A Poll about the Buffy Comics. We all like ticky boxes, don't we?

[shapinglight]

Feeling a bit irritated by various hyperbolic (or do I mean hysterical?) reactions I've seen to the last panel in the latest Buffy comic (not here on LJ, elsewhere). Irritated enough that I was going to write a long, ranty post about how people can lose all sense of perspective when they think their chosen 'ship is threatened (and yes, this is a fandom-wide phenomenon, I know). But honestly, what's the point?

So here's a silly poll instead.

Poll behind cut, with spoilers for the latest Buffy comic.



If you don't know (or much care) what happens in this last panel, I'll tell you. Buffy kisses Spike. She grabs him by the coat collar, reels him in and kisses him. He's not expecting it, and his body language strongly suggests (to me anyway) that he's probably going to react by pushing Buffy away.

However, I freely admit that, as a Spuffy 'shipper (and part-time Spangel 'shipper - about time I admitted this situation is now the reverse of what it used to be), I am in a constant state of waiting for the worst to happen. I also think this is probably true of most of us (and after Seeing Red, who can blame us?), though possibly there may be some happy young things on Tumblr skipping through the daisies going, tra-la-la (probably because they're watching the show for the first time and haven't got to mid-season 6 yet). But it happens to us all in the end. We expect the worst Spuffywise, and usually it happens. It certainly did in the comics until Buffy season 10.

Before that, we got four years of flat out denials from anyone at Dark Horse that Spike was in any way important to Buffy (or anyone else), and any mention of him in media pieces was always extremely negative. Then, when he finally did show up, it was in time to witness the Buffy/Angel space frak, and for what he did in Chosen to be dismissed by Buffy in just one panel. I don't need to go on, do I?

Anyway, it wasn't nice. And now, just because of one panel where Buffy kisses Spike (and, as aforementioned, he's probably going to push her away), people are saying they're going to be physically sick, and that civilisation as we know it will end if this relationship goes any further.

Newsflash. No you won't, and no it won't. Because this is a rather badly drawn (if Rebekah Isaacs had drawn this panel, you might have had more of a case) and not particularly well-written comic book based on a TV fantasy show about a super-strong girl who fights vampires, that's now been off air for twelve - yes, twelve! - years. It signifies absolutely bugger all of any relevance to anything.

Why can't we all just admit that we want what we want, and when we don't get it, we sulk? There is no moral high ground here.

Hmm, seems I ranted after all. Have a poll.

Ticky boxes. Much more fun.


[Poll #1996623]

Comments

[rbfvid.livejournal.com]

If not the spoilers from that 10 #14 cover, I would go for "Spike will push Buffy away and tell her she's ruined their beautiful friendship". But the whole "mindtravel" thing suggests that it will not be that easy and painless.

[shapinglight]

No, probably not. Even at two removes (from Joss, I mean) the Buffyverse doesn't do painless.

[kikimay]

Before that, we got four years of flat out denials from anyone at Dark Horse that Spike was in any way important to Buffy (or anyone else), and any mention of him in media pieces was always extremely negative. Then, when he finally did show up, it was in time to witness the Buffy/Angel space frak, and for what he did in Chosen to be dismissed by Buffy in just one panel. I don't need to go on, do I?

Anyway, it wasn't nice. And now, just because of one panel where Buffy kisses Spike (and, as aforementioned, he's probably going to push her away), people are saying they're going to be physically sick, and that civilisation as we know it will end if this relationship goes any further.

Can I print this or post it on Tumblr or whatever?

The poll is hilarious. I was about to answer seriously (My answer will be Spike telling Buffy if she's gone mad) But then I saw that you can pick multiple choices and I want also for "I belong to Angel" and "Buffy reveals that she's been a demon all along" because in the comics? That can happen.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

That can happen.

And would explain a heck of a lot.

[shapinglight]

Anything can happen in the comics. Maybe the talking dog will come back and manage to fool Spike into wearing his underpants over his actual pants this time?

I don't mind you copying and pasting onto Tumblr, but I don't want any link back to my post, or any acknowledgement of who wrote it (though I daresay those who care enough to try can probably track me down).

[elisi]

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

I... don't know. I don't think he'll push her away. It might just end and he'll be all confused. But we know they don't leave the cemetery together from a leaked panel. But then there's the panel of a surprised Spike. Ultimately I think he'll turn her down for some reason, maybe 'cause of what happened while soulless. Might explain the 12 cover with vamp!Spike between them.

Then you add the covers (which might not mean much) and the blurbs (which don't mean much more). Like for 13 they have Buffy giving Andrew dating advice and the gang rushing to tell her about some mysterious murders she's not going to like.

Going from all this, my guess is Spike rejects her and she throws herself at someone and badness ensues. Basically the end of S8 where they had her go after Xander, then jump Angel on a smaller scale.

[shapinglight]

Ultimately I think he'll turn her down for some reason, maybe 'cause of what happened while soulless.

Yeah, probably. I think Dark Horse would think that if the rejection comes from him for that reason then no one could argue with it. ;)

The blurbs are a bit all over the place. I just re-read them and it's hard to make much out from them. The next issue states that the relationship stuff will be put on the back burner while they're fighting the Sculptor. Then there's this Buffy not liking whoever's responsible for the mysterious murders. God, I hope Spike's not gone all Manchurian Candidate again.

Going from all this, my guess is Spike rejects her and she throws herself at someone and badness ensues. Basically the end of S8 where they had her go after Xander, then jump Angel on a smaller scale.

Damn, I should have included that option in my poll.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

God, I hope Spike's not gone all Manchurian Candidate again.

That was my thinking behind 'might they finally do spikelus?' But it says he's one of the ones trying to find her. Sooo... yeah. Maybe she ends up seeing whoever it is that was hiding at their place since it doesn't look like it was snakelady.

[shapinglight]

No, it doesn't.

I've absolutely no idea who that could be. Back to thinking it might be Drusilla.

On the other hand, whoever it is sounded far too sane.

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

If he pushes her away, it'll be very slowly and regretfully. Unless there's a monster sneaking up behind her or something. What are the chances? Yeah, I think mostly he'll just be surprised and confused and ask her what's going on, which she still won't be able to answer because she just doesn't do self-reflection very well and is not sure herself.

Hrm. Some people say that they like Buffy better on her own and she shouldn't have to be half of a relationship. I get what they are saying, but Buffy clearly yearns for that, and I don't think it's because of outside pressure, mostly. I think she just feels the pull to couple-up, like most of the planet does. Why shouldn't she get that, just because she's the hero? Can't she have both, like male heroes always do — although, to be fair, they often have them so they can get fridged in some horrible way and set the hero on his journey.

Hey, look! I went a'rantin' also!

Bottom line is I want both of them to get what they want, and I think it's each other. I don't think the three of us — me, Buffy, and Spike — have a chance in hell of getting what we want. So, yeah, it'll end horribly.

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

Well put. Of course it will. But at least there is some wiggle room for more comic-based fic now. Won't be much different from writing a season 6 fic that has a happy ending, or a post Chosen that put them back together before Angel can get everybody killed again. I don't even have my comic yet (Monday's mail, maybe?), so I haven't been able to evaluate how close I came with my latest ficlet.

[shapinglight]

Why shouldn't she get that, just because she's the hero? Can't she have both, like male heroes always do —

This is true. It does seem that the rules for women are different, doesn't it? They're just not allowed to have their cake and eat it too.

Someone pointed this out on one of the comics letters pages in season 9 - rather eloquently, I thought.

Bottom line is I want both of them to get what they want, and I think it's each other. I don't think the three of us — me, Buffy, and Spike — have a chance in hell of getting what we want. So, yeah, it'll end horribly.

Heh! We're a bunch of old cynics, aren't we?

[singedbylife.livejournal.com]

Does Ticky Boxed mean you could pick more than one option? If so, I didn't know and went with my serious choice: Spike will kiss Buffy back and it will all end in frigtfulness. How can it not?

I agree with your comments and find it hilarious that all options could happen in the comics. Well, not the Angel one, sadly. It may be canon that they did have that one time but I don't see it happening more than that one time the way the comics have been going.

[shapinglight]

Does Ticky Boxed mean you could pick more than one option?

Apparently so. I didn't realise that at the time of posting. Not that it matters.

Anyway, your choice is as valid as any of them. ;)

Well, not the Angel one, sadly. It may be canon that they did have that one time but I don't see it happening more than that one time the way the comics have been going.

Well, a writer would have to come along willing to write the two of them as not acting all embarrassed whenever the subject comes up first. Gage is not that person.

I did like the polyamorous panel, though. I'm with Harmony (and Gage, incidentally). That's how the story should end.

[singedbylife.livejournal.com]

Absolutely! Totally agree.

[spikes_heart.livejournal.com]

Happy tears or sad, I'm gonna cry one way or t'other. (But a girl can dream, can't she?)

[shapinglight]

Aww, darling. :HUgs:

Yeah, we all know that a happy ending is very unlikely, don't we?

In the meantime, so lovely to see you. How are you keeping?

[double_dutchess]

I think Spike's immediate reaction will probably be a combination between options 4 and 5: Spike will push Buffy away, ask her if she's gone mad and tell her she's ruined their beautiful friendship. Probably not using those exact words, but I do think he will tell her he'd prefer to remain just friends.

[shapinglight]

Yeah, me too - or if not prefer, he'll be running so scared that reciprocating will ruin what they have that he'll say that anyway.

[double_dutchess]

Very much agreed on that last part. I don't think he actually wants to be just friends; it would just seem the best/safest option to him.

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

ROBOT.

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

ROFL - always a possibility....

[shapinglight]

Damn, how could I forget that option, when statistically it's pretty much a given.

Silly me.

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

Didn't realize that I could click more than one box or I would have clicked on most of them. It's the comics and Joss - what could go wrong? LOL

[shapinglight]

Oh, how about everything? ;)

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

Well done, rant, BTW. And the poll was great fun. :)

[shapinglight]

:Bows:

[rahirah]

You know, I could almost see Spike pulling a Xander here -- "You only want me because I'm the last possible option. Screw that."

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

I would feel a bit sorry for Buffy, but at this point, I must admit that I would absolutely love to see that happen.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

That's how I'd feel about DH if I still shipped them. Now you do it? After crapping on us for 8 years? When the series has been run into the ground? After you actually created an OC demon character to pair her with but lacked the skill to write it? Pfft. Take it and shove it.

[shapinglight]

After you actually created an OC demon character to pair her with but lacked the skill to write it?

Yeah, that is actually one of the most bizarre admissions to come out of DH central.

I'm pretty sure I could've written Buffy/Koh if I'd set my mind to it. No idea why they couldn't.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

It's probably not even the truth. They probably backed away 'cause Buffy/non-human-looking demon would put people off or they caught a look at Jeanty's version. It actually might have made S9 interesting. It clearly suffered abandoned plot syndrome after the first arc.

[shapinglight]

Yeah, God knows what was going on with it. It was a horrible mess. Plus, it had one of the most dishonest storylines I've ever seen in a story (the abortion/robot thing).

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

A not-too-small part of my thinks S9 of the BTVS side existed solely for A&F and the whitewashing of Angel. They brought magic back, I guess, but that was the last arc and it's going away again at some point. It was supposed to be about rebuilding characters. The only one who got any was Angel by aforementioned whitewashing. Which they did by throwing more dirt onto the Buffy side. Hardly rebuilding.

[shapinglight]

No, and they didn't even do a very good job of rebuilding Angel because it was all too facile and ignored the worst things he did in season 8 (apart from killing Giles).

[shapinglight]

It's possible. I don't think so, though, if only because the build up has not been couched as Buffy being so desperate she'll take anyone.

[chasingdemons.livejournal.com]

I can't believe what I've heard has already taken place in the comics. It's all so absurd. So why should anything suddenly make sense? I mean in what world would Spike push Buffy away and say she ruined their friendship?

[shapinglight]

I mean in what world would Spike push Buffy away and say she ruined their friendship?

It does actually make sorta, kinda sense. But you'd have to have read the comics to see why.

And you wouldn't want to subject yourself to that. ;)

Mind you, some of the covers are wonderful. I wish DH would bring out a book of just the cover art. It would fly off the shelves, I think - unlike the comic, whose sales figures are going down and down.

[flake-sake.livejournal.com]

I can't say, I expect anything from the comic spuffywise, because for me Buffy would have had to make a move, when she learns that Spike is back from the dead.

The years later thing doesn't work for me, but I find it extremely funny how the Bangels are climbing the barricades.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

when she learns that Spike is back from the dead.

Or at least had a response other than "Oh...hi." That's even spun positively. She clearly could not have cared less.

That's why the whole thing makes me derisive 'cause it's such a an attempt to boost sales from the only sizable group left.

[shapinglight]

The years later thing doesn't work for me, but I find it extremely funny how the Bangels are climbing the barricades.

Yep. It's clearly the downfall of Western civilisation.

[treadingthedark.livejournal.com]

Maybe she's a robot again. Luckily I don't really care anymore. Season 8 along with the Darkhorse interviews killed my Buffy obsession.
Season 9 buried it.
I still read them, sometimes enjoy them, but they aren't "real" to me like they would have been right after the show ended.
Where is the Bangely meltdown happening? I haven't seen it so it must be tumblir. I don't have the computer speed for tumblir.

[shapinglight]

There is some on Tumblr but also on one of the fanboards, which is pretty much a Bangel board, they just won't admit it. There's also some really ridiculous juvenile trolling going on on Twitter.

I don't blame you for being turned off by the comics and by Dark Horse's horrible attitude. I do think it's a shame, though, if the wretched things have made people lose their love of the show (though you are far from the only person that has happened to).

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

Sometimes it feels like the comics ruined the fandom. At least it did for me. And not for the comics themselves, but the reactions to them pushed me away. :-P

[shapinglight]

For most people, it was the actual comics. I know several LJ'ers that happened to.