Buffy season 10 no 11

[shapinglight]

First of all, I owe two people apologies.

More behind cut with spoilers.



One is infinitewhale, to whom I said that a panel by filler artist Megan Levens of Spike holding a bunch of kittens was just part of her portfolio to get the job. I don't know why I thought it was, but I did. Anyway, it isn't. There is a real, actual panel of Spike holding a bunch of kittens.

The other person I have to apologise to (if only for being a miserable old cynic) is kikimay, because when she said she'd seen a panel of Spike and Buffy kissing (I think, I'm not sure, it was on the artist's Tumblr? Correct me if I'm wrong) I said I didn't believe it, and even if it was true, I said it would turn out to be Buffy's dream, or something she sees when she goes through Spike's memories and comes to season 6. kikimay actually agreed with me (does this make her a miserable young cynic?). I then said I didn't think Spike and Buffy would ever kiss again outside someone's dream etc, that Joss had probably said absolutely no way, and that if it did ever happen I would eat my hat.

Fortunate for me, I guess, that I don't actually have a hat. Because, yes, the last panel in the comic is of Buffy kissing Spike. She grabs hold of his coat collar, reels him in and kisses him.

Mind you, it could still turn out at the end of the arc that everyone wakes up and it was all a dream, but I don't think so.

Also, I suspect that the first panel in the next issue will be Spike pulling away from Buffy and asking her if she's gone mad.

Oh, anyway, the above probably makes it seem like I enjoyed the issue, when in fact it's again only so-so. Also, I really don't like the art. I don't dislike it as much as some people do. It's a bit cartoony but it still beats Jeanty. It's not great, though, and not pretty. I'm afraid I really only like pretty comic book art.

The book is devided into six sections: first comes the Buffy speed dating pages, which are the only really funny ones. Then there're a couple of pages of Xander and Dawn going on a date, which doesn't work out too well. Dawn says she feels uncomfortable because Xander is trying too hard. This wasn't how they fell in love before.

Cut to Willow meeting Aluwyn at some Wiccan party, where Aluwyn comes on a little strong, Willow protests that they're supposed to be discussing strategy and co-ordinating with the multidimensional super-coven, Aluwyn says there's nothing else to discuss. Willow is doing a great job re-writing the rules of magic, but is there something wrong? Aluwyn says things have changed between them. Willow doesn't need a guide any more. They're equals now, which Aluwyn likes. She thought Willow would too. Willow says things are going too fast for her and walks out.

Cut to Olivia arriving at Giles's apartment, being confronted by Mini!Giles, being angry that it's some trick, then realising it really is Giles, then being totally grossed out (and me along with her) when Mini!Giles tries to kiss her. Giles assures her that his mind and memories are those of the mature man she knew. Olivia protests that his body is twelve. Mini!Giles says she's never been one to follow convention. "I hoped-", "What? That I'm a paedophile?" Olivia says. Mini!Giles then contradicts his earlier statement about still being a mature man by getting all stompy and demanding to know if Olivia ever cared about him at all. Olivia says that he's being overly dramatic and very unfair. They've always led their own lives and she isn't his wife. Etc, etc. You can read it for yourselves (if you want to subject yourself to it). Anyway, the upshot is, Mini!Giles admits he's not really like his old self. Olivia says he can be anyone he likes. Mini!Giles says gloomily that he liked who he was.

So did I, Mini!Giles, so did I.

Cut to Andrew, who is at some magic-loving cult's party, wanting to pick up something called the Asclepian Vial, the contents of which are supposed to give you a new body (he wants to make one for Jonathan). His companion (some girl) says it's not really that. It's supposed to bring out your ideal self, but it's never worked on anyone else. Drinking some of it is just a ritual for people joining the cult (club, whatever it is). Andrew drinks and immediately admits that he's gay, having previously told the girl that no, he doesn't fancy Clive, the leader of the cult, and no, he doesn't fancy her either. The girl (Julie) is delighted. The potion is helping Andrew become the person he's supposed to be. Suddenly, one of the Big Bads from the end of the previous issue, the Sculptor, comes bursting in also wanting the Vial. If they give it to him he'll only kill half of them. Andrew becomes super-strong and fights off the Sculptor. Everyone congratulates him. Clive says Andrew's turned into his perfect self and is now a super-hero.

Finally cut to Spike, who is with Dowling at a slaughterhouse where the Sculptor has killed someone and stolen bits of him. Dowling is trying to get Spike to go on a date with a patrolwoman who is a big fan of the Anne Rice books (does Anne Rice get royalties whenever anyone mentions her?). Spike doesn't want to. Dowling says he knows Spike adores Buffy but he has to give other women a chance on their own terms. Spike insists he doesn't want a girlfriend. He's happy playing the field. He goes to get info on the Sculptor at a demon bar, which is where the kittens come in. A demon give Spike the info he wants, no problem, then starts playing kitten poker. When Spike protests that he thought demons didn't do that now because it was bad for the public image, the demons says there are no humans around, that Spike's soul is showing and that he should go because "You don't wanna see what comes next." A kitten gives Spike a 'cute' look. Spike cracks his knuckles. "Right."

So anyway, that's how he gets the kittens, which he dumps on Xander, who is having a row with Ghost!Anya, who Xander says is supposed to be helping him and Dawn get back together. Anya says, "Who told you that? Maybe my job is to save her from her creepy stalker ex by forcing him to get a life." Xander protests that he's just trying to make Dawn happy. Anya says he's trying so hard he's making her tense, and she doesn't even have a body. She suggests he gets a pet to help him relax. Enter Spike with six kittens.

Meanwhile, at Buffy, Dawn and Willow's, Willow is explaining how she finds it very hard to trust Aluwyn because she's a trickster, and the person she has to be when she's around her just feels wrong. Also that she's afraid she'll get addicted to magic again. Buffy once again assures her that she's doing great. Dawn says she understands how Willow feels. "When you're with someone...like that...you want to feel at ease. Relaxed. Like you can just be yourself. Be honest. When that's not there, it's hard." She says she doesn't understand why Buffy keeps trying to force her back together with Xander when it doesn't feel right. Buffy protests that Xander loves Dawn and they're good together. She doesn't understand why Dawn can't see that. Dawn says Buffy is just as bad. What about her and Spike? Dawn would kill for "the easy, fun, flirty, sexy best pals thing you two have." Buffy protests that it's different. She and Spike have a history, a not-always-nice history. Dawn says all the bad stuff was before Spike had a soul and Buffy hasn't given him a chance since (well, she didn't really have time, did she? Then Spike wasn't around. But never mind. We all know the comics and the show have not much to do with each other).

Dawn accuses Buffy of never having given anyone a chance when there was the least possibility of it working then storms off upstairs. Willow suggests that Dawn might have 'a teensy tiny little point', at which point Buffy walks out saying, "You guys suck at girl talk."

She meets up with Spike in the corridor and they go off to fight the Sculptor. They don't find him, just some of his meat puppets, which they dispose of while bantering with each other. Then Buffy grabs Spike and kisses him.

Hmm, didn't mean to write so much. I guess a lot of people (most of the posters on Buffyboards for a start) are going to say this is all 'shipper pandering again. But at some point, it stops being that and becomes a story in it's own right, I think. After all, the entire comic is about romantic relationships in one way or another. I don't think the Buffy/Spike stuff should be singled out as fan pandering as opposed to the rest of the comic being just a story.

Whether it's a good story, though, is another matter.

Still no sign of Mrs Marsters Dylan, but it stands to reason that she'll turn up in an arc called Love Dares You, so I still expect her imminently - just as I expect Spike to reject Buffy's advances in the next issue, and for the 'love triangle' never to be fully resolved (certainly not with Angel absent from proceedings), though this of course may be my 'shipper 'issues'. Always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

The writing continues to be rather flat, which is a disappointment. I thought Nick Brendon was back for this issue, and at least it would be funny. But he isn't. And it isn't.

Or not very.

The writing doesn't lift the art, and vice versa.

Comments

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

Well, as you said, Gage ain't subtle and does seem to grasp setup/payoff. She's after info on the new threat: Sculptor. Spike knows him: WW1. It's too clumsily inserted to be nothing. One would think.

I don't know about the coma stuff. They could just throw in another prokawhatever stone as a macguffin.

[shapinglight]

They could. Or maybe even the same one. Whose to say it only works once? Mini!Giles might have it handy.