Buffy comics, season 8

[Brown Rat]

Is anybody reading the Buffy comics that Dark Horse is publishing? The first issue came out in March 2007. Josh Whedon is writing the scripts, and the comics tell the story of what would have been season 8 if the series hadn't been canceled.

I've read the first three issues and am waiting for the fourth to come out in a week or so. I'm loving them. It's good to see what all the characters are up to, post-series-finale. Xander has really come into his own (he's drool-worthy on the cover of issue 2), Andrew is still full of geek-speak (he natters on amusingly about Star Wars in issue 2), and Buffy isn't really dating The Immortal (sigh of relief).

Granted, it's not film. But the panels are cleverly laid out, and the artists draw the characters accurately. Gorgeous pencil and ink work. Hooray!

[Brown Rat]

Originally Posted by Brown Rat

Josh Whedon

Gack. *JOSS* not Josh.

[scottevill]

I think they're fantastic so far. Not sure I agree they're "what would've happened in Season 8," because if Season 8 had been a possibility, they never would've destroyed Sunnydale. But it does have elements of the spin-offs that didn't materialize (Slayer School, the Faith series--which is the next big storyline) writ large (since budget is no longer a factor).

I absolutely bought into it from the beginning: these are the same characters and relationships in a different format... not some licensed tripe.

I think the thing I'm liking most is the way Whedon has resurrected the whole Xander/Buffy thing. Good googly moogly, please let them end up together!!

Though if they do one thing in this project, they have to resurrect Tara--which Whedon wanted to do in Season 7, but Amber Benson wasn't into it. (And, besides the opportunity to do Nick Fury jokes early and often, I can't think why Willow hasn't found a way to restore Xander's eye by now.)

[Brown Rat]

Originally Posted by scottevill

I think the thing I'm liking most is the way Whedon has resurrected the whole Xander/Buffy thing. Good googly moogly, please let them end up together!!

***spoiler***

Yeh, I was kinda surprised when Buffy dreamt about Xander in issue 3 . . . and then I thought, well, what the heck, why not. He's obviously matured over the years, and his eyepatch is manly-looking. I wonder, though, if he's the one that kissed her back into consciousness. I assume he is, and most of the panels indicate that he's in love with her, but in the panel at the bottom of what I think would be page 18 (if there were page numbers), Willow has a funny look on her face right after Buffy asks, "Hey! Who kissed me?" So there may be a small chance that Willow kissed her.

Renee has definitely got a crush on Xander. That could complicate any Buffy-Xandering.

[scottevill]

I think it's pretty clear it was Xander. When Willow's giving her whole speech about knowing that someone in the room is in love with Buffy, even if they don't want to admit it to themselves, and that person has to just suck it up and kiss her -- while everyone else closes their eyes on pain of *losing* them -- it culminates on a close-up of Xander, where she just says, "OK?"

In the next panel, Buffy is sitting up, awake. Had to be Xander. (Besides, we know he's been in love with her all this time--They just de-emphasized that plot many seasons ago.)

[chosen/smgslayer]

He stopped loving her when he met anya. he will always love her like a friend but not like he used to

[chosen/smgslayer]

The comic must be waaaaaaaaaaay different because buffy dosnt love him like that eather

[Kanazaka]

I'm also following the new comic series (please refer to the "episode" threads, and please post !). I'm not a Bander fan, and also think that Buffy should focus on her upcoming battle against the new Big Bad (in the plural sense ). But I like how Xander took charge during his squad's first battle against the military, and I'm glad that Buffy finally gave him a promotion. And it'll be interesting to see how Willow fits in, since so far she's only shown up to help battle Amy (which, unfortunately, didn't turn out too well).

[Highlander II]

I haven't read this whole thread, but darnit! I wanna ban ALL of those smushed-name things that refer to 'ships. I hate them. They've become so prolific, they're like cockroaches. Ugh. Can't people just type out Buffy/Xander? For one, it makes it so much easier for the 'newbies' to the fandom and random outsiders.

Sorry - that's the only thing that caught my eye as I scrolled through the thread to see if it needed sticky-ing.

Done ranting... carry on. *g*