November 20 2013
James Marsters' idea for the Spike TV movie is becoming a graphic novel!
James Marsters reveals the secrets of his dark new Spike comic.
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Simon | November 20, 12:36 CET
debw | November 20, 12:45 CET
Enisy | November 20, 13:07 CET
Either way, I'll be getting it.
AndrewCrossett | November 20, 13:09 CET
GreatMuppetyOdin | November 20, 13:13 CET
I thought it might be a Season 10 story on first read of the thread title. Strange that they are going backwards.
faith in Angel | November 20, 13:14 CET
AndrewCrossett | November 20, 13:16 CET
Simon | November 20, 13:19 CET
Out of Objects | November 20, 13:30 CET
libradude | November 20, 13:31 CET
Shapenew | November 20, 13:35 CET
Enisy | November 20, 13:41 CET
I have a feeling this is James' red shoes story so I may tweak the headline accordingly.
Simon | November 20, 13:44 CET
eddy | November 20, 13:45 CET
| November 20, 13:48 CET
Simon | November 20, 13:57 CET
Buffyfantic | November 20, 14:08 CET
Dana5140 | November 20, 14:44 CET
Jaymii | November 20, 15:15 CET
eddy | November 20, 15:16 CET
The book sounds cool, too.
roddikinathome | November 20, 15:27 CET
It seems very clear to me that this is between seasons 6 & 7, after he got his soul but before he returns to Sunnydale. It does seem kind of weird that they would do this story at the same that time season 10 will be coming out. If they do it in a flashback kind of way and somehow tie it into the current story, that'd be great. Although actually I'm interested in it either way.
VisionGirl | November 20, 15:54 CET
whedonfandavid | November 20, 16:26 CET
It makes zero sense to put this between getting his soul and going back to Sunnydale. At an absolute minimum he would need to clearly still be somewhat insane through it all. The love interest aspect is totally out of balance to where Spike was at when he first got his soul back too. If this story ran alongside AtS 5 it would possibly work better, but barely tbh. They are trying to crowbar it in and it doesn't work. I'd be surprised if Joss puts his name to it.
Stoney | November 20, 16:29 CET
But heyho at least he managed to find some new boots and wasn't a total drop out loser because he ticked the box on his big original aim for fresh footwear before he went back to Sunnydale to work on his actual path of redemption, geez *rolls eyes* (assuming it is the same story James described).
[ edited by Stoney on 2013-11-21 02:19 ]
Stoney | November 20, 16:56 CET
Dana5140 | November 20, 17:01 CET
I'm worried about the continuity of the story. Anyone know if it will be considered cannon? Dark Horse has published many Buffy graphic novels that were not cannon, which despite that received Joss' approval to be created.
[ edited by hpgwbtvs on 2013-11-21 02:22 ]
hpgwbtvs | November 20, 17:09 CET
Spike is my second favorite character in the "Verse and I'm fond of JM but I have no idea why DH greenlighted this thing.
Reddygirl | November 20, 17:44 CET
Curly | November 20, 17:46 CET
I would rather have the graphic novel Juliet was supposed to write for Drusilla.
hpgwbtvs | November 20, 17:46 CET
He does pitch it as Spike proactively planning to do something and then going out and achieving it. Why does the Gem of Amara not tick that box, or hey, you know getting his soul??? Anyway, I think the love interest aspect really does mean this should not in any way feature between getting his soul and dying on the hellmouth or it just undermines what he was going through post Seeing Red/Grave and his feelings about that and his motivation to change. Spike's arc in the show is so powerful this is just silly.
I like JM but despite his amazing portrayal his grasp on the character has always been somewhat hit and miss.
[ edited by Stoney on 2013-11-21 03:01 ]
Stoney | November 20, 17:58 CET
Yeah, that is pretty awesome. I used to love reading the U.S. edition that DC published for a couple of years.
No idea on the canonicity of the story. I know Dark Horse wouldn't publish a Buffy comic without Joss's approval, but I don't know if we can say that "approval" equals "involvement."
I think Scott Allie said once that since the start of season 8, DH is no longer interested in doing non-canon Buffy comics.
If they at least run the story by Joss and get his OK on it (and I assume they will), and make sure it stays in continuity, I'd consider this canon most likely.
AndrewCrossett | November 20, 19:35 CET
Stoney | November 21, 00:26 CET
anca | November 21, 02:53 CET
Anuris | November 21, 04:46 CET
hann23 | November 21, 05:09 CET
alex atkin uk | November 21, 05:17 CET
That said, I always felt from interviews and such that JM never really understood Spike or Whedon's direction for him overall. The things he's saying about this graphic novel really seem to emphasize that fact, esp if it's set right after he gets his soul. Love interest? At that point? Kind of doesn't fit with his early season 7 "There's nothing crazier than the idea that there is any woman other than Buffy" line (paraphrased obviously)
I dunno. Sounds like awkward wish fulfillment.
trunkstheslayer | November 21, 06:25 CET
I'm a Joss fan who LIKES graphic novels and comics. What I love about the Whedonverse is Joss' story telling ability. Joss has done a fantastic job getting his messages/stories across via graphic novels, live action t.v. or a cartoon show, movies, and web series. However, I feel this is a case where James is writing fanfiction and turning it into a graphic novel just because he can. From what I've read in this interview and seen in the Fan Expo clip, James' interpretation of Spike will compromise Spike's story and character development from btvs season 6-7 to ats season 5. IMHO, what sucks is bad storytelling.
hpgwbtvs | November 21, 06:44 CET
The editor's job is to make sure it's a good story before it gets the Dark Horse logo put on it, or the Buffy logo. DH doesn't publish fanfiction and I doubt they'd make an exception for JM. Margins are too tight in today's comics industry for publishers to print clearly bad books just to make an actor happy.
Sometimes, stories are significantly re-written by the editor. In any case, I'm sure both Scott and Joss will make sure this book doesn't get published if it's not good.
Whether it will be canonical or in continuity is a different question. It could be an alternate-continuity story, like "Long Night's Journey."
AndrewCrossett | November 21, 07:16 CET
That is true. I just can't see how it could fit in the existing canon of BtVS S6-7 anywhere with a love interest involved so they could present it as an alternate if they want to set it straight after Spike gets his soul.
I'm sure they would fine-tune it or change aspects they wanted. I think the fanfic feeling is just because it is a) shooting out off-canon and b) ignoring/avoiding canon to include the writer's shipping preference!! :)
Stoney | November 21, 08:11 CET
VisionGirl | November 21, 08:58 CET
Shapenew | November 21, 09:09 CET
eddy | November 21, 10:15 CET
trunkstheslayer | November 21, 11:08 CET
Dean | November 21, 11:23 CET
Stoney | November 21, 14:33 CET