Buffy season 10 no 3

[shapinglight]

Read the issue and have to say that, after the first two, which I enjoyed quite a bit (the first time I could ever say that for these comics since the very first issue of season 8), I ended up feeling...

Vaguely spoilery



...ki-inda disappointed. And I'm not even sure why, as I wasn't expecting very much to begin with. Okay, it's fun - most of you have seen the preview pages with the rather hilarious Xander/Dawn/Dracula scene, right? Well, the rest of the issue is pretty much in the same vein (heh! that's a joke) - but somehow or other it doesn't do it for me.

Maybe I'm just not in the mood or something.

Not really sure still why it didn't work for me. It's like most of Gage's stuff - reasonably coherently plotted, if rather wordy. It also doesn't have the aggravation of the Angel!Whitewash stuff from A&F in season 9. But I still don't really like it.

I think maybe in the end the comedy is just too broad. I dunno. I just know that NB contributing hasn't improved things. On the other hand, I can't say that the reason why I don't like it is down to him.

:Shrug: Anyway, it's just a comic.

Nothing of any interest on the letters page, unless you count a letter from someone in Singapore, who says how much Spuffy means to her and consequently how upsetting she found seasons 8&9. Season 10 no 1 is much better.

This is true. Doesn't mean anything, though, especially as this person seems to think they have now become a 'normal couple.'

ETA: Rebekah Isaacs continues to not be able to draw Spike. There's only one panel where he looks even half way decent.

ETA2: I felt the same way as this person from Singapore after reading no 1. I didn't think Spike had been permanently friendzoned.

Now, I do. Plus, some of his dialogue is really off in this issue - way too 'Cor blimey, guv, strike a light' faux Cockerney.

Comments

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I've yet to see any hint of any sort of Spike story. He's just a friend-cessory.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

To be somewhat fair, it's probably a consequence of having way too many characters, an idiot plot and only 24 pages. The less he talks, it's probably better for him. I was kinda glad when Xander knocked Giles out.

[shapinglight]

The less he talks, it's probably better for him.

I agree.

[shapinglight]

True, though I expect he'll get something at some point. Whether it'll be any more worthwhile than what he got in season 9 (that yawnworthy mini series) remains to be seen.

[kikimay]

Is there any chance that you have the link to download it? I can't seem able to find this issue.

[kikimay]

Thank you very much!

[kikimay]

Sorry, how can I open the file rar?

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

Change .cbr to .rar and unrar it. It'll unzip to a folder of pages.

[kikimay]

I did it! Thanks again.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

I think I know what you mean after having read it. For the comics, it's not a bad issue, I guess. If you wanna ignore not a whole lot of it makes sense (like why would they trust Dracula at all, especially after having been duped just a few days ago?, etc).

Main problem, I think, with this one is it beats a dead horse. The Black Widow joke? Kinda, sorta, maybe comical if it's just the one panel. The extra panel about the pirate stuff just made it lame. Dawn/Xander will never be "hot". Sorry, Joss. Same with all the Dracula stuff. It's page after page of the same joke. Then there's everyone's favorite nonstoryline, Buffy/Dowling.

Blah.

[shapinglight]

(like why would they trust Dracula at all, especially after having been duped just a few days ago?, etc).

It is hard to understand, though I suppose he didn't betray them in season 8 when their interests coincided so it's not entirely unreasonable to think he'd do the same this time. And maybe he wouldn't have betrayed them if it weren't for the Vampyr book.

The Black Widow joke? Kinda, sorta, maybe comical if it's just the one panel. The extra panel about the pirate stuff just made it lame.

I agree it went on way too long. It reminded me slightly of Gage's horrible writing in that last scene of A&F :spit: 20, though of course it could have been NB who wrote that bit of dialogue.

Same with all the Dracula stuff. It's page after page of the same joke.

Yeah, it is pretty repetitive. The first scene really is funny, but that's because it's the first. After that, the law of diminishing returns begins to set in.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

Possible, but they don't mention that. I'd have bought it if not for Giles going on about him being soulless, the same argument they used for why it was dumb to trust Vicki.

[shapinglight]

Yeah, that actually came across as weird to me, if only because no one has actually said that to Dracula before. I'd assumed that the whole ridiculous set up of Xander being Dracula's enthralled manservant after Anya's death, and Buffy letting it happen, sort of gave Drac a get out clause with the soulless thing being mentioned.

Wouldn't surprise me if Drac is gone for good at the end of this arc. It's like Mini!Giles said, "He's a vampire, remember?"

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

the whole ridiculous set up of Xander being Dracula's enthralled manservant after Anya's death, and Buffy letting it happen,

Yeah, which just makes her sending him to get Drac AND insisting on taking Dawn with him even more dumb.

Which is the other half of the problem with S10 (and S8/S9+A/F), the setups are so flimsy nothing feels earned. They're done as a joke and yet they want the after-angst to be taken seriously.

[shapinglight]

Hello. Left this comment unanswered for ages. Sorry.

Er...and now I don't know if I have anything to add anyway.

:Waves just for the sake of it:

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I looked at the preview pages on the DH website and - Dawn explaining in detail that she wasn't really "there there" for the events of BvD? *gasp* How did I miss that newsflash?

Honestly is there anything they're not willing to rehash? And Dawn/Xander - I agree with infinitewhale. Please no.

[shapinglight]

I quite like Xander and Dawn as a couple actually. Doesn't mean I want to hear about their sex life, though.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

Exactly. I can sort of turn my eye away from it, but they keep trying to throw that they have sex in our faces, which is kinda...weird, tbh.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I liked Xander and Dawn as a pairing in Eurydice's Spuffy story "A Stone's throw from yesterday". She made it plausible and even charming in part because the post-series characterization was nigh-on perfect. Dawn was sensitive, caring, whip-smart and not about to tolerate Xander's self-pity or let him wallow in it. So it felt like a pairing of two young adults.

The comics just - well, whatever potential charm there might be in the pairing is pretty well trashed. In part because Dawn looks like a 14 year old in the comics - the regression of characters is a huge pet peeve for me - and that makes it all the more squicky. And I don't want to reply S2 nasty immature Xander. So, big no for me.

[shapinglight]

Jeanty drew everyone looking like a 14 year old, unfortunately - except for Spike, who looked like a little old man.

Rebekah Isaacs is better, but she can't draw Spike either.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

His Buffy made me want to claw my eyes out half the time.

[kikimay]

A "mh-mh" issue. I didn't even really read it because I couldn't care less about Xander and Dracula. (Mostly Xander. Dracula is a bit funny) And OMG please stop with the Xander/Dawn romance! DO NOT WANT!

I hope they find a way to employ Spike in this because otherwise it will be really boring (But I think they are. Look at Spike's red eyes. Is he trasforming too?)

The Willow/Buffy scene was kinda pretty. I loved Willow putting flowers on Buffy's hair. Still we aren't really there with Buffy's fashion but the hair finally looks really cute and Buffyish.

[shapinglight]

And OMG please stop with the Xander/Dawn romance! DO NOT WANT!

Whereas I quite like it and want it to continue.

I hope they do something with Spike soon too. I appreciate him being so much part of the ensemble, but every part has to have its moment in the spotlight that advances their particular storyline. He has to have his too.

Still we aren't really there with Buffy's fashion but the hair finally looks really cute and Buffyish.

The Willow/Buffy scene was the best in the issue. Rebekah Isaacs draws them both really well. In fact, she draws everyone well, except Spike.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Still we aren't really there with Buffy's fashion but the hair finally looks really cute and Buffyish.

I was looking at the Isaacs covers on DH's website and wondered what the HELL is she putting Buffy in? the thigh-high but low-heeled boots with fuffy tops plus skirt that barely covers her ass PLUS opaque tights PLUS hoodies? I CAN'T EVEN

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

The Willow/Buffy scene was kinda pretty.

Yeah. Might have been the best scene in the issue even if it was screaming "What could possibly go wrong".

[kikimay]

Yeah. Might have been the best scene in the issue even if it was screaming "What could possibly go wrong".

LOL. Something horrible is going to happen XD

I was looking at the Isaacs covers on DH's website and wondered what the HELL is she putting Buffy in? the thigh-high but low-heeled boots with fuffy tops plus skirt that barely covers her ass PLUS opaque tights PLUS hoodies? I CAN'T EVEN

I liked Buffy's style in the Faith plus Buffy cover, where she wears something floreal that reminded me her S5 style, but yeah, so far she didn't really get her style. I hope she works on that, because Faith instead is very stylish.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

LOL. Something horrible is going to happen XD

Like more of Gage's Girls Say One Thing But Mean Other Things, Aren't They Silly? crap. :P

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I hope she works on that, because Faith instead is very stylish.

It's like pieces of Buffy have been stolen away from Buffy herself and given to other people. Which could work on a meta level either for the good: the positive influence that Buffy has on others, the inspiration she provides to everyone to up their game; or bad, in terms of Buffy's identify being eroded. And both ideas could work because both aspects are explicitly in tv show canon. (You can't get more explicit than Who Are You.)

But in this case I honestly don't think it's a meta reading; it's just that the writers don't care very much about Buffy as a character, whatever they may claim.They seem to be working off comics canon primarily and that characterization of Buffy (including fashion sense or lack thereof) and tv canon only secondarily.

At least Steve Morris' cover for 10.6 has a very pretty portrait of Buffy; he took care with the likeness, including a draped tank top a top she might have worn on the show and the multiple ear piercings. http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/24-757/Buffy-the-Vampire-Slayer-Season-10-6-Steve-Morris-cover

The problem isn't the covers, though, it's what's inside that counts.

[kikimay]

Yeah, the characterization of Buffy wasn't the strong point of the comics (I'm gentle here) but I hope that eventually Isaacs finds a way to portray her better. I kinda trust her more than I trusted Jeanty and she can do pretty panels. I'm waiting. (As always)

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

But in this case I honestly don't think it's a meta reading; it's just that the writers don't care very much about Buffy as a character, whatever they may claim.

Arguably that is the meta, maybe. One prevalent theme in Joss's work is that after birth, the mother is useless. Buffy's "gift" after more or less giving birth to Dawn was death. S6, Buffy struggles to find a reason to live until the revelation that she should continue for Dawn (not herself or anything). That theme is done again in a heavy-handed way in S8.

Even leaving the comics out of it, Darla/Conner, Cordy/Jasmine, Fred/Illyria.

Buffy did her job in S7. Now she and her characterization are disposable.