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Post by hitnrun017 on Feb 3, 2009 20:53:50 GMT -5
I have a feeling the creepy old troll dude will play a part in the comic, maybe the guy Kennedy and Satsu need to take out.
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narflet
Potential Slayer
grr. arg.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 198
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Post by narflet on Feb 3, 2009 21:00:49 GMT -5
The dialogue reminded me of Olaf. I especially love the first three insults from the kids and then the demon's 'round cake'. Cracked me up. And then the blood and guts. I just loved it.
As the vampy cats are on the variant cover I figure they, and the demon, will be playing a part in #22. When we first got the covers for #22 it made me wonder in Harmony's dogs were going to be vamped too, but it turned out not to be. The vampy cats seem so fitting in the Japanese setting too.
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Post by Wyndam on Feb 3, 2009 21:04:00 GMT -5
Haha! That was awesome! The gore was a hilarious surprise.  |
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Post by Emmie on Feb 3, 2009 21:08:56 GMT -5
So are we thinking these are actual in-universe events or some kinda wacky anime advertising the latest craze? I have to say, Vampy Cat looks like a pretty cool (albeit probably throwaway) villain but I can predict complaints of silliness. What do the MechaDawn and tree people haters think of all this? I definitely think it's in-universe. And I'm viewing it more as equivalent to Smile Time or Fear, Itself where the baddies are scary yet still kinda cute. I think this works better than the tree people because it's a one-shot and these demonic creatures feel more possible. Plus it seems like these demons actually serve a purpose besides providing root system jokes.  As for MechaDawn, I appreciated how it resonated symbolically for Dawn but the thing that always bugged me a bit was that they had a giant robot (or whatever you'd call it). Wouldn't that be the equivalent of building a naval ship or something - costing hundreds of millions of dollars. One fighter jet costs about $20 million. It was just too ridiculously insane from vampires who are smart of enough to take advantage of modern technology and the ancient arts. It'd be more for the vampires to be packing guns if they're going state-of-the-art with their weaponry. |
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Post by wenxina on Feb 3, 2009 21:12:26 GMT -5
Thanks.
Turns out, it's a Mac issue, or at least an issue with my Mac.
I used my old laptop, and read it! And it's so amazingly horrendously cute that I'm in love with it.
The gore was unexpected; that's probably the most gore we've ever seen on Buffy... but I loved it.
More importantly, check out the bag the demon is holding in the preview. It says Santorio, the same company that's advertising the Vampy Cat.
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Paul
Ensouled Vampire
[Mo0:34]
Posts: 1,173
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Post by Paul on Feb 3, 2009 21:15:40 GMT -5
So are we thinking these are actual in-universe events or some kinda wacky anime advertising the latest craze? I have to say, Vampy Cat looks like a pretty cool (albeit probably throwaway) villain but I can predict complaints of silliness. What do the MechaDawn and tree people haters think of all this? I definitely think it's in-universe. And I'm viewing it more as equivalent to Smile Time or Fear, Itself where the baddies are scary yet still kinda cute. I think this works better than the tree people because it's a one-shot and these demonic creatures feel more possible. Plus it seems like these demons actually serve a purpose besides providing root system jokes. As for MechaDawn, I appreciated how it resonated symbolically for Dawn but the thing that always bugged me a bit was that they had a giant robot (or whatever you'd call it). Wouldn't that be the equivalent of building a naval ship or something - costing hundreds of millions of dollars. One fighter get costs about $20 million. It was just too ridiculously insane from vampires who are smart of enough to take advantage of modern technology and the ancient arts. It'd be more for the vampires to be packing guns if they're going state-of-the-art with their weaponry. I guess kids getting their intestines ripped out might not be the best advertisement for a toy/pet/toy-pet, but hey, the Buffyverse has been kind of morally-challenged media-wise lately, and it is Japan.  You're probably right though, it was just the artwork that threw me. Oh shush with your logic, Emmie. There was a giant-size teenage girl stomping around Tokyo. Of course they were going to build a mecha version for her to fight, it would be madness not to.  |
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Post by Emmie on Feb 3, 2009 21:19:19 GMT -5
They'd have done better against Giant!Dawn if they'd grabbed a few rocket launchers. The difference with these Vampy Cats is their actually being set up as the main villain with their own mythos versus a gimmicky side story that's never fleshed out (tree people) or something that was just so fanboy awesome the writers had to do it even though it made little sense (Mecha Dawn). |
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narflet
Potential Slayer
grr. arg.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 198
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Post by narflet on Feb 3, 2009 21:23:19 GMT -5
Thanks. Turns out, it's a Mac issue, or at least an issue with my Mac. I used my old laptop, and read it! And it's so amazingly horrendously cute that I'm in love with it. The gore was unexpected; that's probably the most gore we've ever seen on Buffy... but I loved it. More importantly, check out the bag the demon is holding in the preview. It says Santorio, the same company that's advertising the Vampy Cat. Glad you found a way around it! Good link with the bag there. I also went back and looked at the Vampy Cat pages and looked a little closer, and there is the demon lurking in the background while the kids get eviscerated (middle panel). |
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Post by wenxina on Feb 3, 2009 21:27:46 GMT -5
It's the same old demon that gave Sachiko the Vampy Cat.
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Post by Emmie on Feb 3, 2009 21:30:22 GMT -5
What does it say in the second panel - "A kindly old on_ demon takes pity"?
What is that line right after "on"?
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Post by wenxina on Feb 3, 2009 21:36:15 GMT -5
My only guess is that it reads "Oni demon"... not sure if that means anything to anyone. The Oni were a race of demons in the Mortal Kombat universe. lol
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Post by Emmie on Feb 3, 2009 21:37:43 GMT -5
Yeah, I thought it might be Oni Demon but I wanted an outside opinion. The "i" looks faded on the page or is that just me? Check this about the Oni Demon.  |
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Post by Tyler Austin "tiewashere" on Feb 3, 2009 22:46:06 GMT -5
Nice research, Emmie!
As much as I loved the little e-comic, I have to say I wasn't really surprised. I mean, just looking at the pictures you could tell the Vampy Cat was just a Ferby-gone-wrong. And although it was nice, the e-comic really wasn't necessary. I do have to say the insults the kids make are hysterical!!
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Post by Emmie on Feb 3, 2009 22:54:33 GMT -5
I google like a champ. ;D
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patxshand
Ensouled Vampire
Writer/director/Amy Acker's husband.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 1,918
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Post by patxshand on Feb 3, 2009 23:36:33 GMT -5
Who says it has to be necessary? None of the tie-in material for "Harmonic Divergence" was either. It was all just funny stuff that make the fans happy. This was ever better than I expected.
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Post by birdandbear on Feb 3, 2009 23:56:16 GMT -5
I love this little tie in! The style is evocative of Speed Racer, or Belle and Sebastian from way back. I cracked up at the lovely splashy gore.  And it's totally creepy how Vampy Cat feeding off a little girl plays as cute and innocuous. |
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Post by Emmie on Feb 4, 2009 14:32:11 GMT -5
Reaction post to Swell:
A complete story in one issue, jam packed with action and wonderful character moments. This issue really is all about Satsu even though we sadly don't get an internal monologue from her. We learn about her troubled history with her parents after she "destroyed them with [her] gayness." The story comes full-circle with Kennedy helping Satsu in the beginning, then kicking the mind-controlling Vampy Cat (way better than Bad Eggs) out of Satsu only to have Satsu save the day. We see her being questioned and even controlled, but her instincts and ingenuity lead her team to victory. Kennedy serves as an assistant and morale booster who shows Satsu she needs to move on from Buffy, but it's Satsu who ultimately takes action. Strong, sure and independent. Satsu finally comes to terms with Buffy's heart being unreachable to her and stops moping (notice that Satsu has a newpaper clipping of Buffy on the wall of her bedroom), throws away the lip gloss o' love and moves on. To shopping. With her new BFF Kennedy. A wonderful issue for her.
There's some very disturbing metaphors here regarding sexuality and how women are kept down. The most blatant one to me was, "Get in her mouth! Get in her mouth!" in order to force control. As for Satsu's Stepford-ness, that completely worked. Recall that Satsu isn't really speaking and has no idea what's happening - that's Vampy Cat #1 in the driver's seat there. And what Vampycat!Satsu is saying is all from the demonic, misogynistic Swell's perspective.
The theme of appearances not matching the heart of the situation, the truth of reality, is continued here. What is truth? The Vampy Cats are seen by the public as cute, cuddly toys massacred by those mean old slayers and Harmony cannot be taken out because that will make her appear like a "martyr." The Slayers are seen as evil when in reality they're fighting evil. Perception of reality continues to play an important role. What becomes the priority here - the mission or the message? If the Slayers fail to counter Twilight's message, how can they continue their mission?
Twilight is striking on two fronts, both in battle and in the hearts and minds of the people. While Buffy and Co. successfully stop the Swell from attacking thanks to Satsu's squad, she continues to fail to act regarding the public's growing fear and hatred of the Slayers. Twilight's outflanked Buffy and she needs to start answering the message war or she really will be at war with humanity. Demons on one side, humanity on the other - both frothing at the mouth to put an end to Slayers.
We finally see how Buffy is reacting to the PR nightmare Harmony's perpetuating as she paints the Slayers as evil, but her solution seems ultimately misguided. She wants to keep a "low profile...like subterranean" but that is impossible when battles happen in the light of day and Slayer commercials are presumably still airing. All this will do is make them seem even more secretive and dangerous to the public who's asking questions.
"We need to stop being whatever we've been and focus. Be more than human. Or the less-than is gonna win." - Buffy
Whatever we've been? She's unable to define it - how about morally wrong, secretive and elitist? Be "more than human"? That's been the problem all along. That Buffy thinks Slayers are "more than human." What she needs is to simply *be* human and being human means connecting to the world, creating ties with humanity rather than keeping a "low profile". Her plan is "way that bad" as it continues her isolationist stance that is breeding mistrust among the public. Buffy's statement also addresses the inner battle every Slayer faces between their humanity and their slayerness. The Slayer has the potential to be "less-than". The other that is within each and every Slayer.
Favorite quotes:
"Duck, don't get hit." - Anonymous Slayer
"That thing had four arms! I ducked the first three!" - Ayumi
"It's not the sparks he should be afraid of, it's the fire." - Satsu
"Your eval's so getting a smiley face." - Kennedy
An overall incredibly pleasing issue that contains deep food for thought beneath all the action and humor. Very Buffy. Excellent.
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Post by AndrewCrossett on Feb 4, 2009 16:23:19 GMT -5
Satsu finally comes to terms with Buffy's heart being unreachable to her and stops moping (notice that Satsu has a newpaper clipping of Buffy on the wall of her bedroom), throws away the lip gloss o' love and moves on. To shopping. With her new BFF Kennedy. A wonderful issue for her. I'm not sure what Buffy said that would have led Satsu to that particular reaction. Was this "true love" really just an infatuation that can be gotten over so easily? |
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Post by Emmie on Feb 4, 2009 16:29:57 GMT -5
Satsu finally comes to terms with Buffy's heart being unreachable to her and stops moping (notice that Satsu has a newpaper clipping of Buffy on the wall of her bedroom), throws away the lip gloss o' love and moves on. To shopping. With her new BFF Kennedy. A wonderful issue for her. I'm not sure what Buffy said that would have led Satsu to that particular reaction. Was this "true love" really just an infatuation that can be gotten over so easily? It's not that Satsu isn't in love with Buffy still. But she'd been holding out hope ever since she went to Tokyo. Buffy treating her with an all-business attitude finally made Satsu realize she needed to move on. |
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Post by tms on Feb 4, 2009 16:35:01 GMT -5
All I have to really say about this issue was: Pretty good.
Wasn't a fan of the Vampy Kitty's, nor am I a fan of how the general public is finding out about the supernatural in this arc. I loved Kennedy and Satsu's roles, which suprisingly I find that they would possibly make a good couple.
P.S. Does anyone know if she accepted the proposal that was in the "Slay the Critics" section? I'm curious.
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