Buffy Season 8

[MJB]

Is anyone else picking up this series?

I'm curious what other Buffy fans think of it. IMO it would be impossible to follow if you weren't a rabid BTVS fan.

-MJB

[Podmark]

I am. I can't really say I'm totally loving it, but it's keeping me interested so far. I love Xander, the whole nick fury thing is so prefect. I also liked that Amy and Warren showed up. Next arc is supposed to be about Faith, I was never big on Faith so I'm not excited at the moment.

Honestly, I'm really more excited for Angel Season 6. I was a huge Angel fan from begining to end, but my Buffy interest wanned in the later seasons.

[MJB]

Angel season 6 would in fact rule.

I'm enjoying the BTVS season 8 series so far. I hope that they clean up some of the extra slayers up soon so we can get back to the core slayer (or slayers once Faith shows up).

-MJB

[Podmark]

Angel Season 6 is in the works, can't remember the writers name but he did Spike Asylum I think it was called. Joss is playing an advisory role or something like that. I have no idea when the series will be released though.

[Uncle Yuan]

Any idea whether these series are intended to be cannon, apocrypha or just stories?

[MJB]

As far as I know BTVS season 8 is cannon. I imagine the Angel series would be as well.

-MJB

[tommyboy]

BTVS season 8= bottom kicking goodness.
Reading it makes me realise how much I've missed Buffy and Angel.
Definitely canonical, definitely worth picking up if you are a fan.

[Uncle Yuan]

Any word on Firefly Season 2?  :D

[MJB]

I really like the book as well but I stress that it is probably ONLY for fans of the series.

A n00b would be totally lost.

Any word on Firefly Season 2?  :D

Yeah, it was called "Serinity". :P ;)

-MJB

[Podmark]

A new Serenity comic series is in the works (again canonical) by Joss and Brett Matthews supposedly called Serenity: Better Days, for release later this year. However it is supposedly going to be pre-movie.

[Bujin]

My whole family is taking turns reading it - we're massive Buffy fans.  (Wifey and I just watched the whole 7 season run with the kids.)

We're liking (not entirely loving) the series so far.

[Agent]

A new Serenity comic series is in the works (again canonical) by Joss and Brett Matthews supposedly called Serenity: Better Days, for release later this year. However it is supposedly going to be pre-movie.

That's good new in my book.  It means Wash will still be alive.   :D

I really like the book as well but I stress that it is probably ONLY for fans of the series.

A n00b would be totally lost.

Too true.

[spoiler]I noticed in this weeks issue Whedon never stopped to bring readers up to speed on Warren's history with Willow.  In fact, I don't think any of the characters even said his name once in the entire issue.[/spoiler] 

[bredon7777]

Buying it. Loving it. Quoting it repeatedly! "Your grammar is not so much." Hee!

Dunno about massive, but yeah you're going to be lost if you aren't at least a fan.

[spoiler]
Joss showed enough history- you know that Willow did something to Warren that resulted in his skin being removed..

I did however think it was odd that Buffy didn't recognize him.  Also, in the show Buffy found Willow immediatley after she had skinned Warren- so she just went after Willow and left Warren there? And didn't come back for the body/didnt think it was odd that she came back and the body was ogne?
[/spoiler]

[cmdrkoenig67]

I have to say, Buffy S8 has been a let down so far...And I was really looking forward to it...

[spoiler]

Warren was incinerated by Willow (after she tore his skin off)...Don't you think she'd know if she hadn't killed him?  She was tracking him, for gosh's sake...And Amy has always been less powerful than Willow, Willow was even juiced up with extra power (stolen from Rak (sp?))...How the heck could Amy have tricked her so easily?

He stated that Amy saved him...I'm sorry but that is just lame.  It almost sounded like Warren and Amy had been planning his escape before Willow even went after him...That makes no sense.  Not to mention Warren despises women, he killed his girlfriend and has/had the mindset of a wife-beater...I guess he would hook up with Amy, but it would only be to use her.  This just seemed like a huge plothole to me...I did find it a bit confusing at times (and I'm a big Buffy fan)...Overall, the storyline seemed weakly set up.[/spoiler]

Dana

[tommyboy]

I have to say, Buffy S8 has been a let down so far...And I was really looking forward to it...

[spoiler]

Warren was incinerated by Willow (after she tore his skin off)...Don't you think she'd know if she hadn't killed him?  She was tracking him, for gosh's sake...And Amy has always been less powerful than Willow, Willow was even juiced up with extra power (stolen from Rak (sp?))...How the heck could Amy have tricked her so easily?

He stated that Amy saved him...I'm sorry but that is just lame.  It almost sounded like Warren and Amy had been planning his escape before Willow even went after him...That makes no sense.  Not to mention Warren despises women, he killed his girlfriend and has/had the mindset of a wife-beater...I guess he would hook up with Amy, but it would only be to use her.  This just seemed like a huge plothole to me...I did find it a bit confusing at times (and I'm a big Buffy fan)...Overall, the storyline seemed weakly set up.[/spoiler]

Dana

[spoiler]
Being fooled is not a matter of power, it's a matter of what you see, and think you see. Willow was juiced up, and had been shown to be "high" on magic several times, and overconfident in her own unstoppability. I find it easy to believe that Amy could snatch Warren just prior to his incineration and that the drunk-on-magic-and-power (not to mention insane with grief)  Willow wouldn't notice. After all, Buffy took Andrew and Jonathon out of their cell whilst Willow was right outside without her knowing, and Buffy is hardly a magician. And I don't think that it was stated anywhere that Amy tricked willow "easily", either.

Did Warren or Amy say anywhere that "Warren and Amy had been planning his escape before Willow even went after him"? No, they didn't. I hardly think it fair to make up stuff and then criticize the made up stuff as lame. Amy was watching Willow. Amy saw Willow track and catch Warren. Amy saved Warren because the enemy of her enemy is her friend etc. That's all explained, and is good enough for me.
[/spoiler]

[style]

Is it just me or is this topic in the wrong section :unsure:.....um, Go Buffy! :huh: :D

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

Season 8 is a comic book, so it's just you.

[cmdrkoenig67]

I have to say, Buffy S8 has been a let down so far...And I was really looking forward to it...

[spoiler]

Warren was incinerated by Willow (after she tore his skin off)...Don't you think she'd know if she hadn't killed him?  She was tracking him, for gosh's sake...And Amy has always been less powerful than Willow, Willow was even juiced up with extra power (stolen from Rak (sp?))...How the heck could Amy have tricked her so easily?

He stated that Amy saved him...I'm sorry but that is just lame.  It almost sounded like Warren and Amy had been planning his escape before Willow even went after him...That makes no sense.  Not to mention Warren despises women, he killed his girlfriend and has/had the mindset of a wife-beater...I guess he would hook up with Amy, but it would only be to use her.  This just seemed like a huge plothole to me...I did find it a bit confusing at times (and I'm a big Buffy fan)...Overall, the storyline seemed weakly set up.[/spoiler]

Dana

[spoiler]
Being fooled is not a matter of power, it's a matter of what you see, and think you see. Willow was juiced up, and had been shown to be "high" on magic several times, and overconfident in her own unstoppability. I find it easy to believe that Amy could snatch Warren just prior to his incineration and that the drunk-on-magic-and-power (not to mention insane with grief)  Willow wouldn't notice. After all, Buffy took Andrew and Jonathon out of their cell whilst Willow was right outside without her knowing, and Buffy is hardly a magician. And I don't think that it was stated anywhere that Amy tricked willow "easily", either.

Did Warren or Amy say anywhere that "Warren and Amy had been planning his escape before Willow even went after him"? No, they didn't. I hardly think it fair to make up stuff and then criticize the made up stuff as lame. Amy was watching Willow. Amy saw Willow track and catch Warren. Amy saved Warren because the enemy of her enemy is her friend etc. That's all explained, and is good enough for me.
[/spoiler]

[spoiler] Uh Tommy...How does "It almost sounded like Warren and Amy had been planning his escape before Willow even went after him" translate to "Warren and Amy had been planning his escape before Willow even went after him"?  That's just how it sounded to me on the first read, going back I noticed he said Amy was watching over him.  As far as my calling it lame...That's my opinion, I'm not saying anybody has to feel the same.  Call it how you see it, but I just didn't like the story...It seemed very weak for a Joss Whedon story IMHO.

The cover art has been amazing...The interior art, not so much.[/spoiler]

[tommyboy]

[spoiler] Uh Tommy...How does "It almost sounded like Warren and Amy had been planning his escape before Willow even went after him" translate to "Warren and Amy had been planning his escape before Willow even went after him"?  That's just how it sounded to me on the first read, going back I noticed he said Amy was watching over him.  As far as my calling it lame...That's my opinion, I'm not saying anybody has to feel the same.  Call it how you see it, but I just didn't like the story...It seemed very weak for a Joss Whedon story IMHO.

The cover art has been amazing...The interior art, not so much.[/spoiler]

[spoiler]
It almost sounded like you said "Warren and Amy had been planning his escape before Willow even went after him"?
:P

I suppose it might not be the single best thing he's ever done, but it does have a plot, that gets resolved(pretty much), good character portrayal, humour, rewards for continuity freaks, a credible threat, some twists and turns, and most of all it moves on from the tV show. In other words it has all the sorts of things I like in the Whedon style of writing, and thats good enough for me. I didn't think that every issue of Astonishing was his greatest stuff either, but I did enjoy every issue. And I've really enjoyed this.
I just wonder, in what way was it "weak"?
I will accept "bringing back Warren" as an answer, but for me he's such a creepy character (in the human creepy sense not supernatural creepy sense), with such antipathy towards Buffy, Willow et al that I thought him and Amy made for a genuinely scary opponent. In a way that, say, Adam or the Master wouldn't, even though they are big bads.
I'm not trying to argue you out of your opinion by the way, but I didn't feel the books have been a disappointment.
[/spoiler]

[bredon7777]

I have to say, Buffy S8 has been a let down so far...And I was really looking forward to it...

[spoiler]

Warren was incinerated by Willow (after she tore his skin off)...Don't you think she'd know if she hadn't killed him?  She was tracking him, for gosh's sake...And Amy has always been less powerful than Willow, Willow was even juiced up with extra power (stolen from Rak (sp?))...How the heck could Amy have tricked her so easily?

He stated that Amy saved him...I'm sorry but that is just lame.  It almost sounded like Warren and Amy had been planning his escape before Willow even went after him...That makes no sense.  Not to mention Warren despises women, he killed his girlfriend and has/had the mindset of a wife-beater...I guess he would hook up with Amy, but it would only be to use her.  This just seemed like a huge plothole to me...I did find it a bit confusing at times (and I'm a big Buffy fan)...Overall, the storyline seemed weakly set up.[/spoiler]

Dana

[spoiler]
Being fooled is not a matter of power, it's a matter of what you see, and think you see. Willow was juiced up, and had been shown to be "high" on magic several times, and overconfident in her own unstoppability. I find it easy to believe that Amy could snatch Warren just prior to his incineration and that the drunk-on-magic-and-power (not to mention insane with grief)  Willow wouldn't notice. After all, Buffy took Andrew and Jonathon out of their cell whilst Willow was right outside without her knowing, and Buffy is hardly a magician. And I don't think that it was stated anywhere that Amy tricked willow "easily", either.

Did Warren or Amy say anywhere that "Warren and Amy had been planning his escape before Willow even went after him"? No, they didn't. I hardly think it fair to make up stuff and then criticize the made up stuff as lame. Amy was watching Willow. Amy saw Willow track and catch Warren. Amy saved Warren because the enemy of her enemy is her friend etc. That's all explained, and is good enough for me.
[/spoiler]

[spoiler] Uh Tommy...How does "It almost sounded like Warren and Amy had been planning his escape before Willow even went after him" translate to "Warren and Amy had been planning his escape before Willow even went after him"?  That's just how it sounded to me on the first read, going back I noticed he said Amy was watching over him. [/spoiler]

[spoiler]
Except that isnt actually what he said- he was talking to Willow and he said "If she [Amy] hadn't been watching you, then she never would've seen me. She's a real think on your feet sort of girl."

So there's no contradiction- Amy was tracking Willow saw what she did to Warren, figured she could help him and gain an ally.  So no, they werent planning anything before Willow went after him.

[/spoiler]

[Talavar]

I think my problem with this 'season'...
[spoiler]
stems from the use of Amy as a big villain in the first place.  In all of Amy's early appearances she was pretty bush-league in terms of magical ability, and not particularly evil at all.  Then she got de-ratted in season 6, as a part of the terrible IMO magic=drugs storyline, and was suddenly far more magically capable, as well as far more destructive.

The return of Warren is also a little weak as well.  As has been mentioned, he had major issues with women, and it seems hard to see him working with a woman very well.  Also, Warren's effectiveness came from his purely human creepy/evil factor; when he's a resurrected, skinless boogey-man, that's lost beyond recall.
[/spoiler]

[Silver Shocker]

I'm buying it, but I'm not at all impressed with it. A few years ago I was watching late night reruns of Buffy on the weekend, from the early seasons. There was a sense of fun that made me want to see the old episodes again every week. Once it got to season 4 I found a noticable change. All the fun was good, or least most of it. That sense of enjoyment and interest I had was almost completely gone. It was like the decrease in quality I noticed as the show progressed, only condenced into a smaller period of time, thus more noticable. This comic is very much like that.

In early seasons the show had a wonderfull dichotomy-the characters (Buffy in particular, but others as well) balancing personal life, "normal" life with being a kind of Bruce Cambell-type superhero-fighting undead, but rather than scary, there was a light hearted sense to it. A fun to it. To me that's long gone in the new comic. It doesn't feel the same at all. It doesn't help that the artist is very poor at dipicting some of the characters that show up (when Giles appeared I could barely tell it was him, my Dad who watched the show with me looked at the page and at first thought it was supposed to be Wesley), Ethan Ryne and Andrew (both of whom I would be completely unable to identity from the art alone if not for the contexts of thier appearances). 

A letter writer in the newest issue pointed out how Buffy is still #1 under the sun over any body else, whether she's right, wrong, unreasonable or whiney. I read the reader talking about back when Xander was a lovable sidekick rather than just struggling to be *there* and I laughed a bit and grinned and sighed. I was especially inpired by the reader pointing out that if Buffy were made a giant like Dawn was, all other characters would be going out of thier way to do something about it.  I definately agree. Most tv shows and many comics focused  on (especially when named after) a central character are nothing without thier strong supporting cast, however the series never stopped being about Buffy. Considering I found the character stopped being likable around season 5 or so, that's a problem for me.

Comics, good comics, the kind off comic I see many in this thread viewing Buffy as, should provide a sense of anticipation to read the next one. I have been in a "meh, I could take it or leave it" place from the first issue forward. Thinking back to when the show (and Angel) were at thier best, I'll keep reading the book for now while quoting a line from Xander (spoken less than confidently):

"It gets better.....I KNOW it gets better...."