Here's my post from the other thread:
So I've just read the first issue, and my feelings are mixed. I've been hyped for this story, for Joss' return, so it's disappointing to not automatically love it. I honestly found the entire issue really hard to follow. I thought it moved extremely quickly, and there was SO much being thrown at you that it was hard to keep up. While I like the art style, it was really hard to follow what was happening in action scenes, IMO.
That said, this reads like 1/4 of one big story, which it is, of course! It probably will read much better in a trade paperback collection with the following issues. I'm still really intrigued by the plot, and there are some developments here that I did not expect! I feel like I need to reread the issue right away, mainly because I was lost the entire time, and the ending only hinted at a few things I'm confused about.
There's two pop culture references Giles makes, and I laughed out loud. Not because they were funny, but because I could not imagine Giles making them, even in this teen body. The lines themselves were alright, but idk. It makes me question how involved Joss was in the writing process. If I had to guess, I'd say he only was a co-plotter, maybe wrote a line here or there. But I didn't feel Joss' touch here, which makes me sad. Maybe I hyped it up too much in my head, but I just didn't. This felt like another brand new writer trying to do their own thing in the Buffyverse, re: Angel Season 11.
I'm holding complete judgement until the series is finished, because this issue raised SO many questions at once. But right now, like I said, this didn't live up to my expectations. I wanted a character study of Giles, but it feels like we got an overwhelming plot, plus a new character that we're supposed to love because she's super mysterious~, but really she just kind of annoyed me and I'm just confused about her (which might be the point?).
Also, we get a huge info dump from Willow early on, and she's within the camp contacting Giles somehow? Weren't they not able to contact the outside world, or am I remembering wrong?
So, is he prematurely aging? I thought he was younger not like long ago. Or was it just like a growth spurt? I remember seeing images and he looked small, now he looks almost grown.
I think it's just a matter of artistic difference. Rebekah draws him very small framed, but this new style portrays him very lanky. I think he's probably 14 years old? Xander says he should technically be in 8th grade, but is in 9th because he's so smart, and if I'm correct most 8th graders start out as 13 and age to 14 that same school year. So somewhere between 14-15, and I know some 14 year olds who are super tall and look way older than they are! That said, I really do think it's just a matter of two different interpretations of how he appears at that age. You'll see that Giles is "smaller" in Buffy season 11 #12, but this story takes place before that appearance.
