maverik85
Innocent Bystander
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 8
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Post by maverik85 on Nov 9, 2009 22:18:46 GMT -5
Kind of liek the covers this time but they definately aren't up near the top of my lists of favorites, probably one of the weaker chen covers, but for the most part like it better than some from TLWH.
As for the title was wondering as well if it's a palce holder for now. It's a decent title for the arc but doesnt' seem t be anthing spoilery like Allie said it was, thena gian he kind of over hyped the WTF moment in 30. Didnt' Turbulence have a place holder at first as retreat-epilogue before they gave the real title, maybe this si the same.
Anyway it sounds like a good story, really hope we find out who twilight is in this issue so we don't have to keep waiting, will be worse knowing it's in this arc. Also think they said that the cover for the issue with the reveal was similar for both. So not sure if Buffy showing off her powers counts as similar enough or not.
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Post by wenxina on Nov 9, 2009 23:13:37 GMT -5
I don't think the "Retreat - Epilogue" title was ever official. While someone did report that here, no source was ever given. I think we're all looking at the lack of revelation in the title from a skewed perspective. SlayAlive, while a growing community, is far from a universally known entity. We're moving up the ranks in terms of original content - what with our monthly Q&As with Allie and Jeanty, as well as the sporadic Q&As with Brian Lynch - but we're no CBR or Newsarama (and we don't aim to be. We're a forum that's pretty dedicated to the works of one Joss Whedon).
If you read the solicitation for this issue, you'll notice that they play up the coming revelation of Twilight's identity in this arc. While readers of our Q&As have known this for ages, readers who depend solely on solicitations for their information didn't. The marketing team probably only wanted to reveal the title through official avenues. Allie probably wasn't at liberty to say what the title of Meltzer's arc was, despite having already dropped tidbits here and there before about what to expect. In fact, coming to think of it, I think it was Georges who kinda spilled the beans on when to expect the Twilight revelation. Allie has always been pretty vague about it. But back to marketing strategies for a while... they keep changing in up anyway. Just last month, Allie said that the title for Meltzer's arc would be withheld from solicitations too, just like #31, so as to avoid spoilers. This has been proven to be false as the title for the arc was released. If they wanted to keep mum on that, they could just have left it out, just like they did in the solicitation for #31.
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trunkstheslayer
Potential Slayer
Bad day. Started bad, stayed that way.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 188
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Post by trunkstheslayer on Nov 9, 2009 23:28:47 GMT -5
As far as withholding the covers for this issue, I'm thinking the reason they considered it was probably that they weren't sure when these would be released in relation to issue 30. If 30 had come out after these, then the end would have been spoiled epically. That said, we still didn't know about the super-strength beyond speculation so Jeanty's cover still kinda spoils us in that regard.
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Post by AndrewCrossett on Nov 9, 2009 23:31:28 GMT -5
I seem to recall a few months ago when Scott seemed to refer in passing to "Twilight" as if it was an arc title... and someone asked about it, and he said "Twilight" was the title they gave in-house to season 8 as a whole. I wonder if he slipped up and was covering.
Ever since one of the first Q&A's, when I asked him for a one-word description of Meltzer's arc and he responded "revelatory," I pretty much expected Twilight would be revealed either there or in the final scene of "Retreat."
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Post by wenxina on Nov 9, 2009 23:42:27 GMT -5
As far as withholding the covers for this issue, I'm thinking the reason they considered it was probably that they weren't sure when these would be released in relation to issue 30. If 30 had come out after these, then the end would have been spoiled epically. That said, we still didn't know about the super-strength beyond speculation so Jeanty's cover still kinda spoils us in that regard. I don't think there was ever any mention of withholding covers. AndrewCrossett rightly calculated that the solicitations for #31 would be released before #30 came out. Solicitations are a calculated marketing device; I doubt there's uncertainty as to when they solicitations will come out in regard to the current issue.
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Randi Giles
Wise-cracking Sidekick
I Want to Believe
Moon Eyes in disguise.[Mo0:34]
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Randi Giles on Nov 10, 2009 8:28:08 GMT -5
It's funny seeing Joss.
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Tea - Total
Bad Ass Wicca
?The hardest thing in this world is to ...live in it....? [Mo0:4]
Posts: 2,118
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Post by Tea - Total on Nov 10, 2009 10:02:15 GMT -5
Willow and Buffy are going to be the ultimate tag team lol...
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joony
Common Vampire
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 50
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Post by joony on Nov 10, 2009 10:36:39 GMT -5
Every time Twilight and Buffy share a cover they are facing away from each other. I wonder if this has any significance. On the cover for A Beautiful Sunset he's coming right at her. But it is obscured by light. Everytime Jo has drawn him we've not had a clear picture of his head or "face". Is that her way of referencing the mystery identity?
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Post by wenxina on Nov 10, 2009 13:48:29 GMT -5
Hi-res covers added to original post. Also, solicitation has been hidden in spoiler tags, just in case there are spoiler-phobes who dare to glance at the covers.
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Hallow Thorn
Bad Ass Wicca
Oh and You're Welcome
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 2,306
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Post by Hallow Thorn on Nov 10, 2009 15:18:27 GMT -5
I love SuperBuffy, I just hope that it doesn't last to long... I really hope that the mole is Satsu and that there will be an epic fight between them. I would also love it if twilight is the son of both Buffy and Riley and that Riley's death is what stop twilight forever lol. (I don't what Riley to die tho )
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BadWolfX
Innocent Bystander
Who Is John Galt?[Mo0:9]
Posts: 10
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Post by BadWolfX on Nov 11, 2009 11:53:50 GMT -5
I actually love Chen's cover: but then again, I always do. I'm so incredibly excited for this arc, I even did a little dance when I saw the title.
Shame we have to wait three months for this. It's going to be painful.
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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 Nov 12, 2009 17:43:22 GMT -5
This is exciting. I didn't like the whole war, screw-the-entire-philosophy-of-the-show-with-no-explanation-or-character-reaction that was #29, and I'm still digesting #30, but this looks like a fun and interesting new turn. The series might still have hope to be good.
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Post by wenxina on Nov 12, 2009 17:45:11 GMT -5
You were against goddesses, but you're okay with flying Buffy? ;P Methinks that's a wee odd.
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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 Nov 12, 2009 17:51:00 GMT -5
Why? We don't even have an explanation of Buffy's powers, so all it has now is potential. We have the whole goddess explanation and, to me, it just doesn't work that well. I liked them better in #30, but the cartoony look doesn't sit well with me. I know it's true to their original design, but they just don't vibe at all with the look of the characters and landscape. But that's just me, I guess.
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Post by wenxina on Nov 12, 2009 17:58:36 GMT -5
I'd disagree that we know all there is to know about the goddesses. The very fact that Buffy has super powers again, after physical contact with one (could be a smoke screen, and there's really no relation there at all) would suggest that there's more to learn about them. And hey, from Chen's #31 cover, it would seem that there's still more to see of them before the end.
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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 Nov 12, 2009 18:02:02 GMT -5
Oh, definitely. I'm more concentrated on how they got there then what they're really about. Just how suddenly they were a part of the story, how such a big moment had almost zero build up ("Oh, I know a spell!" "I'm angry, I'll say it!" "GODDESSES!") was such weak storytelling for me, and coupled with the art (Goddess-wise) rubbing me the wrong way... and coming in at the end of the weakest issue of the series... it was just so many things that didn't work for me collaborating to have a big make-Pat-hate-this effect. I do have hope things will get better for the series, though.
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Post by krazyxxxdj on Nov 13, 2009 5:56:43 GMT -5
now i think future buffy is twilight... crap.... i want to read it... I agree. Between the book, these previews & the Q&A, I have a new theory going. Not spoilers, just a big guess - but think about it and let me know if it makes sense. Twilight is Buffy, from some future.
(1)From the first issue, TwilightBuffy is floating above the castle the slayers attack -- how did Twilight know they were there? She remembered. (2) The symbol - Buffy says "I think it's a beautiful sunset." Some inspiration on the Twilight name, maybe?
(3) Betrayal - the closest, the most unexpected -- betrayal of yourself?
(4)"Sorry - itchy neck. Where was I?" could be a very Buffy thing to say.
(5) "I know that move". She remembered.
(6) In the same issue, talking to present Buffy - "All these slayers - the world can't contain them. And they will suffer for that". Not making a statement, but actually telling of what she (TwilightBuffy) experienced. "I know you meant well. But you have brought about disaster, and it falls to me to avert it". Buffy having to travel back into the past to stop herself from causing some major disaster. "Have they made a difference? Have they helped you?" - Very tuned in to what preent Buffy is thinking.
(7) The coat. The coat that TwilightBuffy is wearing could possibly be Spike or Angel's, and she's held on to it. Maybe this was the clue in the Joss/Jo special with the dream. Both characters were wearing their coats, and it's shown again flying off on the last page.
(8) "It's a spike." "Spike?" -- could have just startled TwilightBuffy. "It ends with her turning that sword on herself" - more future/past talk.
(9) The flying, obviously, Buffy still has these powers. Maybe they made her a tad immortal, as well.
(10) The Q & A. "Twilight isn't psychic" --- no, but it's Buffy, and therefore knows how Buffy thinks, or remembers things that she did before. "That Goddess almost killed them" before it being shown to happen - maybe it's because for some weird reason TwilightBuffy remembered it -- (although it doesn't make sense, see below).
So maybe a still-alive, super powered Buffy has come back to stop her from doing this, or something else majorly catastrophic. Maybe she doesn't want to be immortal and watch all her friends die, and is trying to get her to give up on coaching/training these slayers for some reason. I don't know.
There are a few many flaws in this theory -- if TwilightBuffy wasn't there the first time to cause the slayers to retreat to Tibet, then Buffy would never have gotten these powers from the Goddesses. They wouldn't be in Tibet. Half the stuff happening, would have never happened, because TwilightBuffy wasn't there the first time to instigate it. Also, Twilight is not drawn like a woman. The breastplate could possibly be hiding Buff's chest, but also, when the mask came a little up, the jaw was pretty huge & square.
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Tea - Total
Bad Ass Wicca
?The hardest thing in this world is to ...live in it....? [Mo0:4]
Posts: 2,118
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Post by Tea - Total on Nov 13, 2009 6:24:47 GMT -5
I agree, but why does she want to destroy everything, its not making sense. I don't want it to be Buffy because it spoiled the whole concept of Buffy being a hero and a champion. I do like a character to show a bad side of them self but for Buffy it doesn't suit her personal being and personality.
But would you think Buffy be that intelligent. Summoning the army to help her and recruiting assistants to inform and help her. I don't thinks its Buffy.
what happen to the scythe?
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Post by wenxina on Nov 13, 2009 8:08:50 GMT -5
If it is Buffy from the future, the Scythe was left there, for Mel to have. Assuming that the future Twilight comes from is the same time as Fray et al.
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Post by henzINNIT on Nov 13, 2009 8:48:55 GMT -5
Oh, definitely. I'm more concentrated on how they got there then what they're really about. Just how suddenly they were a part of the story, how such a big moment had almost zero build up ("Oh, I know a spell!" "I'm angry, I'll say it!" "GODDESSES!") was such weak storytelling for me, and coupled with the art (Goddess-wise) rubbing me the wrong way... and coming in at the end of the weakest issue of the series... it was just so many things that didn't work for me collaborating to have a big make-Pat-hate-this effect. I do have hope things will get better for the series, though. True that. I love Jane as we all do but I think she fumbled badly with the pacing of her arc, and sputtered along and spat out a huge chunk of plot in #29 to wrap everything up in time. She's had the most time so far to tell the story, so it's disappointing that it was so disjointed. I think it's interesting that not many people seem to care about Buffy flying after Allie got into giving serious storm warnings. It was probably the fear we had that some truely horrific event was coming that made it a bit of a relief. I'm not keen on some of the things we've seen in this comic, but to be honest the flying hasn't bothered me either. It feels neccessary, like a puzzle piece falling into place; foreshadowed numerous times beforehand and playing into the themes of powers shared (or not). It actually makes me more forgiving of the Willow-copter we got so much of before too.
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