Season 8 - Predators and Prey: Issue 23

[wenxina]

I know that the intent is to keep Andrew sexually ambiguous. But then, in S8 especially, there have been more than a few blatant "clues" dropped about... and so I figured, okay... Andrew may actually be gay.
But I do agree with Andrew just being the modern day Candide. Read a really good paper on the topic actually. If interested, it's in a new book of essays called Buffy Goes Dark.

[CowboyGuy]

Oh...I freaking loved this preview!! This issue is gonna be fantastic! I got all the references. Buffy and Andrew are great and really compliment one another. I like that Buffy has become more tolerant of him as well, and their bonding over Daniel Craig love is cool.

Maybe Andrew will come out to Buffy at the end of this issue.

So glad to see the Simone issue being addressed, and even more happy to see the Scoobies on a old-school type mission! Kill the demon, rescue the girl. Hold her for information! Classic Buffy!

The references in this issue, especially the Battlestar and Diddy references show that this issue takes place in real time, or at least within 2008. I am glad for this. I take it as the comic might take place over days at a time, where as an episode was only a day or two usually. Also, gaos between issues could be an infinite amount of time for all we know.

Especially the time between ToYL and Messages. That is a gap in time, with no real evidence to show how much has passed.

[Joe]

Oh this is good. So we think we're finally in 2008 now? We should ask Scott Allie in the next Q & A. I hope I don't forget!

[iloveromy]

Feb 19, 2009 18:03:50 GMT -5 Joe said:

Oh this is good. So we think we're finally in 2008 now? We should ask Scott Allie in the next Q & A. I hope I don't forget!

He did kind of answer this back in August.

39. Emmie: Since Buffy Season 8 has started off roughly a year and a half after the end of Chosen, can you give us a sense of the 'when' of the season? Someone has said that Buffy's birthday was referenced in interviews as occurring around A Beautiful Sunset - Is this the case? Are there any significant Time Markers you can point out to us lining up in the comic (in what month season 8 started, Buffy's birthday, season summer/winter/spring/fall, holidays passing, etc)?


Finally,Thomas, Nile, and Emmie—I don't think much about what year Season Eight takes place in, or how time is passing. I can't tell you the year of Buffy's death. Season Eight does take place about a year and a half after Season Seven; but I don't necessarily think of Season Seven having been in 2003. If you need to see it like that, and can believe in a world full of Slayers and vampires and demons, would you believe Casino Royale came out in 2004? In Season Six, the kids weren't reacting to 9/11 the way every actual person in America was. Believe me, editing comics, reading comics, if you think too much about what year a comic takes place in, it drives you nuts. Read the stories. Sometimes more time passes between issues than others. Sometimes more time passes within an issue than in others. Everything you need to know to enjoy the story is in there. Timelines kill the spontaneity of a comics story. We recently did a massive timeline for the Hellboy comics, and I couldn't regret it more, because it's hemmed in all sorts of things that never needed for story purposes to be hemmed in.

[CowboyGuy]

I assume that they'd still give the 'year and a half' answer. Just because in comic world, time doesn't matter as much.

In comics the characters are a perpetual 'young' age. Just as Superman and Batman never really age...they just live on in modern time. So I think that Buffy Season 8 is trying to make us forget about the actual time factor and focus on the story elements.

[AndrewCrossett]

Yeah, in the end it doesn't bother me much. So it's 2008 and Buffy is still in her early 20's and Dawn is still a teenager. Okey dokey. Doesn't bother me nearly as much as questions like how all of humanity can be in love with creatures that are killing them and drinking their blood every night.

In Xena fandom, we have the term YAXI... Yet Another Xena Inconsistency. We've grown almost affectionate and protective of our YAXI's over the years. Maybe we can call this a YABI.

[Whedon Fan]

Lovec the references from Andrew, I got most of them. Really liked the Buffy/Andrew geek-out session. A serenity refrence would have been awesome from Andrew. Something like;

ANDREW: Oh I've been watching this new space western show. Dragonfly or something like that anyway it has this guy who likes to play with Dinosaurs and that got me thinking wouldn't it be neat if they made a Jurassic Park 4. Do you think Dawn will become a Dinosaur...?

BUFFY: *sighs* Lets hope not, Giant Dawn was bad enough. I don't have time for a T-Rex Dawn

I like Andrew, I don't get the complaining of "oh it should have been Jonathan who was in season 7". He never learnt the big lessson so he missed out on his chance. I know he has known them for longer but...meh. Andrew is funnier and seemed to interact better with the Gang. Jonatahn always seemed like an outsider, where as Andrew sort of worked his wya into the group (except Buffy).

Nice preview. I wonder how it will end for Simone, bet she doesn't die. They cant have another dead slayer on their hands I can see this one being the "rehabilated slayer". They'll bring her back into the slayer squad and teach her properly. Or send her off somewhere....

[Joe]

Ah, I know we can't get an exact answer but it bothers me.

For now on Season 8 is happening in 2009... in my head.

[Emmie]

Yeah, great analysis, Romy. Andrew really is too immature to approach his sexuality in such an open fashion. And he really is all about playing games and roles.

[El Diablo Robotico]

I only got about half of Andrew's references, which is the way I want it. When I started getting most or all of them, that's when I'll begin to worry... ;D

[Rebecca]

I love Andrew. This issue makes my month. Mrs. Doubtfire... good times

I think I got all of his references, tho I didn't get the toilet paper reference or Don Draper who I immediately googled haha... and the Giles reference must have been a teaser for his issue.

Anyone else think the "Italian Count" was The Immortal?

[Malsad]

that would be cool

[Greer]

I really like reading this preview--Andrew driving a Ferrari is hilarious to me. I like how the Scoobies don't treat him badly anymore; he's more of an equal to him. I understand that the whole Giles convo is part of a preview-ish thing for his upcoming issue, but I don't really get it, maybe I'll read it again. Bringing Daniel Craig back into the mix is always a good thing for me to read about:) Plus I got all the Star Wars references, which made me chuckle. "Why would a Jedi be fighting Superman?"

I really enjoyed the geek bonding with Buffy and Andrew--Maybe he'll trust her enough/grow up enough to come out to her sometime soon?

[Tyler Austin "tiewashere"]

Doesn't the fact that we have Dollhouse every week make the wait for the comics feel much longer?

[Conor J Lopez]

This issue is out so soon and im am super excited for it!!!

Andrew and Buffy have such a great chemistry together and judging from the preview it looks like its being used to full effect.

The bonding between Buffy and Andrew was great. Here i was thinking misery business Buffy was going to be a bitch to Andrew as usual but its nice to see another side to thier friendship, albeit a reluctant one on Buffy's part.

And as for Andrews sexuality I really dont have this urge to know that everyone seems to have?? It would make no difference to the character knowing his sexuality. In my opinion i believe that Andrew probably doesnt even know himself, hes just Andrew in his own little world. Even if he is gay i would like the series to keep it ambiguous as it has now becoming an entertaining in joke and to have him come out would take away from the little moments we have had with Andrew throughout his run on Buffy.

[Nicholas]

I absolutely 100% LOVED this preview and this may prove to be my favorite issue out of ALL Season 8! Andrew is one of my favorite characters and the likeness of him is spot on!

I loved that Andrew really feels like he is one of the team now which is something that I think he really deserved since Season 7, even before he killed Jonathon. Remember his little convo with Jonathon about getting to hang out at Buffy's house? I also liked that he is so quirky and yet he fits so perfectly into Buffy's world.

My favorite lines from him so far in this ish was complimenting the girls top as he ran by and the what uuuuuppppp holler.

One of the things that I noticed about Buffy in this preview is that she actually seems to be noticing her mistakes. I know she didnt really show it as much but in my own little twisted mind, I see this issue being the thing that sets Buffy back on track. She instantly apologised for being mean to Andrew when he slammed the door and was willing to go on the trip with Andrew. When he talks about being bullied and Buffy responds to him, I felt that had a lot of meaning, more than people are actually reading. I think it was supposed to mean on how Simone is actually a bully and if Buffy continues on this path, thats essentially what she will become. I think her being so mean to him in Season 7 and the snippy comment about eating the door really echoed in her head, enough to show her that she had changed.

I'm a sad person. Sad sad sad. Why? I got almost ALL of Andrews pop culture refrences. And I like that Andrew and Buffy were able to connect over Daniel Craig which segues into another intresting thing: Andrews sexuality.

I think like said already in this thread that it is purposely being left ambiguous for the sake of pleasing both sides. I personally love the fact that it hasnt been flat out stated because I dont feel that everyones sexuality NEEDS to be flat out stated. There are plenty of refrences to Andrew being a closet gay and also to him being straight:

Gay:

1) His attachment to Warren.

I kinda view this as riding the fence if you will, because Andrew as a character kind of reminds me of Anya in how he stuck to whatever came along and was trying to find his place; also like Willow. Warren led him down a dark path, which many of the Buffy crew have at once been on, but in Season 7 he was clearly able to recognise which side was right.

2) Andrew cooking in S7.

Enough said.

3) Spice World T-shirt.

4) Andrews facination with Xander and his carpenter skills (completely avoiding Willow and Kennedy.)

Straight:

1) Refusal to comment on Daniel Craigs swim shorts.

2) All the women surrounding him when he was in Italy.

3) Him standing up to Warren.


And another thing, Andrew and Twilight dont really seem to mesh. I personally think that this would be a step back for the character, as he clearly learned his lesson throughout S7 and felt remorse for what he did. And he loves magic, why would he EVER want to end it?

[AndrewCrossett]

I personally think Andrew may just be asexual -- a person who simply has no interest in sex, whether straight or gay.

And I now doubt that he's Twilight or involved with him. If he is, he's the world's best actor, and I don't think he is.

I can't wait to get my hands on the rest of this issue. That whole situation looks like it has "trap" written all over it.

[AndrewCrossett]

Almost time for our next Buffy fix. I hope the Allie Q&A goes as scheduled... I've got enough questions noted down for about 3 sessions, and would have had more if Georges Jeanty hadn't answered a couple.

I think Nisha was deliberately turned over to the Ragna demon by angry locals. In freeing her, they might have to face not only the demon but an angry mob supporting the demon... and Buffy will be horrified when Simone and her gang show up and start slaughtering the civilians...

[wenxina]

Minor update: The Dark Horse website now has the bordered covers up. Think I'm set on the non-Sith-mistress looking cover.

[Vail]

I'm with the people who prefer Andrew's sexuality ambiguity to a confirmation. Basically because it's one of the hilarious relieves of both season 7 (e. g. when he paws Willow in The Killer in Me (7.13), thinking it was damn Warren) and 8 ("You'd be bored stiff" with the streap poker girls, priceless). That said,

Feb 27, 2009 0:06:02 GMT -5 Nicholas said:

Gay:

1) His attachment to Warren.

I kinda view this as riding the fence if you will, because Andrew as a character kind of reminds me of Anya in how he stuck to whatever came along and was trying to find his place; also like Willow. Warren led him down a dark path, which many of the Buffy crew have at once been on, but in Season 7 he was clearly able to recognise which side was right.

2) Andrew cooking in S7.

Enough said.

3) Spice World T-shirt.

4) Andrews facination with Xander and his carpenter skills (completely avoiding Willow and Kennedy.)

Straight:

1) Refusal to comment on Daniel Craigs swim shorts.

2) All the women surrounding him when he was in Italy.

3) Him standing up to Warren.

I don't quite think he's straight at all: (i) I've seen the Daniel Craig moment in the preview as Andrew not wanting to openly talk about his sexuality to Buffy - maybe because of her homophobe vibe at some points in the tv series "despite taking a skinny dip in that pool"- or about his feelings, since the only time we've seen him being open about himself was at the end of Storyteller (7.16); (ii) "The Girl in question" (AtS 5.20) was like a huge joke, with no serious point other than pushing the two ensouled vampires to move on, and, also, Joss already showed his dissapointment by how it had been stated that those womyn were Andrew's dates, but he couldn't find the energy to change it; and (iii) he wasn't standing up to Warren as much as he was standing up at the First, showing the scoobies who owned his loyalty.

I'd also wanted to point out: Is cooking related to liking men at all? Similar thing could be said about the Spice world T-shirt, but I just found the whole "cooking is not a masculine thing" kind of sexist and less stereotype-bound. It might as well be something cultural, so forgive me if I'm seeing a desert where there's just some sand. Personally, I saw cooking-Andrew as his way of doing something for the gang, of trying to be one of the scoobies, of being useful.

For me, Gay or asexual orientations are the ones that work best for Andrew, anyway.