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'Spike: Asylum' Review.
First of all, be warned that I love this book. Although I’ll try to be rational, informative and level-headed in my appraisal, I won’t claim to be objective. And it is only by using Super Sized willpower that I am not going to compare it to ‘The Long Way Home’ (s8, ep 1) - all I’ll say is that ‘Spike:Asylum’ (IMHO) is in most ways the stronger and better work, but that a lot of the reasons are quite simply inherent in the fact that they’re telling different sort of stories and an unfortunate choice of artist for s8.
To begin with, I was prepared to love this comic. I’d heard good things about it by people whose opinion I trust and my expectations were high - and luckily they were more than met. Being able to read the whole thing in one go and hold it in my hand also helped of course, and I loved the fact that there is a cover art gallery + author’s notes at the back. Esp. loved the notes, since they give a wonderful look into the writing process and Bryan Lynch’s mind.
Others have mentioned how the story is almost like a novel. This is a good point. There is a single narrative, well plotted and paced, with twists (some clichéd, some genuinely surprising) and a great and very inventive setting. There is also a large gallery of vividly drawn original characters (seriously, they’re *excellent* and I could easily waffle about them at length!) and the whole thing just springs to life on the page.
I know a lot of people think that Spike doesn’t need to be away from everyone else to ‘be his own man’, etc. There is certainly a case to be made for that, but please don’t let that be your reason for not getting this book. I love Buffy and Angel, but they were both the main character on their shows, and Spike - even when he was the hero - was never the one topping the bill. Here he is. [cheers] This story explores Spike, and Spike only. What he goes through does not have to fit in, or in any way reflect or illustrate, another character’s journey. It’s all about him! We have other characters mirroring him, the baddies targeting him. And you know what? It is great! Not only can he easily carry a story, he does it his own way...
What do I love most about this story? (Not an easy call btw) That it is about character exploration and character development. The plot takes Spike places, gets under his skin, and I want to say that at the end of the story he’s ‘a changed man’. But that is corny and also implies that he becomes somehow *different*, which isn’t the case at all - what happens is that he learns to accept himself, and others, on a deeper level than before. Mostly I think it builds on what he learned in ‘Damage’, but then goes beyond that, takes him further along understanding who and what he is. What’s easy to forget with Spike is that he’s only had his soul for a very short time. As Angel said, he spent 100 years coming to terms with infinite remorse - Spike spent 3 weeks in a basement, and then he was... well the word isn’t fine. But he coped and he got on with it. Over the course of S7 and S5 we saw him gain insight and self-awareness in fits and starts, but 2 years (3? by the time of Asylum) is not very long. ‘Forcing’ Spike to do some self-reflection is a very, very satisfying thing! This is where the fact that the story is Spike-centric, and thus lets us in on his thoughts, is a great help. The art is wonderful (and I’ll get to that in a minute), but even so it is a far cry from the nuances that JM could bring to the role. So instead of a single look or gesture being able to convey a host of hidden messages, we’ll get Spike’s voice over, showing us his reactions and state of mind. We know that Spike has no problem with fighting any external foe or with being heroic, but internal demons are a different thing...
Here I think I have to say how well Bryan Lynch writes Spike. Sure he’s a fanboy, but then so were most of the BtVS/AtS writers [points to Drew Goddard quote on sidebar]. Most importantly he really seems to ‘get’ Spike. He sounds and behaves like the Spike we know and love, full of all the strengths and flaws that make him who he is. And the dialogue *sparkles*! If Joss suddenly decreed this story canon I’d take him at his word in a heartbeat! (I’ve already written 4 ficlets set in this ‘verse...)
Also the story gives us great moments! This was something the show always did wonderfully (as ‘Top 5 moments’ memes attest to), and there are whole giant heaps of them in this book, that I keep re-reading. I want tons of icons, but this one will have to do (also I don’t want to spoil people). Tender moments, funny moments, deeply unsettling/scary moments (think ‘Damage’), profound moments, ‘Hells yeah!’ moments... (You have *no* idea how hard it is not to mention just *one*. My self-restraint is quite remarkable. But then I am myself a spoiler phobe...). Also (as this icon shows, sorry but I couldn’t help myself) a lot of *great* - and profound - lines.
Finally the art... ::happy sigh:: Franco Urru is my new hero! *g* Seriously though - that stupid line ‘drawing the character, not the actor’ suddenly makes sense to me. Of course Spike is easier to capture than most other characters, what with the hair and the cheekbones etc, so that helps. That said, artwork is of course something that v. subjective, and there are probably people out there who don’t like Urru’s style. But for me, this was just Spike. From the first page to the last, he looked and moved like Spike - drawing me into the story and never making me stop and scratch my head. Apart from that, Urru is fantastically inventive and has a brilliant eye for detail. There are extra things and in-jokes on most pages to discover, and also of course a lot of it is just plain gorgeous. (I am currently wondering if there is any way I can get hold of ‘Spike: Shadow Puppets’. In an interview Lynch described Urru’s work on that book as ‘shockingly beautiful’. *meeps*)
I know that there are criticisms that can be thrown at this book, since nothing in this world is perfect. Thing is, I don’t care. When I love something (say ‘Chosen’) I am perfectly willing to overlook stuff that might be a bit daft (the ubervamps suddenly being easy to kill). It’s the same here. ‘Spike: Asylum’ ate me up whole, and any small niggles have no impact upon that whatsoever. Where it counts - story wise, character wise, art wise - this work delivers in spades. So I say: If you like Spike - buy this comic! (Available on Amazon for not a lot of money.)
In conclusion...
Our shows are dead and gone and we’ll never ever see James Marsters on our screens again, playing Spike. [sob] But if I can’t have him, then this Spike will do quite nicely, thank you. Very nicely indeed:
Why yes I might have a crush on him. Shut up.
Spoileryfangirling review still to come. So please keep your comments spoiler free. :)
To begin with, I was prepared to love this comic. I’d heard good things about it by people whose opinion I trust and my expectations were high - and luckily they were more than met. Being able to read the whole thing in one go and hold it in my hand also helped of course, and I loved the fact that there is a cover art gallery + author’s notes at the back. Esp. loved the notes, since they give a wonderful look into the writing process and Bryan Lynch’s mind.
Others have mentioned how the story is almost like a novel. This is a good point. There is a single narrative, well plotted and paced, with twists (some clichéd, some genuinely surprising) and a great and very inventive setting. There is also a large gallery of vividly drawn original characters (seriously, they’re *excellent* and I could easily waffle about them at length!) and the whole thing just springs to life on the page.
I know a lot of people think that Spike doesn’t need to be away from everyone else to ‘be his own man’, etc. There is certainly a case to be made for that, but please don’t let that be your reason for not getting this book. I love Buffy and Angel, but they were both the main character on their shows, and Spike - even when he was the hero - was never the one topping the bill. Here he is. [cheers] This story explores Spike, and Spike only. What he goes through does not have to fit in, or in any way reflect or illustrate, another character’s journey. It’s all about him! We have other characters mirroring him, the baddies targeting him. And you know what? It is great! Not only can he easily carry a story, he does it his own way...
What do I love most about this story? (Not an easy call btw) That it is about character exploration and character development. The plot takes Spike places, gets under his skin, and I want to say that at the end of the story he’s ‘a changed man’. But that is corny and also implies that he becomes somehow *different*, which isn’t the case at all - what happens is that he learns to accept himself, and others, on a deeper level than before. Mostly I think it builds on what he learned in ‘Damage’, but then goes beyond that, takes him further along understanding who and what he is. What’s easy to forget with Spike is that he’s only had his soul for a very short time. As Angel said, he spent 100 years coming to terms with infinite remorse - Spike spent 3 weeks in a basement, and then he was... well the word isn’t fine. But he coped and he got on with it. Over the course of S7 and S5 we saw him gain insight and self-awareness in fits and starts, but 2 years (3? by the time of Asylum) is not very long. ‘Forcing’ Spike to do some self-reflection is a very, very satisfying thing! This is where the fact that the story is Spike-centric, and thus lets us in on his thoughts, is a great help. The art is wonderful (and I’ll get to that in a minute), but even so it is a far cry from the nuances that JM could bring to the role. So instead of a single look or gesture being able to convey a host of hidden messages, we’ll get Spike’s voice over, showing us his reactions and state of mind. We know that Spike has no problem with fighting any external foe or with being heroic, but internal demons are a different thing...
Here I think I have to say how well Bryan Lynch writes Spike. Sure he’s a fanboy, but then so were most of the BtVS/AtS writers [points to Drew Goddard quote on sidebar]. Most importantly he really seems to ‘get’ Spike. He sounds and behaves like the Spike we know and love, full of all the strengths and flaws that make him who he is. And the dialogue *sparkles*! If Joss suddenly decreed this story canon I’d take him at his word in a heartbeat! (I’ve already written 4 ficlets set in this ‘verse...)
Also the story gives us great moments! This was something the show always did wonderfully (as ‘Top 5 moments’ memes attest to), and there are whole giant heaps of them in this book, that I keep re-reading. I want tons of icons, but this one will have to do (also I don’t want to spoil people). Tender moments, funny moments, deeply unsettling/scary moments (think ‘Damage’), profound moments, ‘Hells yeah!’ moments... (You have *no* idea how hard it is not to mention just *one*. My self-restraint is quite remarkable. But then I am myself a spoiler phobe...). Also (as this icon shows, sorry but I couldn’t help myself) a lot of *great* - and profound - lines.
Finally the art... ::happy sigh:: Franco Urru is my new hero! *g* Seriously though - that stupid line ‘drawing the character, not the actor’ suddenly makes sense to me. Of course Spike is easier to capture than most other characters, what with the hair and the cheekbones etc, so that helps. That said, artwork is of course something that v. subjective, and there are probably people out there who don’t like Urru’s style. But for me, this was just Spike. From the first page to the last, he looked and moved like Spike - drawing me into the story and never making me stop and scratch my head. Apart from that, Urru is fantastically inventive and has a brilliant eye for detail. There are extra things and in-jokes on most pages to discover, and also of course a lot of it is just plain gorgeous. (I am currently wondering if there is any way I can get hold of ‘Spike: Shadow Puppets’. In an interview Lynch described Urru’s work on that book as ‘shockingly beautiful’. *meeps*)
I know that there are criticisms that can be thrown at this book, since nothing in this world is perfect. Thing is, I don’t care. When I love something (say ‘Chosen’) I am perfectly willing to overlook stuff that might be a bit daft (the ubervamps suddenly being easy to kill). It’s the same here. ‘Spike: Asylum’ ate me up whole, and any small niggles have no impact upon that whatsoever. Where it counts - story wise, character wise, art wise - this work delivers in spades. So I say: If you like Spike - buy this comic! (Available on Amazon for not a lot of money.)
In conclusion...
Our shows are dead and gone and we’ll never ever see James Marsters on our screens again, playing Spike. [sob] But if I can’t have him, then this Spike will do quite nicely, thank you. Very nicely indeed:
Why yes I might have a crush on him. Shut up.
Spoilery
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Also, I love Buffy and Angel, but they were both the main character on their shows, and Spike - even when he was the hero - was never the one topping the bill. Here he is. [cheers] This story explores Spike, and Spike only. What he goes through does not have to fit in, or in any way reflect or illustrate, another character’s journey. It’s all about him! We have other characters mirroring him, the baddies targeting him. And you know what? It is great! Not only can he easily carry a story, he does it his own way...
Yes, yes and yes again! This (and Shadow Puppets) may well be the only time we get an (almost) canon story with Spike as undisputed hero (like you, I'm hoping for retroactive canonisation by Joss) because, of course,. AtS 6 is going to be Angel's book, like the show was Angel's show, and we should grab our Spike the Main Character stuff when it's offered.
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Thank you! *blush*
Any chance of posting it on IDW?
I honestly wouldn't know how. If you'd like to do it - or link or whatever - I'd be honoured.
the only time we get an (almost) canon story with Spike as undisputed hero
Never know, there might be more... *is hopeful*
we should grab our Spike the Main Character stuff when it's offered.
*clings with both hands* That said, I can't see Lynch sidelining Spike...
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Okay, I'll see what I can do after I get home.
Of course, I hope there'll be more too after AtS season 6 is over (that seems to be the only Angel-line iron in the fire at IDW after Shadow Pupppets) but there's no guarantee Brian will be the one writing it.
We'll see.
I don't think he'll sideline Spike either but I think he'll definitely want to show he can write Angel and the other characters and that he can do the show justice and after all, when all is said and done, it's Angel's show.
Actually, I'm really looking forward to seeing how he'll handle the Angel/Spike relationship, given what he's set up in Asylum.
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*meeps*
think he'll definitely want to show he can write Angel and the other characters and that he can do the show justice and after all, when all is said and done, it's Angel's show.
Of course. And he handled all the group stuff v. nicely in Asylum. My hopes are high.
I'm really looking forward to seeing how he'll handle the Angel/Spike relationship
Yes, yes, yes! Spike's thoughts about Angel are among my favourite things! :)
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I originally only picked it up because the cover had Spike in a straightjacket (What? It's a kink ;)) and because Brian Lynch promised at his MySpace that the comic would have naked Spike in it ;) so I was positively surprised when it turned out that not only was the comic a lot of fun, the characters - both Spike and the OC's - were three dimensional and likable. And Lynch's Spike is definitely my Spike as well.
It's kinda sad, though, that Asylum had almost more girl power (with the pyro-girl whose name I can't remember right now) than Joss' S8 has had so far :(
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Just wait until you see the spoilery post! *g* (Not written yet, btw, except in my head!)
because Brian Lynch promised at his MySpace that the comic would have naked Spike in it ;)
"so many James Marsters web-board denizens are now my best friends..." *g* Heh. We are shallow. And deep. :)
Asylum had almost more girl power than Joss' S8 has had so far :(
Issue 4 went quite some way towards righting that though - thankfully!
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Which is exactly why people who say Spike couldn't be the lead are talking out of their hats.
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Indeed. And now we have *proof*! :)
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I have paged through it, and you are right about the art. Fantastic. It balances the line between realism and comic art very well. It is on par with some of the other mainstream titles out there. I didn't know the same artist was doing Shadow Puppets, but I'm glad. His style makes sense with the storyline. Do you know if he is drawing A:tS6 as well (I'm a comic spoiler phobe so I tend to avoid comic links. They blab the story lines a lot). Maybe there will finally be someone who can draw all the characters.
Thanks for the spoiler free review. You pushed the book up in my reading order.
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"...you can put your hands on my hot, tight little body and
makeread me." *g*It balances the line between realism and comic art very well.
Exactly. And it's just *so* pretty!
Do you know if he is drawing A:tS6 as well
I don't think they have an artist for S6 yet, but I'm *praying* it'll be Urru. Then life would be perfect. :)
Thanks for the spoiler free review. You pushed the book up in my reading order.
My pleasure. I hope it's top of the list now!
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Well how do you know? We've never seen it before. *g* And - after all - he is a damned champion! (Love that line! It's how he describes himself btw).
Anyway, of course we all have different things we like and dislike, but I wouldn't write this off because he's not trailing Buffy. ;)
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No one counts Harmony. *pets poor Harm*
Still, that situation was pretty much the opposite of what I'm thinking of. If S4 Spike could be any more pathetic, I'm not sure how. The Spike I enjoy reading is a post-NFA Spike, fighting the good fight in his own way, for his own reasons. And in no way pathetic!
But we all enjoy different things, I know. I just happen to think that you're missing out! *g*
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Yay! *points to icon*
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Yup!
I bought this one based solely on your rec, and I'm not sure I thanked you! It was excellent, and I read it in one go! Couldn't put it down!
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Then my work here is done! *twirls cape and disappears*
Heh.
Anyway, v. pleased you liked it! It deserves a wide audience!
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I think I can agree with you there, apart from the minor difference that I thought 'The Long Way Home' was better. :) Comparing the two, it's rather like my view on BtVS versus AtS; I really enjoy Angel when I'm watching it: it has some classic moments (and some extremely funny ones) and can still be serious and dark; but when I turn off the DVD player I don't really think more about it. It's Buffy I get passionate (and scarily obsessive) about. With the comics, 'Asylum' seems to affect me in much the same way Angel episodes do.
That said, I agree that the fact that it concentrates on one single character and a straightforward plot throughout does make it much easier to follow. That's a strength; but then again the more discursive and ensemble approach of 'TLWH' means that, in my opinion, it'll have more staying power. I can see myself re-reading 'TLWH', and referencing it in meta, far more than I will 'Asylum'. Probably. :)
The fact that I like Spike as a character, rather than being "a Spike fan", is just maybe possibly an influence on my opinions as well. :)
Incidentally, are you planning to look at the earlier Spike comics? The TPB 'Spike' collects together three unrelated comics set in Angel season 5 - 'Old Times', 'Old Wounds' and 'Lost & Found'' while the TPB 'Spike vs Dracula' is a single story like 'Asylum', but with each chapter set in a different time period. To be frank, I didn't think they were as good as 'Asylum' which does have a gripping and well-written story, but I didn't hate them.
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Joss is writing it as though it were a TV show. I think that is a weakness - not to mention the art and the ret-cons and the fact that I just don't really care...
when I turn off the DVD player I don't really think more about it. It's Buffy I get passionate (and scarily obsessive) about.
That is of course something very subjective. For me, a lot of it comes down to Spike - as in, I'm not sure I'd love Buffy as much if Spike wasn't there. But Angel I love with or without Spike. Post-NFA the two kinda meld for me, although if I had to choose just one 'verse it'd be Angel. Also see my fic, most of which is ATS centric... I think it's the fact that Angel has no safety net. Buffy is a hero, and although I love that, it is also restricting - Angel struggles to be heroic, and often isn't. Angel has a darker, grittier quality to it that I find more compelling to explore.
That's a strength; but then again the more discursive and ensemble approach of 'TLWH' means that, in my opinion, it'll have more staying power.
Possibly... the thing is that of course TLWH is all set-up - if it'll pay off we do not know yet. And the thing is - I care about character development and character exploration - and so far we've had exactly nil in s8. As I might have mentioned before, my response to things is always emotional first - only afterwards comes analysis. And so far I've not had any sort of emotional investment in s8... (
The fact that I like Spike as a character, rather than being "a Spike fan", is just maybe possibly an influence on my opinions as well. :)
Well... you mention 'Spike Vs Dracula' below. I actually have the first two issues of that. Last night I dug them out and had another read... and dear lord they're *painful*! I'm sure my eyes were bleeding! The art is definitely worse than s8 (although the likeness is better, in a 'I traced this really badly' kinda way) - how can *anyone* make Spike, Darla and Dru look *ugly* in panel after panel? They're such utterly dropdead gorgeous creatures... *backs away* I liked elements of the story (the Dracula/gypsy connection for one) but I quite simply can't cope with the drawings and if anyone wants to tell me how it ends that would be great, because I am *not* buying them! ::shudders:: So no, I wouldn't say that the Spike-fan element is overriding.
Incidentally, are you planning to look at the earlier Spike comics?
Possibly maybe. It is my birthday is 4 months' time...
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Why is Warren being alive in 'The Long Way Home' a worse retcon than Spike being alive in 'Asylum'? :)
(Assuming 'Asylum' is set after the end of Angel season 5, which it appears to be...)
I care about character development and character exploration - and so far we've had exactly nil in s8.
In what is effectively one episode? Besides, I think we've had huge amounts of character development, but much of it was off-screen between 'Chosen' and 'TLWH'. 'Asylum' was, by the look of it, written specifically as a self-contained one-off story; 'TLWH' definitely wasn't.
The art is definitely worse than s8
Absolutely. :) I thought the story was amusing, but didn't really take it seriously. (I don't think the writer was taking it too seriously either, to be honest)
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We didn't see Spike die. Ergo, no ret-con.
'Asylum' was, by the look of it, written specifically as a self-contained one-off story; 'TLWH' definitely wasn't.
Well yes. Which is the problem - s8 is spread so thin that it'll take years for anything to happen. And I don't believe it has to be like that. I think it's prefectly possible to do something profound in a short space of time. See Xander/René... actually, that *is* character stuff. But it's the only time. (Xander being my favourite character is a new and interesting development.) See Asylum again, with all it's OCs. Actually the thing is that s8 has to fight a lot harder for my affection and is giving me less. I loved BtVS to distraction and seeing it thus reduced *hurts* me.
I don't think the writer was taking it too seriously either, to be honest
And therein lies the problem. :)
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Can't you get S:SP in the UK at a comic book store? I know that you can get a subscription though it costs the earth with international shipping. I guess I was lucky to get the book early from my subscription. Not to spoil, but the first issue is freakin' wonderful!.
And Brian would so love to read this review. He totally digs the feedback. *g*
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Just wait until I've finished my spoilery review... *g*
Can't you get S:SP in the UK at a comic book store?
Well I didn't think there *was* a comic book shop in this town, although I might have located one. If that's a dead end, I might see what I can do next time we go to Leeds (which I'm sure has plenty). *sigh*
Not to spoil, but the first issue is freakin' wonderful!.
The first few pages were put up quite a while ago. I devoured them and I need more!!!!!
He totally digs the feedback. *g*
Apparently so... ;)
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How it handled his character knocks how they delt with Buffy season 8 into a cocked hat!
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Amen! :)
How it handled his character knocks how they delt with Buffy season 8 into a cocked hat!
Don't get me started on S8... (Actually, just read this!)