Very, very good stuff.

Nice Xander reference. Absolutely nothing to do with the story, as such, but an excellent little touch that really helps to connect present day Spike to his Sunnydale history. Love it.

D-Monik | September 16, 07:32 CET

"I'm just trying to distract myself from the intense torture" *g*

Superb gag! And Spike in chains? Always a good look on the little guy. :0

A big yay for 'hurt/comfort'!!

sueworld2003 | September 16, 07:36 CET

It has, like, two of my biggest squicks ever (Spike/Spider and Spike/Fred), the former of which seems to involve hurt/comfort... but I'll forbear. :P Makes more sense for it to be Fred from a practical standpoint, anyway, if nothing else (actual Angel cast member, no annoying process getting the likeness rights, etc).

Enisy | September 16, 07:44 CET

I think Fred makes sense in this context at this point.Not necessarly from a shipper presepective although I'm sure you could see it that way if you wanted to but more from the fact that Fred was Spike's closest and first friend I think in the last year with Team Angel and he's still dealing with the fact that he lost her and in the middle of this hell he suddenly has her back.Plus he still dosen't know how or why she's back either.So I think that plays into it being Fred in this fantasy as well.He lost her,has her back for mysterious reasons and is concerned for her safety.I think that all plays into this fantasy.


I like the little Xander shout out.Brian did say that he's dying to write Xander if he could.

I think this issue is really going to explore Spider more so then we have at this point.That's just speculation but I think that dynamic as seen in Angel:ATF will finally start getting explained in this issue.

Buffyfantic | September 16, 08:30 CET

Also: We are supposed to like Spider? Seriously? 'Cause I could see myself maybe possibly potentially liking her after Issue 2, but this brings her right back to square one.

Maharet on LiveJournal said that it makes sense for Spike to include Fred in his comfort fantasy, since the reality he's attempting to escape from includes Fred in the hands of those demon gals. Which, yeah.

Enisy | September 16, 08:39 CET

Well,like I said on IDW,I really think more will be revealed in this issue past these preview pages.With this only being a four issue minieseries,these final two issues will probably be covering a lot of ground.




I agree,that makes a lot of sense and sort of ties into what I was saying as well.Fred,her return and her safety is a major factor in Spike's current going ons and present trials.

Buffyfantic | September 16, 09:04 CET

"That looks great!"

(I have a fake mustache on so you can't tell it's me saying this, right?)

Brian Lynch | September 16, 09:39 CET

Absolutely, person who clearly isn't Brian Lynch because of additional facial hair.

Does look great though. I meant to comment on the art in my first post. Franco seems to get better with every issue. And he was pretty damn good to begin with.

D-Monik | September 16, 09:55 CET

The Xander shout out was cool! This looks great.

cheryl | September 16, 10:01 CET

No, Brian, we'd recognize those sideburns anywhere. ;)

Loved the Xander shoutout, too. We've had Xander, Dawn and Buffy mentions so far... it's all good.

[ edited by Enisy on 2008-09-16 19:07 ]

Enisy | September 16, 10:04 CET

I don't remember the Dawn mention, Enisy. When was it?

The Xander shoutout was amazing! *Her Spander heart is thumpping*

I can see why Spike'd see himself with Fred as distraction.

Sosa Lola | September 16, 11:29 CET

The Dawn shoutout was in Spike's "First Night" tale.

"Screw you, dawn! Hope that doesn't get taken out of context."

patxshand | September 16, 11:37 CET

Oh. I forgot about that one. *hits head*

Sosa Lola | September 16, 12:44 CET

I'd missed that one altogether, so hit my head too.

Okay, that sounded less wrong in my mind.

D-Monik | September 16, 12:48 CET

I actually like the idea of Spike and Illyria together. She's vunerable, and yet at the same time, not. It would definitely make him think who's protecting whom from time to time. I would love to read something like that.

SpikeBad | September 16, 14:39 CET

The art looks amazing, perhaps my favorite of Urru so far. Definitely gonna pick this up (along with Secret Invasion Runaways #3).

archon | September 16, 15:28 CET

Hmm, is it Spike-Fred or Spike - Illyria? I won't 'ship-name those. Might wean me a from being a Sprusilla 'shipper yet.

DaddyCatALSO | September 16, 16:39 CET

I hope to pick it up tomorrow.

(He said with surprisingly little else to say other than it looks good.)

UnpluggedCrazy | September 16, 17:01 CET

What's wrong with just putting a slash between the names. Spike/Dru. "Sprusilla" sounds pretty wretched, IMO. And it didn't exist (at least not in the Buffy fandom circles I hung around) back when Season 2 aired, so I'm not used to it.

Kris | September 16, 18:03 CET

The fantasy scene was strangely sweet considering I'm a bit squicked by the thought of Spike/Fred, too. But I can understand the attraction and remember that it's just a fantasy. Whatever comfort Spike can find in the recesses of his mind he's more than welcome to, but in my heart I'm more upset by the threat to Wes/Fred than Spike having another love interest. Buffy's moved on from Spike and though maybe she'll get together with him again in the future, it doesn't mean Spike should stop "living" or being attracted to other women. Fred's very loveable and lovely. Spike has good taste.

I can't wait to buy this tomorrow. I love Wednesdays.

Emmie | September 16, 18:59 CET

I'm excited! To me, Fred makes more sense. She's really the only woman who's shown a genuine un-selfish interest in his well-being. (Buffy was clearly a no, and Dru... well, she was nuts.) Actually, I wonder if Fred is the closest sane-person he's been attracted to. Illyria definitely isn't (neither are the ones I've mentioned before... Buffy is sane now, but she had lost something in Season 6 to be out with Spike... even she didn't understand it).

Fred's a comfort. And it's not as if they're snogging. They're shopping. Question, did anyone make out what the store-dude's name tag say? I couldn't quite catch it (damn eyes). *pokes at them*

korkster | September 16, 19:31 CET

Question, did anyone make out what the store-dude's name tag say? I couldn't quite catch it (damn eyes)

"Hello, my name is the reason we're stuck here." Something like that. :)

Enisy | September 16, 20:33 CET

korkster, I enlarged the image and made out that the nametag says "Hello, my name is the reason we're stuck here" (as Enisy more accurately beat me to the punch). Oh, but the T-Shirt also says "Big Bad Bath and Beyond" :)

And surely the clerk's resemblance to Angel is no coincidence.

[ edited by Emmie on 2008-09-17 05:39 ]

Emmie | September 16, 20:35 CET

Thanks Enisy & Emmie! I did think he looked Angel-ish. It would be Spike's dream being interrupted by Angel (as a store boy, ha!) to bring him back to the torture he was escaping from.

...

Maybe only 4 hours wasn't such a good idea.

korkster | September 16, 20:45 CET

By the by:

Buffy is sane now, but she had lost something in Season 6 to be out with Spike... even she didn't understand it).

To quote Buffy, I think she was "kind of pre-messed already" in that season. ;)

Enisy | September 16, 21:24 CET

Kris; I was sort of trying for a somewhat negative reaction there, as much as I love Spike with Dru.

No special fan of his but I do hope he finds such happiness as the Whedonverse allows...which is a silly thing to say, such being quasi-non-existent.

DaddyCatALSO | September 17, 16:06 CET