For the Spuffy fen...

[elisi]

‘Shadow Puppets’ issue 1 gives us what four issues of s8 haven’t.

Spike is weighing the options for and against going to Japan and taking out the new Smile Time puppets:



See? One line: ‘What if there’s an impromptu reunion with the Slayer while I’m away?’

It doesn’t stop him from going. I doubt she’ll be mentioned *at all* in the story to come. I *expect* Spike to hit on every hot-looking girl he comes across (and sleep with them if he can). But - we know that he thinks about Buffy. He might not imagine that he can actually ever have a future with her, and he might not ever try to look her up, but he does dream. She’s a part of his world, of his hopes for the future, whether those hopes become reality or not.

And none of this in any way compares to Buffy’s threesome fantasy. *That* was about sex - and heck, she had fantasies about sex with Spike before she slept with him. It tells us nothing about what she thinks or feels for either of the vampires in question, beyond the fact that she’d like to sleep with them again (and that she’s horny. That she loves them I’m taken as understood). Does she miss Spike? Mourn him? Does she even know he’s alive? Does she ponder a reunion, even if she’d not actually seek one out? We don’t know.

One line. One line is all it’d take. I don’t need a resolution, I don’t need a meeting or buckets of tears. Actually I'd really dislike buckets of tears. All I want is an acknowledgement that Spike matters(/mattered) to Buffy.

And what have I got? Buffy misses Teh Sex. *sigh* I much, much prefer the Buffy who’s dating The Immortal. At least she's getting some.

Comments

[hesadevil.livejournal.com]

And what have I got? Buffy misses Teh Sex.
That's because she's a strong, empowered woman who thinks exactly llike Joss (who hasn't a clue about strong empowered women, other than they're really boys in skirts).

I really can't get excited about any of the comics, but admit that Shadow Puppets continues the Spike I saw on screen.

Glad the DVD arrived. I had a hilarious conversation with the gay, black, sub-postmaster about the fastest way to send it.

GBsPM 1st class 48p - probably will get there tomorrow.
Hesadevil Pigeon Post?
GBsPM *chuckle* How about Special delivery £4.20 - guaranteed next day delivery? What's the value of the contents?
Hesadevil Um - priceless, irreplaceable.
GBsPM It's Saturday, Special delivery might not deliver on Saturday. Guaranteed Saturday delivery, another £2.
Hesadevil - Pigeon Post it is, then.

[elisi]

That's because she's a strong, empowered woman who thinks exactly llike Joss
*snickers* I have a feeling he's just holding all 'ships at arms length, which is just silly. Refusing to acknowledge the past is never a good idea.

Shadow Puppets continues the Spike I saw on screen.
And that's all I want. I look on comics as sort of extra-pretty-deluxe fic. If well written (and drawn) I will love them as fervently as I love my favourite fics (if of course the story interests me). If not... well then I don't really care. (Although I do wonder what happened to Joss! Did someone break his brain?)

I had a hilarious conversation with the gay, black, sub-postmaster about the fastest way to send it.
Hee! The old postmaster at our ocal post office thought I was borderline batty - first there was sending a letter to 'Ms Poshykitty' and then a few months later I'd drawn a tentacle on the envelope for bogwitch...

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

We've found that ordinary post from here to York takes about 18 hours - I go to the post office about 5.00 pm, she gets it about 11.00 am the next morning.

For something a bit bigger we use the 48 hours service - I post it at 5.00pm and she gets it at 11.00am the next morning!

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

Exactly what I said I wanted, just one line!

I never expected it though, so I'm not disappointed.

[elisi]

Exactly what I said I wanted, just one line!
I think most people would have been satisfied with that.

I'm not disappointed.
Not sure what I expected, just something better than what we got. (Don't get me wrong, the threesome thing was hilarious and confirms my OT3 shipping v. nicely. But it still seems a hugely unsatisfying way of dealing with a complex issue.)

[rahirah]

Yeah. I want one line, but honestly, the cheesy dream was about all I expected. I have very low expectations of Joss at this point. And I have a shovel handy in case they get lower.

[aycheb.livejournal.com]

We know that he thinks about Buffy.
Well yes except that he seems to be thinking about her as some kind of chew toy he doesn't want Angel to get his teeth into when he's not there. If you need Spuffy subtext I'd rather have dreamspace Buffy's wierd overeaction to Ethan Rayne's Briticisms.

[elisi]

he seems to be thinking about her as some kind of chew toy
That's like saying Buffy only looks on Spike as a sexual convenience.

Anyway, we're never going to agree, and as a shipper (which I am in this instance) I don't operate off strict logic. :)

[mikeygs.livejournal.com]

Yeah, would've been nice if there had been something, even if not from Buffy. The Kiss thing would have been perfect for at least some non-Buffy exposition in that area, to make it known if any of them know he's back other than Twerp.

I much, much prefer the Buffy who’s dating The Immortal. At least she's getting some.

What? You don't like post-Series Buffy who's secluded in a nunnery isolated castle filled with girls?

[elisi]

to make it known if any of them know he's back other than Twerp.
*nods* So many wasted opportunities for adding depth. Oh and there's a great mention of Andrew in 'Shadow Puppets'. From Spike's inner monologue:

'I keep a little appartment out of the way. No one else knows about it. Andrew would have called it my batcave. And then I would have hit him.'

What? You don't like post-Series Buffy who's secluded in a nunnery isolated castle filled with girls?
Don't get me started... actually something I've realised is how fantasy-like s8 seems. Have we had a single scene set in a normal place so far? It's castles, and military installations, and a demon lair etc. It's not just that Buffy's isolated from the world, she might as well *be* on another world. We'd never know the difference. (Shadow Puppets brought this home to me again, with it's fabulous RL references and use of settings.)

(Also check your e-mail)

[adoxerella.livejournal.com]

Heck, I'm not even a Spuffy shipper and I liked seeing that line. You have to acknowledge the past if you are going to continue forward.

Although I am curious about what I saw as meta from the writer in light of the fact he's writing AtS6. Then again, maybe I'm over analyzing the cannon.

Also, if you spoil, check out IDWs website. There's a 5-page excerpt from issue two, which comes out 7/18. *twirls*

[elisi]

Heck, I'm not even a Spuffy shipper and I liked seeing that line. You have to acknowledge the past if you are going to continue forward.
As I said, I have no problem with Spike hitting on anything that moves. As long as Buffy is mentioned. :)

what I saw as meta from the writer in light of the fact he's writing AtS6.
I am *so* going to beg icon-making friends to turn that into an icon! It's *fabulous*! *grins*

There's a 5-page excerpt from issue two
I am in two minds... I've spoiled myself crazy for s8, but Shadow Puppets I catually care about, so I might try to stay clean...

[2maggie2.livejournal.com]

I totally agree that there needs to be something in S8 that acknowledges that Spike mattered to Buffy. (Like you, I don't need a big reunion. Indeed, I kind of like them both going on with their own lives.) But I'm not totally convinced that we aren't going to get some sort of mention. Spike is *conspicuously* absent. We have that whole page of Buffy's dreamspace filled with pivotal people/moments in her life. Angel, Riley, Joyce, Dawn, the Scoobies, Tara, Faith... Spike isn't there. There's no plausible world in which Spike doesn't figure into Buffy's life in a big way, Spuffy or no Spuffy. So I'm leaving room for the absence to turn out to be significant one way or another.

You could be right about Joss -- that somehow he went from the kind of writer who could create the complex Buffyverse in which characters develop in an intelligible way to a writer who is just mocking the various ships and going his own way regardless of the history of the characters he created and developed -- but I'll need to see more before I can draw that conclusion.

Meanwhile, I get my copy of Shadow Puppets today and I'm excited. Asylum was great!

[elisi]

So I'm leaving room for the absence to turn out to be significant one way or another.
Lord I hope so! But I'm not holding my breath...

a writer who is just mocking the various ships and going his own way regardless of the history of the characters he created and developed
I don't mind mocking particularly ("I signalled her with my eyes" is one of the funniest lines *ever*!), and I can certainly understand wanting to avoid anything that smacks of shipping - it'd just be nice to get a tiny nod.

I'll need to see more before I can draw that conclusion.
Well let's see where we stand in a year's time, yeah? (The fact that the story moves so slowly really is a problem.)

I get my copy of Shadow Puppets today and I'm excited. Asylum was great!
Yay! I loved Asylum too, and this one looks just as great. :D

[lusciousxander.livejournal.com]

I think Buffy misses Spike, the thing about these comics is that they're set a year and a half after Chosen. It saddens me that Buffy chose to continue her life protecting the world and training slayers instead of taking a break, however, it does make me more proud of her. She's a real hero no matter what anyone says.

On the other hand, maybe she did take a month's break and had so much sex, and then she got back to the game.

[elisi]

I think Buffy misses Spike, the thing about these comics is that they're set a year and a half after Chosen.
Well 'Shadow Puppets' *must* be that long after 'Chosen' - at least. And I'm sure she misses him, I'd just like it acknowledged.

She's a real hero no matter what anyone says.
Of course she's a hero. I'm just wondering what happened to 'Beep me if the apocalypse comes!'...

maybe she did take a month's break and had so much sex, and then she got back to the game.
Heh. Kinda hard to imagine right after 'Chosen' though...

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

I love how Lynch writes Spike. He is subtle. We don't see "a butterfly with a big knife in its head" on Spike's card - he leaves it to our imagination. While Joss goes for sheer sensation: threesome! adult language! global conspiracy!

[elisi]

He is subtle.
Yes he is - and he's very, very funny. And also *superb* at showing how Spike's thoughts and reality do not always correspond. (There will be a squeeing post at some point with lots of spoilers!)

Joss goes for sheer sensation
*nods sadly* Joss will always be the king of TV, but when it comes to comics Lynch *ownes* the Buffy 'verse! :)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

At first glance I thought that one line looks as if he is worried about a re-union between Buffy & Angel whilst he is off the scene.

But it could mean that there is always the possibility he'll bump into Buffy himself - and he puts it in the cons column....

[elisi]

I thought that one line looks as if he is worried about a re-union between Buffy & Angel whilst he is off the scene.
It could - although that was my second thought. But in that case it's TGiQ all over again, which I'm *more* than fine with. :)

it could mean that there is always the possibility he'll bump into Buffy himself - and he puts it in the cons column....
Such a lovely line... :)

[mefnord.livejournal.com]

Awwww, Spike.

Maybe writing a comic with one main character *is* a lot easier than with an ensemble? And maybe S8 would have been off to a better start if we'd have gotten four issues (one episode) of Buffy and maybe Xander, and the added *stress* of Giant!Dawn and Super!Willow later? Then there'd have been enough time left to have some references to the past, right? Argh, I'm mourning lost opportunities... Stupid Joss. *pouts*

On a totally random tangent: Doesn't Xander mention his parents in Issue 3? So they got out? What about Willow's parents? Why does Joss ignore all this little details that would connect the comic to the series and insists on retcons instead?

Grr. Argh.

[elisi]

Maybe writing a comic with one main character *is* a lot easier than with an ensemble?
Oh yes. The Spike comics so far have all had Spike's POV and internal dialogue throughout (well mostly), which grounds the reader wonderfully. Jumping between characters and stories works great on TV, but less so on the page.

Argh, I'm mourning lost opportunities... Stupid Joss. *pouts*
Joss is the God of TV. But *not* the God of comics!

Doesn't Xander mention his parents in Issue 3?
Possibly... And I'm guessing pretty much everyone got out - I mean even the people from the electricity company left. Can't really make myself care anymore...

[fangfaceandrea.livejournal.com]

word
so much word it might be the entire dictionary
*g*
And I love the graphics on this, they really play on the action. There were a few that weren't so hot but over all my reaction to the art was on the awsome side :D

[elisi]

word
so much word it might be the entire dictionary
Bwah! :D

but over all my reaction to the art was on the awsome side :D
I *love* the art, especially because it is so playful. :)

[powerofthebook.livejournal.com]

I absolutely loved this comic - laughed all the way through it. And that's the part I loved - this is Spike in his element, relaxed and having a good time. He's freeloading, saving people, trying with limited success to pick up women. But he's his own man, and (maybe even more so than Buffy and Angel) comfortable in his skin and his role as champion.

I love the way Spike is written, too. It's Spike, for people who love him in all his conflicted glory. The references to past history, the weighing of the pros and cons - the comic is two-dimensional, but the writing is not so. And the 'official canon' wink at fans? So much better than the 'Kennedy's dead' fake-out. Bryan Lynch is the writer? It's obvious that he understands who Spike is, what motivates him, and the way he's likely to react.

It's kind of like 'Shanghai Noon' succeeding where 'Wild, Wild West' failed.

Looking so forward to #2!

[elisi]

I absolutely loved this comic - laughed all the way through it.
You and me both! :)

But he's his own man, and (maybe even more so than Buffy and Angel) comfortable in his skin and his role as champion.
Yes. Of course he's not being entirely honest - not even with himself at times - but that's all part of what makes him so endearing.

the comic is two-dimensional, but the writing is not so.
Exactly! And also it's so much FUN! Playful even. I love it. :)

And the 'official canon' wink at fans?
I'm getting an icon of that. Oh yes I am!

Bryan Lynch is the writer?
If you have not read 'Spike:Asylum' then buy it immediately! Trust me. :)

[suspiria-1.livejournal.com]

As usual I'm going to sound like a party pooper, but the universal gushing from Spike fans makes me think that if I checked out the comics I'm really going to dislike it. I NEVER AGREE. I remember all the bitching about how he was being treated and written in S6/7... in the meantime I couldn't have been happier. So bitteristas finally getting what they want, that's a nightmare scenario to me. Eep! Um, no offense to you. I know you weren't "one of them". *sheepish grin*

Would be nice to know where Buffy's head is at RE: Spike. At the same time I don't need Joss to address the issue. I watched the show. Last I checked Buffy loved Spike. And I'm going to keep on believing that. End of story.

[elisi]

So bitteristas finally getting what they want, that's a nightmare scenario to me.
Don't know about that. I just know that it's a great story by a writer who really 'gets' Spike. But if you think it's not for you, maybe you should just stay clear...

Last I checked Buffy loved Spike. And I'm going to keep on believing that. End of story.
Oh absolutely. In the comics she just comes across as lacking depth, which is sad. *shrugs*

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Well, my brain is apparently hiding from my head cold, so I'll have to content myself with nodding my head. Yes, THIS is what I wanted from S8, only with Buffy. Plus we got puppet ninjas! This writer has the character voice down, and a lot of good ideas. Win win.

[elisi]

I saw Toy's post. Hope you'll both be feeling better soon!

Yes, THIS is what I wanted from S8, only with Buffy.
One line. That's all it'd take. *glares at Joss*

Plus we got puppet ninjas! This writer has the character voice down, and a lot of good ideas. Win win.
Puppet ninjas are made of awesome! :D I can't wait for more.

[shapinglight]

I've been offline all weekend.

Glad the comic arrived okay. You liked it, then?

[elisi]

I've been offline all weekend.
Poor you!

You liked it, then?
*points to fangirly review*