Discussion of Buffy 11.07 - Released 5/24/17 (Dark Horse)

Buffy Summers

Yataro
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Having determined that breaking out of the Safe Zone is impossible, Buffy and Willow struggle with the decision of having their magic removed so that they can return to the world outside—in the hopes that breaking in to the magical internment camp might go easier. But once their magic is gone, will two normal human girls be able to succeed?

Source: Dark Horse
 
Maybe I'm missing something, but how can Buffy have her "magic" removed? (Is that what they were referring to way back in Season 8.hen Buffy mentioned all those new Slayers who chose not to fight? I just thought that they made the conscious decision not to participate, but kept their newly acquired powers. Did someone perfect a Slayer Deactivation spell while I was out in the kitchen popping popcorn?) Furthermore, once Buffy becomes normal again, how does she get her powers restored once this story line plays out?
 
Ah yes, I'd forgotten about this confusion. When the covers/solicitations were released that made it clear it was going in this direction I had wondered a similar thing. I always thought of a slayer's power as a natural part of her that is dormant and then mystically brought forward if she was chosen. Obviously the spell in S7 made this happen for any women that had the potential within them. So I also wondered how they could take her power from her. The cruciamentum drugs suppressed them, but it didn't remove them. I can't remember exactly how the S8 storyline worked that is referenced in the issue. Wasn't it the Retreat arc? I think they went to Tibet to ask Oz to teach them how to suppress their powers because they were being tracked by them. But then some gods kept their powers from them or some such. I just can't really remember how it was represented and if it was the nature of the gods that made them able to do that.

The process in this issue talks of draining mystical energy. I suppose they can have it do whatever they like when it is a new machine, new technology. But rather than it stopping her being a slayer it can perhaps have drawn mystical power from her and maybe, in combination with magic, blocked her natural ability to recharge, so to speak. There were all those runes and the magic/science combo talked about when they saw the parts being worked on for the big machine. Hopefully it will be explained at least a little. Possibly when they consider the power the scythe holds and how it is connected to slayers, which seemed to be getting flagged when Buffy was given it back by Jordan after she was depowered and she 'felt the weight of it', as a representation of the power/responsibility as well as a literal connection. It also opens the potential of Buffy getting to verbally slap Jordan with a 'thanks' later for giving her the ability to get her power back. 😛

I enjoyed the issue and there are plenty of questions still buzzing around about what the Government is up to. I was somewhat distracted when the werewolf was able to have an coherent argument during his fight with the new vamp. I decided to conclude that he was actually not a werewolf in the same terms as we have seen them so far, but refers to himself as such for simplification. :s
 
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It seems ironic that, as it is depicted in the two different series, magic users in "Buffy" have much more stringent regulation than those in "Angel," since magic in the story arc has been compared to gun control (first comes registration, then restriction, ultimately leading to outright confiscation). It would appear that, in the Buffyverse, guns are readily available in the U S, but magic is banned, whereas guns are effectively banned in England, and magic is more freely accessible.

Just goes to show, like I've always said, when magic is outlawed, only the outlaws will have magic.
 
I absolutely loved this issue. Just everything is really great. At the end of every single issue of this season I keep wanting more!

Can't wait to see what happens next. The conversation between Willow and Buffy has now taken a place in my top 10 Buffy moments. I know it is unlikely but what if Buffy will not get her powers back and she gets to live as a normal human and that's how the story ends?
 
I doubt it, but interesting idea. Finally caught up myself. I'm wondering where they will go from here?
 
This season just keeps getting better and better. Just wish it wasn't so short. Love the artwork, Rebekah Isaacs should be the only person to ever draw these characters, she has a nuance and subtlety that not many have.

So much Spuffy goodness here. Love Buffy not wanting to leave Spike, but neither of them falling apart over their relationship; 'Listen to me William Pratt, if we break up it'll be over something a lot worse than not seeing each other for a couple of weeks . . . ' They are secure in this realationship and it's so good to see. As always Spike is endlessley encouraging, telling Buffy she's far more than just her powers and she can achieve anything. He understands that her only real option is to leave.

Willow and Calliope are getting closer. I like how Calliope is drawn, but not sure about her character. She's got a girlfriend and she's kissing Will, but at least Willow pushes her away. But then poor old Will has to go to her bunk . . . for a little personal time teeheehee, Calliope must be one hell of a kisser 😛

Then the exes turn up. There's Riley and Sam, naively spouting the governments propaganda. In one panel, when Buffy is getting angry about the lack of rights in the Safe Zone, Sam has her hand on her gun! 😡 I hope one of these days Sam gets the slapping she deserves for even thinking of pulling a gun on Buffy. Lake also shows up, making snarky jibes at Willow when she's saying goodbye to Calliope and insinuating she'd be a fool not to take the amnesty. (Exes should stay in their boxes 🙂)

We learn that there is a possibility of Spike being deported to England, and I personally would love to see how that played out. Spike also goes out into the sun again. He's done that so many times this season, it reminds me of S5 Buffy, when we kept seeing her walk through the front door to start a scene, we got used to it, and it was one of those ordinary seeming times she finds Joyce dead on the sofa. It feels like they are setting Spike up for something in the sunshine. Of course I could be totally wrong, and part of me hopes I am because Spike and Sunshine are un-mixy thngs.

Willow and Buffy's friendship has been central this season and it's really refreshing to see, like old times. It's good to see them discussing what their powers mean to them and how they have been changed by them. And then Will flies away, which was a nice 'witchy' touch.

There are some things I'm not sure about. I didn't like Spike stopping Buffy saying 'I love you' because it feeds into my paranoia about Spike dying at the end of this season 'Tell me when we see each other again' is too bloody ominous, my nerves can't take it 😱

I also don't understand why Jordan would give Buffy the scythe. It's incredibly powerful, I would assume the government wouldn't want it in Buffys hands, unless they thought she couldn't do anything with it because she no longer had any power?

Anyway, awesome, brilliant, wonderful. Buy it. Love it 🙂
 
Forever Spuffy
Forever Spuffy
I'll set something on fire ❤
This season just keeps getting better and better. Just wish it wasn't so short. Love the artwork, Rebekah Isaacs should be the only person to ever draw these characters, she has a nuance and subtlety that not many have.

So much Spuffy goodness here. Love Buffy not wanting to leave Spike, but neither of them falling apart over their relationship; 'Listen to me William Pratt, if we break up it'll be over something a lot worse than not seeing each other for a couple of weeks . . . ' They are secure in this realationship and it's so good to see. As always Spike is endlessley encouraging, telling Buffy she's far more than just her powers and she can achieve anything. He understands that her only real option is to leave.

Willow and Calliope are getting closer. I like how Calliope is drawn, but not sure about her character. She's got a girlfriend and she's kissing Will, but at least Willow pushes her away. But then poor old Will has to go to her bunk . . . for a little personal time teeheehee, Calliope must be one hell of a kisser 😛

Then the exes turn up. There's Riley and Sam, naively spouting the governments propaganda. In one panel, when Buffy is getting angry about the lack of rights in the Safe Zone, Sam has her hand on her gun! 😡 I hope one of these days Sam gets the slapping she deserves for even thinking of pulling a gun on Buffy. Lake also shows up, making snarky jibes at Willow when she's saying goodbye to Calliope and insinuating she'd be a fool not to take the amnesty. (Exes should stay in their boxes 🙂)

We learn that there is a possibility of Spike being deported to England, and I personally would love to see how that played out. Spike also goes out into the sun again. He's done that so many times this season, it reminds me of S5 Buffy, when we kept seeing her walk through the front door to start a scene, we got used to it, and it was one of those ordinary seeming times she finds Joyce dead on the sofa. It feels like they are setting Spike up for something in the sunshine. Of course I could be totally wrong, and part of me hopes I am because Spike and Sunshine are un-mixy thngs.

Willow and Buffy's friendship has been central this season and it's really refreshing to see, like old times. It's good to see them discussing what their powers mean to them and how they have been changed by them. And then Will flies away, which was a nice 'witchy' touch.

There are some things I'm not sure about. I didn't like Spike stopping Buffy saying 'I love you' because it feeds into my paranoia about Spike dying at the end of this season 'Tell me when we see each other again' is too bloody ominous, my nerves can't take it 😱

I also don't understand why Jordan would give Buffy the scythe. It's incredibly powerful, I would assume the government wouldn't want it in Buffys hands, unless they thought she couldn't do anything with it because she no longer had any power?

Anyway, awesome, brilliant, wonderful. Buy it. Love it 🙂
I 100% agree with everything you said here...even with the Spuffy. They seem to be in an actual happy relationship and that makes me happy for Buffy's sake.

My theory is that Spike and Buffy will not see each other anymore and he will be deported to England. Then next season Angel will be Angel & Spike. Hopefully Faith stays with Buffy or gets her own series.

I don't think Spike will become human or human like because let's be honest Angel has done much more good than Spike has. Yes, Angel has fallen off the wagon a few times but he has had a soul for much longer. Maybe the Spike and Angel series will be about the shansu because it was mentioned a few times last season!
 
I 100% agree with everything you said here...even with the Spuffy. They seem to be in an actual happy relationship and that makes me happy for Buffy's sake.

My theory is that Spike and Buffy will not see each other anymore and he will be deported to England. Then next season Angel will be Angel & Spike. Hopefully Faith stays with Buffy or gets her own series.

I don't think Spike will become human or human like because let's be honest Angel has done much more good than Spike has. Yes, Angel has fallen off the wagon a few times but he has had a soul for much longer. Maybe the Spike and Angel series will be about the shansu because it was mentioned a few times last season!

After Angel S11, Angel doesn't deserve Spike, he'll ruin him 🙂 And can you imagine how devestated Buffy would be without Spike, it doesn't bear thinking about. I'd like to see Spike in England with Angel for while as they are quite fun together, but not for a whole season.

I don't think Spike would become human either, that's Angel's journey. I'd like to see Faith & Angel back together in one comic, they work so well together, but maybe Faith and Angel will be used just for guest appearances on Buffy, if there is another Buffy season after this one.
 
Comments are only spoilers if you don't read the solicitations, see released panels and/or look at future covers...
We know that they see each other again because Spike and Buffy are both on future covers and Jeanty released a panel that is clearly them in a kiss on seeing each other again. So unless these are all images from Buffy's imagination because he has gone, it has been shown he is gonna be there when they break back in. 🙂

I find Spike and Angel interesting together but because they both tend to regress and the competitive aspects play such a strong part of their interactions I prefer it when it is a limited spell that they are around each other. Because there is that history Spike can always comfortably crossover, but he is a Buffy character for me. As for Spike becoming human, I just don't know. Angel is all about redemption, that is his story, Spike is about change and progression. It doesn't mean he should or definitely will end up human eventually, but it could certainly go that way. I'm not sure they would go for heroic sacrifice No.2, but that is also a possibility.
 
The comics are getting better and better. It's crazy to think how close I was to giving up on them. Now they really feel worthy of the show's legacy.

Buffy and Spike's relationship is really nice, at least here in the comics, and this last issue just made me like them even more as a couple. It's so great to see how much they care about each other and how well they could let all the bad shit that happened between them in the past behind. It shows how mature they are now compared to just a few seasons ago. People do change then.

I'm not sure how I feel about Calliope though. Maybe is my tillow sense that doesn't allow me to ship anyone with Willow else other than Tara, Buffy, Faith and Fred, but I just don't see anything in her. I migth warm up with her in some time though.
 
I'm finally up to date. First of all the best advice my Dad ever gave me is "don't trust people who say trust me".

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Oh the spuffy goodness as buffy contemplates a life without spike, the look in her eyes

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If Joss is giving me my OTP in order to rip it away with Spike's death I'm quitting the fandom
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It was a great issue. I love everything about Willow and Calliope and Spike and Buffy but I don't like how Spike is always out in the sun. That's got to mean something bad!
 
Priceless
Priceless
Agree with everything you said. Please Spike stop going into the sun!
Just on a technical note, here, am I the only one who saw something wrong with the scene where a werewolf is walking upright, wearing clothes, and talking English, all in broad daylight, with nary a full moon anywhere to be seen?

Somebody's slipping on their continuity, here, or I slept through a major plot change somewhere.
 
Great issue, it´s good to see Willow and buffy so close, and i like the idea that the two most powerful characters are gonna work without their "magic", and i can´t wait to see Buffy and Faith dynamic in the next issue
 
Just on a technical note, here, am I the only one who saw something wrong with the scene where a werewolf is walking upright, wearing clothes, and talking English, all in broad daylight, with nary a full moon anywhere to be seen?

Somebody's slipping on their continuity, here, or I slept through a major plot change somewhere.

Nope, I commented on it. I had decided to conclude that he was a variant or some such, using 'werewolf' as a simple shorthand. I've seen it suggested elsewhere that it could be a variation that has come about from the new seed, like the new vamps.
 
After season 8 i wasn´t sure to keep reading the comics, still i heard good comments about S10 so i decided to continue and i´m not regret. I´m really enjoying this season, i like Willow and Calliope (even for me always is gonna be Tara) , i think their relationship could be interesting, and the fact that Willow´s worried that Calliope is attracted to her because of the situation they’re in and that once is all over Callopei might feel differently .

Willow is really powerfull, i mean she has drained power from all the wiccans and there´s moments where i wish she just "teleporting" with Buffy or something like that, but i guess this would make worst the things with the goverment.

The things i dislike are definitely captain cardboard and his wife. Ok, Riley says that Buffy’s really worried about Spike, and I mean, sure, there´s no doubt about it, but reducing an issue this complex to just Buffy and her relationship with Spike the way Riley does is ignorant, and it remainds me why his character has never like me.
 
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