Angel and Faith Season 10 No 2
May. 7th, 2014 05:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shapinglightHave just read this, so thought I would do a review.
It was okay.
The end.
Well, no, not really. I have a bit more to say, and parts of it were better than okay, principally the Faith stuff.
Spoilers behind cut.
The issue cuts between Faith and Angel again, like no 1, with their stories having bugger all to do with each other. Faith has joined Kennedy's Deepscan security organisation, while Angel, still in London, has taken it upon himself to try and bring order to the Magic Town area of the city (which appears to be somewhere slightly east of the middle, if the cityscape featuring St Paul's, the Canary Wharf Tower and the Gherkin are anything to go by, but it probably isn't anything to go by).
The Faith story begins with Faith's parting withHarry Potter Mini!Giles, who can obviously see that he's hurt Faith's feelings by choosing Buffy over her, and manages to hurt them even more before they part, when he explains that his reason for choosing as he did is that Faith knows how to be alone, because she has a strength in her,"something basic at your core," whereas Buffy doesn't have that yet.
This is all bollocking nonsense, of course, about both characters (and why should Mini!Giles be so keen for Buffy to learn to be alone anyway?), as I've no doubt many will point out, but maybe it's meant to be bollocking nonsense? And if it's not - if we're meant to see Mini!Giles as a truth-teller - probably taking a deep breath and repeating, "It's only a comic, it's only a comic," a few times would be a good idea.
I've done it since the very first issue of Buffy Season 8, with varying degrees of success, but actually haven't had to do it nearly as much since season 10 started.
Yet.
Anyway, bollocking nonsense or not, it's clear that Faith is pretty upset by what Mini!Giles says, though she doesn't let on about that to him, and later in the comic, having been overwhelmed by paperwork from the HR department of Deepscan, takes out her feelings on the rifle range (or whatever it is people call that place where you go and shoot big guns at targets). Boy, the people jjonesing for Buffy and the slayers to start packing heat will love this scene to pieces.
Back in London, Angel has a rather surreal encounter with Nadira, the angry Slayer from Angel and Faith Season 9, who wanted (quite understandably, I thought) to kill him for what he did when he was Twilight. She got zapped with the magic glow-y light ball that created Magic Town at the end of season 9 and now has a face that's half lava-lamp (seriously, that's what the glow-y side of her face looks like (the art, btw, is very nice, Will Conrad draws a great Faith and he makes Nadira very beautiful)).
The lava lamp look also appears to have affected Nadira's brain, since she's gone all New Age-y, says she's evolved and she's glad to see Angel. She's also gathered a sort of cult of damaged Magic Town folks around her, who look to her for protection and guidance, in a creepy re-hash of the Drusilla plot line of season 9 -so much of a re-hash, in fact, that Angel actually remarks on it. Anyway, Angel may think he's the law in Magic Town, but Nadira clearly thinks she is. Instead of getting on board Angel's quest to bring down Corky the evil pixie (just go with it), she orders him to find someone called the Glass Blower, after which everything will fall into place. Then she kicks him out.
Naturally, Angel doesn't do what she says, but goes to shake down the barman (or should that be the bar lion?) at a pub where all the Magic Town low life hang out about where he can find Corky. Needless to say, the info he's given leads him into a trap, and Angel ends up in a big fight in the sewers with Corky and his enforcer. He wins that, then bumps into Peter Grant from the Rivers of London series. Well, actually it's a bloke called Inspector Brandt. Magic Town used to be his patch, but he can't let it go and leave it to run itself even though he's been ordered to. He offers to run interference for Angel.
I hope he doesn't die.
Faith, meanwhile, is sent on her first Deepscan gig, which is to protect some sleazy pop star called Billy Rage. After the show, the father of one of the groupies charges in looking to shoot Rage (no one would have cared, honestly). Faith is all set to eject him, until he starts shouting that his daughter is only seventeen. That changes everything, including Rage, who turns into a huge red demon parrot (that's what it looks like) and roars at them. Faith is pleased.
"Okay, now it's Slayer time."
Erm, and now I don't really have anything else to say. It was okay, like I said. Not sure I like the changes in Nadira. She was my favourite character by a mile in season 9, and they may have just ruined her.
That, needless to say, is par for the course with these comics.
I still don't get why this is not two separate comics, one called Angel and one called Faith, but one good thing about the two characters being split up like this is that at least Faith's story isn't subordinate to Angel's this time.
The letters page contains one letter from someone who says they were so disillusioned by season 9 they don't think they're going to read further. They pick up on pretty much everything that was bad about season 9 - that Xander and Dawn got shelved, that Buffy's story just went round in circles, also that Spike's arc was so bloody terrible. They say (and I agree): Spike's whole arc has been the worst of all because of his motivation that he can't possibly be "his own man" while having feelings for Buffy and working with her. The sexist implication there, that a superhero can't have a supportive sidekick who harbors romantic feelings for her, is singular to this situation of female superhero and male romantic interest, and is something I'd never have expected to see in a comic featuring someone like Buffy!
Yeah, well said.
It was okay.
The end.
Well, no, not really. I have a bit more to say, and parts of it were better than okay, principally the Faith stuff.
Spoilers behind cut.
The issue cuts between Faith and Angel again, like no 1, with their stories having bugger all to do with each other. Faith has joined Kennedy's Deepscan security organisation, while Angel, still in London, has taken it upon himself to try and bring order to the Magic Town area of the city (which appears to be somewhere slightly east of the middle, if the cityscape featuring St Paul's, the Canary Wharf Tower and the Gherkin are anything to go by, but it probably isn't anything to go by).
The Faith story begins with Faith's parting with
This is all bollocking nonsense, of course, about both characters (and why should Mini!Giles be so keen for Buffy to learn to be alone anyway?), as I've no doubt many will point out, but maybe it's meant to be bollocking nonsense? And if it's not - if we're meant to see Mini!Giles as a truth-teller - probably taking a deep breath and repeating, "It's only a comic, it's only a comic," a few times would be a good idea.
I've done it since the very first issue of Buffy Season 8, with varying degrees of success, but actually haven't had to do it nearly as much since season 10 started.
Yet.
Anyway, bollocking nonsense or not, it's clear that Faith is pretty upset by what Mini!Giles says, though she doesn't let on about that to him, and later in the comic, having been overwhelmed by paperwork from the HR department of Deepscan, takes out her feelings on the rifle range (or whatever it is people call that place where you go and shoot big guns at targets). Boy, the people jjonesing for Buffy and the slayers to start packing heat will love this scene to pieces.
Back in London, Angel has a rather surreal encounter with Nadira, the angry Slayer from Angel and Faith Season 9, who wanted (quite understandably, I thought) to kill him for what he did when he was Twilight. She got zapped with the magic glow-y light ball that created Magic Town at the end of season 9 and now has a face that's half lava-lamp (seriously, that's what the glow-y side of her face looks like (the art, btw, is very nice, Will Conrad draws a great Faith and he makes Nadira very beautiful)).
The lava lamp look also appears to have affected Nadira's brain, since she's gone all New Age-y, says she's evolved and she's glad to see Angel. She's also gathered a sort of cult of damaged Magic Town folks around her, who look to her for protection and guidance, in a creepy re-hash of the Drusilla plot line of season 9 -so much of a re-hash, in fact, that Angel actually remarks on it. Anyway, Angel may think he's the law in Magic Town, but Nadira clearly thinks she is. Instead of getting on board Angel's quest to bring down Corky the evil pixie (just go with it), she orders him to find someone called the Glass Blower, after which everything will fall into place. Then she kicks him out.
Naturally, Angel doesn't do what she says, but goes to shake down the barman (or should that be the bar lion?) at a pub where all the Magic Town low life hang out about where he can find Corky. Needless to say, the info he's given leads him into a trap, and Angel ends up in a big fight in the sewers with Corky and his enforcer. He wins that, then bumps into Peter Grant from the Rivers of London series. Well, actually it's a bloke called Inspector Brandt. Magic Town used to be his patch, but he can't let it go and leave it to run itself even though he's been ordered to. He offers to run interference for Angel.
I hope he doesn't die.
Faith, meanwhile, is sent on her first Deepscan gig, which is to protect some sleazy pop star called Billy Rage. After the show, the father of one of the groupies charges in looking to shoot Rage (no one would have cared, honestly). Faith is all set to eject him, until he starts shouting that his daughter is only seventeen. That changes everything, including Rage, who turns into a huge red demon parrot (that's what it looks like) and roars at them. Faith is pleased.
"Okay, now it's Slayer time."
Erm, and now I don't really have anything else to say. It was okay, like I said. Not sure I like the changes in Nadira. She was my favourite character by a mile in season 9, and they may have just ruined her.
That, needless to say, is par for the course with these comics.
I still don't get why this is not two separate comics, one called Angel and one called Faith, but one good thing about the two characters being split up like this is that at least Faith's story isn't subordinate to Angel's this time.
The letters page contains one letter from someone who says they were so disillusioned by season 9 they don't think they're going to read further. They pick up on pretty much everything that was bad about season 9 - that Xander and Dawn got shelved, that Buffy's story just went round in circles, also that Spike's arc was so bloody terrible. They say (and I agree): Spike's whole arc has been the worst of all because of his motivation that he can't possibly be "his own man" while having feelings for Buffy and working with her. The sexist implication there, that a superhero can't have a supportive sidekick who harbors romantic feelings for her, is singular to this situation of female superhero and male romantic interest, and is something I'd never have expected to see in a comic featuring someone like Buffy!
Yeah, well said.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 05:17 pm (UTC)Other than the art, kinda meh. I guess at least the characters continue to move of their own accord.
I'd say Nadira is probably just playing Angel, but who knows. And 100% yes. Buffy doesn't know how to be alone? Please. That whole line is so ridiculous it doesn't even warrant tearing apart.
The Faith storyline is telegraphing a demon/human double standard, I'm supposing. Faith with take out the parrot guy and Kennedy will yell at her.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 05:28 pm (UTC)Yes, its entire purpose is just to make Faith feel bad. As a consequence, it doesn't really matter if it's true (it isn't), or not.
You're probably right about Faith, Kennedy and Parrot Guy. It's a repeat of what happened when Buffy joined Deepscan. Not really sure why they're doing it, to be honest, unless it's just to show that Faith and Buffy aren't nearly as different as everyone inside the story (because the readership already knows it) appears to think.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 05:48 pm (UTC)unless it's just to show that Faith and Buffy aren't nearly as different as everyone inside the story
I doubt it. Same reason the Nadira storyline is eerily reminiscent of the Dru arc. They just have nothing new to say. They just twist a few knobs and retell the same story as S9, which was pretty similar to S8.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 06:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 06:59 pm (UTC)Oh, I dunno. Just saw the preview pages for Nick's first issue. Looking to get schlocky real quick. 3 pages of nothing but bad jokes. Kevin Smith-style writing.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 07:20 pm (UTC)The Xander/Dracula stuff was the best thing about season 8.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 08:17 pm (UTC)Yeah, they were amusing. At the same time I can see it getting old quick. I wonder if he's writing the whole issues or just the Xander stuff.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 08:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 05:38 pm (UTC)I'm sorry. I love him. But Giles is a douche. He was a douche when he abandoned suicidal Season 6 Buffy. He's a douche in the way that he treats Faith. He was a stupid douche in 8 when he didn't bother to TELL Buffy about the Twilight prophecy. (He's a douche in the way he treats Spike vs. the way he treats Angel as well... but that's a whole other conversation).
Basically, Giles has his good points, but as a faux-father... he's a bit of a douche.
that a superhero can't have a supportive sidekick who harbors romantic feelings for her, is singular to this situation of female superhero and male romantic interest, and is something I'd never have expected to see in a comic featuring someone like Buffy!
Sing it! (Not that the people at Dark Horse well ever, ever, ever grasp what this person is talking about).
no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 05:46 pm (UTC)Basically, Giles has his good points, but as a faux-father... he's a bit of a douche.
Ugh. Thank you. I keep seeing everywhere (well, on tumblr) that he was a great surrogate father figure. No, he sucked at it. And that's actually a part of what makes him interesting because he didn't ask to be anyone's surrogate father.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 06:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 06:58 pm (UTC)This is true. He wanted to be Buffy's rakish uncle, not her dad.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 07:02 pm (UTC)One of the most interesting things about him for me is the implication that he might subconsciously resent her. But maybe that's reading too much into Restless.
Always thought it made Angel 1000x more interesting that he might have held losing his soul against Buffy. That was how I interpreted the goldfish dream from Soul Purpose. Not that AtS is canon or anything.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 07:18 pm (UTC)I'm sure he resented her at times. Ironically, that makes him more of a surrogate parent than less. A purely clinical Watcher wouldn't feel the resentment because it's just a job.
Not that AtS is canon or anything.
Silly you, thinking that it is (well, maybe bits of season 1).
no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 08:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 08:27 pm (UTC)Yep, though also the Faith stuff towards the end of the season.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 08:22 pm (UTC)*snerk*
Hell, at this point where the comics are concerned, I wonder whether the show is canon! They have a way of forgetting anything post Season 3 (and probably before it too).
no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 08:36 pm (UTC)They pick and choose. Take this and this...maybe some of this. Xander likes Buffy...yes, we'll keep that. Buffy doesn't reciprocate...nix that. Buffy loves Xander. Always did!
Honestly, though, I truly think they're basing these things on the DH tie-in comics more than the show itself. Hence answers like "Spike was evil in all the comics I edited" and Gage's comment about Dracula owing Spike money.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 06:58 pm (UTC)Yeah, he loves Buffy and the others a lot, but he's not that great at the father thing. Maybe it's his Watcher training creeping in?
He can't tell Buffy about Twilight because he may have to kill her etc, etc.
Sing it! (Not that the people at Dark Horse well ever, ever, ever grasp what this person is talking about).
No. Needless to say, there's no answer to this letter.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 07:00 pm (UTC)But wasn't he plotting to kill her?
no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 07:16 pm (UTC)So that's okay.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 08:20 pm (UTC)Probably never really happened anyway. It unhappened off panel somewhere.
Angel and that detective will suddenly be dating in issue 10.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 08:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 08:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-05-08 07:06 am (UTC)Not that such are that unusual in Joss's work, it's just that, in the show, he could get away with it, due to good acting, great dialogue, etc, etc.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 06:07 pm (UTC)I honestly thought that nothing could make me interested in them after Buffy season 8 left me scarred for life, but guess you are doing the trick. And you don’t even write it in a complimentary way...
no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 06:59 pm (UTC)Glad you enjoyed the review. :)
no subject
Date: 2014-05-07 10:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-05-08 07:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-05-08 02:51 pm (UTC)Thank goodness you do these reviews so I don't have to read more stupid comics. Not that I have anything against comics in general, but I think Season 8 vaccinated me or something.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-08 03:44 pm (UTC)Season 10 is shaping up better so far, but I'm sure it'll piss me off at some point.