m not quite sure why this was her mission, but Pearl committed to the task. Sadly, she should have learned to pick better partners, considering the current one turned out to be a Black Widower demon. Upon attack, she calls for her brother Nash, who is there immediately… almost like he was waiting right outside the door, listening in. That was a mental image I didn’t really need. But while two against one didn’t help them in their fight, a certain vampire did. The demon owed Spike some money from a card game and he came to collect on the debt by cutting off the demon’s head. Pearl was grateful, Spike was indifferent, and we were still left wondering what she did to reward him.
As the three meet up again, Pearl is more hardened, Spike is more caring, and Nash is the same guy he’s always been. Well, two out of three isn’t bad. And what once might have been a truce between them isn’t going to be that way any longer. Spike manages to not only distract the siblings long enough to get Morgan and his bug minions out, but also take down a wall to trap Pearl and Nash inside while Spike makes his escape. Something tells me that’s not the last we’ll hear from them, but for the rest of the issue Spike, Morgan, and the minions were safe in orbit aboard his ship. Well, seemingly safe.
Morgan is starting to show a bit of her true colors. She wants to go to the nearest Hellmouth, a request that Spike grants her, but Sebastian and the other bug minions aren’t so sure they should be trusting her outright. She is a Succubus, after all. The pleas go unheeded by Spike until Seb brings up the good point about the remnants of the Seed. Morgan may well have a piece and be planning to use it to open the Hellmouth. When Spike goes to investigate this theory, Morgan welcomes him with open arms and decides it’s time they get their secrets out in the open. Between the two of them, though, openness isn’t going to happen. We know Spike’s backstory, even if Morgan doesn’t, and we learn that she is a Courtesan demon who was the confidante of ancient rulers. Watching the conversation between her and Spike, it’s easy to understand why she was so successful. Will Spike be lured in and put in danger? Or will his bug minions save the day again? Check back next month and we may get an answer.
Rating: 4 / 5 Stars
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ETA
My thoughts on Spike # 3.
I enjoyed the issue.I thought it was along the same lines as last issue.I liked the flashback to Spike meeting Pear and Nash and Dru's cameo.It seems sort of fitting since next week's Angel & Faith # 15 is going feature more flashbacks with Pearl & Nash.So this feels like the two issues complement each other in that respect.
The present day stuff was also interesting in regards to Spike,Pearl & Nash.It makes me wonder if Spike is aware of how they worked for Twilight/Angel.I wonder if this will come out and setup Spike's appearance in Angel & Faith after the miniseries.
I still like the bugs.
The Spike and Morgan stuff was interesting.I like the chemistry(and I'm not talking romantic.Character chemistry) but need to see more.She does seem a seductress(which the bugs are on to).I think they are both feeling each other out with Spike starting to fall under her spell as it were by the end of it(again as the bugs worry).
This issue felt exposition heavy but IMO handled without it being dull or slow. |
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Buffyversefantic
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Joined: 07 Mar 2007
Posts: 2869
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| Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 7:36 am Post subject: |
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Preview pages for Buffy S9 #15.
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=14085
| Quote: | EXCL PREVIEW: Billy's Origin Concludes in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer S9" #19
The origin of Billy the vampire slayer concludes on November 14, and CBR has an exclusive preview of the final chapter by Drew Z. Greenberg, Jane Espenson and Karl Moline!
Training has begun, bringing the newest Slayer and Watcher closer together. Will they be ready when they're needed most? The rapidly growing zompire population has overcome a local institution, and our heroes in training must take on the fight of their lives!
Buffy show writers Jane Espenson (Once Upon a Time) and Drew Z. Greenberg (Warehouse 13) reunite in this special two-part story about a young duo coming together to fight the forces of evil and discover their role in this strange, new ’verse.
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Buffyversefantic
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Joined: 07 Mar 2007
Posts: 2869
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| Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2012 6:49 am Post subject: |
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First advanced Willow # 1 review.
http://www.comicbookbin.com/Willow_001.html
| Quote: | Willow #1 Review
By Zak Edwards
Nov 3, 2012
To me, Willow represents two things I find most interesting in Buffy Season 9: the approach to publishing (mini-series running co-currently with a regular series) and this whole ‘no magic’ thing that happened at the end of the last season. Oh, and it has Willow, who is arguably the most memorable character on the show, even over our titular hero. So now that she has her own mini-series, we can see the impact of no magic from both Willow’s perspective and an entirely different one: the world she’s trapped in.
While it was a bit eye-rolling to connect magic with a sort of spark of life idea, that the contemporary Buffy world is the way it is because they’ve lost their magic, I can get behind it for maybe some implications that can speak as metaphor. You know, that thing Buffy always does so well. Writer Jeff Parker is quick to lay down his themes but also quick to get to the character everyone’s here to read and, more than anything, it makes me miss Alyson Hannigan wonderful acting more than anything else. Willow lacks her emotion and her cute factor even while Parker nails her character and dialogue. The script blends action with plot, needlessly so, to the point that the cliffhanger end could be seen from a mile away, and really only able to be met with eye rolling. So while the story isn’t consistently amazing, there’s enough to keep me entertained and interested, like the memories Willow recollects that were wonderfully nostalgic. So the book, like almost all Buffy comics, isn’t blowing anyone’s mind, but it’s certainly interesting enough.
At this point it's obvious the editors of Season 9 have settled on a house style for these books to maintain a certain level of artistic continuity, it's really too bad the style they chose isn't strong at all. The colours are too vibrant and jarring, the expressions either completely lacking or strange looking; this and the other books are just not something I actually enjoy visually. The action sequences are cramped and the characters are cartoonish in a way that isn’t redeeming or really playing off the recognized Alice in Wonderland motifs to any great effect. Overall, I just dislike the art of all these books, even if the story itself is quite good. If the exterior work, the two incredible covers this book has by David Mack and Megan Lara, could ever match the inside, these books would be so much stronger.
Grade: 6.5/10 Good. Inconsistent in art and story, but good.
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Buffyversefantic
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Joined: 07 Mar 2007
Posts: 2869
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| Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 9:21 am Post subject: |
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The Solicitations and covers for Buffy Season 9 February 2013 books.
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=42016
| Quote: | EXCLUSIVE: Dark Horse's February Buffyverse Solicits
Dark Horse Comics has provided CBR with an advance look at February's Buffyverse releases, including the latest from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine," "Angel and Faith" and more.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: WILLOW—WONDERLAND #4 (of 5)
Christos Gage (W), Jeff Parker (W), Brian Ching (P), Jason Gorder (I), Michelle Madsen (C), David Mack (Cover), and Megan Lara (Variant cover)
On sale Feb 6
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Miniseries
Willow struggles to keep her cool when she discovers that her traveling partner—Marrack—isn't who she thought he was. With magic at her full disposal, she can easily convince him to spill any and all secrets (right?) while they continue their journey to get home with magic in tow . . .
• Follows the events of Buffy Season 8!
• Christos Gage joins Jeff Parker!
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 9 #18
Andrew Chambliss (W), Georges Jeanty (P/Variant cover), Dexter Vines (I), Michelle Madsen (C), and Phil Noto (Cover)
On sale Feb 13
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Ongoing
The remnants of magic left on earth are in danger . . . The Siphon is back, and he's more charged than ever before as he takes out one magical being after another, absorbing their power. Pulled into this battle to save the world—again—Buffy is partnered with Koh and Illyria to put a stop Severin.
• Illyria partners with Buffy!
ANGEL & FAITH #19
Christos Gage (W), Rebekah Isaacs (A/Variant cover), Dan Jackson (C), and Steve Morris (Cover)
On sale Feb 27
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Ongoing
Angel, Faith, and the remaining Slayers prep themselves to overtake a group of living zombies—without losing any more lives. The demon Eyghon holds the last remnants of Giles's soul, but a gaggle of innocent zombies are blocking Angel's path to victory. Good thing an old friend was recruited to help with the fight . . .
“Christos Gage and Rebekah Isaacs are taking a slightly strange odd couple of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer universe and making it compelling and inviting reading. This is how a media-tie-in comic series should be handled. Good show, Gage and Isaacs. —Comic Book Resources
ANGEL & FAITH VOLUME 3: FAMILY REUNION TP
Christos Gage (W), Rebekah Isaacs (A), David Lapham (A), Lee Garbett (P), Derek Fridolfs (I), Dan Jackson (C), and Steve Morris (Cover)
On sale Apr 17
FC, 136 pages
$17.99
TP, 7" x 10"
Angel’s quest to resurrect Giles has brought an old friend to London—Willow! Tensions run high as these two confront the loss of Giles, but before blood can be shed, Willow has a proposition. She’ll help Angel on his quest if he’ll help her find magic. To do that, she’ll need Connor to get them into Quor’toth, a hell dimension where magic runs deep. Collects issues #11–#15.
• Ties into the events in Buffy Season 9!
• Christos Gage takes Willow to other worlds!
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In the Angel & Faith # 19 solicitaiton.Wonder if that old friend is Spike. |
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Buffyversefantic
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Joined: 07 Mar 2007
Posts: 2869
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| Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 6:08 am Post subject: |
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http://buffyfest.blogspot.ro/2012/11/buffyfest-chills-out-with-jane-espenson.html
| Quote: | Monday, November 5, 2012
Buffyfest Chills Out with Jane Espenson
New York Comic Con is now but a memory but we still have a few treasures from NYC's wackiest weekend of the year. For instance, we had the enormous pleasure of sitting comfortably amidst all the chaos in a cozy VIP room with writer extraordinaire Jane Espenson. We talk everything from her career, her critically acclaimed web series (and upcoming comic book) Husbands, ABC's Once Upon a Time and of course all things Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Thanks so much, Jane!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umM81N_XMwE&feature=player_embedded# |
The Buffy related stuff.
1)Janes Espenson thinks.hopes Billy sticks around post the current arc.
2)Devon is a scholar of the slayer scene and likes Billy.
3)Writing lines for Joss to act is weirder than writing Buffy again 15 years later.
ETA
Jeff Parker interview about the Willow miniseries.
http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3202078/interview-jeff-parker-talks-willow-wonderland/
| Quote: | Interview: Jeff Parker Talks ‘Willow – Wonderland’
Posted by Lonmonster on November 06, 2012
Dark Horse Comics continues to deliver more Buffy goodness with a new Willow mini-series that’s sure to please Willow and Whedon fans alike. Written by Jeff Parker (“Thunderbolts” and “Agents of Atlas”), the story of Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Willow – Wonderland, takes our favourite witch on a quest to restore magic to the Buffyverse after the destruction of the Seed at the end of “Season Eight”, and following the events unfolding in Christos Gage’s “Angel & Faith.”
The anticipation surrounding “Willow – Wonderland” has been building for weeks, and the series is finally hitting shelves November 7th. Even though Parker is incredibly busy with the launch of “Red She-Hulk”, his new series for Marvel Now, he’s taken the time to chat with BD about Willow’s trying adventures in a magic-less world, his experience collaborating with penciller Brian Ching (“Skaar: King of the Savage Land”), and his incorporation of some familiar faces that will be figuring into the five-part mini-series.
BD: The idea of working with established and pre-existing characters is not that uncommon in the comic book industry. Did you feel secure enough, given your experience in the industry, to step into the Buffy universe with Willow – Wonderland, or did you have reservations?
Parker: I felt pretty good about it- I watched the show for years and felt like I got the character. I’ve written a few hundred licensed comics, it’s not something I’m going to be insecure about. I like writing women leads, too.
BD: Realm-hopping is nearly impossible now thanks to the destruction of the Seed, but somehow Willow finds a loophole. What can you tell us about her journey in Wonderland? What kinds of challenges will she face?
Parker: Willow runs into many dark and ugly things that exist in undercurrents of the ‘normal’ world, things you might intuit but have a physical presence here. And the landscape itself is a character.
BD: I’m under the impression that Whedon doesn’t deal directly with the writers on the comics he produces. Were there discussions detailing where he wanted the mini-series to go, or were you given full creative control over the main storyline?
Parker: The editors have an overall shape to the Buffyverse development taking into account what’s going on with Buffy, Angel, and so on. So they described that for me and I came back with specifics about Willow’s part of the greater story. Not all of my stuff got through, but most of my favorite bits did.
BD: You are working on this series with Brian Ching. How has the collaboration been?
Parker: He’s brilliant and easy to work with. He has a big imagination, so this is a natural fit for him. His very organic drawing really fits the land Willow adventures through. And, he’s great at monsters which you’d imagine came in very handy.
BD: David Mack’s cover art is mesmerising and oozes spirituality. Joss doesn’t tend to do much with the transcendent aspect of spirituality himself. Do you dabble in the former in terms of an overall theme for the series?
Parker: Sort of- I tried to get into some expanded consciousness on Willow’s part, learning some universal truths from her experience. Mack’s paintings hit that tone quite well!
BD: There’s so much to explore with Willow as a witch in a magic-less world. How far will she go to restore magic, and will we have to worry about the re-emergence of Dark Willow?
Parker: You DO have to worry about that, and she certainly does. We examine Dark Willow from some other angles and get a new perspective on her.
BD: You’ve mentioned that some familiar faces will be making brief appearances, and revealed that the “snake-demon-woman Aluwyn” will be figuring into the series. What kind of relationship can we expect between her and Willow?
Parker: A very indulgent relationship. In fact, Willow may forget exactly what she journeyed out here for when she finds Aluwyn and the Supercoven.
BD: Do you have any upcoming projects or appearances we should be on the lookout for?
Parker: I hope you’ll check out the other woman with a book I’m writing, Red She-Hulk. It’s very much a power fantasy with an espionage backdrop- big escapism.
Interview by – ShadowJayd
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Buffyversefantic
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Joined: 07 Mar 2007
Posts: 2869
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| Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 11:23 am Post subject: |
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Buffyfest Scott Allie video interview about Willow miniseries.
http://buffyfest.blogspot.com/2012/11/exclusive-interview-scott-allie-talks.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Buffyfest+%28Buffyfest%29
| Quote: | Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Exclusive Interview: Scott Allie Talks 'Willow' at NYCC 2012
Willow: Wonderland, the 5-part mini series by Dark Horse Comics comes out today. There is a bit of time travel involved here, as we discussed all things Willow with Scott Allie a few weeks ago at New York Comic Con. That seems like a lifetime ago now! Prior to Hurricane Sandy, Daylight Savings and the Election...but we called one thing right, it's definitely freezing in New York right now.
It was still seasonable then, so take a walk back in time with us and check out part 2 of our interview with Chief Allie below, with bonus suprise guest appearance by Angel & Faith artist Rebekah Isaacs around the 10:00 mark!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifAXS-uGkxg&feature=player_embedded
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I watched the interview.Here's bulletpoints.
1)Hell dimensions in the Buffyverse are any dimensions that have magic in them.So where Willow is in issue 1 is a hell dimension but not as bad as Quor'toth but is still pretty hellish.
2)They worked hard for things to link up and Brian Ching who had already begun drawing the mini and gave Rebekah Isaacs for the Angel & Faith arc.
3)Marrak is a warlock/witch into darker stuff.He's power hungry and knows our world has been cut off from power.He's motivated personally to get back to earth with power and be all powerful because nobody could oppose him because he's the one guy with magic.Of course we know some other people and objects are retain their magical powers on earth but Merrak is teaming with Willow for a way back to earth because he thinks he'll be Billy bad ass.Marrak is not someone we've met before
3)The vignette in the beginning with the two colors in the rainbow was done for people not reading the other season 9 books to get the gist of the world without magic and why Willow is doing what she's doing.The world is aware of what's going on due to the outing of vampires in season 8.The average population doesn't know in detail what happened buy they know due to the outing of vampires they know about magic and they know there was some sinister stuff that happened at the end of season 8.Willow is really bummed about the loss of magic and reading it into coke not tasting as good but everybody can see a two colored rainbow.
4)The loss of magic is going to become a more serious situation as things move on.
5)They aren't making any big statements about our real world.Scott says this is the first time he's saying this.People have been complaining season 9 is just a throwback to season 6(Oh Buffy's has to get a job,her job sucks.she's not inspiring etc) and Scott says that they're right.They are retreading those themes but they are coming at them from a slightly different point of view.When they started talking about season 9 even before the writers conference,the question was,what stage of Buffy's life are we talking about here and what's worth saying about it.Without spelling it out,what they are leaning towards is,You might of been big man on campus in high school,you might come out of school thinking you're hot shite but using his own life as an example,he came out of school and couldn't do anything.He couldn't get a job because the world just didn't care.Buffy was the slayer,she was the Chosen One.She led a army.She was on top of the world in some ways.And it all turned to crap and she's now serving coffee.For some people that is sort of the experience of going from the insulated world of high school and collage out into the big uncaring world of work.That is what these characters are going through in the aftermath of the dissolution of the slayer army.The slayer army was the climax of the whole Chosen One thing.Willow did that spell activating all the slayers and that was the payoff for many of the things they were deep in through out high school and collage.And now that it's behind them,it's all kind of a load of crap.What they're left with isn't all the romantic and great.
6)Scott talks a bit about the comic industry as a whole.
7)Rebekah Isaacs walks by and Scott Allie and the Buffyfest crew wave her into the interview.Scott Allie takes over the interview to ask Rebekah some questions.Rebekah had no idea this was about to happen.Innocently walking by.lol Scott says they want him to ask her a question so his question is,Where the hell are those pages?Rebekah:Oh um.Scott:No No,you're totally on deadline.She's killing it.She's doing a great job.We figured out how to get around too many fill in artists which annoys readers.Rebekah:I work as fast as Scott tells me.Scoot says that Angel & Faith # 15 is the last issue that will have a fill in artist.Rebekah is drawing all the rest of the series for the rest of the season.Issues 16 -25.Rebekah can''t believe she's this far into season 9 because it's gone by so quickly.She's 75% in and it feels like she just started yesterday.It's been very enjoyable working on it.
8)Rebekah leaves and they begin talking about the variant cover artist for Willow,Megan Lara.The very first cover she did was actually the issue 2 cover.What's now the issue 2 cover is now the issue 1 cover.
9)Willow doesn't have a really great plan to bring magic back.She just knows the only way to do this is to go where there is still magic and figure it out from there.
10)Willow is going to change a lot when her arc is over.One of the things Scott is most excited about with the Willow arc and the Spike arc is that,and they didn't know this was going to happen when they started the Willow arc but with both the Spike and Willow arcs,they want to take these characters and move them a inch forward.Character development in this sort of story doesn't come by huge leaps and bounds and revelations/epiphanies but you move forard a inch at a time.These five issue miniseries serve to take Willow and Spike forward.We've been accused of regresssing the characters and yeah,the characters have regressed.We didn't do it on purpose completly but we saw how it was happening and it felt like a truthful thing.It wasn't like Joss said you got to makle Spike act like,he has to get less mature.In the five isuse arcs they have,both characters will evolve a bit and will come back into the main flow of the world a little bit better prepared to deal with it.
11)After her miniseries,Willow might pop up somewhere else before retuning to the Buffy book.Scott adds.I said nothing.Just she might and you guys are like SPOILER!!!!She's going to show up in another book- Hellboy,Scott adds,how can I pass that opportunity up(I'm sure that's a joke.lol).
I just picked up my copy of Willow:Wonderland # 1 but haven't had a chance to read it yet.Was working on viewing this interview and getting down the bullet points first.Will read and post my thoughts on the issue later. |
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Double Dutchess
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Joined: 28 Apr 2009
Posts: 1122
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| Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 1:54 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for summarizing that video interview, Buffyversefantic. I haven't had time to watch it yet, but it sounds like I need to see at least the bit where Rebekah innocently walks by only to get harassed by Scott!
Do you mind if I repost your summary elsewhere (BuffyTube)? |
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