Post by wenxina on Apr 7, 2010 11:11:25 GMT -5
Hey all!
Rules are simple: Maximum of three (3) questions per member until I submit your questions to Jeanty. I will post a note to let you know when I send off questions to reopen the floor. As always, there is a possibility of a delay, so thanks for your patience. Keep it clean, keep it civil. Simple right? Entries are welcome until I post a closing post. Questions regarding Twilight NO LONGER HAVE TO SPOILER-TAGGED! (Thank goodness... it was a pain having to make sure that the appropriate questions/answers were spoiler-tagged).
Anyone who's reading this and not a member, I'm accepting questions at wenxina@slayalive.com. Feel free to send me your questions and I'll add them to the queue with credit to you.
Please note that Georges is often not really at liberty to divulge big spoilers, so don't waste those questions here... "No spoilers/comment" is a reasonable response to those.
Alright... GO!
1. bamph and moscowwatcher: Your cover for Buffy #37 was released earlier in the week. It has a lot of creepy mood. Can you talk about how you designed it and its inspiration? Is it a homage to any particular comic? A movie? A TV show?
Georges: If it's a homage it's more a homage to Buffy Season one. And maybe that's all I should say.
2. AndrewCrossett: Satsu is my favorite new character of Season 8, and I know you like her. Her relationship with Buffy is a dead issue now, but will we get to see her step forward and do interesting and cool things in the remainder of the season?
Georges: I would love to say yes because I do like her so much, but with all these characters returning for the big finish it's unlikely that she'll get too much time in the spotlight. I don't know what the specifics are, mind you, I would be happy just to see Satsu make it to the end alive.
3. bamph: So what was your approach to drawing and handling the Buffy/Angel sex in the issue?Any specific directions from Brad or Joss?
Georges: There was so much back and forth as you might imagine. When I first read the script I thought, now how the hell am I supposed to do this? This issue is literally porn! I had no idea how I could draw the issue and it not get those little censored bars all over it. I think the main thing everyone wanted was to show sexy and not pornographic, but some of those scenes the way they were written I kept thinking how the hell am I supposed to do this? Even with the printed issue, I still think there are some scenes that were a little far out there. Not that I'm a prude, I love sex as much as the next guy, but I really didn't want fans writing in saying that 'you've reduced Buffy to glam porn just to sell books’. I sent a lot of drawings to Joss and Brad asking 'is this going too far?' We all wanted the same thing, and after a lot of sketches back and forth, I think we have something that all involved were very happy with.
4. cheryl: Should we have noticed that Angel says they are "the key" while Giles implies they are becoming Gods and in this universe a god doesn't open a dimension without a key. Can they be both? Keys and Gods? ex: Glory needed Dawn, the key, to open her dimension.
Georges: Good train of thought... keep going...
5. cheryl: Joss jokingly stated that we would get three days of B/A porn because that's what America needs, in an interview, in light of this very sexual issue, should we take him literally?
Georges: I'm not sure what the 3 days meant, but as you can see, you have been treated to some images most people thought they'd never see. This is a first for Buffy and Angel. The first time they did this we just saw a little sweat, now we're concerned whether or not the world is going to survive!
6. cheryl: Angel has been powered up for some time now, much longer than Buffy, can you tell us anything about why Angel powered up first and if that had something to do with this connection between them?
Georges: Yes. And No. You'll find out more about that next issue.
7. Hellbound Hyperion: Aside from being practical for hiding naughty bits, was the Rorschach ink-blot motif throughout the B/A sex scenes done for any particular reason? I thoroughly enjoyed that, particularly the first panel. Well done!
Georges: I think it was more of a parallel to what you see and what you think it is. Like a Rorschach is only an image on a paper, it's your imagination gives it meaning. Like Buffy and Angel, you may just see them hooking up, but there is so much more to going on. We are coming to the final stretch of Season 8 and while there will be answers I think people will try to understand the events that follow the way they see it. That's what I think Brad was trying to say.
8. Michelle: Hi Georges, I'm a little confused with things so hopefully this question makes sense. We learn that Buffy and Angel are considered Ying and Yang and that according to Giles both Buffy and Angel will truly Become; they are the New Kind, yet at the same time Willow realizes that it's meant to be Buffy because of her connection to the vamps in her life. I guess my question is, will the reason Angel was Chosen to become the New Kind with Buffy be discussed further? Will we find out why it's specifically him?
Georges: Yes. This is not random. This ties into Angel's history as well.
9. bamph: What was your approach to drawing and handling Buffy/Angel in the next issue coming up? Would you say the Buffy/Angel interaction is different? A continuation of what we saw in this issue? More or less intense? Be as vague as you want.
Georges: This issue was the sex issue, no doubt about that. Next issue will be the talk issue. There are a lot of things going on on a few levels. When you read issue 35 feel free to 'read' into everything you see, chances are it's not random. All will become clear, well, more clear.
10. AndrewCrossett: In the scene where Giles is talking about the god-killing device he was looking for, we see a picture of the Scythe propped up in a corner somewhere. Is this meant to be a picture of the Scythe at this moment, just sitting around somewhere? We haven't seen it since before Buffy got her powers, and some of us thought its absence was significant. So it's present and accounted for?
Georges: We see the Scythe in present time, yes. Brad thought it was funny to show one of the most powerful weapons in the universe just sitting there, now as to what will become of it.....
11. wenxina: First of all, let me just pat you on the back for the art in this issue... it was gorgeous. You absolutely nailed it (that was too easy to not slip in there). Anyway, last we talked, you had started work on #36. How does it feel to finally come full circle; as in to finally work with Joss again on the first full arc since "The Long Way Home"? Has anything changed in the work dynamic since then?
Georges: You're so punny! Joss has a lot to do now that he's back. He's charged himself to take everything that's happened in the last 35 issues and the last 3 years and bring it home. No small feat. It's certainly a lot more comfortable now that we've had a relationship for a while. He still has to write the scripts so they make sense to me and therefore make sense to the reader. I love getting the opportunity to be among the fist people to read a Joss Whedon script. It does feel like it's coming full circle, in more ways than you think. 'The long way home' to take on a whole new meaning now. Nothing much has changed, the scripts are still engaging.
12. wenxina: So, your cover for #37 features a very retro Buffy, and it's a pretty good rendition of her, since she's immediately identifiable. Will we be seeing many flashbacks in the near future?
Georges: That's a good question....
13. Michelle: The Buffyverse has never shied away from showing or heavily implying sexual situations or references. So after the initial shock of seeing all the Buffy and Angel sex scenes, to me it wasn’t as surprising given the character’s history; for instance their reaction to Angel turning human in “I Will Remember You” or their kiss in “Chosen”. I remember in the last Q&A you mentioned you were shocked with what you had to draw for Buffy and Angel but given what you know of the history of the characters and the Verse, were you ultimately surprised by their actions?
Georges: I wasn't surprised by their actions and again this is when I first read the script, I was more surprised at how graphic it was. “Angel takes Buffy from behind” , “Buffy orgasms through an exploding mountain.” I kept thinking this is not sex, this is Super sex! In “I Will Remember You” they're in bed, and in 'Chosen' they're fully clothed, here in issue 34 they lose their clothes in the first couple of pages! And they're naked until the last panel! When you're first reading something like that you're a little taken back!
14. bamph: I know you can't say what it is but does the final arc of the season by Joss have a title yet?
Georges: You know, that's a good question. The script I got doesn't have a heading on it. I'm sure there is but I don't know it.
15. Dorotea: You have done amazing work in this issue - it is hot as hell and not at all offensive to any sensibilities. Loved it. My 1st question is about the few last panels of issue 34 - the Plane of Twilight. The landscape is beautiful and eerie - and somehow I got the hints of (a) Avatar the movie , and (b) the Fairyland - literally in there. Maybe it was the flowers, or the spiral trees or the giant stone head ( reminded me of some of the Baldur's Gate screens of the Elven Sacred Grove - that's a computer game if you are wondering, based in Forgotten Realms). So, my question is - am I anywhere near close in my associations? Were you aiming for anything of a kind or just some generic fantastic landscape? What was your inspiration for these drawings?
Georges: I think I like your references better. I can see the Avatar ref, but really, we were trying to go more for images on the album covers from the group YES. Which in a weird way is where I wanna say Avatar got their influence.
16. Dorotea: Who was behind the idea for dressed-as-Greek-Gods Buffy and Angel in these same panels - was it your decision or were you instructed how to draw them?
Georges: If you mean the end of the issue I think it was done more in the way of being nondescript. Clothing is going to be more of a statement next issue so we didn't want them to be wearing anything too involved. You'll see why next issue.
17. Dorotea: Finally - my most spoilerish 3rd question - was it meant to appear that the demon horde is entering the Earth dimension via the same portal that Buffy and Angel tore through on their way to Twilight ?
Georges: I don't think it's ever said that it's the same portal, just that Buffy and Angel's actions have opened one. Them doing what they did gave way to the demons coming through.
18. cheryl: Did you (and the PTB) get the reaction from the fans that you anticipated concerning Buffy and Angel getting physical with each other in the last issue? Beautifully drawn, I have to add.
Georges: Well thanks! I haven't heard much reaction about the issue yet. This Q&A is really the first time I'm getting reader reaction. I was just way concerned when drawing this issue, with making sure I could get across what Brad and Joss wanted and creatively covering up the parts that had to be covered up. I can only hope that if Sarah Michelle and David ever see this issue they come away feeling I did them justice. (Imagine being one of those actors right now and a friend or relative of theirs coming up to them and saying something like, ‘my cousin says he saw you and Angel having sex in a comic book!')
19. cheryl: Can we expect more really big twists coming this season; character appearances, relationships, deaths, etc...
Georges: Yes to all of that!
20. cheryl: If the answer is yes, without spelling out the spoiler, what do you predict the fan reaction will be with the next twist?
Georges: Well if I were reading the next issue (#35) I would be pissed looking at the image on the last page, and forced to wait 3 months to find out what happens now?!
21. phaeton08: With this season's penchant for bringing back some of the original scoobies, is there any chance that we may see our favorite Higher Being...Cordelia Chase in either a flashback or an actual reappearance?
Georges: Wow, that seems oddly random. I think Cordy is one of the characters that has gotten the shaft in the Buffyverse, I think. It's almost like she's been conveniently written out of any type of future. Although, her last episode on Angel was great. If you have to go, that's a good ending. I don't think we'll be seeing Cordy this season.
22. bamph: How should Buffy/Angel shippers feel after the latest issue now and what it means to their ship? A sense of fear and worry? A sense of joy and hope?
Georges: Well this is Joss who's doing this, so I'm going to say, all of it. The Season ain’t over yet and there are lots more surprises around the corner before it does. And really, since when has Joss tied up anything in a neat bow?
23. bamph: Willow says that Buffy's truest loves are vampires and we get a shot of Angel in the foreground and Spike sort of behind him. First of all, how accurate are Willow's conclusions since Buffy's feelings for Spike are vague and a great source of debate still in fandom as far as it being romantic love and on equal & the same terms, the same kind of love as for Angel? Especially with things like in issue 3 with Buffy leaning more to Angel than Spike and such. Secondly, should we read anything into your art showing Angel in the foreground versus Spike more behind Angel?
Georges: I think you could read that in order of affection. I think Angel would be in front and Spike would be slightly behind to show their order in Buffy's heart. Spike knows that Buffy doesn't love him the way she loves Angel, he all but said it in Season 7 “Chosen”, I also think that he's happy just to be in some sort of pecking order for her affections. Haven't you ever liked someone who was either out of your league or didn't like you back as much? Any bit of affection they gave you would speak volumes. I had a similar situation in my youth where I was so into this girl and she was nice and all, but she never returned the affection, and it wasn't that she didn't like me she just never liked me in a romantic way. Then one day we all were at a class field trip to a fair and said girl held my hand when we rode the swings together. I was over the moon! There have been many highs in my life emotionally, but I gotta tell ya, that time on the swing, with that girl holding my hand, has yet to burn itself out of my memory. Maybe that's what Spike holds on to?
24. bamph: After this issue and the rain of demons that has started as a result of the arrival of Twilight. Are we getting closer to this from the Fray series?
Speaking for myself,it sure feels like it but is that the right track to be thinking?
Georges: Interesting...
25. cheryl: The return to Buffy and Angel's relationship is something appreciated greatly but there are other relationship dynamics that are very important to fans, like the Scooby bond aka core four. Any chance that we will see some great bonding and loving moments yet this season for them?
Georges: Haven't we been having those moments throughout Season 8? At some point or another, there has been some serious face time with all the Scoobies. Giles and Buffy. Xander and Dawn. Willow and Kennedy. Just to name a few.
26. Hellbound Hyperion: I believe this is the first time you've gotten to draw Fray for the book, isn't it, since Karl Moline took over during "Time of Your Life". How was she - difficult, easy, about the same as any of the characters you're so used to drawing at this point?
Georges: While I didn't draw the Fray arc, I did draw the covers to those issues, of which Melaka was on two. I like her as a character and I took great pains to make sure when she was back to back with Buffy on a cover to get her proportions just right. I'd love the chance to draw her again.
27. Nixennacht: I noticed that there were a lot of black fences, trees and other stuff in front of the sex panels. Since I like it when comic books keep the human body natural when naked (the way they did the sex scenes in Y: The Last Man for example) I was wondering why they were put there? If it had been your own choice would you have put them there? Do you think that the censorship takes a bit from the intended force of nature drive of the pictures?
Georges: This is a question that had you asked me 10 years ago I would have answered differently. While I've stated I'm not a prude about nudity or sex, I do tend to see it as a private act. If it were up to me, I would have shown a lot less if only to give the characters a sense of privacy. We always knew if Angel and Buffy ever got together again that it would be hot and heavy, but I would regard the Angel episode “I Will Remember You” as being less is more. Very much the way Max Fleischer drew, in the old Superman cartoons, Supes changing into his costume through obstructed views, I would have done that with this issue. That's just me. I do like the idea that from now on we can all say we've certainly seen Buffy and Angel getting it on, but from here on I would leave them in private when it comes to sex. Having said that, I tried to make their coupling as tasteful as I could. I haven't read too much backlash on being so graphic so maybe I did good.
28. woundeddwarf: First I wanna say that your artwork is totally awesome, and beg to you stay on board for S9. And now for my question.....What are the odds that we'll ever get a chance to see the Buffy/Angel sex panels you drew, but for whatever reason, didn't make it into the book?
Georges: Well thanks for the compliment, and Season 9 remains undetermined with me. As far as the sex that didn't make it onto the book, there really wasn't any. I would say I probably cropped a lot of those scenes a little more to hide the naughty bits, but that's all. I will say that any extra stuff always ends up in the sketch books that I put out which you can always get on my site (www.kabalounge.com).
29. bridge: Considering that men didn't wear suits in 1680, is it a hint that there's a fault in Giles' story?
Georges: I don't know if I was putting them in suits as such, I do remember trying to put them in ruffles and vests and clothing like that. I think it didn't really come through in the coloring but the figures are so small I don't think there was much room for detail of that nature. I don't think Giles is lying.
30. stormwreath: Willow's magical vision-image of Buffy and Angel in glowing yellow light; was that intended to be present-day Buffy or a flashback to Season 1 Buffy? (It looked like the second to me.) And was the voiceover text on a blue box in that first scene meant to be Buffy speaking?
Georges: Very astute of you! Yes that image is supposed to hearken back to Buffy and Angel Season One. The dialog is still Xander and Willow talking to each other though.
*NOTE: I think it's safe to say that the narrator in the blue box is Buffy. Georges thought you were talking about the text boxes in the panel of Willow with the glowy vision.
31. wenxina: So, I recognized two of the Slayers you drew in the exposition montage. The first one being of course the first Slayer, and the second one being Claudine (from "The Innocent"). Kudos on making them both instantly recognizable. In fact, even the vampire you drew in battle with the first Slayer was the same one in the Prologue to Tales of the Slayers. So two art questions for you: Why those two Slayers specifically? Were they specified, or did you just choose them for a particular reason? Secondly, what was your inspiration for the other Slayers that appeared in the sequence (the black girl, the flapper, the Indian girl)? Were they based off specific Slayers in other works, or did you just design them from scratch?
Georges: As to the first question, (And don't you just love getting the last word in, Xian?!) there is a reason these girls are Slayers you might recognize, and anyone who hasn't gone out and picked up Tales of the Slayers and Tales of the Vampires, I encourage you to do so. There has been some subtle referencing to these two series that really gives you great insight to what it was like being a slayer through the ages. Next issue I think your first question will have more of an answer to it. As for the second, I just threw in Slayers that we may have not seen. Brad had asked for some period specific slayers in this issue so I just drew some with more of an eye to period clothing than anything else. I also tried to hint at the Slayer who came right before Buffy.
You know, I have to say I'm surprised. You usually have a great fan base here with sharp-eyed readers that seem to catch every little pop reference I tend to throw in, but no one's made mention to what I thought to be a glaringly obvious one.
I'll give you a hint: think musicals!
*NOTE:
Rules are simple: Maximum of three (3) questions per member until I submit your questions to Jeanty. I will post a note to let you know when I send off questions to reopen the floor. As always, there is a possibility of a delay, so thanks for your patience. Keep it clean, keep it civil. Simple right? Entries are welcome until I post a closing post. Questions regarding Twilight NO LONGER HAVE TO SPOILER-TAGGED! (Thank goodness... it was a pain having to make sure that the appropriate questions/answers were spoiler-tagged).
Anyone who's reading this and not a member, I'm accepting questions at wenxina@slayalive.com. Feel free to send me your questions and I'll add them to the queue with credit to you.
Please note that Georges is often not really at liberty to divulge big spoilers, so don't waste those questions here... "No spoilers/comment" is a reasonable response to those.
Alright... GO!
1. bamph and moscowwatcher: Your cover for Buffy #37 was released earlier in the week. It has a lot of creepy mood. Can you talk about how you designed it and its inspiration? Is it a homage to any particular comic? A movie? A TV show?
Georges: If it's a homage it's more a homage to Buffy Season one. And maybe that's all I should say.
2. AndrewCrossett: Satsu is my favorite new character of Season 8, and I know you like her. Her relationship with Buffy is a dead issue now, but will we get to see her step forward and do interesting and cool things in the remainder of the season?
Georges: I would love to say yes because I do like her so much, but with all these characters returning for the big finish it's unlikely that she'll get too much time in the spotlight. I don't know what the specifics are, mind you, I would be happy just to see Satsu make it to the end alive.
3. bamph: So what was your approach to drawing and handling the Buffy/Angel sex in the issue?Any specific directions from Brad or Joss?
Georges: There was so much back and forth as you might imagine. When I first read the script I thought, now how the hell am I supposed to do this? This issue is literally porn! I had no idea how I could draw the issue and it not get those little censored bars all over it. I think the main thing everyone wanted was to show sexy and not pornographic, but some of those scenes the way they were written I kept thinking how the hell am I supposed to do this? Even with the printed issue, I still think there are some scenes that were a little far out there. Not that I'm a prude, I love sex as much as the next guy, but I really didn't want fans writing in saying that 'you've reduced Buffy to glam porn just to sell books’. I sent a lot of drawings to Joss and Brad asking 'is this going too far?' We all wanted the same thing, and after a lot of sketches back and forth, I think we have something that all involved were very happy with.
4. cheryl: Should we have noticed that Angel says they are "the key" while Giles implies they are becoming Gods and in this universe a god doesn't open a dimension without a key. Can they be both? Keys and Gods? ex: Glory needed Dawn, the key, to open her dimension.
Georges: Good train of thought... keep going...
5. cheryl: Joss jokingly stated that we would get three days of B/A porn because that's what America needs, in an interview, in light of this very sexual issue, should we take him literally?
Georges: I'm not sure what the 3 days meant, but as you can see, you have been treated to some images most people thought they'd never see. This is a first for Buffy and Angel. The first time they did this we just saw a little sweat, now we're concerned whether or not the world is going to survive!
6. cheryl: Angel has been powered up for some time now, much longer than Buffy, can you tell us anything about why Angel powered up first and if that had something to do with this connection between them?
Georges: Yes. And No. You'll find out more about that next issue.
7. Hellbound Hyperion: Aside from being practical for hiding naughty bits, was the Rorschach ink-blot motif throughout the B/A sex scenes done for any particular reason? I thoroughly enjoyed that, particularly the first panel. Well done!
Georges: I think it was more of a parallel to what you see and what you think it is. Like a Rorschach is only an image on a paper, it's your imagination gives it meaning. Like Buffy and Angel, you may just see them hooking up, but there is so much more to going on. We are coming to the final stretch of Season 8 and while there will be answers I think people will try to understand the events that follow the way they see it. That's what I think Brad was trying to say.
8. Michelle: Hi Georges, I'm a little confused with things so hopefully this question makes sense. We learn that Buffy and Angel are considered Ying and Yang and that according to Giles both Buffy and Angel will truly Become; they are the New Kind, yet at the same time Willow realizes that it's meant to be Buffy because of her connection to the vamps in her life. I guess my question is, will the reason Angel was Chosen to become the New Kind with Buffy be discussed further? Will we find out why it's specifically him?
Georges: Yes. This is not random. This ties into Angel's history as well.
9. bamph: What was your approach to drawing and handling Buffy/Angel in the next issue coming up? Would you say the Buffy/Angel interaction is different? A continuation of what we saw in this issue? More or less intense? Be as vague as you want.
Georges: This issue was the sex issue, no doubt about that. Next issue will be the talk issue. There are a lot of things going on on a few levels. When you read issue 35 feel free to 'read' into everything you see, chances are it's not random. All will become clear, well, more clear.
10. AndrewCrossett: In the scene where Giles is talking about the god-killing device he was looking for, we see a picture of the Scythe propped up in a corner somewhere. Is this meant to be a picture of the Scythe at this moment, just sitting around somewhere? We haven't seen it since before Buffy got her powers, and some of us thought its absence was significant. So it's present and accounted for?
Georges: We see the Scythe in present time, yes. Brad thought it was funny to show one of the most powerful weapons in the universe just sitting there, now as to what will become of it.....
11. wenxina: First of all, let me just pat you on the back for the art in this issue... it was gorgeous. You absolutely nailed it (that was too easy to not slip in there). Anyway, last we talked, you had started work on #36. How does it feel to finally come full circle; as in to finally work with Joss again on the first full arc since "The Long Way Home"? Has anything changed in the work dynamic since then?
Georges: You're so punny! Joss has a lot to do now that he's back. He's charged himself to take everything that's happened in the last 35 issues and the last 3 years and bring it home. No small feat. It's certainly a lot more comfortable now that we've had a relationship for a while. He still has to write the scripts so they make sense to me and therefore make sense to the reader. I love getting the opportunity to be among the fist people to read a Joss Whedon script. It does feel like it's coming full circle, in more ways than you think. 'The long way home' to take on a whole new meaning now. Nothing much has changed, the scripts are still engaging.
12. wenxina: So, your cover for #37 features a very retro Buffy, and it's a pretty good rendition of her, since she's immediately identifiable. Will we be seeing many flashbacks in the near future?
Georges: That's a good question....
13. Michelle: The Buffyverse has never shied away from showing or heavily implying sexual situations or references. So after the initial shock of seeing all the Buffy and Angel sex scenes, to me it wasn’t as surprising given the character’s history; for instance their reaction to Angel turning human in “I Will Remember You” or their kiss in “Chosen”. I remember in the last Q&A you mentioned you were shocked with what you had to draw for Buffy and Angel but given what you know of the history of the characters and the Verse, were you ultimately surprised by their actions?
Georges: I wasn't surprised by their actions and again this is when I first read the script, I was more surprised at how graphic it was. “Angel takes Buffy from behind” , “Buffy orgasms through an exploding mountain.” I kept thinking this is not sex, this is Super sex! In “I Will Remember You” they're in bed, and in 'Chosen' they're fully clothed, here in issue 34 they lose their clothes in the first couple of pages! And they're naked until the last panel! When you're first reading something like that you're a little taken back!
14. bamph: I know you can't say what it is but does the final arc of the season by Joss have a title yet?
Georges: You know, that's a good question. The script I got doesn't have a heading on it. I'm sure there is but I don't know it.
15. Dorotea: You have done amazing work in this issue - it is hot as hell and not at all offensive to any sensibilities. Loved it. My 1st question is about the few last panels of issue 34 - the Plane of Twilight. The landscape is beautiful and eerie - and somehow I got the hints of (a) Avatar the movie , and (b) the Fairyland - literally in there. Maybe it was the flowers, or the spiral trees or the giant stone head ( reminded me of some of the Baldur's Gate screens of the Elven Sacred Grove - that's a computer game if you are wondering, based in Forgotten Realms). So, my question is - am I anywhere near close in my associations? Were you aiming for anything of a kind or just some generic fantastic landscape? What was your inspiration for these drawings?
Georges: I think I like your references better. I can see the Avatar ref, but really, we were trying to go more for images on the album covers from the group YES. Which in a weird way is where I wanna say Avatar got their influence.
16. Dorotea: Who was behind the idea for dressed-as-Greek-Gods Buffy and Angel in these same panels - was it your decision or were you instructed how to draw them?
Georges: If you mean the end of the issue I think it was done more in the way of being nondescript. Clothing is going to be more of a statement next issue so we didn't want them to be wearing anything too involved. You'll see why next issue.
17. Dorotea: Finally - my most spoilerish 3rd question - was it meant to appear that the demon horde is entering the Earth dimension via the same portal that Buffy and Angel tore through on their way to Twilight ?
Georges: I don't think it's ever said that it's the same portal, just that Buffy and Angel's actions have opened one. Them doing what they did gave way to the demons coming through.
18. cheryl: Did you (and the PTB) get the reaction from the fans that you anticipated concerning Buffy and Angel getting physical with each other in the last issue? Beautifully drawn, I have to add.
Georges: Well thanks! I haven't heard much reaction about the issue yet. This Q&A is really the first time I'm getting reader reaction. I was just way concerned when drawing this issue, with making sure I could get across what Brad and Joss wanted and creatively covering up the parts that had to be covered up. I can only hope that if Sarah Michelle and David ever see this issue they come away feeling I did them justice. (Imagine being one of those actors right now and a friend or relative of theirs coming up to them and saying something like, ‘my cousin says he saw you and Angel having sex in a comic book!')
19. cheryl: Can we expect more really big twists coming this season; character appearances, relationships, deaths, etc...
Georges: Yes to all of that!
20. cheryl: If the answer is yes, without spelling out the spoiler, what do you predict the fan reaction will be with the next twist?
Georges: Well if I were reading the next issue (#35) I would be pissed looking at the image on the last page, and forced to wait 3 months to find out what happens now?!
21. phaeton08: With this season's penchant for bringing back some of the original scoobies, is there any chance that we may see our favorite Higher Being...Cordelia Chase in either a flashback or an actual reappearance?
Georges: Wow, that seems oddly random. I think Cordy is one of the characters that has gotten the shaft in the Buffyverse, I think. It's almost like she's been conveniently written out of any type of future. Although, her last episode on Angel was great. If you have to go, that's a good ending. I don't think we'll be seeing Cordy this season.
22. bamph: How should Buffy/Angel shippers feel after the latest issue now and what it means to their ship? A sense of fear and worry? A sense of joy and hope?
Georges: Well this is Joss who's doing this, so I'm going to say, all of it. The Season ain’t over yet and there are lots more surprises around the corner before it does. And really, since when has Joss tied up anything in a neat bow?
23. bamph: Willow says that Buffy's truest loves are vampires and we get a shot of Angel in the foreground and Spike sort of behind him. First of all, how accurate are Willow's conclusions since Buffy's feelings for Spike are vague and a great source of debate still in fandom as far as it being romantic love and on equal & the same terms, the same kind of love as for Angel? Especially with things like in issue 3 with Buffy leaning more to Angel than Spike and such. Secondly, should we read anything into your art showing Angel in the foreground versus Spike more behind Angel?
Georges: I think you could read that in order of affection. I think Angel would be in front and Spike would be slightly behind to show their order in Buffy's heart. Spike knows that Buffy doesn't love him the way she loves Angel, he all but said it in Season 7 “Chosen”, I also think that he's happy just to be in some sort of pecking order for her affections. Haven't you ever liked someone who was either out of your league or didn't like you back as much? Any bit of affection they gave you would speak volumes. I had a similar situation in my youth where I was so into this girl and she was nice and all, but she never returned the affection, and it wasn't that she didn't like me she just never liked me in a romantic way. Then one day we all were at a class field trip to a fair and said girl held my hand when we rode the swings together. I was over the moon! There have been many highs in my life emotionally, but I gotta tell ya, that time on the swing, with that girl holding my hand, has yet to burn itself out of my memory. Maybe that's what Spike holds on to?
24. bamph: After this issue and the rain of demons that has started as a result of the arrival of Twilight. Are we getting closer to this from the Fray series?
Speaking for myself,it sure feels like it but is that the right track to be thinking?
Georges: Interesting...
25. cheryl: The return to Buffy and Angel's relationship is something appreciated greatly but there are other relationship dynamics that are very important to fans, like the Scooby bond aka core four. Any chance that we will see some great bonding and loving moments yet this season for them?
Georges: Haven't we been having those moments throughout Season 8? At some point or another, there has been some serious face time with all the Scoobies. Giles and Buffy. Xander and Dawn. Willow and Kennedy. Just to name a few.
26. Hellbound Hyperion: I believe this is the first time you've gotten to draw Fray for the book, isn't it, since Karl Moline took over during "Time of Your Life". How was she - difficult, easy, about the same as any of the characters you're so used to drawing at this point?
Georges: While I didn't draw the Fray arc, I did draw the covers to those issues, of which Melaka was on two. I like her as a character and I took great pains to make sure when she was back to back with Buffy on a cover to get her proportions just right. I'd love the chance to draw her again.
27. Nixennacht: I noticed that there were a lot of black fences, trees and other stuff in front of the sex panels. Since I like it when comic books keep the human body natural when naked (the way they did the sex scenes in Y: The Last Man for example) I was wondering why they were put there? If it had been your own choice would you have put them there? Do you think that the censorship takes a bit from the intended force of nature drive of the pictures?
Georges: This is a question that had you asked me 10 years ago I would have answered differently. While I've stated I'm not a prude about nudity or sex, I do tend to see it as a private act. If it were up to me, I would have shown a lot less if only to give the characters a sense of privacy. We always knew if Angel and Buffy ever got together again that it would be hot and heavy, but I would regard the Angel episode “I Will Remember You” as being less is more. Very much the way Max Fleischer drew, in the old Superman cartoons, Supes changing into his costume through obstructed views, I would have done that with this issue. That's just me. I do like the idea that from now on we can all say we've certainly seen Buffy and Angel getting it on, but from here on I would leave them in private when it comes to sex. Having said that, I tried to make their coupling as tasteful as I could. I haven't read too much backlash on being so graphic so maybe I did good.
28. woundeddwarf: First I wanna say that your artwork is totally awesome, and beg to you stay on board for S9. And now for my question.....What are the odds that we'll ever get a chance to see the Buffy/Angel sex panels you drew, but for whatever reason, didn't make it into the book?
Georges: Well thanks for the compliment, and Season 9 remains undetermined with me. As far as the sex that didn't make it onto the book, there really wasn't any. I would say I probably cropped a lot of those scenes a little more to hide the naughty bits, but that's all. I will say that any extra stuff always ends up in the sketch books that I put out which you can always get on my site (www.kabalounge.com).
29. bridge: Considering that men didn't wear suits in 1680, is it a hint that there's a fault in Giles' story?
Georges: I don't know if I was putting them in suits as such, I do remember trying to put them in ruffles and vests and clothing like that. I think it didn't really come through in the coloring but the figures are so small I don't think there was much room for detail of that nature. I don't think Giles is lying.
30. stormwreath: Willow's magical vision-image of Buffy and Angel in glowing yellow light; was that intended to be present-day Buffy or a flashback to Season 1 Buffy? (It looked like the second to me.) And was the voiceover text on a blue box in that first scene meant to be Buffy speaking?
Georges: Very astute of you! Yes that image is supposed to hearken back to Buffy and Angel Season One. The dialog is still Xander and Willow talking to each other though.
*NOTE: I think it's safe to say that the narrator in the blue box is Buffy. Georges thought you were talking about the text boxes in the panel of Willow with the glowy vision.
31. wenxina: So, I recognized two of the Slayers you drew in the exposition montage. The first one being of course the first Slayer, and the second one being Claudine (from "The Innocent"). Kudos on making them both instantly recognizable. In fact, even the vampire you drew in battle with the first Slayer was the same one in the Prologue to Tales of the Slayers. So two art questions for you: Why those two Slayers specifically? Were they specified, or did you just choose them for a particular reason? Secondly, what was your inspiration for the other Slayers that appeared in the sequence (the black girl, the flapper, the Indian girl)? Were they based off specific Slayers in other works, or did you just design them from scratch?
Georges: As to the first question, (And don't you just love getting the last word in, Xian?!) there is a reason these girls are Slayers you might recognize, and anyone who hasn't gone out and picked up Tales of the Slayers and Tales of the Vampires, I encourage you to do so. There has been some subtle referencing to these two series that really gives you great insight to what it was like being a slayer through the ages. Next issue I think your first question will have more of an answer to it. As for the second, I just threw in Slayers that we may have not seen. Brad had asked for some period specific slayers in this issue so I just drew some with more of an eye to period clothing than anything else. I also tried to hint at the Slayer who came right before Buffy.
You know, I have to say I'm surprised. You usually have a great fan base here with sharp-eyed readers that seem to catch every little pop reference I tend to throw in, but no one's made mention to what I thought to be a glaringly obvious one.
I'll give you a hint: think musicals!
*NOTE:
He means the Sweeney Todd vampire
