Post by Emmie on Feb 4, 2009 14:01:33 GMT -5
Hey Buffy fans! Dark Horse Editor, Scott Allie, is back for another Q&A to celebrate the release of Buffy Season 8 #22 Swell and the special tie-in from MySpace Dark Horse Presents, Vampy Cat Play Friend.
Here's how we roll: one question per post and do not submit another question til the pending one has been answered. Remember, Scott will not be giving away spoilers so keep that in mind when you're posting - please avoid asking spoiler questions. I'll be sending along the first round of questions this evening around 9pm. Scott is already in New York for the Comic Con this weekend and is still graciously offering his time to answer our questions, so a special thanks to him for fitting us into his busy schedule.
If you're not a member of Slayalive, now is a great time to join and submit a question. Everyone is welcome to participate.
1. pablo: Now that S.8 is halfway through its storyline, has any side-project, spin-off or mini-series been brought up? Angel: After the Fall had Spike:AtF, for istance, and it just came up while working on the main series, it wasn't even planned.
Scott Allie: Still nothing major, but a small side project will be announced this weekend in New York.
2. iloveromy: When are we going to be able to get our Vampy Cat Play Friend plush toys?! Whose brilliant idea was it to have Vampy Cat?
Scott Allie: I can't remember if Vampy Cat was Steven's idea or Joss's. We've talked about bringing stuffed figures out as merchandise—would people really want them?
3. hitnrun017: Is there a Dark Horse Presents planned for every issue of Predators and Prey?
Scott Allie: There is not. We considered it at one point, but for now it's just these two. These two really cried out for it, we felt.
4. bamph: I've been curious ever since the Jo Chen cover for today's issue was revealed about what went into the design of Satsu on it.All of Jo's covers are based on the actors who played the characters. Buffy looks like Sarah Michelle Gellar ,Dawn looks like Michelle Trachtenberg, Harmony looks like Mercedes McNab, Iyari Limon looks like Kennedy and so on and so on. But Satsu is a original character to season 8 and was never played in live action. Yet Jo's covers look so photo realistic that Satsu does look like her likeness is based on a real person even though no actor has played her. So what went into that and how much say did Jo Chen have in the design of Satsu since she is not based on a Buffy actor?
Scott Allie: When it was time for Jo to do this cover, we asked Georges, the only artist to have drawn Satsu so far, the one who truly designed her, for a real person to base her on. I'm not gonna say who that was, but I believe Georges actually offered two people, and then Jo went from there.
5. Trey: Without being too spoilerish, I'm just gonna keep my question plain and simple - any more plans for Satsu?
Scott Allie: Yeah, Satsu will continue to have a role in Season Eight.
6. weredog: Jeanty's art is outstanding, especially his great attention to detail (ie. facial expressions). How many days/weeks is he given from the time he is handed the script to the time he submits his work?
Scott Allie: Well, Georges usually spends between five and six weeks per issues. Sometimes less. It's not really a question of the time between getting the script and turning in the last pages, but from when he starts laying out the pages, and turns the last page in. We try to have the script to him before he's ready to start laying out pages, before he's done with the previous issue.
7. cdb19: Since Buffy Season 8 and Angel After the Fall currently seem to be swaying into a similar area of public awareness of the supernatural will the burning fan questions of the the two continuities being reconciled e.g. Harmony and L.A. be answered anytime soon in the future?
Scott Allie: I believe you'll have your answers, but they might require reformulating your questions.
8. rogue11: Will Kennedy and Satsu have any further meetings? It seems like Satsu could be a possible new girlfriend for Kennedy if things don't work out with Willow.
Scott Allie: Somewhere on the internet people are mad at you for asking. But in answer to your actual question—Yes, they will meet again soon.
9. Nicholas: Will the original four Scooby Gang members ever be truly close again? They seem to have really grown apart this season.
Scott Allie: I think so, yeah. They'll be back together before it's over, at the very least.
10. trunkstheslayer: What are the odds of seeing either Robin in the future again?
Scott Allie: No current plans. Sorry, no odds...
11. richieshag: Considering that the character Spike will not be in Angel: Aftermath, as revealed by Kelley Armstrong in a recent interview, and we do not know of any future plans for said character, is it possible that there will at least be a mention of him, now that (spoiler) Angel is a celebrity and Harmony is everywhere?
Scott Allie: No spoilers, sorry.
12. tenshi: Is there any chance to see an Angel Omnibus after Buffy Omnibus #7?
Scott Allie: We don't currently have rights to publish Angel comics, so no plans for that.
13. bamph: After today's issue and Twilight's connection to the vampy cats, is it safe to assume that Twilight has some type of role in Harmony becoming famous if not directly behind it than manipulating it?
Scott Allie: I feel like I can't answer of any of today's questions...
14. pablo: After the Robin standalone and TOYL, can we expect Buffy and Willow to iron out their resentment and differences once for all or will s.8 just keep building tension between the two characters?
Scott Allie: Their relationship is part of the point of the story. So you gotta wait--
15. bishopcruz: Throughout the series we have seen that the gang has gotten more than a bit of military training. I mean flying a helicopter is one thing, but in this issue we saw the Japan squad piloting a military submarine, something that takes a not inconsequential amount of training and crew to pilot. How did they learn all of this stuff?
Scott Allie: Emmie tells me this has been a topic of some discussion. With all the resources the Slayers have managed to exploit, I think it's reasonable to assume that they could have either recruited girls that had the military background, or gotten the information through nefarious means and studied it sufficiently. Their means are not insignificant. For seven years on the show we saw Willow's ability to answer any question with what must only have been a Google search. With an army of hundreds of girls worldwide, and considerable military equipment already in their possession, there are a lot of ways they could have prepared for this, I think. And with the girls spending all of their time training, you must realize that it's not all martial arts.
But this is the sort of question that, as a writer, you give a moment's consideration to, decide that it's plausible—given the other things about the stories we've all accepted—and move on. I don't think these are the sorts of things for which we should stop the story cold, in order to provide an explanation. Shakespeare has a great line, which I've got to look up because I reference it so often. When asked about a particular off-stage plot point, something to do with how a character got from point A to point B, the bard said something along the lines of, "I could have come up with an explanation for that, but it wasn't interesting." Now, I think the key here is more the "could have" than the "wasn't interesting." If he felt he could not come up with an explanation, then he should have changed that thing which he could not explain. But since he knew the explanation was sitting there waiting for him, the lack of interest meant it had no place in the story. That, I think, applies here. How could an organization with agents worldwide, seemingly unlimited funding, and both magic and high tech on their side, come up with the skills to pilot a submarine? I think they could have worked it out.
I think the thing with Warren being dead was more of a gotcha, as Sarah Palin might say.
16. tigerfan: In a previous Q&A you mentioned that Xander was one of the top juicy story arcs for you this season. Will this arc begin in #25 (since its been said to focus on Dawn and Xander) or do we have to wait a bit longer. If that's too spoilerish than will #25, be more focus on the Dawn and Xander or more Dawn and Buffy with Xander along for the ride?
Scott Allie: I mean his whole arc, beginning, you might say, with the Renee romance. But #25 focuses more on Dawn and Buffy's dynamic than anything to do with Xander, although he has some great moments.
17. Nicholas: Will we ever figure out how Buffys resurrection caused an imbalance in the Slayer line and gave the First the opportunity to attack as told in S7?
Scott Allie: Well, I don't know about you figuring it out, but it won't be a topic that we're gonna address in Season Eight. Joss never really goes back to explain old storylines, does he? I was on a panel about social networking and comics today, and I talked a little about this board. Joe Quesada was on the panel too—he runs Marvel Comics. He talked about how if the fans react to a storyline, they can address it immediately—if there's something the fans don't like, Marvel can "fix it" in about three months with the next issue. I thought, Hm, we sort of don't operate like that ... In little ways, like spelling out the lip gloss thing, but in general, the story is as Joss sees fit. And I like that.
18. Whedon Fan: I know it's been a year and a half since the hellmouth battle but still. Any chance of a flashback scene set in between the end of season 7 and season 8. Anya's funeral perhaps, or a quick scene with the scoobies deciding what to do next? I just feel like there is too big a gap left between season 7 and season 8 any filler would be nice. Hopefully I'm not the only one that feels this way. Thanks:)
Scott Allie: You're probably not the only one that feels that way, but see above. And didn't almost every season leave a summer-long gap between storylines? I can think of one exception. But in general, the stories are meant to be complete, and somewhat independent, and not much reason to look back a lot.
19. Cowboy Guy: Any chance you might be able to tell us the title of Issue 26?
Scott Allie: "Retreat." Think about it ... I know you will.
20. bamph: Kennedy was a much disliked character by many in season 7. Not all but good bunch disliked her. One of the things season 8 has done so far in my opinion, and "Swell' in particular, is make Kennedy a much more likable character. Do you know if this was a conscious decision by Joss and especially Steve DeKnight as a sort of reaction to the negative feedback Kennedy generated in season 7 or is it just a happy coincidence that Kennedy seems more likable in season 8?
Scott Allie: Well, I know Joss really likes both the character and the actress, and at the end of Season Seven, she still had an important role—a significant Slayer, and Willow's girlfriend. So that meant she belonged in Season Eight, and it meant Joss would continue to grow her as a hero. Why she's more likeable here than in the TV show, I don't know. Maybe simply because now she's a real Slayer, and before she was one more girl starting her training.
21. sarahi: I was wondering if there isn't anything too spoilery for you to tell us about the Oz arc. Now that Kennedy has been seen in her own light, will Oz and Willow's past be any part of the plot?
Scott Allie: Oh, man, the #26-30 arc is COMPLICATED. I think when you see Jane's cover you'll freak out. Note that it's the first arc to run a full five issues on one storyline. Right now, the way Jane's dived into it—and the first script is complete, and Georges is starting on it now—I feel like every question I've had will be answered, no stone unturned, every iteration of these characters' problems explored. So I think Jane will find the time to address the tension of having Willow, Kennedy, and Oz in the same place. It's not a major point of the plot, some kind of triangle between them, but it will be an element.
22. xander000: Not sure if it's been ask in the past, but is Kumiko truly dead or will we see more of her?
Scott Allie: When doing a comic like this, it's always good to leave some things open. You'll have to wait and see if Kumiko is dead or not, and you might have to wait for another Season to ever find out. Wiiiiiide open.
23. hitnrun017: Compared to the series and other issues, Vampy Cat Plays Friend and Swell were very high in gore and language. Is there a limit at what can be said or shown in the comics? If not, do you just try to keep it in tone with the show?
Scott Allie: Just try to keep with the tone of the show. We have no official policy on our books—Criminal Macabre is full of profanity, and the language in Usagi Yojimbo is G-rated. I generally try to avoid profanity as it might be defined on network TV, on books that I aim to get kids reading. But with Buffy the main thing is simply to stick with the show, which offered a perfect balance of edgy and acceptable.
24. sarahi: What's going on with Willow's wardrobe? She seems to be changing her style around lately, an example being her overalls in Issue 20.
Scott Allie: Georges is the most fashion-conscious comics artist I know. I love how he dresses the girls, and I know a lot of thought goes into it, but this isn't something we've discussed.
25. trunktheslayer: Since you (Scott you, not another 'you') asked "would people really want them?" in regards to the Vampy Cat plushie idea, is there any way for (at least those of us who are clamoring for one) to, for lack of a better word, push for it? It's something that's been ringing in my head since reading the MDHP short and adoring the psychotic little fluff ball. (As it happens, I actually know of at least a couple non-Buffy fans/readers who I linked to it who instantly replied with an "I WANT ONE!")
....I promise this question wasn't little more than a thinly veiled plead....much ^.^
Scott Allie: Well, part of the problem now is that by the time we could bring something like this to market, this issue would be pretty old, and the Vampy Cats (spoiler!) won't be coming back. This would be such an obscure piece of merchandise, I don't think any but the most hardcore Buffy fans would want it.
26. wenxina: Okay, tree-hugger question. Has there ever been any discussion as how to make comics more eco-friendly? I mean, don't get me wrong, I like my high-quality glossy pages just as much as anyone else, but it doesn't take away the pang of guilt which comes with the realization that glossy paper isn't the most eco-friendly choice. With the popularity of the Kindle (well, they sold out on Amazon.com), and digital downloads in terms of books, music and movies, is there a chance that comics (at least Dark Horse titles) will go green and offer the digital option? That way, there's no shipping costs, a much smaller carbon footprint, and release dates can be the same everywhere, with no delays for the foreign market. Yeah, I know that would suck for comic retailers, but I was just wondering.
Scott Allie: We all think that digital comics will become more and more popular over time, and we had a meeting just the other day where Kindle was discussed, along with iverse, iPhones, and other devices. Re: Kindle, though, it's very easy to sell out if you just make sure you produce fewer than you know you can sell. Selling out makes for a very easy headline to generate to create the perception of demand.
There are a lot of problems with moving to a digital world, though, not least of which being purely aesthetic. We like our comics in our hands, on our shelves. We talk about this all the time—we don't want to be behind the curve, but neither are we eager to see it happen.
27. Emmie: In the Q&A for #20 After These Messages...We'll Be Right Back you said:
"My simple, vague answer is that we can assume that Buffy knows everything that any characters in her organization, like Andrew, know, or could find out. Cordelia's death would be a known fact, I should think, nothing secret about it."
In the first issue of Season 8, we discover that Andrew hasn't been completely honest with Buffy regarding the Immortal and her thoughts indicate that she doesn't know he's connected to Angel and Spike. Can we really assume that Buffy knows everything that Andrew knows when the first issue shows she's not completely in the loop? Isn't it possible that Andrew is privy to information that Buffy is unaware of?
Scott Allie: Of course Buffy doesn't know the full contents of Andrew's, or anyone else's, head. A person can always lie or conceal things, or even forget to mention it. But I think we can assume that Cordelia's death would have come up, that he would have had no reason to keep it a secret. And I think we can imagine a dozen other ways Buffy would have learned about Cordelia. See my Shakespeare reference above.
28. buffycomic: Will any of the future trade paperbacks have any extras besides just the issues collected?
Scott Allie: We've not done that so far, and I think we probably will continue to stick to just story pages. Although Predators and Prey will collect the MDHP stories.
29. sarahi: In Joss Whedon's interview with MTV, he said that there will be an event that will cause pain, and then there was a quote about Buffy and Xander that made it seem like this event involved a development between those two characters. I wouldn't ask for anything less vague than you have to give us, but I have to ask: Is the quote about Buffy and Xander as related to the event Joss mentioned as the MTV columnist made it seem?
Scott Allie: No spoilers. Sorry.
30. tenshi: If Dark Horse doesn't currently have rights to publish Angel (Dark Horse) comics, does IDW (in theory) have rights to publish them? Or these comics are in a kind of "editorial limbo"?
Scott Allie: I'm not entirely sure what IDW's deal would include, but the comics I edited are in limbo.
31. Joe: Can you give us any information on the arc that follows the "Oz" arc?
Scott Allie: Just that it's the Meltzer arc, and that by then things will have really heated up toward the climax.
32. dane5by5: Can you give any insight to the status/planning of Season Nine?
Scott Allie: No planning yet. We're looking forward to the "summer" between Seasons Eight and Nine, when we can rest, and regroup. We've discussed what the major arc of Season Nine would be, but it'd be giving away the end of Season Eight to tell you anything about it.
33. cheryl: I have noticed that a few of the characters are wearing jewerly that could resemble something that a Vengence demon might wear...is that a coincidence? Could we see Anya return? Maybe?
Or D'Hoffryn? I know that might be a little spoilery but anything you can share would be appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions.
Scott Allie: That's a coincidence. No plans for those two characters at this time.
34. Paul370: What would you say the purpose of Renee was in the larger Season Eight story? Obviously, she was a likable character and a cute love interest for Xander, but now that she's gone, I have to look back and wonder why that sub-plot was there. At the time, I thought maybe her death was a way of opening old wounds for Xander regarding Anya, but it's only been lightly touched upon once. Will that relationship continue to have emotional ramifications for Xander, or is Renee just a pleasant footnote in Buffy history?
Scott Allie: Like so many things, I think Renee was there to cause Joss's kids pain. The Renee relationship had a hand in getting Xander to where he is emotionally right now, and setting the stage for his next emotional development.
35. Ethros: You said there no were plans to bring "either Robin" back. In reference to Robin Wood- why?
He was a strong character in Season 7, and as the son of a Slayer and a good fighter he had a prominent place in the gang by the end of the season. Seems if Andrew can lead a Slayer cell, surely Wood can too? Apart from a 'blink and you'll miss it appearance' of "No Future For You pt.1" the guy seems to have been shafted in Season 8, so I just wonder *why* hasn't he ever shown up or at least been mentioned since?
Scott Allie: Robin is a great character. And he is operating in Cleveland, as seen in the first chapter of No Future For You. He just hasn't had a role in this story. None of us intend to "shaft" him—remember, he is a fictional character, and not wounded in any way by not being included. He's just one of the many characters that could have been used, but for whom there wasn't any purpose, and so we can assume he's busy elsewhere. As seen in #6.
36. vampmogs: This is something I've been pretty interested in when reading the comics given Xander's new buffness. We've seen Xander training to spar with Renee, and kill Toru, and fighting the monsters in "Time of Your Life". Does Joss now see Xander as more of a fighter type than he was on television, and can we look forward to Xander scrapping more during Season 8? Maybe his old buddy Riley?"
Scott Allie: Yes, yes, and no spoilers. Xander's role in the organization has given him the opportunity to become more of a warrior himself. He's still not a Slayer, he's not as strong as hardly any of the girls he works with, but he's shed the pounds he gained when his life was going nowhere in Sunnydale.
37. NotaViking: Wasn't the submarine being run by Satsu's squad alone and in secret from the rest of the slayer organisation?
Scott Allie: I think so. Is there another question I'm not understanding?
38. sosalola: I'm wondering about when exactly Dawn became a giant. Did she get huge while in college, causing ciaos and destruction to the building? When did Kenny curse her? Is there a reason why we never heard from Kenny or Dawn's friends at college? Are all these questions gonna be answered in #25?
Scott Allie: I must admit, that's a story I could stand to hear—your first question. The bit about friends from college ... I dunno. She was only there a little while, and then she went halfway across the planet. I think she just didn't stay in touch.
39. Jay: Joss Whedon had said before that he was willing to throw out the entire Season Eight story if a new Buffyverse show materialzed. So does this mean that when he writes this comic, he looks at it as his "plan B", and saves his alternate "plan A" for something on TV?
Scott Allie: You're making me cry.
40. andrewcrossett: We know that vampires are now popular with the general public. Does this mean that they are no longer killing people for some reason? It seems like even reality TV wouldn't be enough to cover up the fact that we have 1 cute blonde vamp on the screen, and all the others are out there killing people on a nightly basis. Presumably not everybody gets their view of reality from a TV show -- the police, for instance, or the Homeland Security department. Is there more of an explanation for this that we haven't gotten yet?
Scott Allie: This is something I think requires a little more explanation over time. The Tales of the Vampires story we announced today, with Becky Cloonan and Vasilis Lolos, will explore this a little bit.
41. Enisy/Maggie: Scott, you have an answer in your latest where you say that you aren't going to do any filler between Season 7 and Season 8. That's specifically in response to a question about whether we'll see Anya's funeral or anything like that. What I want to know is whether we should take your answer to mean that we've been told all we are going to be told about how Buffy the Vampire Slayer evolved into Buffy the Bank Robber. Do you and Joss think that this is such an organic development of her character that we should have no problem filling in the blanks for ourselves (much as we really shouldn't have any problems filling in the blanks about Anya's funeral)?
Scott Allie: Yes, I believe this is all you're going to be told about how Buffy the Vampire Slayer evolved into Buffy the Bank Robber. You might learn a little more by the end of the arc. I do think there's a story there, of how she came to make the decisions to do these things, how she looked at her growing army of Slayers and tried to think of a way to finance it all, and settled for crime. But I don't think that's a story that needs telling in Season Eight. I know that the desire to fill in continuity goes directly against the narrative device of in media res, and I know that Season Eight still has a lot of open questions. I think what's important for Season Eight is understanding how corruption/compromise has affected Buffy, rather than how she came to be a little corrupt. I hope the story is succeeding there, in the long run.
42. El Diablo Robotico: Anyway, issue #5 was unique, in that besides covers by Jo and Georges, there was a third one, done by Paul Lee, who also did the interior artwork for that issue. Was there ever any consideration given to doing the same thing for the other issues that have had guest artists? ie, a Cliff Richards variant for #10, Karl Moline for #16-19, etc.?
Scott Allie: No, after the fact, I thought the three covers was excessive. We did that because I'd asked Paul to do a variant cover, and forgot that I'd told Georges he would do all the variant covers, even for fill-in issues. So we decided to use all three, but again, I think it was too much for retailers to deal with, and too much of a burden on readers who might be completists.
43. unleashthecasey: I know you can't spoil for characters we haven't heard anything about, but since I saw a thing where Georges Jeanty said Xander is going to "hook up" again this season, can you tell us if this will be with one of the women we've already seen this season, or will the lucky lady be somebody new?
Scott Allie: Of course I cannot ...
44. rikr0k: Hey Scott, Whatever happened to the slayer Dana that appeared in Angel Season 5? Will she make any appearence in this season?
Scott Allie: I dunno. Her name's never come up.
45. ponyenglish: I do alot of work on the Buffy wiki and one of my favortie things is the hidden stuff and trivia you guys put into the stories. In Time of Your Life, you told us that there was a very subtle refference hidden in the story. I was wondering if it was the purple limo which, as purple limos go, would be a shout-out to Prince. No? Keep looking?
Scott Allie: Keep looking. I believe the thing I was refering to was a very subtle Alan Moore reference that Karl worked in.
46. Trey: OK, so today I discovered that someone made a "Buffy Killed Edward" (edward being the main vampire from twilight) t-shirt here:
www.jinx.com/men/shirts/geek/buffy_staked_edward.html?cs=6&csd=1495
Any thoughts?
Scott Allie: Nothing I'd wear, but funny.
47. narflet: Thanks for the title to 26...anything else you can give us? Any more upcoming issue titles, arc titles, cover hints...? We love that kind of stuff (well, I certainly do!).
Scott Allie: Okay, normally I'd insist on a more specific question, but since this is the end of this round, I'll end on a bit lifted from the Muppet Show—
Come back in July, when Willow says to Buffy, "Hey, look! You're a reverse mermaid."
48. vampmogs: Are we allowed to ask more questions or not? If we are this is something people have been talking about over in Buffyforums so I thought it'd be good if we got some clues about it. There was a report that Georges said Xander would "hook up" in season 8. Is this with someone we've already seen this season, or is the lucky lady somebody we haven't met yet?
Scott Allie: No spoilers ...
49. patxshand: My question issss... the "Tales of the Vampires" one-shot. Will be collected in a Buffy: Season Eight trade, as it deals with Season Eight themes, or will it forever remain a one-shot?
Scott Allie: No, and no ... Other plans for this.
50. Skytteflickan88: About this info on Buffy Zone: "And for the scavenger hunters among you, dig the back covers of B.P.R.D.: The Black Goddess #1, The Cleaners #2, Kull #3, or Solomon Kane #4." - Is it the same story in all comics? Will they be reprinted in the tradeback? And what about that wanted sign that was seen in a comic(can remember which one) about Kennedy and some other slayers being on the public/vampire enemy list? Will that be reprinted?
Scott Allie: It is not a story, more of an ad, actually, and it is the same in all those comics—some readers figured that from my use of the word "or," but I should have been more clear. It will not be reprinted in the trade paperback, because it is just an ad, even though it's three pages long and partially written by Jane. And the enemy list is part of this feature we're talking about, all part of the same thing.
51. sosalola: Will the rest of the arcs after the Oz one be two five-issue arcs or two four-issue arcs with two standalones?
Scott Allie: Undetermined. Sorry ...
52. Whedon Fan: Seeing as we already have the cover for the Predators and Prey arc, is it possible for us to get a higher quality one. Come on pleassssse!
Scott Allie: I think a higher res one will go up on our website soon. If not, email me directly on Wednesday and I'll get it for you.
53. (The following question was sent in an incomplete context and has been resubmitted):
Nota Viking: In your earlier response, you said: "How could an organization with agents worldwide, seemingly unlimited funding, and both magic and high tech on their side, come up with the skills to pilot a submarine? I think they could have worked it out."
Wasn't the submarine being run by Satsu's squad alone and in secret from the rest of the slayer organisation? If it's just Satsu's squad without approval from Buffy surely they only have access to limited personnel and funding, which makes it a little harder to believe in.
Scott Allie: You're right, I forgot—Satsu kept it to herself for a while. So just the Japanese Slayer cell. Is this one really hanging people up? You can never quite predict what it is that readers are gonna get stuck on. Let's keep this thread open for a bit, and readers can chime in with their ideas for how Satsu's cell managed to get the ability to deal with the sub.
Here's how we roll: one question per post and do not submit another question til the pending one has been answered. Remember, Scott will not be giving away spoilers so keep that in mind when you're posting - please avoid asking spoiler questions. I'll be sending along the first round of questions this evening around 9pm. Scott is already in New York for the Comic Con this weekend and is still graciously offering his time to answer our questions, so a special thanks to him for fitting us into his busy schedule.
If you're not a member of Slayalive, now is a great time to join and submit a question. Everyone is welcome to participate.
1. pablo: Now that S.8 is halfway through its storyline, has any side-project, spin-off or mini-series been brought up? Angel: After the Fall had Spike:AtF, for istance, and it just came up while working on the main series, it wasn't even planned.
Scott Allie: Still nothing major, but a small side project will be announced this weekend in New York.
2. iloveromy: When are we going to be able to get our Vampy Cat Play Friend plush toys?! Whose brilliant idea was it to have Vampy Cat?
Scott Allie: I can't remember if Vampy Cat was Steven's idea or Joss's. We've talked about bringing stuffed figures out as merchandise—would people really want them?
3. hitnrun017: Is there a Dark Horse Presents planned for every issue of Predators and Prey?
Scott Allie: There is not. We considered it at one point, but for now it's just these two. These two really cried out for it, we felt.
4. bamph: I've been curious ever since the Jo Chen cover for today's issue was revealed about what went into the design of Satsu on it.All of Jo's covers are based on the actors who played the characters. Buffy looks like Sarah Michelle Gellar ,Dawn looks like Michelle Trachtenberg, Harmony looks like Mercedes McNab, Iyari Limon looks like Kennedy and so on and so on. But Satsu is a original character to season 8 and was never played in live action. Yet Jo's covers look so photo realistic that Satsu does look like her likeness is based on a real person even though no actor has played her. So what went into that and how much say did Jo Chen have in the design of Satsu since she is not based on a Buffy actor?
Scott Allie: When it was time for Jo to do this cover, we asked Georges, the only artist to have drawn Satsu so far, the one who truly designed her, for a real person to base her on. I'm not gonna say who that was, but I believe Georges actually offered two people, and then Jo went from there.
5. Trey: Without being too spoilerish, I'm just gonna keep my question plain and simple - any more plans for Satsu?
Scott Allie: Yeah, Satsu will continue to have a role in Season Eight.
6. weredog: Jeanty's art is outstanding, especially his great attention to detail (ie. facial expressions). How many days/weeks is he given from the time he is handed the script to the time he submits his work?
Scott Allie: Well, Georges usually spends between five and six weeks per issues. Sometimes less. It's not really a question of the time between getting the script and turning in the last pages, but from when he starts laying out the pages, and turns the last page in. We try to have the script to him before he's ready to start laying out pages, before he's done with the previous issue.
7. cdb19: Since Buffy Season 8 and Angel After the Fall currently seem to be swaying into a similar area of public awareness of the supernatural will the burning fan questions of the the two continuities being reconciled e.g. Harmony and L.A. be answered anytime soon in the future?
Scott Allie: I believe you'll have your answers, but they might require reformulating your questions.
8. rogue11: Will Kennedy and Satsu have any further meetings? It seems like Satsu could be a possible new girlfriend for Kennedy if things don't work out with Willow.
Scott Allie: Somewhere on the internet people are mad at you for asking. But in answer to your actual question—Yes, they will meet again soon.
9. Nicholas: Will the original four Scooby Gang members ever be truly close again? They seem to have really grown apart this season.
Scott Allie: I think so, yeah. They'll be back together before it's over, at the very least.
10. trunkstheslayer: What are the odds of seeing either Robin in the future again?
Scott Allie: No current plans. Sorry, no odds...
11. richieshag: Considering that the character Spike will not be in Angel: Aftermath, as revealed by Kelley Armstrong in a recent interview, and we do not know of any future plans for said character, is it possible that there will at least be a mention of him, now that (spoiler) Angel is a celebrity and Harmony is everywhere?
Scott Allie: No spoilers, sorry.
12. tenshi: Is there any chance to see an Angel Omnibus after Buffy Omnibus #7?
Scott Allie: We don't currently have rights to publish Angel comics, so no plans for that.
13. bamph: After today's issue and Twilight's connection to the vampy cats, is it safe to assume that Twilight has some type of role in Harmony becoming famous if not directly behind it than manipulating it?
Scott Allie: I feel like I can't answer of any of today's questions...
14. pablo: After the Robin standalone and TOYL, can we expect Buffy and Willow to iron out their resentment and differences once for all or will s.8 just keep building tension between the two characters?
Scott Allie: Their relationship is part of the point of the story. So you gotta wait--
15. bishopcruz: Throughout the series we have seen that the gang has gotten more than a bit of military training. I mean flying a helicopter is one thing, but in this issue we saw the Japan squad piloting a military submarine, something that takes a not inconsequential amount of training and crew to pilot. How did they learn all of this stuff?
Scott Allie: Emmie tells me this has been a topic of some discussion. With all the resources the Slayers have managed to exploit, I think it's reasonable to assume that they could have either recruited girls that had the military background, or gotten the information through nefarious means and studied it sufficiently. Their means are not insignificant. For seven years on the show we saw Willow's ability to answer any question with what must only have been a Google search. With an army of hundreds of girls worldwide, and considerable military equipment already in their possession, there are a lot of ways they could have prepared for this, I think. And with the girls spending all of their time training, you must realize that it's not all martial arts.
But this is the sort of question that, as a writer, you give a moment's consideration to, decide that it's plausible—given the other things about the stories we've all accepted—and move on. I don't think these are the sorts of things for which we should stop the story cold, in order to provide an explanation. Shakespeare has a great line, which I've got to look up because I reference it so often. When asked about a particular off-stage plot point, something to do with how a character got from point A to point B, the bard said something along the lines of, "I could have come up with an explanation for that, but it wasn't interesting." Now, I think the key here is more the "could have" than the "wasn't interesting." If he felt he could not come up with an explanation, then he should have changed that thing which he could not explain. But since he knew the explanation was sitting there waiting for him, the lack of interest meant it had no place in the story. That, I think, applies here. How could an organization with agents worldwide, seemingly unlimited funding, and both magic and high tech on their side, come up with the skills to pilot a submarine? I think they could have worked it out.
I think the thing with Warren being dead was more of a gotcha, as Sarah Palin might say.
16. tigerfan: In a previous Q&A you mentioned that Xander was one of the top juicy story arcs for you this season. Will this arc begin in #25 (since its been said to focus on Dawn and Xander) or do we have to wait a bit longer. If that's too spoilerish than will #25, be more focus on the Dawn and Xander or more Dawn and Buffy with Xander along for the ride?
Scott Allie: I mean his whole arc, beginning, you might say, with the Renee romance. But #25 focuses more on Dawn and Buffy's dynamic than anything to do with Xander, although he has some great moments.
17. Nicholas: Will we ever figure out how Buffys resurrection caused an imbalance in the Slayer line and gave the First the opportunity to attack as told in S7?
Scott Allie: Well, I don't know about you figuring it out, but it won't be a topic that we're gonna address in Season Eight. Joss never really goes back to explain old storylines, does he? I was on a panel about social networking and comics today, and I talked a little about this board. Joe Quesada was on the panel too—he runs Marvel Comics. He talked about how if the fans react to a storyline, they can address it immediately—if there's something the fans don't like, Marvel can "fix it" in about three months with the next issue. I thought, Hm, we sort of don't operate like that ... In little ways, like spelling out the lip gloss thing, but in general, the story is as Joss sees fit. And I like that.
18. Whedon Fan: I know it's been a year and a half since the hellmouth battle but still. Any chance of a flashback scene set in between the end of season 7 and season 8. Anya's funeral perhaps, or a quick scene with the scoobies deciding what to do next? I just feel like there is too big a gap left between season 7 and season 8 any filler would be nice. Hopefully I'm not the only one that feels this way. Thanks:)
Scott Allie: You're probably not the only one that feels that way, but see above. And didn't almost every season leave a summer-long gap between storylines? I can think of one exception. But in general, the stories are meant to be complete, and somewhat independent, and not much reason to look back a lot.
19. Cowboy Guy: Any chance you might be able to tell us the title of Issue 26?
Scott Allie: "Retreat." Think about it ... I know you will.
20. bamph: Kennedy was a much disliked character by many in season 7. Not all but good bunch disliked her. One of the things season 8 has done so far in my opinion, and "Swell' in particular, is make Kennedy a much more likable character. Do you know if this was a conscious decision by Joss and especially Steve DeKnight as a sort of reaction to the negative feedback Kennedy generated in season 7 or is it just a happy coincidence that Kennedy seems more likable in season 8?
Scott Allie: Well, I know Joss really likes both the character and the actress, and at the end of Season Seven, she still had an important role—a significant Slayer, and Willow's girlfriend. So that meant she belonged in Season Eight, and it meant Joss would continue to grow her as a hero. Why she's more likeable here than in the TV show, I don't know. Maybe simply because now she's a real Slayer, and before she was one more girl starting her training.
21. sarahi: I was wondering if there isn't anything too spoilery for you to tell us about the Oz arc. Now that Kennedy has been seen in her own light, will Oz and Willow's past be any part of the plot?
Scott Allie: Oh, man, the #26-30 arc is COMPLICATED. I think when you see Jane's cover you'll freak out. Note that it's the first arc to run a full five issues on one storyline. Right now, the way Jane's dived into it—and the first script is complete, and Georges is starting on it now—I feel like every question I've had will be answered, no stone unturned, every iteration of these characters' problems explored. So I think Jane will find the time to address the tension of having Willow, Kennedy, and Oz in the same place. It's not a major point of the plot, some kind of triangle between them, but it will be an element.
22. xander000: Not sure if it's been ask in the past, but is Kumiko truly dead or will we see more of her?
Scott Allie: When doing a comic like this, it's always good to leave some things open. You'll have to wait and see if Kumiko is dead or not, and you might have to wait for another Season to ever find out. Wiiiiiide open.
23. hitnrun017: Compared to the series and other issues, Vampy Cat Plays Friend and Swell were very high in gore and language. Is there a limit at what can be said or shown in the comics? If not, do you just try to keep it in tone with the show?
Scott Allie: Just try to keep with the tone of the show. We have no official policy on our books—Criminal Macabre is full of profanity, and the language in Usagi Yojimbo is G-rated. I generally try to avoid profanity as it might be defined on network TV, on books that I aim to get kids reading. But with Buffy the main thing is simply to stick with the show, which offered a perfect balance of edgy and acceptable.
24. sarahi: What's going on with Willow's wardrobe? She seems to be changing her style around lately, an example being her overalls in Issue 20.
Scott Allie: Georges is the most fashion-conscious comics artist I know. I love how he dresses the girls, and I know a lot of thought goes into it, but this isn't something we've discussed.
25. trunktheslayer: Since you (Scott you, not another 'you') asked "would people really want them?" in regards to the Vampy Cat plushie idea, is there any way for (at least those of us who are clamoring for one) to, for lack of a better word, push for it? It's something that's been ringing in my head since reading the MDHP short and adoring the psychotic little fluff ball. (As it happens, I actually know of at least a couple non-Buffy fans/readers who I linked to it who instantly replied with an "I WANT ONE!")
....I promise this question wasn't little more than a thinly veiled plead....much ^.^
Scott Allie: Well, part of the problem now is that by the time we could bring something like this to market, this issue would be pretty old, and the Vampy Cats (spoiler!) won't be coming back. This would be such an obscure piece of merchandise, I don't think any but the most hardcore Buffy fans would want it.
26. wenxina: Okay, tree-hugger question. Has there ever been any discussion as how to make comics more eco-friendly? I mean, don't get me wrong, I like my high-quality glossy pages just as much as anyone else, but it doesn't take away the pang of guilt which comes with the realization that glossy paper isn't the most eco-friendly choice. With the popularity of the Kindle (well, they sold out on Amazon.com), and digital downloads in terms of books, music and movies, is there a chance that comics (at least Dark Horse titles) will go green and offer the digital option? That way, there's no shipping costs, a much smaller carbon footprint, and release dates can be the same everywhere, with no delays for the foreign market. Yeah, I know that would suck for comic retailers, but I was just wondering.
Scott Allie: We all think that digital comics will become more and more popular over time, and we had a meeting just the other day where Kindle was discussed, along with iverse, iPhones, and other devices. Re: Kindle, though, it's very easy to sell out if you just make sure you produce fewer than you know you can sell. Selling out makes for a very easy headline to generate to create the perception of demand.
There are a lot of problems with moving to a digital world, though, not least of which being purely aesthetic. We like our comics in our hands, on our shelves. We talk about this all the time—we don't want to be behind the curve, but neither are we eager to see it happen.
27. Emmie: In the Q&A for #20 After These Messages...We'll Be Right Back you said:
"My simple, vague answer is that we can assume that Buffy knows everything that any characters in her organization, like Andrew, know, or could find out. Cordelia's death would be a known fact, I should think, nothing secret about it."
In the first issue of Season 8, we discover that Andrew hasn't been completely honest with Buffy regarding the Immortal and her thoughts indicate that she doesn't know he's connected to Angel and Spike. Can we really assume that Buffy knows everything that Andrew knows when the first issue shows she's not completely in the loop? Isn't it possible that Andrew is privy to information that Buffy is unaware of?
Scott Allie: Of course Buffy doesn't know the full contents of Andrew's, or anyone else's, head. A person can always lie or conceal things, or even forget to mention it. But I think we can assume that Cordelia's death would have come up, that he would have had no reason to keep it a secret. And I think we can imagine a dozen other ways Buffy would have learned about Cordelia. See my Shakespeare reference above.
28. buffycomic: Will any of the future trade paperbacks have any extras besides just the issues collected?
Scott Allie: We've not done that so far, and I think we probably will continue to stick to just story pages. Although Predators and Prey will collect the MDHP stories.
29. sarahi: In Joss Whedon's interview with MTV, he said that there will be an event that will cause pain, and then there was a quote about Buffy and Xander that made it seem like this event involved a development between those two characters. I wouldn't ask for anything less vague than you have to give us, but I have to ask: Is the quote about Buffy and Xander as related to the event Joss mentioned as the MTV columnist made it seem?
And then Whedon (with the aid of Brad Meltzer) will wrap up the season with two more arcs to be revealed. “Brad was my most surprising ‘yes,’” Whedon said. “He’s coming on at the very last stage with me because that’s where we have to do the big sort of everything coming together wrap-up, and I don’t know anyone who’s better at that then he is — really playing all the mythos of the universe and all the pain that the big event can cause.”
“Buffy and Xander don’t need me for a new twist,” Meltzer said. “You love the characters already, because they’re terrific. My job isn’t to show you what’s not there, but what you’ve always seen before but never thought was there. I’m going to try my best not to screw it up too badly.”
“Buffy and Xander don’t need me for a new twist,” Meltzer said. “You love the characters already, because they’re terrific. My job isn’t to show you what’s not there, but what you’ve always seen before but never thought was there. I’m going to try my best not to screw it up too badly.”
Scott Allie: No spoilers. Sorry.
30. tenshi: If Dark Horse doesn't currently have rights to publish Angel (Dark Horse) comics, does IDW (in theory) have rights to publish them? Or these comics are in a kind of "editorial limbo"?
Scott Allie: I'm not entirely sure what IDW's deal would include, but the comics I edited are in limbo.
31. Joe: Can you give us any information on the arc that follows the "Oz" arc?
Scott Allie: Just that it's the Meltzer arc, and that by then things will have really heated up toward the climax.
32. dane5by5: Can you give any insight to the status/planning of Season Nine?
Scott Allie: No planning yet. We're looking forward to the "summer" between Seasons Eight and Nine, when we can rest, and regroup. We've discussed what the major arc of Season Nine would be, but it'd be giving away the end of Season Eight to tell you anything about it.
33. cheryl: I have noticed that a few of the characters are wearing jewerly that could resemble something that a Vengence demon might wear...is that a coincidence? Could we see Anya return? Maybe?
Or D'Hoffryn? I know that might be a little spoilery but anything you can share would be appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions.
Scott Allie: That's a coincidence. No plans for those two characters at this time.
34. Paul370: What would you say the purpose of Renee was in the larger Season Eight story? Obviously, she was a likable character and a cute love interest for Xander, but now that she's gone, I have to look back and wonder why that sub-plot was there. At the time, I thought maybe her death was a way of opening old wounds for Xander regarding Anya, but it's only been lightly touched upon once. Will that relationship continue to have emotional ramifications for Xander, or is Renee just a pleasant footnote in Buffy history?
Scott Allie: Like so many things, I think Renee was there to cause Joss's kids pain. The Renee relationship had a hand in getting Xander to where he is emotionally right now, and setting the stage for his next emotional development.
35. Ethros: You said there no were plans to bring "either Robin" back. In reference to Robin Wood- why?
He was a strong character in Season 7, and as the son of a Slayer and a good fighter he had a prominent place in the gang by the end of the season. Seems if Andrew can lead a Slayer cell, surely Wood can too? Apart from a 'blink and you'll miss it appearance' of "No Future For You pt.1" the guy seems to have been shafted in Season 8, so I just wonder *why* hasn't he ever shown up or at least been mentioned since?
Scott Allie: Robin is a great character. And he is operating in Cleveland, as seen in the first chapter of No Future For You. He just hasn't had a role in this story. None of us intend to "shaft" him—remember, he is a fictional character, and not wounded in any way by not being included. He's just one of the many characters that could have been used, but for whom there wasn't any purpose, and so we can assume he's busy elsewhere. As seen in #6.
36. vampmogs: This is something I've been pretty interested in when reading the comics given Xander's new buffness. We've seen Xander training to spar with Renee, and kill Toru, and fighting the monsters in "Time of Your Life". Does Joss now see Xander as more of a fighter type than he was on television, and can we look forward to Xander scrapping more during Season 8? Maybe his old buddy Riley?"
Scott Allie: Yes, yes, and no spoilers. Xander's role in the organization has given him the opportunity to become more of a warrior himself. He's still not a Slayer, he's not as strong as hardly any of the girls he works with, but he's shed the pounds he gained when his life was going nowhere in Sunnydale.
37. NotaViking: Wasn't the submarine being run by Satsu's squad alone and in secret from the rest of the slayer organisation?
Scott Allie: I think so. Is there another question I'm not understanding?
38. sosalola: I'm wondering about when exactly Dawn became a giant. Did she get huge while in college, causing ciaos and destruction to the building? When did Kenny curse her? Is there a reason why we never heard from Kenny or Dawn's friends at college? Are all these questions gonna be answered in #25?
Scott Allie: I must admit, that's a story I could stand to hear—your first question. The bit about friends from college ... I dunno. She was only there a little while, and then she went halfway across the planet. I think she just didn't stay in touch.
39. Jay: Joss Whedon had said before that he was willing to throw out the entire Season Eight story if a new Buffyverse show materialzed. So does this mean that when he writes this comic, he looks at it as his "plan B", and saves his alternate "plan A" for something on TV?
Scott Allie: You're making me cry.
40. andrewcrossett: We know that vampires are now popular with the general public. Does this mean that they are no longer killing people for some reason? It seems like even reality TV wouldn't be enough to cover up the fact that we have 1 cute blonde vamp on the screen, and all the others are out there killing people on a nightly basis. Presumably not everybody gets their view of reality from a TV show -- the police, for instance, or the Homeland Security department. Is there more of an explanation for this that we haven't gotten yet?
Scott Allie: This is something I think requires a little more explanation over time. The Tales of the Vampires story we announced today, with Becky Cloonan and Vasilis Lolos, will explore this a little bit.
41. Enisy/Maggie: Scott, you have an answer in your latest where you say that you aren't going to do any filler between Season 7 and Season 8. That's specifically in response to a question about whether we'll see Anya's funeral or anything like that. What I want to know is whether we should take your answer to mean that we've been told all we are going to be told about how Buffy the Vampire Slayer evolved into Buffy the Bank Robber. Do you and Joss think that this is such an organic development of her character that we should have no problem filling in the blanks for ourselves (much as we really shouldn't have any problems filling in the blanks about Anya's funeral)?
Scott Allie: Yes, I believe this is all you're going to be told about how Buffy the Vampire Slayer evolved into Buffy the Bank Robber. You might learn a little more by the end of the arc. I do think there's a story there, of how she came to make the decisions to do these things, how she looked at her growing army of Slayers and tried to think of a way to finance it all, and settled for crime. But I don't think that's a story that needs telling in Season Eight. I know that the desire to fill in continuity goes directly against the narrative device of in media res, and I know that Season Eight still has a lot of open questions. I think what's important for Season Eight is understanding how corruption/compromise has affected Buffy, rather than how she came to be a little corrupt. I hope the story is succeeding there, in the long run.
42. El Diablo Robotico: Anyway, issue #5 was unique, in that besides covers by Jo and Georges, there was a third one, done by Paul Lee, who also did the interior artwork for that issue. Was there ever any consideration given to doing the same thing for the other issues that have had guest artists? ie, a Cliff Richards variant for #10, Karl Moline for #16-19, etc.?
Scott Allie: No, after the fact, I thought the three covers was excessive. We did that because I'd asked Paul to do a variant cover, and forgot that I'd told Georges he would do all the variant covers, even for fill-in issues. So we decided to use all three, but again, I think it was too much for retailers to deal with, and too much of a burden on readers who might be completists.
43. unleashthecasey: I know you can't spoil for characters we haven't heard anything about, but since I saw a thing where Georges Jeanty said Xander is going to "hook up" again this season, can you tell us if this will be with one of the women we've already seen this season, or will the lucky lady be somebody new?
Scott Allie: Of course I cannot ...
44. rikr0k: Hey Scott, Whatever happened to the slayer Dana that appeared in Angel Season 5? Will she make any appearence in this season?
Scott Allie: I dunno. Her name's never come up.
45. ponyenglish: I do alot of work on the Buffy wiki and one of my favortie things is the hidden stuff and trivia you guys put into the stories. In Time of Your Life, you told us that there was a very subtle refference hidden in the story. I was wondering if it was the purple limo which, as purple limos go, would be a shout-out to Prince. No? Keep looking?
Scott Allie: Keep looking. I believe the thing I was refering to was a very subtle Alan Moore reference that Karl worked in.
46. Trey: OK, so today I discovered that someone made a "Buffy Killed Edward" (edward being the main vampire from twilight) t-shirt here:
www.jinx.com/men/shirts/geek/buffy_staked_edward.html?cs=6&csd=1495
Any thoughts?
Scott Allie: Nothing I'd wear, but funny.
47. narflet: Thanks for the title to 26...anything else you can give us? Any more upcoming issue titles, arc titles, cover hints...? We love that kind of stuff (well, I certainly do!).
Scott Allie: Okay, normally I'd insist on a more specific question, but since this is the end of this round, I'll end on a bit lifted from the Muppet Show—
Come back in July, when Willow says to Buffy, "Hey, look! You're a reverse mermaid."
48. vampmogs: Are we allowed to ask more questions or not? If we are this is something people have been talking about over in Buffyforums so I thought it'd be good if we got some clues about it. There was a report that Georges said Xander would "hook up" in season 8. Is this with someone we've already seen this season, or is the lucky lady somebody we haven't met yet?
Scott Allie: No spoilers ...
49. patxshand: My question issss... the "Tales of the Vampires" one-shot. Will be collected in a Buffy: Season Eight trade, as it deals with Season Eight themes, or will it forever remain a one-shot?
Scott Allie: No, and no ... Other plans for this.
50. Skytteflickan88: About this info on Buffy Zone: "And for the scavenger hunters among you, dig the back covers of B.P.R.D.: The Black Goddess #1, The Cleaners #2, Kull #3, or Solomon Kane #4." - Is it the same story in all comics? Will they be reprinted in the tradeback? And what about that wanted sign that was seen in a comic(can remember which one) about Kennedy and some other slayers being on the public/vampire enemy list? Will that be reprinted?
Scott Allie: It is not a story, more of an ad, actually, and it is the same in all those comics—some readers figured that from my use of the word "or," but I should have been more clear. It will not be reprinted in the trade paperback, because it is just an ad, even though it's three pages long and partially written by Jane. And the enemy list is part of this feature we're talking about, all part of the same thing.
51. sosalola: Will the rest of the arcs after the Oz one be two five-issue arcs or two four-issue arcs with two standalones?
Scott Allie: Undetermined. Sorry ...
52. Whedon Fan: Seeing as we already have the cover for the Predators and Prey arc, is it possible for us to get a higher quality one. Come on pleassssse!
Scott Allie: I think a higher res one will go up on our website soon. If not, email me directly on Wednesday and I'll get it for you.
53. (The following question was sent in an incomplete context and has been resubmitted):
Nota Viking: In your earlier response, you said: "How could an organization with agents worldwide, seemingly unlimited funding, and both magic and high tech on their side, come up with the skills to pilot a submarine? I think they could have worked it out."
Wasn't the submarine being run by Satsu's squad alone and in secret from the rest of the slayer organisation? If it's just Satsu's squad without approval from Buffy surely they only have access to limited personnel and funding, which makes it a little harder to believe in.
Scott Allie: You're right, I forgot—Satsu kept it to herself for a while. So just the Japanese Slayer cell. Is this one really hanging people up? You can never quite predict what it is that readers are gonna get stuck on. Let's keep this thread open for a bit, and readers can chime in with their ideas for how Satsu's cell managed to get the ability to deal with the sub.