Buffy #32 - review and spoilery thoughts

[moscow_watcher]

The revelation of Buffy's masked nemesis' identity as well as Buffy's current situation have reawakened my interest to season 8 comics. The last time I wrote about them, almost a year ago, vampires were "in" and slayers were "out"; Faith and Giles were fighting demons in a bucolic German town, Harmony became a TV star, while Buffy continued to lose

Comments

[speakr2customrs]

I don't know where the coinage "faster than a flying bullet" comes from

Probably everyone of a certain age in the West, not just comics aficionados, knows. Superman. Although the quote is slightly inaccurate, probably for copyright reasons. From Wikipedia:

(Superman was) traditionally described as "faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound", a phrase coined by Jay Morton and first used in the Superman radio serials and Max Fleischer animated shorts of the 1940s as well as the TV series of the 1950s.

[moscow_watcher]

Probably everyone of a certain age in the West, not just comics aficionados, knows. Superman.

Oh. I see.

Does it mean that I dishonored my nerd status? :)

Because I consider myself pretty nerdish, but my nerd-dom has never been directed towards comics. Intil "Buffy". Often I am disoriented and confused.

[shipperx]

Probably means you didn't grow up with those old 1950s Superman reruns playing in the afternoon. :)

[flake_sake]

As stormwreath pointed out to me, there are several sentences from Willow that hang in the air this issue(Like that Faith and Giles are screwed or that she found ...) and the issue ends in the mid of her explanations, so maybe the reasons for her quick coclusion that the powers from the dead slayers flow to Buffy is going to come next issue.

Reading from Allie again is just ... *sigh*. He's making basically anti-promotion for the comic and I'll certainly be stuck with a bad impression of DH.

About the references, I got about 50% of them, but I'm no big fan of main stream superhero comics. If he wants to reverence comics, can't he reference Alan Moore or Sandman? That would give me nerdgasms.

[moscow_watcher]

As stormwreath pointed out to me, there are several sentences from Willow that hang in the air this issue(Like that Faith and Giles are screwed or that she found ...) and the issue ends in the mid of her explanations, so maybe the reasons for her quick coclusion that the powers from the dead slayers flow to Buffy is going to come next issue.

Probably. Meltzer could think that an explanation would dilute the shocking news and distract from the overall message, whetever it is.

Reading from Allie again is just ... *sigh*. He's making basically anti-promotion for the comic and I'll certainly be stuck with a bad impression of DH.

Sometimes I wonder if he thinks that he addresses casual fans and doesn't realise that at least 90% of his Q&A audience are diehard fans.

About the references, I got about 50% of them, but I'm no big fan of main stream superhero comics. If he wants to reverence comics, can't he reference Alan Moore or Sandman? That would give me nerdgasms.

Heee! To me, it would be some cool movies...

LOL

[keith5by5]

Don't read the comics for multiple reasons relating to Whedon's general sloppiness but had to comment on this:-

"for the continuity being made to jibe, steps have been taken"

Why? Continuity and characterisation haven't mattered since well forever.

Re: LOL

[moscow_watcher]

I guess right now "coordinating" is mostly about DH and IDW not making unpleasant surprises for each other. For example, we know that Angel will appear without a mask sooner or later. If in the next IDW issue of "Angel" he gets a big scar across his face or loses an eye that could be a problem for DH.

Re: LOL

[shipperx]

I suspect 'continuity' is telling IDW to suck it up, that Joss will 'fix' it somehow... whenever he darn well pleases.

[arkeus]

Interesting comments.

About Willow and her discovery, i'd say her going to different places and checking things mean she at least learn something.

As for the dead slayers, well, can't be angry mobs, given they were either captured slayers killed a special time, or else groups of slayers hidden in jungles and son on- a kind of place mobs would have a disadvantage.

It also makes me wonder if Angel didn't know what was going to happen to Buffy.

Also, the whole machine bit Andrew nerdgasm about was for corrupting jean grey into being Dark Phoenix again. This means either making Dark!Willow come back (in Twilight's plan), or using some kind of mind-mojo to brainwash Buffy.

Twould explain why he killed all those slayers at once.

[moscow_watcher]

Interesting comments.

Thanks!

As for the dead slayers, well, can't be angry mobs, given they were either captured slayers killed a special time, or else groups of slayers hidden in jungles and son on- a kind of place mobs would have a disadvantage.

I thought about it as well. I just don't know if we're supposed to suspend our disbelief here.

It also makes me wonder if Angel didn't know what was going to happen to Buffy.

You mean her getting superpowers? I don't think so. My guess is that it was also part of his plan.

Also, the whole machine bit Andrew nerdgasm about was for corrupting jean grey into being Dark Phoenix again. This means either making Dark!Willow come back (in Twilight's plan), or using some kind of mind-mojo to brainwash Buffy.

I see. Turns out, the reference is pretty ominous...

[arkeus]

especially if you take into account the upcoming covers.

[tinka023]

so far, im not likeing Season 8 at all.

but one thing bothers me more than all its other obvious problems : - Xander and Dawn! are they going out, like boyfriend/girlfriend now? 'cause to me thats just wrong.

Although i am hopeing, despite everything, that Buffy and Angel get some sort or resolved/happy-ish ending and that they dont end this comic series with a huge cliffhanger and then not have a season 9 comic. that would just be annoying.

[moscow_watcher]

Xander and Dawn! are they going out, like boyfriend/girlfriend now? 'cause to me thats just wrong.

Probably it's a set-up to arrange her future sad demise with the maximum angst. *shrugs* Although that'd be ridiculous: Xander losing two girlfriends within a season.

i am hopeing, despite everything, that Buffy and Angel get some sort or resolved/happy-ish ending and that they dont end this comic series with a huge cliffhanger and then not have a season 9 comic.

Happy ending and Joss? Unmixy. :)

As to season 9, I have the impression that it's on the planning stage and it will happen no matter what.