Lukee
Ensouled Vampire
Brilliant is my middle name tbf[Mo0:14]
Posts: 1,137
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Post by Lukee on Apr 4, 2008 18:00:45 GMT -5
My one comment: All aboard the Xacula mobile. Hahaha i loved their little "you've lost weight." "Can you tell? iv been trying to exercise more?" "It suits you" etc etc. Made me lol reading that.
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El Diablo Robotico
Ensouled Vampire
Robo Pimp-Daddy
"Surely you have heard about our great victory over the Devil's Robot."[Mo0:3]
Posts: 1,199
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Post by El Diablo Robotico on Apr 4, 2008 18:14:13 GMT -5
Also, why is it that gay people always have to want to sleep with any member of the same sex? Just because there was an enquiry into how a friend performs between the sheets, does not mean that Willow wants to boink Buffy. Is everyone twelve again when it comes to stereotypes? And should we even assume that she really meant it when she said she'd been wondering about it for years? That she was asking Satsu because she actually wanted to know? Couldn't she just have been busting on Satsu, giving her a hard time and trying to find a way to get her to laugh and smile, after having just dropped some hard facts on her about Buffy, and why it happened, and where it all may or may not lead? Yep--see above.
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balesthebloody
Wise-cracking Techno Genius
"Angel's gettin' some! Good on you mate!"[Mo0:0]
Posts: 733
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Post by balesthebloody on Apr 4, 2008 20:25:32 GMT -5
Overall this was a good issue. Not the best but still good!
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Post by CowboyGuy on Apr 4, 2008 20:29:06 GMT -5
Also, I think that the likenesses were on point for the most part! Especially Willow!!
His Andrew needs work though, his nose isn't that big.
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underbuffysspell
Potential Slayer
Seize the day, 'Cause tomorrow, you might be dead. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wizw5VqvXI8[Mo0:0
Posts: 187
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Post by underbuffysspell on Apr 4, 2008 22:48:53 GMT -5
I feel it's still too early to tell this depowering slayers story. They haven't done anything yet with the new girls, and I think it's too early to depower them...and to even introduce this idea. We still have those renegades to deal with, plus who knows what else badness may have come from creating all the slayers. That's true. I totally forgot about the renegade plot, what with all that was going on in WatG. Hopefully the reason they're playing this so early is so that there is something bigger later on or something...
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faith0tvs
Novice Witch
I am the Slayer ask me How[Mo0:4]
Posts: 277
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Post by faith0tvs on Apr 5, 2008 10:19:04 GMT -5
Hmm one thing that struck me whilst reading this issue was Aiko's reaction when they take away ehr powers,it made me feel sad even though it was only seconds -or to be precise panels - before they disposed her.If that scene was shot in film then it would take my breath away (if we suppose that the actress would be any good) .Its absolutely scary to think what that would do to many of the slayers-i imagine their reactions will be similar if not worse to the ones that buffy had in s3's helpless. On another note ,Willow's interaction with Satsu was absolutely hilarious,it reminds me with the one she ahd with Riley in season 4where he tried to ask her to help him out with the whole "dating Buffy" deal .Also it remains in character for as Red herself has said it "occasionaly i'm callous and strange'' .
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dane5by5
Wise-cracking Techno Genius
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 734
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Post by dane5by5 on Apr 5, 2008 22:38:36 GMT -5
This issue was perfect, the writing, the art. In Buffy's own words "That was... Wow". Georges has certainly improved. Last issue he was still drawing Buffy with a horrible face, I'm very impressed. Drew Goddard is amazing. If this arc keeps going with this quality it will far surpass TLWH and NFFY. I have to say, I am expecting it to. I'm also surprised some people think Drew's writing doesn't make the change from television to comics as well as Joss and Brian. I think he does it even better than Joss. Well in the issues we've got so far. Also I have to agree with the people who think Michelle Madsen colours much better than the previous colourist, Dave Stewart was it? Or Andy Owens? Well whoever it was, I much prefer Michelle. I wish she could do the letters too. In the other comics I've seen in which she has done letters, I prefer her style more than the current letterer.
Loved the scene with Xander and Dracula. Perfect. Classic Buffy moment. And that Andrew scene with the board! Brings back memories of the "secret white board"! "Don't let them see the secret white board!" Hilarious.
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spuffy4ever
Potential Slayer
We saved the world. I say we party.[Mo0:34]
Posts: 121
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Post by spuffy4ever on Apr 5, 2008 22:56:30 GMT -5
Just read it yesterday and really liked this issue. It was absolutely hilarious, from Drac and Xander, to the whole Andrew with the board, and Willow asking Satsu what Buffy was like in bed-I just about fell out of my chair. Then the end, getting all serious and depressing with the death of Aiko. Using the scythe to steal their powers-Wow. Scary stuff. Reminded me of why I fell in love with the show to start with. Make you laugh one minute and cry the next.
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Post by SlayerLV on Apr 6, 2008 0:40:20 GMT -5
Great issue, I loved the little chat between Willow and Satsu. Loved the scenes with Drac and Xander also, Renee was cute in this issue also. I was surprised that they put in that much derogitory slang like Satsu saying Buffy wasn't a "dyke" and Drac with all his asian racisim. All and all great issue, way beter than 12.
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Post by wenxina on Apr 6, 2008 10:24:46 GMT -5
Great issue, I loved the little chat between Willow and Satsu. Loved the scenes with Drac and Xander also, Renee was cute in this issue also. I was surprised that they put in that much derogitory slang like Satsu saying Buffy wasn't a "[censored!]" and Drac with all his asian racisim. All and all great issue, way beter than 12. I was pleasantly surprised by the taboo terms mentioned above. I think that's what the show's always been about, pushing the boundaries of people's comfort zones. I'm asian, and I loved the "Filthy yellow swine!" line... I thought it was hilarious. It was racist, but funny because it was so over the top. Of course, it could only still bear some semblance of being PC, coming from Dracula... but then again, he's ancient, but unlike Angel, Spike, Darla, and even the Master, he's never changed. He still speaks with his native accent (although the version I recall was appallingly stereotypical), wears cloaks and such, and as Spike said, needs his fancy dirt and all. I'm not sure if I find it sad that a genre that perverted everything that Dracula stood for is now perverting him too... but using him in ways like that helps ease the transition, I think. As for Satsu's comment... I find it fitting, and it reminded me a lot of the lesbians I know. None of them referred to themselves as "Friends of Sappho" or whatever stupid new term was all the rage. And I never caught the "People Like Us" train either... thought it was ridiculous. In terms of issues, I thought that this was a lot bolder than the previous one, even if it hasn't generated nearly as much buzz. But then again, nothing gets people more than two girls in bed together... Now throw two boys in there... that might be a new radical idea.
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Slayer489
Wise-cracking Techno Genius
"Why do I feel like this? Why do I let Spike do those things to me?" - Buffy 'Dead Things'[Mo0:0]
Posts: 784
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Post by Slayer489 on Apr 6, 2008 10:36:31 GMT -5
We've had Buffy's depressing, shut-everyone-out mode in season 6 because she wasn't used to being back on Earth and wasn't dealing with it very well. The same happened in season 7 because she had all these girls who needed protection and it all happened so fast so she must of had a lot of pressure on her. Now in season 8, this pressure has built up on a larger scale because she has an army of slayers. Dawn resents her a little like sisters sometimes do, Giles has fallen out with her and Willow and her are on rocky ground. I get why she must be feeling alone.
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Post by hitnrun017 on Apr 6, 2008 10:45:43 GMT -5
I hope Buffy and Willow make up soon. I get so sad and depressed when their friendship is rocky. The scenes between them in The Long Way Home Pt. 3 and No Future for You Pt. 3 have been some of my favorite in Season 8 so far. I'm missing their best friend dynamic, hopefully it will be cleared up sometime soon.
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Post by Disgruntled Gremlin on Apr 6, 2008 15:55:18 GMT -5
A lot of people have had quibbles with a couple of points, which I'd like to address...
WILLOW'S "HOW WAS SHE?"
I don't see a problem with this at all. Xander showed sexual interest in pretty much every female character on the show, as seen in "Restless" and "Dirty Girls;" he just rarely voiced that interest. Willow's remarks were totally in character -- in no way do they suggest that she has ever had a Buffy crush. We've all wondered how are friends are in bed at one point or another, haven't we? This was a cute way for her to bring Satsu out of her funk.
SLAYER DE-POWERING
I will agree that it seems a little early to be bringing this weapon in now -- it seems unthinkable that the entire slayer spell will be reversed with so much story left to tell, so Buffy's victory is assured. However, there is still the risk that one of the Slayers we know (Satsu, Leah, Rowena, Renee) were to be de-powered. This ups the tension in the story, which is necessary because really, even the strongest vampire wouldn't seem to be a match for a whole army of slayers. Also, I've got a feeling this weapon will be reused later at some point in the arc -- I suspect the red-glowy thing in "Anywhere But Here" is similar to the gem Kumiko uses to depower Aiko in this issue.
XANDER AND DRACULA
True enough, this is a rather silly scenario, but Goddard feels that the fun chemistry he gets out of it is worth stretching believability. I agree -- the Xander/Dracula/Renee scenes were hilarious, allowing us to be reminded that Xander is the same old dork he's always been at heart, and showing that Renee is a strong, practical, intelligent character that we should be interested in as well.
Here's how I would squeeze in Xander's disapperance: after Anya's death, he decides to take his much delayed, definitely earned cross-country road trip that he was denied between "Graduation Day" and "The Freshman." His only correspondance with the Buffster is via letters, and since she was busy forming the beginnings of a slayer squad, she didn't have time to be checking up on him. He's on vacation, so he would concievably be writing or phoning once every two weeks, tops -- if somewhere along the way, he ran into Dracula and fell back under his thrall and is taken back to Transylvania, this would be easy to fake. At some point, however, he makes a slip (e.g. "The Dark Master says hi, he is doing extremely well!"), and Buffy and the beginnings of her slayer squad (which include Kira and the other woman from "Antique") storm the castle and demand his freedom.
Also note that while Xander showed contempt for Angel and Spike, he never felt anything beyond a mild annoyance toward Season 3 Anya, who was not only unrepentent for her evil deeds, but spent prom night giving him all the gory details. That didn't stop him from sleeping with her in "The Harsh Light of Day," or even inviting her equally non-repentent demon brethren to their wedding. Thus, I conclude that Xander could overlook the threat of an evil being so long as he had something to gain. Between this and Drac's thrall, I don't think there's any reason to deny the continuity of "Antique." Silly? For sure. Adorable? Definitely.
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Slayer489
Wise-cracking Techno Genius
"Why do I feel like this? Why do I let Spike do those things to me?" - Buffy 'Dead Things'[Mo0:0]
Posts: 784
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Post by Slayer489 on Apr 7, 2008 9:22:33 GMT -5
I like the thought of Xander writing to Dracula (which would explain the "they wrote to each other" side of things) to tell him about Anya's death, so that he could grieve with somebody. Eventually, Xander went to see him in person, lied to Buffy about where he was and fell under Drac's thrall. He slipped up on the phone (like you said Gremlin) and Buffy came to see him.
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Aloha Joe
Potential Slayer
Mostly Harmless
Now Available in Minty Pineapple![Mo0:25]
Posts: 179
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Post by Aloha Joe on Apr 7, 2008 11:34:53 GMT -5
I disliked the Dracula episode quite a bit. But I'm loving Drac and Xander in these comics. It just makes me giggle like crazy.
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Slayer489
Wise-cracking Techno Genius
"Why do I feel like this? Why do I let Spike do those things to me?" - Buffy 'Dead Things'[Mo0:0]
Posts: 784
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Post by Slayer489 on Apr 7, 2008 15:11:38 GMT -5
'Buffy Vs. Dracula' was a great episode!
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Post by Emmie on Apr 7, 2008 16:25:40 GMT -5
Correction... Buffy has worn the military gear before. In "As You Were" (I think), the ep in S6 that has Riley making an appearance, the lightweight kevlar thing he hands her... it's actually very similar in design to the armor the girls wear on away missions. So the Buffy I know has worn those duds before. But Buffy wearing the military gear in 'As You Were' felt like a desperate attempt to fall in line with Riley. Her sense of self was very weak at that point in Season 6 as compared to earlier instances. She uses her wardrobe, like alot of people, to assert her individuality and its functionality has never been a real issue for her. Buffy from 'The I in Team': "Oh. You mean the cammo and stuff? I thought about it but, I mean, it's gonna look all 'Private Benjamin.' Don't worry I've patrolled in this halter many times." Buffy didn't conform to the traditional rules. Which is the crux of why I'm getting bored with the 'Queen of Slayers' storyline. The heart of BtVS was about outsiders triumphing, the underdog beating insurmountable odds, going against the rules by having friends and slaying vamps in miniskirts. That was the metaphor - the ditzy blond victim became the hero. And yes it was ludicrous to think that one girl, only ONE slayer could stop the forces of darkness. But that's what made her so badass. There was only one of her and she got the job done. Stories about armies en masse or even running the army doesn't possess the same thematic kick as one girl against the forces of darkness. BtVS used monsters of the weak and Big Bads to explore relationships and character growth, studying the individuals. To me, Season 7 was at its weakest when potentials took up too much airtime and crowded the script as cannon fodder, leaving little time to explore the growth of the characters we cared about. And now we have 1800 slayers...Buffy, Xander, Willow and Giles have their hands so full they can barely manage a conversation. I miss the mundanity of the Scoobies lives juxtaposed with fighting demons - now everything is so over-the-top. The distant, general Buffy is uninteresting to me - bring back the halter top! ~End rant
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Post by Rebecca on Apr 7, 2008 17:03:28 GMT -5
I agree... which maybe why it seems that is where this season is headed.
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ded1
Rogue Demon Hunter
The Zombie Lord
BRAINS!!![Mo0:8]
Posts: 468
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Post by ded1 on Apr 7, 2008 18:05:40 GMT -5
I just received and read this issue,and I gotta say that I loved it.I was leery when I read a few spoilers,and was pleasantly surprised when I actually read it. Here's my thoughts on the issue.
Drac/Xander/Renee: I didn't like Dracula on the show[too campy].I am liking this Dracula though.The interaction between the three of them was a riot.
Willow/Satsu: This was the one thing that I was concerned about when I read the spoilers.I was worried that they were just going to play it off as a joke.When I read the issue,however,I was relieved with how they handled Willow's talk.Since they aren't making Satsu an innocent victim,I really wasn't bothered by Willow asking how Buffy was in bed[she knows that Buffy isn't gay,so I could see her being curious as to how Buffy was with a woman without wanting to shack up with her]
Buffy's attitude: It wasn't uncommon on the show for Buffy focusing on a threat to have more of a commander attitude{even before season 6&7}.
Slayer depowerment: I think that this arc will simply show everyone that it is possible.I think that this information will be important in the future.
I can't wait to see how this arc plays out
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Post by wenxina on Apr 7, 2008 19:06:50 GMT -5
But Buffy wearing the military gear in 'As You Were' felt like a desperate attempt to fall in line with Riley. Her sense of self was very weak at that point in Season 6 as compared to earlier instances. She uses her wardrobe, like alot of people, to assert her individuality and its functionality has never been a real issue for her. Buffy from 'The I in Team': "Oh. You mean the cammo and stuff? I thought about it but, I mean, it's gonna look all 'Private Benjamin.' Don't worry I've patrolled in this halter many times." Buffy didn't conform to the traditional rules. Which is the crux of why I'm getting bored with the 'Queen of Slayers' storyline. The heart of BtVS was about outsiders triumphing, the underdog beating insurmountable odds, going against the rules by having friends and slaying vamps in miniskirts. That was the metaphor - the ditzy blond victim became the hero. And yes it was ludicrous to think that one girl, only ONE slayer could stop the forces of darkness. But that's what made her so badass. There was only one of her and she got the job done. Stories about armies en masse or even running the army doesn't possess the same thematic kick as one girl against the forces of darkness. BtVS used monsters of the weak and Big Bads to explore relationships and character growth, studying the individuals. To me, Season 7 was at its weakest when potentials took up too much airtime and crowded the script as cannon fodder, leaving little time to explore the growth of the characters we cared about. And now we have 1800 slayers...Buffy, Xander, Willow and Giles have their hands so full they can barely manage a conversation. I miss the mundanity of the Scoobies lives juxtaposed with fighting demons - now everything is so over-the-top. The distant, general Buffy is uninteresting to me - bring back the halter top! ~End rant I will not disagree with your points, they're all nice and valid. However, I will point out that at the end of Season 7, the rules changed. This is summed up in the opening to The Long Way Home. About how once you changed the world, it was well, changed. Buffy's role changed when she decided to fly against tradition. I mean, trust a woman to be real practical about a crappy situation: well, if one of me can't fight it, let's just see if I multiply myself by oh... 2000. Maybe that'll get the job done. Point is, Buffy's role changed from Chosen One to she who leads the slayer army. It may not be interesting to you, but I think considering Buffy's disregard for authority, it's an interesting switch to see her try to reinforce that. It's like watching her trying to raise Dawn, and failing... until she hits that "Ah-ha!" moment and succeeds in a really quiet way. And speaking of which, she's been kinda neglecting that side of her duties, the part which goes with her personal life. Dawn's giantness probably a great metaphor for not seeing what's right in front of you, even when it's about 80 feet tall. And so the fact that she's grown into the military garb and seems as comfy in them as in her halters is a sign of her personal growth, if we're going to go along with your clothes as personality extant analogy. She's cookie dough, now with some choc chips thrown in, to use Buffy's lousy but infinitely amusing analogy. I too miss having Buffy slay vamps in a skirt, but SPOILER alert: you probably only have to wait til July to see some Buffy in miniskirt and go-go boot action. end SPOILERHowever, as the argument about mundanity juxtaposed with action goes, I think you're probably not looking hard enough, or you haven't quite found the rhythm of comic-time yet. Examples: Buffy and Xander discussing the Twilight symbol in TLWH #1 while she stuffs her face. Willow and Dawn having a conversation while picking apples (can't remember exactly when). Xander talking to Dawn while she has a bath. Xander handing her a trunk full of her clothes, bringing about her confession. Buffy training the girls, probably about the most mundane part of being the "general". Buffy and Willow chatting (and discussing business) while Willow installs the new screens around the Scotland base (#8 methinks). The party scene in #11. There are tons of these tiny moments. Granted the circumstances are never quite that mundane, but they are going about their usual routine. Their routine's just been switched a little. Yeah, they don't seem quite as long anymore, but that's easily blamed on just how compact the medium is. It's 40 pages tops for the most part, and tons of other important things have to be crammed in as well, less some fans decide that they're not getting their money's worth, and instead getting a soap/melodrama with illustrations.
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