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Post by wenxina on Feb 4, 2010 17:52:28 GMT -5
It'll have to be fixed for the trades, and the HCs. Damn... guess I'll be buying the HCs... GAH! Messy!
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Joe
Wise-cracking Sidekick
Obsessive Paranoid Boob
"Gypsies are filthy people! We shall speak of zem no more!" *spits* -Ilona Costa Bianchi[Mo0:0]
Posts: 2,786
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Post by Joe on Feb 4, 2010 17:53:38 GMT -5
Scott says they're going to re-do that panel for the Retreat trade paperback. As I understand it, the correct sequence of events is that Giles, Faith and Andrew were *not* captured with the other Slayers... they were separately teleported out, and Amy, Warren and the General were teleported in to replace them. I'm happy they're fixing it for the trade. . When did he say this?
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Post by AndrewCrossett on Feb 4, 2010 17:54:36 GMT -5
I'm happy they're fixing it for the trade. . When did he say this? In the Willow one-shot Q&A, I think.
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Post by hitnrun017 on Feb 4, 2010 18:02:38 GMT -5
Really enjoyed this issue. Loved how it all flowed. Tons of light-heartedness, with some concern, mystery, and then a mind blowing revelation. Was totally surprised that that's how Buffy got her powers, looking forward to the explanation of why. Can't wait to see how it affects Buffy, the fun in it is now gone.
Dawn was awesome this issue. She was actually annoying through the majority of the issue, and I love that she was actually right. She PWNED the other characters and myself. Go Dawn. The "monkey's paw" from the distance killed me too.
Looking forward to how the Amy, Warren, General story pans out. Can they be trusted? If they can, that's an interesting turn. What the hell is up with the General anyways? Why was he kicked out? He's human, Twilight had countless other generals. What ever happened to General Voll or Molter? They were setup to be great human villians. Ah well.
Scratching my head about the end with Twilight and the others though. Faith punching Andrew was great, but what was the point of the death trap machine? It better be used in some capacity instead of just being used as a reference. Twilight's last line kind of annoyed me too. At this point he's become a joke.
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Post by AndrewCrossett on Feb 4, 2010 20:51:34 GMT -5
Really enjoyed this issue. Loved how it all flowed. Tons of light-heartedness, with some concern, mystery, and then a mind blowing revelation. Was totally surprised that that's how Buffy got her powers, looking forward to the explanation of why. Can't wait to see how it affects Buffy, the fun in it is now gone. About time. For most of us, watching dozens of one's comrades die horribly would be enough to rob the situation of its mirth. Looking forward to how the Amy, Warren, General story pans out. Can they be trusted? If they can, that's an interesting turn. What the hell is up with the General anyways? Why was he kicked out? He's human, Twilight had countless other generals. What ever happened to General Voll or Molter? They were setup to be great human villians. Ah well. Well, obviously Buffy would have to be an incredible fool to trust them, even if they ARE telling the truth (which I very much doubt they are.) The General's excuse would probably be that Twilight has no further need of an army, having wrecked the Slayer army, so he cut him loose and used him, Warren and Amy as a balance to bring Giles, Faith and Andrew in... (Sidebar: Scott told us in last month's Q&A that GF&A were rounded up by chance with the Slayers Twi took prisoner. Now, however, it seems they were deliberately teleported in and "exchanged" for Amy, Warren & the general. Which is it?) AW&G were scheming the whole time before Buffy met them, and they came prepared with high-powered binoculars and stuff. They're still black hats, as much as ever. I do wonder why the general's name is "classified" and why we're specifically told that he "craves cheese" like Amy. Is he also a former rat? Scratching my head about the end with Twilight and the others though. Faith punching Andrew was great, but what was the point of the death trap machine? It better be used in some capacity instead of just being used as a reference. Twilight's last line kind of annoyed me too. At this point he's become a joke. And what would Twilight want with a U.S.S. Enterprise bridge set? I think all this stuff is just nerdy crap Twilight let Warren build to humor him, while waiting for him to fulfill his real purpose (whatever that is... I guess we'll find out next month.) I doubt Twi has any intention of using the "superhero death trap" on anyone. (And Dark Horse will probably hear from Marvel's lawyers if he does.)
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Paul
Ensouled Vampire
[Mo0:34]
Posts: 1,173
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Post by Paul on Feb 4, 2010 21:38:35 GMT -5
This was a good issue but I'm not gonna review it fully because I pretty much agree with wenxina's review and there's no point in repeating it.
The issue was undermined quite a bit by the continuity errors between this arc and the last. "Retreat" was a mess and at this point I'm pretty much blaming Jane Espenson for everything that's wrong with the series, perhaps unfairly. She couldn't maintain continuity between her own issues, never mind other writers. The story itself is actually very good but these constant, sloppy "we'll fix it in the trade" mistakes are making it very hard to take seriously. What is Joss' "executive producer" role actually for, if not catching errors like this? It's unprofessional, and is ruining my enjoyment of the series.
My other complaint was Faith's characterization. Meltzer seems to have a very simplistic take on her that reminds me of "Safe" (calling Andrew "A" for example). I'm very disappointed with how Faith's been handled this season... after a brilliant introduction in "NFFY", she's been reduced to a badly-written background character. This is Faith for God's sake... her very presence used to be an event, she deserves better than this.
I did actually enjoy the issue believe it or not, but these inconsistencies are starting to take their toll. For example, when Amy and Warren showed up with their unconvincing sob story, I had no idea whether it was supposed to be a trick or just another example of poor writing.
Random positive comment: Buffy dissing Kitty Pryde. Hah, I don't see the appeal either Buffy. You're so much better than that brat.
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Post by DorothyFan1 on Feb 4, 2010 21:47:01 GMT -5
I'm not sure if Buffy's comment wasn't a warning if we think about it. Correct me if I'm wrong...but isn't Kitty Pryde one of Joss's favorite characters?
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Paul
Ensouled Vampire
[Mo0:34]
Posts: 1,173
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Post by Paul on Feb 4, 2010 21:58:00 GMT -5
I'm not sure if Buffy's comment wasn't a warning if we think about it. Correct me if I'm wrong...but isn't Kitty Pryde one of Joss's favorite characters? Yeah, she was his favourite comic book superhero growing up and served as a big inspiration for Buffy and Fray. He kinda killed her during his Astonishing X-Men run but she's coming back in an upcoming issue of Uncanny (Magneto's gonna save her from the bullet). Personally, I don't like Kitty, and don't see much of Buffy in her. She's always been a bit of an annoying Mary Sue in my eyes (lording it over the New Mutants, who are far superior characters). I hate that she's coming back too, especially so soon after we were rid of her.
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shaz
Innocent Bystander
I've got 'Vorward momentum'![Mo0:18]
Posts: 27
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Post by shaz on Feb 5, 2010 6:14:53 GMT -5
I loved this issue. The light-heartedness at the start made the shocking discovery of how Buffy got her powers even more unsettling. Is anyone else worried that Buffy's new powers might end up being to much for her to physically cope with if they continue to increase? Personally I thought the last panel, with Twilight was fabulous (notice his dialogue was still in the 'normal' font?). I just get a feeling that we're going to find out that nothing is as it seems...I mean, he's aboard a replica of the Enterprise bridge for gods sake!!!! Not that I think they're in space all of a sudden BTW I can't log into the Myspace Dark Horse presents, it keeps going back to the home page...
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Post by wenxina on Feb 5, 2010 8:10:33 GMT -5
MDHP has been having problems of late. If you go to the other link I provided (the one to the Carpe Noctem thread), you should be able to read the whole TotV short story there.
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shaz
Innocent Bystander
I've got 'Vorward momentum'![Mo0:18]
Posts: 27
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Post by shaz on Feb 5, 2010 8:13:04 GMT -5
Thank you! I will give that a try.
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Post by krazyxxxdj on Feb 5, 2010 12:38:38 GMT -5
I really liked the art for this issue, but found Mr. Meltzer's "Buffy Speak" a little off. Maybe it was just this issue, too much going on. Finally, a direction, though.
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Post by wenxina on Feb 5, 2010 13:00:53 GMT -5
Part 1 of a new CBR feature called "Behind Buffy Season 8" is HERE. Scott Allie basically does a commentary on #31 and #2 here, and there are tons of pages, including some that weren't included in the previews previously. I'll add those when I have the chance. Also, a preview from #33!!! Check it out!
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Post by AndrewCrossett on Feb 5, 2010 13:22:11 GMT -5
Good interview. And that preview page for #33 goes a long way toward addressing my complaints about Buffy's reaction to all her girls dying.
206 Slayers dead... almost half of the total that were in Buffy's group, and more than 10% of the world total.
I made that Buffy=Vampire connection as well, as soon as I read the part about Buffy being powered by death.
I'm coming more and more around to the theory that Buffy has merged with the Scythe, and the things that have been happening are a result of the Slayer magic trying to put itself back the way it used to be... all the magic back in the Scythe, to be used by one person (or maybe two). I'm not sure the guy in the Twilight mask is responsible for all of the bad stuff that's been happening since the battle in "Retreat."
(But why are there palm trees in Tibet? There aren't, are there?)
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Post by wenxina on Feb 5, 2010 14:07:42 GMT -5
If you look at the art in the jungles in #31, a lot of it looks tropical too. There are rainforests in Tibet, but not in the mountains. I think.
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joony
Common Vampire
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 50
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Post by joony on Feb 5, 2010 14:54:45 GMT -5
I was really digging this issue until Twilight's lair turned out to be a stupid, nonsensical reference-fest. Was there really any need for that machine to be included? And if it is important to the plot, why could it not be something original? And the Star Trek bridge!? Is it at all neccessary to give the Big Bad (responsible for some truly upsetting sights earlier in the issues) a whimsical base of operations. It doesn't add anything to Twilight, it makes him less serious. The only function I can see is that it needlessly reminds us Warren is geeky and a genius.
I know it's silly to get worked up about two panels, but I had visions of the reveal happening on the original Enterprise bridge and panicked.
I found all the other references funny though...
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Post by darkslayer on Feb 5, 2010 17:27:54 GMT -5
My other complaint was Faith's characterization. Meltzer seems to have a very simplistic take on her that reminds me of "Safe" (calling Andrew "A" for example). I'm very disappointed with how Faith's been handled this season... after a brilliant introduction in "NFFY", she's been reduced to a badly-written background character. This is Faith for God's sake... her very presence used to be an event, she deserves better than this. Agreed. She's not just another newbie slayer, Faith is the only other Slayer in all the world that was not produced by Willow's empowering of Potentials. She was and is Buffy's match, and deserves to have more in the storyline. I am worried, though, how she is going to react to the reveal of Twilight, considering events in her past (trying desperately here to not reveal a spoiler most everyone knows by now).
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Post by NightlySorrow on Feb 5, 2010 22:09:35 GMT -5
Isn't Faith the main slayer? I mean....Buffy died, then Kendra was in, then she died, and Faith was activated and she carries it forward now. So why is Buffy getting all the powers? I'm sure I'm missing something obvious.
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Hellbound Hyperion
Bad Ass Wicca
$20 per soul, no refunds[/B]
Dude, you just rescued a puppy![Mo0:18]
Posts: 2,268
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Post by Hellbound Hyperion on Feb 5, 2010 22:39:38 GMT -5
Isn't Faith the main slayer? I mean....Buffy died, then Kendra was in, then she died, and Faith was activated and she carries it forward now. So why is Buffy getting all the powers? I'm sure I'm missing something obvious. I asked this very question to Scott Allie in this issue's Q&A and got kind of a "non-answer" back. Iunno. I guess it's one of those things.
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Post by hitnrun017 on Feb 5, 2010 22:47:37 GMT -5
I'm really hoping Faith gets more involved. I know it's hopeless with so much to cover in so little time with so many characters, but the power of the Slayers is a huge issue in Season 8, especially now with the revelation. It just sort of feels like Faith is getting shafted. She should definitely be integrated more into this story. But again, just not enough room.
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