"And we have some other related projects cooking that we're not ready to announce yet"

Faith spinoff! Faith spinoff! Faith spinoff!

and once more with feeling:

Faith spinoff!

catalyst2 | December 14, 10:52 CET

TINGLY WITH EXCITEMENT!!! So tingly. As a newcomer to both fandom and comics in general, I am simply delighted that there are so many exciting Joss-verse projects in the works right now. At this point, I am sure that my friends and co-workers are tired of hearing all about how amazing the Buffy comics are... =D !!!

5X5B | December 14, 11:45 CET

I am glad to see Scott Allie comment on one of what I think has been a major flaw in the series to date, its lack of vampires. When the series began, I was thrilled to see it move forward, but over time I am beginning to lose interest as what are to me problems keep cropping up- unanswered questions, things that don't make sense (at least yet- such as Willow's escape from Warren), lack of face time with the core scoobies (in fact, I think Faith has more screen time than Buffy so far), nearly no Willow (and no Kennedy at all, not that I like her or anything, but I think it is important we see her) and less Xander- and now a villain that looks like it could be taken from any Marvel or Dark Horse issue (it's the costume). I'm not trying to start a thread where people either defend Joss for the series or state why they like it- I understand that, and am just offering my own perceptions on the series. I want to like it, but it's beginning to lose me.

Dana5140 | December 14, 16:49 CET

I canz defen Joss ! Principally i'm enjoying the comics because I can read them on the loo (watching DVDs on the loo is more complex and would involve fairly major plumbing work). Also, staples. Very, very handy things staples and the comics have only reinforced that opinion.

(way I see it, so far we've had one episode of Buffy et gang, one episode of Faith - with some Buffy et gang - and a "webisode"/short about one of Buffy's Unknown Soldiers. Not unusual for a "TV" series - and I never did see Willow's escape as being that mysterious)

Also, Japanese vampires not seen in Sunnydale before ? Four words. Wee little puppet vampires ;). Could we be seeing further canonisations from the IDWverse ?

And I wouldn't hate a Faith spin-off, gotta say. BKV maybe not quite ready to take off his comic writer hat after all ?

Saje | December 14, 18:03 CET

I'm impressed with how deep Joss is going with the comic book with his typical light touch.

One of my favorite character moments in the latest issue is the expression on Buffy's face when Giles refuses to answer her question. To me it looks like she's realizing the answer -- that the big moral issue hanging over the season (killing human beings as well as demons) has already been decided behind her back.

For Buffy it's a revelation about Giles' relationship with her and therefore a revelation about who she is. And it's a story development -- Buffy has to decide whether she wants to not know and not be involved in the killing (which would mean kidding herself and denying responsibility) or to assert her responsibility as leader (which means either approving of the killing or stopping it).

Buffy's a different person by the end of that panel, and it's done without a word. (Perhaps a little barflex.)

Pointy | December 14, 18:28 CET

I'm there for the Faith spin-off. Better yet if the Faith spin-off features Giles as a main character. Better better yet if that can somehow be tied into the television Ripper project, thus having a good excuse to have Eliza feature in it too.

I'm gonna keep pushing this idea until Joss starts thinking he came up with it himself, I swear! ;)

RockManic | December 14, 19:39 CET

My comment got deleted or something...

I'm thinking the related project is another Fray miniseries.

And the return of a major villain might be Drusilla.

dingoes8 | December 14, 22:47 CET

Ah, Wash in a Hawaiian print. All is right with the world.

ohbejoyful | December 15, 02:18 CET

Oh god yes, let Joss be working on some new Fray!
It's not like he can write for TV, and how much picketing can one man do? And all his ME friends have time to write Buffy comics now, but Fray should only be written by Joss (not that I won't read it anyway).

Is it really to much to expect Joss to tell us here in secret that it's true?

urkonn | December 15, 03:56 CET

dingoes8...I would die (though not literally) to see Drusilla return.

Also, did anyone notice that Scott Allie said A Shepherd's Tale was the first Serenity flashback graphic novel? Is he implying there will be more...?

(Please say he is.)

UnpluggedCrazy | December 15, 07:01 CET

He is. Kinda sorta ish (I mean, since it is the first one, I don't know how else he'd put it - "the first and emphatically only without hope of another. EVER" maybe ? - but you just keep hoping UpC ;).

Another 'Fray' mini to maybe slightly "correct" the continuity and tie the end of "Season 9" (which has been implied to be on the horizon) into Fray's timeline would also be extremely cool.

Saje | December 15, 12:21 CET

I swear, Joss is toying with me and other People Interested in a Gayer Slayer (PIGS). Recall that I speculated (whole minutes before Saje) that the smooch of dis-enchantment in Season 8’s first arc was bestowed by Willow.

I know that Scott Allie has directed our attention to Satsu, and am perfectly willing to accept that she is in love with Buffy, but what do the opening pages of this issue present us with?

1. The middle of the kind of conversation that begins with the question, “So, Buffy, had any sexual fantasies lately?” This would be a perfectly reasonable way for Willow to feel out whether Buffy’s recent dry spell was the result of a change in her search engine preferences. And we PIGS know where such conversations go. Possibly because we’ve started such conversations with the intent of going there. Not saying anything definitive. We don’t really remember. We were drunk.

2. Flying. Blatant sexual metaphor. Just ask Freud or Erica Jong.

3. Buffy’s misplaced (displaced?) fear of flying. She dangles from ropes with the greatest of ease, but holding Willow makes her weak in the knees. Look, really look, at that Jo Chen cover. Anyone else recall the Ambiguously Gay Duo?

4. Buffy’s Daniel Craig fantasy is generic, as Willow notes (complains?). Why would Joss open an issue with a generic fantasy? Recall that he aims to have the audience experience what the characters are experiencing. Why would he want us to be bored with Buffy’s (hetero) sexuality? (Ain’t parenthesis fun?)

Think of the painful story possibilities. Buffy is perfect for Willow. She sees all that is good and strong in Willow better than Willow herself, sees through all Willow’s bullshit, and still loves her unconditionally. Plus: Utter hottie who would fight to the death to save her. What’s not to love, not to mention crave? The pain comes from the How Does Buffy Feel About This. Not to mention whether Xander could ever contemplate the newfound intimacy of his two best friends without experiencing a serious, excruciating, long-term boner.

Joss always tops the scenes I imagine, but today I’m imagining this.

Special Guest Hero Robin: You know she loves you.
Buffy: Of course. We’re best friends. We've been through everything together. I'd give my life for her, and she'd give hers for me.
Robin: Yes, but she loves you.

I could be wrong, but for the next three weeks, I'm one of the PIGS.

[ edited by Pointy on 2007-12-17 17:17 ]

Pointy | December 16, 01:15 CET

Also, did anyone notice that Scott Allie said A Shepherd's Tale was the first Serenity flashback graphic novel? Is he implying there will be more...?

I totally missed that. Here's hoping that A Shepherd's Tale is followed by A Companion's Tale. Followed by An Adorable Thug For Hire's Tale (Featuring His Mother).

I swear, Joss is toying with me and other People Imagining a Gayer Slayer (PIGS).

Pointy, I've totally been there, but I just don't think it's true to who Buffy is at all.

Buffy’s misplaced (displaced?) fear of flying. She dangles from ropes with the greatest of ease, but holding Willow makes her weak in the knees. Look, really look, at that Jo Chen cover. Anyone else recall the Ambiguously Gay Duo?

Buffy's really agile and quick to heal (and badass), so being unafraid of heights in many previous situations makes total sense. But the height she's at flying with Willow would have to lead to a crash beyond Slayer healing. Not that I'd want to be able to heal from that anyway.

Also, the visual jokes used in the Ambiguously Gay Duo don't really translate so well for implying sex between women. I am just as curious about what led to that conversation, but I don't think it or any others are ever going to lead to what you're hoping for. But hey, the speculation is great fun.

Sunfire | December 16, 04:05 CET

Recall that I speculated (whole minutes before Saje) that the smooch of dis-enchantment in Season 8’s first arc was bestowed by Willow.

*shakes fist* Forgiven but never forgotten Point-man ! Damn you with your thinking the same thing I was thinking but first *shakes fist again for good measure*. I think it's now pretty unambiguously Satsu though, not explicitly maybe but close as.

The cover still makes me think of Peter Pan and Wendy (which, in fairness, also had some ambiguity). Buffy, in her way, has always struck me as a control "enthusiast" (she's her "father's" daughter ;) and people like that are often scared of flying when it's not actually them that can fly. 'Fear of Flying' was a big thing though so I could sort of buy it as a reference, even if I don't think that's how B rolls.

Saje | December 16, 04:17 CET

Buffy, in her way, has always struck me as a control "enthusiast" (she's her "father's" daughter ;) and people like that are often scared of flying when it's not actually them that can fly.

I like your explanation much better than mine. We all have posts we envy. ;)

Sunfire | December 16, 04:30 CET

Ah, Sunfire (he types hours later) -- that fits into Purple Pain-meister's penchants. Perfectly. He can have Willow yearn and yearn for the woman she loves at every level while being unable to e'er fulfill her desires, or even admit them, for fear of harming the relationship that matters the most to her, so she must suffer suffer suffer in silence.

ETA: C'mon, I can practically hear Sarah McLachlan singing.

[ edited by Pointy on 2007-12-16 22:30 ]

Pointy | December 17, 01:09 CET

Hehehe ok, I do think that the unrequited version is more plausible. Or maybe I misunderstood you before. But I think it would be kinda boring, incredible Willow-angst potential aside. I don't think it would really progress Willow as a character. But Sarah McLachlan would certainly be in the background during the really teary part.

Sunfire | December 17, 04:56 CET

Unrequited is my new position. More painful, therefore more purpl-exingly plausible.

Willow staying away from Buffy because it all hurts too much . . . Willow sounding Buffy out during a romantic flight . . . Willow hearing Buffy's candid reaction to lesbian interest in her (say, Satsu's) and feeling her Wiccan heart rent . . . Willow burying her pain in ill-advised but rather explicitly drawn liaisons with other slayers . . . Willow hiding what's truly in her heart . . . a love that dares not speak its name . . . Wuffy . . . or Billow . . .

I suppose it's possible he'll think of something better.

[ edited by Pointy on 2007-12-17 05:50 ]

Pointy | December 17, 05:16 CET

On the other hand, the speculation thereof is one of the funniest pieces I've seen in a while (plus, I totally accused Willow of being the Phantom Kisser, myself, even if half-jokingly...)

Rowan Hawthorn | December 17, 05:37 CET

I know a lot of this is all in fun, but quite honestly, as a straight woman I would rather not have *all* the strongest or most aggressive women in BtVS end up being lesbians. IMO, it is a stereotype that does not help women in general. I've known incredibly strong and very weak women of every sexual orientation. I know lesbians have not been openly and positively portrayed enough, but strong straight women haven't been either. I just hope there are enough strong female characters in BtVS, that we can have both.

On a slightly different, but related subject, I would also rather not have everyone in love with Buffy. I find that a little tiresome after a while. I would certainly rather Willow not have a thing for Buffy, but instead have something much more interesting happen for her. I think it is a much stronger statement for a gay character and a straight character of the same sex to be friends without the gay one being in love with the straight one. Not to mention the fact that we had how many years of Xander's unrequited love? For me Willow's unrequited love would just be another banjo act.

As long as I'm in wish-land, I really hope Xander and Buffy don't get together. I guess I just want to see everyone move on to something new and different.

Of course, no matter what happens I'll shrug and say, "OK, Joss." because as far as I'm concerned it is his story to do with as he pleases.

newcj | December 17, 06:23 CET

newcj:
As a reader/viewer with little tolerance for amateurish writing, so would I - I'm a straight guy who doesn't care about the characters' sexual preference as such, but, man, the tendency to re-write every major character as gay has made for some ungodly crappy fan fiction...

Rowan Hawthorn | December 17, 08:34 CET

But Sarah McLachlan would certainly be in the background during the really teary part.

I totally flashed on Ms McLachlan hovering in the background of the scene with a "Hello Mum!" sign. Très poignant ;).

Saje | December 17, 15:55 CET

It's all about what she symbolizes as she waves the sign in the background. Also there might be some music.

Sunfire | December 17, 19:46 CET

Well, to me she symbolises the love and reclamation of motherhood as a valid role in modern society as well as an empowering act of creation. Or, she's just pissed off because they wouldn't let her do the 'Parking Ticket' bit in "Once More With Feeling", i'm undecided.

(and music's fine but I heard she wants to be known more for her background sign-waving these days)

Saje | December 17, 20:06 CET

If I had a dime or every time I said that... I'd be making more than the writers do on ad-supported streamed internet content! Whoo!!! Whoo!!! er... wait a sec, there ;) ---buffering--- this post will continue after a word from our sponsor, Saje Widgets, Inc..

zeitgeist | December 17, 20:32 CET