Buffy season 11 no 4

[shapinglight]

Read this today, and despite the fact that Georges Jeanty, of whom I am not much of a fan, is guest penciller on it, I enjoyed it very much.

Spoilers behind cut.



Can't say I'm still that much of a fan, to be honest. Jeanty's Buffy looks super-weird in every panel on the first page, though she does improve somewhat after that, but at least his Spike has improved a little. sueworld2003 used to say that Jeanty drew Spike looking like Albert Steptoe and I think she's not far wrong. The Spike in this issue looks better, IMO.

Anyway, the entire issue is set in the supernatural creatures internment camp and centres around the daily struggle to survive there. This is made worse for Spike by the fact that the blood allowance for vampires in the camp isn't enough to keep him going, and he's not allowed on the chain gangs work crews that get to leave the camp (under armed Slayer guard), thus getting contact with local people willing to sell them their blood, because the crew bosses (also vampires, I assume, or demons, but whichever, none of them like Spike) won't take him.

Spike is, therefore, half-starved all the time, and the issue opens with Buffy trying to make him drink some of her blood. He doesn't want to - asks what happens if he can't stop himself - but in the end does, and of course can't stop himself. Buffy has to push him off (which should, surely, cause her horrible injury, but whatever), and it turns out that it's not the first time. Willow says she knew what Buffy had been doing the minute she saw the scarf around her neck. Both Willow and Spike (and Buffy herself, of course) know it's not a good idea because it makes Buffy weak. This is why, when she wades in to help a small demon being robbed of its food allowance by other demons, it takes her a good long time to beat them and they accuse her of losing her touch.

Buffy admits to Willow that she's been relying on her reputation to deter demons from attacking her, but later in the issue she gets into a big fight with the same demon gang, and is almost - only almost - on the ropes before Spike turns up to help her. Spike by this time is so hungry that he tears one of her opponents throats open and has to be prised off his victim (his very dead victim) by Buffy. Hmm, I think I've written a scene very like that in a fanfic once. Also, it's never been established, has it, that demon blood is actual sustenance for vampires? Oh well, never mind.

Back in their trailer, Buffy tells Spike he was out of control and he has to tell her when he's starving. Spike asks, "Why? So I can drain more of your blood? Make you weak so you can't fight those tossers? Let them kill you?" The situation seems unsustainable and Spike admits he's been thinking of trying to break out, even though they both know that would be suicide.

In the end, Buffy decides there's only one thing to be done. She approaches Jordan and the Slayers running the camp and agrees to become a 'trustee' -ie. law enforcement on the inside of the fence - in exchange for a better blood supply for Spike. Jordan agrees.

So Buffy has now painted an even bigger target on her own back, and will probably lose any potential allies among the demon population, which is already divided into the strong and the weak, the downright evil and the mostly harmless, and the completely innocent, the former group picking on the latter two.

Divide and conquer, of course.

Other things of note: Willow is spending her time trying to teach the other Wiccans how to defend themselves (fire spells are the best deterrent), and on the outside, when Buffy phones Dawn, Dawn tells her that things are sort of back to 'normal' but that everyone's on edge and people are openly expressing how happy they are 'their kind' aren't around any more. Xander has got into a couple of fights about it. Also, there's no word on how long the internment is going to last. The 'feds' tell their lawyer the internment's temporary and they'll be out within a year but are otherwise very vague about it.

I thought it was all pretty well done really, though it was more slice of life than advance the plot.

Comments

[singedbylife.livejournal.com]

I haven't read any of the season 11 comics yet but I must say, reading this review or summary, it sure sounds like a fanfiction I would have used to love to read. It's as if, we're getting all that we dreamed of years ago. I'm almost sad I left fandom because old me would have had a blast.

[shapinglight]

It's as if, we're getting all that we dreamed of years ago.

Heh! I know quite well this is why I'm so forgiving of any stupidities in the plot.

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

It's coming across as a thinly veiled metaphor for our worst fears for the near future, and I kind of love it. If Joss is plotting this, I can see why he went in this direction, given the utter despair that he seems to be exuding IRL at the moment. Poor guy is a slave to his emotions, it seems. To our benefit. Or, if it's Gage, good for him.

Where his vision is different is that what's really happening is that millions of people are standing up to the impending fascist state, and not just passively hoping it'll all go away, or cheering for the mistreatment of "the other". (There are some of those, too, of course.) I suppose this story is closer to the immediate aftermath of Sept. 11, where people didn't much fuss at the Patriot Act and its ilk. I have hopes that the "sleeping giant" (decent humanity) has finally awakened, again. On the right side of the bed. Or something.

I do enjoy Buffy and Willow putting themselves on the line. I'm not such a fan of later-season Willow, but she's doing things the hard way for once, and I've gotta respect that. They are standing in for the people who will stand up for what's right, no matter what. Which is always the core of Buffy, I guess. *\o/*

I wonder if there is some reason why they are putting everyone on starvation rations? Or is it just vampires? Do they just not know how much sustenance particular demons need, or not care, or hope that they'll all kill each other and end the "problem"? I mean, if a vampire with the control of Spike can't keep it together, what chance do the others have of reining in their bloodlust?

I don't know why Spike can't be a trustee, too. They'd make a great team, and could have day and night shifts, if necessary.

All this wittering is to say that I'm enjoying it and looking forward to seeing where they go from here.

[shapinglight]

If Joss is plotting this, I can see why he went in this direction, given the utter despair that he seems to be exuding IRL at the moment. Poor guy is a slave to his emotions, it seems. To our benefit. Or, if it's Gage, good for him.

I think it's probably mostly Gage. I follow him on Twitter and his politics are pretty much the same as Joss's, I would say.

I suppose this story is closer to the immediate aftermath of Sept. 11, where people didn't much fuss at the Patriot Act and its ilk.

Gage did say that he'd written the first six issues before the election so yes, I think it's more 9/11 etc he's harking back to. Which doesn't detract from the relevance of it, obvs.

I wonder if there is some reason why they are putting everyone on starvation rations?

I think they're hoping the starvation rations will make the camp inhabitants turn on each other and thin their own ranks somewhat.

I don't know why Spike can't be a trustee, too. They'd make a great team, and could have day and night shifts, if necessary.

Well, as infinitewhale points out below, there are plenty of plot details that don't really make sense. Buffy letting Spike bite her neck is another. Wrist okay, maybe? But her neck?

All this wittering is to say that I'm enjoying it and looking forward to seeing where they go from here.
Yeah, me too. I'm not being nearly as critical as I should be, I know.

[snogged.livejournal.com]

I haven't been keeping up with the comics, but I appreciate your recap.

[shapinglight]

Thanks. Happy to help.

[rahirah]

I notice that the whole thing about 'human blood addiction' seems to have been totally tossed aside for the purposes of this storyline; no one seems worried that a diet of human blood will make vampires more aggressive or anything. :sigh: I shouldn't mind, because I've always thought that was a bit silly, but geez, lack of continuity much? Plus everyone's forgotten that pig's blood even exists. You'd think there'd be a thriving black market since it's easier and cheaper to get than human blood, even if it doesn't taste as good.

Overall I liked the issue, but these little things bug me.

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the details aren't well handled, but at least the broad canvas isn't bad. For a change.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

It seems like an incredibly cheap way to mimic Bangel. There's the blood addiction, animal blood, giving blood or they could just have him bite her wrist or something. So Buffy's an idiot and Spike's an idiot for no real reason other than a couple Jeanty drawings that kinda look like Graduation Day.

I think they could have done a much better job without it. Have Spike starve for a couple days or a week and this is what causes her to join the trustees for more blood. Instead Spike looks like a parasite and Buffy a total moron, especially after her speech to Dawn in Him (which I had just watched on VDay, so was fresh in my mind when reading that).

[rahirah]

Spike is starving for several days a week. That's a major plot point. There aren't enough humans inside the camp to feed all the vampires, and Spike's unable to get the day work outside the camp that some of the other vampires are, which would allow him to get blood (animal or human) outside the camp, because the camp authorities don't like him. That's why Buffy told him to drink from her to begin with, and when they both agree he can't go on feeding from her, that's why she becomes a trustee, so he can get extra blood.

I just think it's a little unbelievable that none of the vampires who CAN get outside are trying to smuggle blood back inside, or that none of the Slayer guards are even a little bit corruptible and are selling it themselves. I suppose it's possible that no one inside has any money or barterable goods, but...

(ETA -The Bangel scene was a pretty explicit "SEX WITH ANGEL = DEATH!" metaphor. I've seen a couple of people complain that this scene wasn't sexy, and I think they're missing the point: I don't think it's supposed to be sexy, and I would argue that it's actually diametrically opposed to the Bangel scene, thematically speaking.)

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

I know it's a plot point. It already being there is why it comes off as forced. Spike is starving. He needs more blood. Buffy barters to get more. Wham, bam. It lays out all the groundwork needed and gets her to join the trustees without sacrificing anything.

Instead, Buffy allows him to bite her on the neck (and Spike agrees) then goes out puts herself in danger only to realize, hey, I'm putting myself in danger like an idiot. It doesn't add anything to the story other than, I guess, shock value.

I never thought the Bangel scene was all that sexy. I wasn't trying to imply that. I find it cringy and the whole bite/orgasm thing right down there with blood tears. When I say it's reminiscent of that, I meant the framing of the drawing. The over the shoulder views, the gah face. I agree it ain't sexy, either, but I don't know if it was intentionally that way. S8 sure wasn't, either, but was intended to be.

I think ultimately the S3 scene was about Angel literally sucking the life out of her. Angel is ashamed about it. Giles and Xander are judgmental about it. That's why I dislike this sort of thing. It equates Spuffy to that.

[shapinglight]

Instead, Buffy allows him to bite her on the neck (and Spike agrees) then goes out puts herself in danger only to realize, hey, I'm putting myself in danger like an idiot. It doesn't add anything to the story other than, I guess, shock value.

You've pretty much hit it on the head here. I did think, when you said you hadn't liked the comic, that the reason must be before you felt it still made Buffy look like an idiot. It does really. If she was going to let Spike bite her at all, it should never have been on the neck. And him agreeing makes him look like an idiot too.

I know I'm way too forgiving of the idiocies in this story. But there it is. It's giving me enough of what I want (and I don't mean in the 'shipping sense only) that I'm willing to overlook - or more like roll my eyes and move on. Felt the same with the stupid Archaeus stuff in season 10.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

To me, it would have been a more compelling storyline if Spike was starving and becoming weak/crazed and it was putting himself in danger. A series of close calls pushes the story to her joining to get more blood. Her becoming a trustee seems to be the point of the issue. There are numerous other ways that could have done it better.

The characters acting dumb is the biggest turn off for me, it's true. The Buffy gang made mistakes but they weren't ever dumb for the sake of being dumb. To me, this is a turn right back to S8/S9 level writing. Hopefully they go back to plot-stuff next because Gage is at his weakest when he tries to do these slice of life type stories.

And of course the S3 suggestions. I really can't think of a reason they'd do it the way they did it if not to call back to that.

[shapinglight]

Hopefully they go back to plot-stuff next because Gage is at his weakest when he tries to do these slice of life type stories.

I'm not sure I entirely agree with that. The Giles issue in season 10 and the issue that dealt with the attempted rape were quite good, I thought, and they were pretty much slice of life, I also think that, despite the idiocy, he has managed to evoke a sense of how living in a place like the camp drags everyone down. Spike especially seems pretty depressed. Doubt that's a plot point, though.

And of course the S3 suggestions. I really can't think of a reason they'd do it the way they did it if not to call back to that.

Yeah, I guess there is some sort of echo, but it's faint, IMO. The season 3 biting thing was coded as sexual, this isn't at all. The season 3 thing also wasn't stupid (or not as stupid). It was the only way Buffy could think of to save Angel's life. As you point out, there are obviously options for her in the current scenario that mean she had no need to put herself at risk like this.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

I def. disagree. The only part of 10.20 I liked was the plan. The main plots of those issues like Giles/Buffy and the dealing with the AR just seemed kinda trite. It might have had a place in S2 or S3, but there it again seemed to regress the characters just to have a hug and a cry. Same with 20 for the most part. All it did was take the time to say, while adding modern buzzwords, what the show depicted. It would have been far better to have it focus on the spacefrak, which is closer to an incubus story than Seeing Red or S6.

But no, can't be attaching the R-word to that. Then they might have to deal with it. :|

I think the callbacks are vague, but still present. Maybe inadvertent. It could be they just wanted to shock the audience.

After reading the #7 blurb, I'm beginning to think they need to pick up the pace a touch on these things. Over half way through the season and there is no sign of anything really happening.

[shapinglight]

It would have been far better to have it focus on the spacefrak, which is closer to an incubus story than Seeing Red or S6.

I agree, but I still like 20. It gave me a sense of closure, if you like.

After reading the #7 blurb, I'm beginning to think they need to pick up the pace a touch on these things. Over half way through the season and there is no sign of anything really happening.

Agree with this too. 7 is more than half way through the story. Gage needs to be dropping clues into the plot pretty soon.

[shapinglight]

Yes, there are a lot of idiocies in the plot if you look too closely. I know I'm being a lot more forgiving of them than I was in, say, season 8, but it's not just for 'shipping reasons (I swear). I just prefer this story to all the sub-Dan Brown cosmic stuff, which, IMO, doesn't really fit in the Buffyverse.

[papricasantiago.livejournal.com]

Man, I'm so disappointed with Spike. Feeding on Buffy is weak.

[shapinglight]

It is. He also seems very despairing. I hope he bucks up soon.

Gage did hint that he would. Of, if not buck up, show a darker side of his personality.