Complex Magazine interview with Joss

[AndrewCrossett]

It's here... stuff relevant to the season 8 comics:

Complex: How long do you see the Season Eight Buffy comic playing out?

Joss Whedon: Well, 40 issues was always the goal, and that’s how we’re playing it. We’re around issue 30 now, we’ve got about 10 to go, five of which I have to write, so I have to get on that. Then we’ll pause for breath and then we’ll start Season Nine.

Actually, by my count he was eight issues to write. The Willow one-shot, issue #31 and the final arc, which has now expanded to 6 issues with the addition of #41.

Complex: So Season Nine is a definite lock?

Joss Whedon: Yeah, unless Dark Horse suddenly doesn’t want it. I have had for a long time a conception for Season Nine that is very different from Season Eight. It may not run as long, because 40 issues sounds great until you realize that it’s four or five years.

"Unless Dark Horse suddenly doesn't want it." Heh, I don't think there's much danger of that.

And on a related note:

"They keep asking for a Dollhouse comic and I tell them that when they can draw Eliza the way she looks in real life we can do one. Other than that, it’s not really worth it."

I wonder if he's serious about that...

[wenxina]

Thanks for sharing. Would like to add that there's supposed to be a two-parter between Meltzer's arc and the final one, at least according to Allie. Those may not be written by Joss. It's funny how a couple of years into this, not all the details have been ironed out yet. I kinda like it, since it just keeps us on our toes all the time to hear the latest intel.

[BlueJay]

I really hope it stays at just 40 issues. Is that even confirmed that itll be 41?
And Andrew, I think the Willow one-shot and #31 are already written so he has only the last five issues left.

[wenxina]

I'd say it's pretty official that we're going to #41. Scott Allie has mentioned the possibility, and he's never one to even hint at anything if it's not something that's pretty set in stone. Jeanty has also stated that it looks like 41 issues now, and he would have to know, considering he's the main artist, and he would need to know when he can move on to other projects (considering he's not doing other gigs until the end of S8).
Hopefully Joss is done writing either #31 or the Willow one-shot. Last we heard, there wasn't a completed script for #31 yet

[AndrewCrossett]

Sept 23, 2009 16:07:10 GMT -5 BlueJay said:

I really hope it stays at just 40 issues. Is that even confirmed that itll be 41?
And Andrew, I think the Willow one-shot and #31 are already written so he has only the last five issues left.

Pretty sure I heard Scott confirm 41 issues recently.

As of the last Q&A, the script for #31 still hadn't been turned in. It may have by now.

Considering how much Joss has on his plate with Dollhouse and Cabin in the Woods, I hope he's not overextending himself with these comics... leading either to late issues or poor quality.

[hitnrun017]

I'm already preparing myself for some delays with the last issues. He seems busier than ever right now, more so than when ToYL was delayed.

[Paul]

Sept 23, 2009 14:20:38 GMT -5 AndrewCrossett said:

"They keep asking for a Dollhouse comic and I tell them that when they can draw Eliza the way she looks in real life we can do one. Other than that, it’s not really worth it."

I wonder if he's serious about that...

Well, isn't the whole concept for Dollhouse that it's a vehicle for Eliza Dushku? Without her, what's the point?

[Wyndam]

Yeah Joss has quite a bit on his plate right now. Dollhouse is filming plus Cabin in the Woods is in post-production by now. I am expecting some delays, but we've had them before and I am used to it by now.

[neowhobaz]

I wonder with how far we're into season 8 if anyone would be able to wager a guess what season nine might be like, especially since joss said it would be very different.