Whedonesque : Comments on 12963 : (SPOILER) Buffy Season 8 #3 Variant Cover.

Now that's interesting. I imagine this is going to get quite psychological.

I heart Jo Chen too much to get the alternates, though they are good covers. Plus a lot of stores will jack up the price on those alternate covers.

flakbait | April 13, 23:52 CET

This is the first variant cover that I liked and thought was interesting. Hmmm. Now what do I do?

newcj | April 13, 23:54 CET

This is the first variant cover that I actually really like. I'm going to get the Jo Chen cover no matter what, but if the comic shop near me has both of them, I will probably get the variant aswell.

hitnrun017 | April 13, 23:59 CET

That is a very cool cover, and I like the psychologicalness of it, but still I'll be getting the Jo Chen covers.....they are way too fantastic. :)

Trek_Girl42 | April 14, 00:04 CET

Let the "image you won't soon forget" contest begin!

My entry: Buffy being passionately kissed by . . . Willow!

I'm serious. And, quite possibly, seriously wrong.

Pointy | April 14, 00:08 CET

I'll stick with the Jo Chen cover. Much prefer this gorgeous, stylized version of the witch almost wearing the stormy magicks pouring from her fingertips over Renaissance-Fest-Willow-Does-Big-Puzzle, but I do love that these variants keep coming. Any chance to see any of these characters doing anything at all, makes me do the Snoopy dance.

barest_smidgen | April 14, 00:27 CET

My entry: Buffy being passionately kissed by . . . Willow!

I'm serious. And, quite possibly, seriously wrong.

You are breaking my brain. Remember, it's not always good for the graph of romantic relationships between main characters to be strongly connected. (Grey's Anatomy. I'm just saying.)

jkalderash | April 14, 00:31 CET

I hate to tell Willow this, but that piece she has doesn't fit where she is.

theonetruebix | April 14, 00:46 CET

I figured she was in the process of picking it up to move it to the right place. Willow is too good at puzzles to be putting it down there.

newcj | April 14, 00:53 CET

I'm going right along with everyone else liking this variant cover for once, but digging the Chen work too much to give her up.

The thing about the piece Willow's wielding- how can we exactly tell where she's intending to place it? While I'm a little skeptical about the Buffy hair since Willow is sitting directly on top of it, it seems possible the piece interlocks with where her left knee is. (It's hard to tell since the piece is 3-D and held at an angle.)

In any case... I actually admire how the cover deals with all the other credit information normally required. It seems like the other two companies sometimes have pretty amazing or decent artwork, but then they need to plaster the title of the series on somewhere right over it and that tends to ruin it.

orangewaxlion | April 14, 01:05 CET

My husband the comic book afficionado has been mocking me mercilessly for buying all the variant covers but that one totally makes it worth it. Come on! The concept is so cool!

Plus, it fills up an extry sleeve in my new dorktastic comic book binder.

karosurly | April 14, 01:55 CET

Let the "image you won't soon forget" contest begin!

I'm betting it will be the reveal of Amy's boyfriend. If he's as disgusting as everyone keeps saying he is, I imagine his image will burn itself into all our memories in a not so pleasant way.

Also, first post! *squee*
I am so psyched to be joining everyone here at whedonesque!
*waves in a creepily enthusiastic way*

lorelei_frolick | April 14, 02:11 CET

Oh, lorelei_frolick... we love creepy enthusiasm. :) You're so right about the reveal likely being this "boy"friend of Amy's. Ew. (And welcome, welcome, welcome to this strange and happy little place.)

barest_smidgen | April 14, 02:34 CET

Congrats on the first post.

So far my comic shop always showed me both covers and let me decide and so far it was very easy (they seemed proud to have the variant, but I would have chosen Jo Chen over the Variant even if it cost more).
But now is difficult. I don't even like the Jo's Willow so much and I really like the puzzle cover, but I love Jo Chen from her great work on Runaways so it seems almost like a betrayal. Stupid I know, but who knows how long before we get another cover of Willow by Chen.

urkonn | April 14, 02:36 CET

Well, I feel really nerdy admitting this, but so far I've purchased the Jo Chen and the Variant covers for #1 and #2, and I plan to continue doing that as long as I can afford it. It's actually not expensive. They are both the same price; total is under $5 at the comic shop but I do get a discount.

I guess I'll follow the trend and say this is my first post. I am really glad to finally be a member. I was the "friendly lurker" who emailed Simon a couple of weeks ago. Lurk no more! :)

Celina | April 14, 02:59 CET

I feel the need to clarify the "not expensive." I guess it's more like not expensive in relation to how much I've spent on books in the past. I once bought a book for $80. I'm not rich; I'm just a book nerd.

Anyway, I'm excited about both covers, but I'm even more excited about the big reveal. Based on Scott's response to the letters, I feel like we're going to see either Spike or Angel in Buffy's dream, but I don't think that's the reveal. I want it to be something bigger, but I haven't a clue. Maybe it is Amy's boyfriend. Maybe he's someone we've seen in the past, on the TV show?

Celina | April 14, 03:08 CET

If Willow's so good at puzzles, how come she didn't start from the corners and work in ? That's like jigsaws 101.

And Pointy, way ahead of you bud, Willow kissage must be in the air ;-).

Got the first Jeanty variant on impulse, so far skipped the second but this one I think i'll get both again (I really like the Chen one too, especially the cloud lettering).

(decided i'm gonna break spoiler SOP for the next issue's cover since only the one after next can really be considered spoilery)

Saje | April 14, 03:24 CET

STOP!! I can't afford all of these. I should just stop now early in the game before I get out of hand...and broke.

CaptainB | April 14, 03:42 CET

Obviously she figures Buffy's collar will be easier to figure out than the background, which she clearly did start with the edge of. :D

Craig Oxbrow | April 14, 03:44 CET

And Pointy, way ahead of you bud, Willow kissage must be in the air ;-).

Oh, really, Mr. Saje, (swirls brandy snifter with one hand while stroking arrogantly overweight cat with the other) are you
absolutely certain of that?

Welcome, lorelei_frolick and Celina!

[ edited by Pointy on 2007-04-14 01:24 ]

Pointy | April 14, 04:01 CET

Jo Chen's Willow is so sweet she gives me cavities... :|

DESKTOP! :D

Dan Corson | April 14, 05:26 CET

I'm about to show my comic-newbieness again, but is it normal practice to have to buy 4 copies of one issue just to guarantee you get a variant cover?

Not that I won't, mind you, but my girlfriend's gonna ring my neck and I'll be brown baggin' it at work for a month.

skeezycheeses | April 14, 05:58 CET

is it normal practice to have to buy 4 copies of one issue just to guarantee you get a variant cover?

I saw that offer online. I'm guessing online sellers do that to increase profit for one, and because they don't want to have to deal with cover requests. If you have a comic shop near you, save your money and go there because then all you'll have to do is find the shelf with Buffy and grab your one Chen cover and your one Variant. Oh, and pay of course.

Celina | April 14, 06:38 CET

Oh yeah, I sometimes forget that I can actually leave the house if I want to. Thanks for the tip. Opposable thumbs are totally wasted on me.

skeezycheeses | April 14, 07:05 CET

Xander looks so Nick Fury in that picture.

Tymen | April 14, 07:29 CET

This time I'm definitely getting the variant cover. I did for the first issue, only because it was the first issue, but this one is nifty.

maje | April 14, 07:56 CET

That's like blowing my mind maaaaan....

delirium_haze | April 14, 10:39 CET

Okay, so I just got the issue two comic today with the varient cover, and I have to say that I wish I had gotten the original comic cover. Anyway, I know this have probably been discussed before, but who's the guy in the dream?? The Xander thing seems kind of over the top with his head falling off and everything, but "my love" that could almost be Angel or Spike, even though Spike would be more likely to say "my pet". It has to be a kiss of true love, and Xander pretty much covered all the bases of "friendship love" and if that could work and Amy said no. So either Xander really 'LOVES' Buffy, or they do have something going on. Or maybe I'm just a die hard "I miss ANGEL" fan and want him to come back and for Joss to explain somehwhat what happened at the end of the season five for Angel. Does anyone else want to see Illyria as much as me???

stayc | April 14, 11:27 CET

Oh, really, Mr. Saje, (swirls brandy snifter with one hand while stroking arrogantly overweight cat with the other) are you absolutely certain of that?

What, Pointy, you exshpect me to talk ?

Dagnabit. You Gonerians, always first to the party, nicking the best booze, stashing those little pineapple-on-stick things ... Unless there's a 3 day time difference between you and me ? Not posting from, like, Pluto by any chance ? Nah, didn't think so.

*withdraws patent application for 'It being Willow', slinks away sheepishly*

Saje | April 14, 11:27 CET

Both covers are great. I will be getting the Jo Chen cover though.

TwisTz | April 14, 11:29 CET

The Jo Chen cover is still my favorite. The way Willow is drawn is just superb.

Vergil | April 14, 12:15 CET

I was reading Jo Chen's latest MySpace blog posting, I hope she manages to convince 20th Century Fox that her covers could be sold as posters to fans.

Simon | April 14, 12:31 CET

The comics shop on Zeedijk here in Amsterdam didn't have the Buffy comics. I ended up buying the first of the Astonishing X-men books instead and ordering the BtVS S8 #2 and #3 online. Annoyed we don't have a Forbidden Planet store in this country, because I'd happily buy both covers. I'm not ordering *four* copies though, that's crazy.

I am enjoying S8 so far, but ordering from the USA costs a fair bit and it doesn't really weigh up against a 5 minute read.

Caroline | April 14, 13:07 CET

Dude, my store jacked up the price for the variant of #2 to $6. Which I still bought anyway. Because I'm a nerd.

Also, if you doubt my nerdliness, I also have three copies of each issue.

Unfortunately, I don't have the variant for #1. My dad picked up #1 for me when it came out because I had a prior appointment, and he said he didn't see any variants at the shop. And it's not listed on Dark Horse's website.

Would someone be willing to...uh...give me a copy?

And, yeah, I must say, these covers for #3 are the best so far for both Jo and Georges. I had Jo's cover as my desktop for a while (now it's the cover of the Beatles' Live at the BBC, if you actually care), and I am just absolutely in love with the concept of Georges'.

UnpluggedCrazy | April 14, 14:00 CET

Caroline, have you tried the store on the Rozengracht? (Changed its name a couple of times, don't remember what it is now.) I had my subsriptions there years ago.

Otherwise, you might try ordering online from http://www.comicasa.nl/. Shipping is bound to be cheaper from a Dutch webstore.

(Of course, Blunder Strips is the most reliable comic shop I know in the Netherlands, but you'd have to come to Utrecht for that one.)

Niels | April 14, 14:03 CET

My commemorative tee shirt, Saje, shall say, "I Was Wrong About Buffy's Passionate True Love Smooch First"

[ edited by Pointy on 2007-04-14 13:19 ]

Pointy | April 14, 16:18 CET

Now that's interesting. I imagine this is going to get quite psychological.

I think so too, blueanddollsome. Makes me think "Weight of the World" type psychological event cleverly disguised as a Buffy-coma.

Somehow Xander manages to make holding a stack of giant puzzle pieces look cool.

If I don't get a choice between covers again for this issue, I'd be happy with either.

Sunfire | April 14, 16:28 CET

"If Willow's so good at puzzles, how come she didn't start from the corners and work in ? That's like jigsaws 101."

Pshaw. Starting from the edges is just too easy for some...and it takes longer for the picture to form, if you are really good. ;-)

newcj | April 14, 17:27 CET

*WANTS* *POUTS*

Why didn't this series get published 5 years ago when I lived in OR, literally around the corner from Dark Horse?
Oh yeah, that's right, we had EPISODES instead!

Now I'm back in Oz and have the dilemma-
Do I order 4 copies from TFAW, pay $20 in postage and sell 2 on e-bay?
DO I drive an hour to the nearest comic shop and PRAY they happen to have both the original and the variant in stock?
Or do I give in now and accept that I'll only be able to get a single copy of Jo Chen's glorious 'standard' covers, even if they take WEEKS to get here, and cost an extra $10 in postage from TFAW (Still waiting for #2, over here!!!)

See? $6 a copy sounds like a bargain now, eh?! ;-)

missb | April 14, 17:54 CET

Pshaw. Starting from the edges is just too easy for some...and it takes longer for the picture to form, if you are really good. ;-)

I bow to yours and Craig's Jigsaw-Fu, newcj. It is, indeed, strong ;).

My commemorative tee shirt, Saje, shall say, "I Was Wrong About Buffy's Passionate True Love Smooch First"

In that case I must rush to print my "I Claimed to be Wrong About Buffy's Passionate True Love Smooch First ... and All I got was This Financially Debilitating Lawsuit" t-shirts. It's a niche market but I anticipate high demand.

And missb that is absolutely the last time I complain about getting them 1 day later in the UK. Weeks ? Yikes.

Saje | April 14, 18:04 CET

Telltale, I'll go have a look on Rozengracht tomorrow.

Comicasa doesn't have credit card ordering. I refuse to support Dutch online shops that insist on bank transfer (i.e. most of them). I'm trying to drag this country into the 21st century all on my lonesome.

Caroline | April 14, 19:30 CET

I've been subscribing through midtowncomics.com in Manhattan (even through I'm on the West coast, they are actually faster than TFAW), and although they fill subscriptions with the regular cover, they do have the variant covers available (without huge inflations of price) to be selected and added to the order. Midtown Comics ran out of the variant covers for issue #1, but they still have it available for issue #2, and I'm sure they'll get as many as they can for issue #3. And Caroline? They do mail over-seas!

embers | April 14, 20:01 CET

Thanks a bunch embers- will check out that site.

And hey, Saje,

Still waiting for No 2.

* Taps fingers impatiently *

missb | April 14, 20:17 CET

The question is, do I get the first tee shirt, the variant or both?

toast | April 14, 20:47 CET

For anybody in Europe, I think Black Dog Comics based in Berlin are worth checking out.

moley75 | April 14, 21:27 CET

Unpluggedcrazy...email me your details and I'll send you my copy of the #1 variant. Yes for real.

skeezycheeses | April 15, 01:14 CET

I figured she was in the process of picking it up to move it to the right place. Willow is too good at puzzles to be putting it down there.

Maybe she's just planning to stomp it in, much like that of a small child. *I surely WILL make this fit*.

Also, if anyone in the UK is buying th comics and want both covers, Forbidden Planet stock both, and they both come in for under £5.00.

Hope that helps.

Newbie here *waves*

thricewise | April 15, 03:15 CET

Lol, toast!

Pointy | April 15, 03:38 CET

Now that's interesting. I imagine this is going to get quite psychological.

Indeed. The Scoobies putting Buffy back together again.

Simon | April 15, 03:43 CET

This is the visual version of an intervention perhaps!
I may have to ask my comic book guy to set aside 3 copies for me. He always puts one variant and one standard aside as I buy one for a friend. So far I have always chosen the Chen cover but I may need both this time.

Lioness | April 15, 04:50 CET

Dude, my store jacked up the price for the variant of #2 to $6. Which I still bought anyway. Because I'm a nerd.

Yeah I was planning on buying all the variants too but they sell it for $6.99 over here. I still think the Jo Chen covers look better though.

xander fan | April 15, 04:53 CET

Caroline and other fellow comics newbies. At first comics were five minute reads to me, too. Then I realized there's going to be nowhere near so much dialogue or movement as we expect from TV or film, so each panel has to be observed very carefully. The comics became 15 minute first reads, with at least an hour or two of re-reading. There's a great deal more information in the drawings than than you'd expect to have visually in any scene on TV. So far, for instance, how can you tell the difference between the members of Buffy's squad without having carefully regarded each panel? Of course, long-time readers of comics may be quicker than me.

dreamlogic | April 15, 08:52 CET

Is $7 really that much for Buffy nuts? I mean come on, some people spend $100s of dollars on statutes. $7 is nothing... I spend more on lunch some days.

BrownCoat_Tabz | April 15, 18:07 CET

okay: my comic book experience. In entire Austria I didn't find a single comic bookstore which was
1. able to order btvs s8
and
2. sell the issues on another basis than c.o.d (with 3 euros extra fee)!

I had to use a relatives credit card to get the thing from Germany (cause the bank man would just write "no way" on a credit card plea) and iss. 1. still didn't arrive.

bookworm | April 15, 19:55 CET

I'm kinda disappointed I got the variant cover for #2. I really hope I get the regular cover for #3, because Willow looks freaking awesome.

holycow | April 15, 21:54 CET

April 13 2007