Discussion of Buffy 11.10 - Released 8/30/17 (Dark Horse)

[Blair]

Despite not knowing who their Big Bad is, Buffy and the Scoobies know where the fruits of his or her evil labors are--and theyre going in to destroy those fruits . . . er, maybe. Hopefully, along the way, they'll figure out who--or what--is behind the plot to remove magic from the world in time to save magical beings everywhere!

First of all, I have to get this off my chest... I didn't mind Megan's art from season 10. Took a bit of adapting to get used to it, now I like it. But what the hell did she did with Faith? Those bulky arms? But most importantly (and put in spoiler for excessive cap locks...)

Spoiler

WHERE THE F*** IS FAITH'S TATTOO??? THE ONE THING THAT MAKES FAITH STAND OUT IN AN INSTANCE. AND IT'S NOT THERE! THROUGH OUT THE WHOLE ISSUE

I honestly thought that she had been replaced with Kennedy for a little while

Okay, onwards with the rest of the issue.

I loved that Xander was the VP. Finally he gets to shine a bit this season! And his banter comes out "I'm not sure whether to be flattered or offended"

How heartbreaking was the scene with the cyborg guy? I cried when Spike was "I've got you mate". I still understand why Buffy couldn't kill him and I'm glad that Faith got spared of doing that again, seeing that she did a similar thing with Angel in season 9.

Anyone else notice how Dawn says "We're going to fight this thing" every other apocalypse type thing? I swear she was saying the same thing in another season which Buffy sending her away (and this is on top of season 7. I'm sure I've seen it in the comics before)

Keen for the next issue!
Anyone wanna guess who the Big Bad is? I'm thinking the pharmaceutical company.

 

[Stoney]

I think this was probably the weakest issue so far. I appreciate it is a mid-arc issue that was trying to make progress but from the very start with the explanation of the lab, how they found the answers they needed there and through easily kidnapping the VP, it was just all achieved far too readily for me. It wasn't just that it felt like an issue of exposition, but it felt weaker to me because everything within it was either predictable or spoiled already. It is disappointing that the reveal of the animals was spoiled by the cover, that especially could have had a big shock factor. Although I suppose the cyborg guy was something new, it felt like he was there mostly to talk at us and provide some more heavy handed information about what has been happening. The VP being involved I'm sure will have shocked nobody, him not being involved would have been far more surprising. I'm still hopeful that the big bad and why they are doing all of this will have more interest to it.

I hope there is some established connection between the gang and the big bad to give it some more impact. There was a reference again to Dawn's portal abilities in the issue which drew W&H back to mind again, but it doesn't feel very 'them'. Personally, I can't see it being Amy, it just feels too big a leap to keep the reveal all the way to the very end if she was cropping back up in BtVS again. Aluwyn or Jonathan seem the obvious likely contenders with pre-established issues/grudges.

The willingness to kill, or when it might be 'right' to, felt like a 'thing' in the issue and sits alongside the notion of judging by character/actions.

I thought the art was pretty bad. Levens seems to have changed her style a bit. Although I think the proportions and her Spike have improved (a bit), I like her Buffy less now and her Faith wasn't great at all. I'm hoping things pick up again next issue and we don't just have the characters explaining the situation to us a lot again.

 

[GoSpuffy]

I agree ths this was a weak issue. Nothing really happened with the story line or character relationships. Megan's art was better from the perspective than there weren't a lot of panels with blurred out faces but the faith and Buffy drawings looked nothing like the real deal. I'll try and paste examples later when I'm on my laptop vs tablet. I much prefer Rebecca issacs.

 

[Blair]

Isn't Amy still a rat from Angel & Faith or did she get returned back to human again?

Rebecca Issacs has been my favoruite artist so far.

I have to say, is it me or are the issues really short? Seems like they can't cram enough in there

 

[Stoney]

As far as I remember, she is still ratted (literally, not meaning she's drunk 😛). Nadira turning her back into a rat was when she was last seen I think. Obviously they can easily say she broke free somehow, but being put into that state in another title and just brushing it off to move her across to fit into a storyline for BtVS instead would seem poor to me. Doesn't mean they won't do it of course. 🙂

 

[Blair]

Oh good, my memory is still clear on Amy's rat status.
To be fair, I was surprised about the whole Warren thing back in season 8.

After a few days, I still can't believe that none of the editors didn't pick up that Faith's tattoo is missing.

Anyways, thoughts on the scuba scene? How did they hold their breath for that long? Seemed like a fair swim

 

[Stoney]

In the deleted scene cover wasn't Willow saying something about doing a spell for underwater breathing? I hadn't noticed Faith's tattoo was missing, but then my memory of it would have been that she was wearing a full scuba suit so I obviously wasn't paying close attention. 🙂

 

[Blair]

Oh cool, I must've skated over that part.

 

[Stoney]

Yep, I've checked and it was in the deleted scene...

 

[Blair]

Oh my bad, but at least that clears that thought up for me.

 

[Priceless]

Finally got my copy. I enjoyed it and didn't find it particularly weak, although I instantly thought of the Inititatvie and am wondering if Riley is involved somehow.

The cyborg was great and I liked that Buffy couldn't kill him. It made me think of her nearly beating that racist to death in a previous issue and how that must have affected her. I admit I was moved by Spike's 'I got you you mate. I got you' 🙁

Really surprised they had the Vice President being involved, but not the President, especially in the current political climate and how Joss et al feels about Trump. I had thought it would go right to the top as it appears to be a comment on the Trump administration.

Xander is definitely the MVP this month. He was great as the VP and his interview was funny. Also enjoyed the security detail constantly bursting into rooms with their guns out.

I didn't notice Faith's tattoo was missing but I thought the drawing, overall, was probably the weakest thing in the comic. I really didn't like the last three panels, and can only guess at Buffys emotions when she puts her fist to her chin, because Levens isn't giving us any clue 🙂

 

[TriBel]

I enjoyed it and didn't find it particularly weak,

I didn't find it weak but I think - overall - the pacing has been off. They seem to be rushing things through.

I admit I was moved by Spike's 'I got you you mate. I got you' 🙁

I loved the pathos in that. TBH, I like the way they've developed him this season.

I had thought it would go right to the top as it appears to be a comment on the Trump administration.

Meh - get an orange crayon and colour the VEEP. Xander's speech couldn't have come from anywhere else but the top.

I'm waiting for Dawn to open her portal (Not a euphemism!).

 

[Blair]

I'm waiting for Dawn to open her portal (Not a euphemism!).

I loved her portal hopping last season (especially to the Shrimp Land!)

 

[TriBel]

I loved her portal hopping last season (especially to the Shrimp Land!)

Uurgh! Shudder! Shrimp! I'm in Manchester - we don't all share Australia's affinity with seafood*. 😱Find a portal to Chips and Gravy land and I'm the first through. 🙂I'm waiting for her to save the day with a portal then I can legitimately be rude to those who diss her.🙂

*Although, according to Roy Keane, some MUFC supporters thrive on Prawn Sandwiches.

 

[Blair]

I was referring to when her and Xander did travel to the land of shrimp.

In Australia, we don't actually have shrimp. We have prawns. The whole "Throw a shrimp on the barbie" thing is a lie.

 

[Priceless]

I didn't find it weak but I think - overall - the pacing has been off. They seem to be rushing things through.

Yes I can see this, but they've only got 12 issues and it feels like we did spend a lot of time establishing them in the Safe Zone. Now for me that's not a bad thing because of all the Spuffy and Willow/Buffy interaction, but it's bound to have a knock on effect on the end of the season.

I loved the pathos in that. TBH, I like the way they've developed him this season.

Loved Spike in this season, and 'I've got you' is basically Spike's motto, one way or another 🙂 Of course I'm still worried that he has been so compelling and intrinsic that he's the one who will be destroyed by the machine 😱 (could just be Spuffy paranoia 🙂)

Meh - get an orange crayon and colour the VEEP. Xander's speech couldn't have come from anywhere else but the top.

I'm waiting for Dawn to open her portal (Not a euphemism!).

Dawn opening her portal 😀 I hope it doesn't come to this

I'd have still have liked the Pres to be blamed for all this! It would just fit with the times 😀

 

[TriBel]

I'd have still have liked the Pres to be blamed for all this! It would just fit with the times 😀

So would I - my eldest rings every night to regale me of his latest atrocity. His brother is blaming him for the Ice Dragon in GoT. From what I've seen on-line there was a backlash before this issue so having the POTUS involved might sail too close to the wind. As far as I'm concerned, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck then it's a duck (orange crayon not withstanding).

he has been so compelling and intrinsic

Compelling and intrinsic - yes - but not to the extent that he's overwhelmed the other characters and not to the extent that he's the sole catalyst for her actions (except for the feeding). I think this was the complaint in 7 from neutrals and I can see why. I can't see any advantage in getting rid now - he's not interfering with her story-lines and she's not holding his development back. Seems to me they're individuals who can act like a unit - he's just tucked in behind her shoulder as it were and that seem a good place for him to be. It feels very natural - they're both allowing each other to be the person they should be. This doesn't preclude a shock finale but I can't see what they'd have to gain from it - except shock. Does that make sense?

 

[Priceless]

Compelling and intrinsic - yes - but not to the extent that he's overwhelmed the other characters and not to the extent that he's the sole catalyst for her actions (except for the feeding). I think this was the complaint in 7 from neutrals and I can see why. I can't see any advantage in getting rid now - he's not interfering with her story-lines and she's not holding his development back. Seems to me they're individuals who can act like a unit - he's just tucked in behind her shoulder as it were and that seem a good place for him to be. It feels very natural - they're both allowing each other to be the person they should be. This doesn't preclude a shock finale but I can't see what they'd have to gain from it - except shock. Does that make sense?

You always make perfect sense and I hope you are right. But as they did with Giles, they could do with Spike. Not exactly the same, I don't expect a 12 year old William is on the cards . . . although with Joss it could be a possibility. They could destroy him to bring him back changed in some way. He could become one of the New Vampires that can shapeshift and walk in the daylight, which would tie in with him continually going out in the daylight when they were in the Safe Zone

 

[white avenger]

It's nice to see Buffy and Faith playing well together again. Hope that becomes a permanent thing. The "I've got you, mate" with Spike should have handled differently, in my opinion, with an audible "Snap" instead of the game face and its implications. Finally, if they're gonna continue to draw the characters in this manner, they need to have the respective characters wear, "Hi, I'm Faith," and, "Hi, I'm Dawn," tee shirts in order to avoid confusion.

This is Issue #10, and if they're gonna button everything up within the next two Issues, they had better get a move on!

 

[Blair]

I agree that Spike should of snapped the guy's neck rather than being a snack would of had a lot more dignity.

Finally, if they're gonna continue to draw the characters in this manner, they need to have the respective characters wear, "Hi, I'm Faith," and, "Hi, I'm Dawn," tee shirts in order to avoid confusion.

I didn't mind the way that Dawn was drawn. But instead of a shirt saying "Hi, I'm Faith" there is possibly something else they could of added instead that would make Faith directly stand out from the rest.... 😛 (Yes, this issue upset me a bit. I think I half rage-read it)

Seems like a lot to wrap up in the final two issues!