Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION Dr. Gym'll's Cultural Rarities Buffy the Vampire Slayer/ Angel & Faith: the new "Season Nine"

another good issue. I got the Willow cover, but the puzzle Buffy variant is much better. well, at least in the sense that I enjoy the puzzle motif on covers. check out the cover of Planetary #25.

as for the issue, the reveal of Amy's beau was a surprise to me. some good action and more is revealed.

Buffy's dream's are as always a weird place. what's up with the nurse's uniform?

I'm liking the book, but the pacing is a little annoying in that it seems like each issue represents 15 minutes of a tv show. I can see the reveal at the end of this ish happening at the 3/4 mark of the show and it bugs me slightly how much each new "episode" ends up costing.

do you think the story-line is being "padded out" for trades?

No -- I just think most mainstream comics these days are being written like screenplays, which are paced slower, and as dialogue has gotten more naturalistic, it ends up taking up more page space to have a conversation. Silver age dialogue was stilted and full of exposition so it went by faster.

Compared the other mainstream comics, I think it's fine but I can't help but compare this book to the tv show.

The pacing is a little weird at times, but not offputting to me.
The big surprise at the end I suspected a few pages earlier, but I was still a bit surprised.

The Angel/Nurse Buffy/Spike image was hot!

Issue #6 came out yesterday. Let me say, it was, IMHO, the best single issue so far.

Well, that's because my boy BKV wrote it. But I have to agree, I quite enjoyed it. Especially Xander and Buffy in the gym. That was confusing yet hilarious!

Faith's lines sounded like the show. same for Giles. I was half expecting Faith to offer Giles some Folgers.

I also enjoyed the Doctor Who drop by.

and despite what Giles has taught her, Faith will never be mistaken for My Fair Lady.

I'm glad that apparently this issue is good because the previous issue (I *think* it focused on one of the Buffy stand-ins) confused the hell out of me.

You and me both, Lash. I was a little disappointed in the previous issue, which is likely why I was so happy this issue seemed to get back on track.

I felt for Faith in her new status as the "go to girl" for dirty deeds. It's obviously hard on her. Also really liked her teaming with Giles. Buffy doesn't necessarily needs him as a mentor anymore, but Faith needs someone in her corner.

I'm definitely looking forward to hearing the story behing Giles' tattoo...

heard another "UPN era" character would be featured in the story. Who is/was it?

Robin made a cameo. He's working with the slayers but he and Faith are no longer an item.

I thought that was the same tattoo featured in one of the early episodes. it was used as part of a chaos magic ceremony during the Watcher's Ripper days. or is it a different one?

It was the same tattoo. Wamu. Drake, the story behind the tattoo was told in the second-season episode "The Dark Age."

Great bearded wizard of Northampton, indeed.

another good issue. evidence indicates that this arc ties directly into the season long story.

I am really enjoying Faith's inner monologue. she needs some serious weekly(2x a week) therapy.

there's even a glimpse of humanity for Faith's target... but, she needs to be put down all the same.

This series continues to rock. Does anyone know, is this still going to be a limited series, or is it going to go on indefinitely?

It's due to run something like 50 issues, then get rebooted into "Season 9"

I haven't heard that. How certain is that info?

A couple of issues after the FAITH arc (which I enjoyed), I decided that the Buffy S.8 comic in general didn't work well enough for me in comic book form. Plus the economy and all (it's nice to have a scapegoat when you have to explain yourself! Blame the economy.).

BUT.

There was no way I wasn't getting the HARMONY issue. I saw the fab Joyce Chin cover online (mesmerizing!!) and made sure to get it.

Harmony episodes (after her vampire-ification) were always a real treat for me on Buffy and Angel (I was elated when she became a regular in Angel S.5).

I enjoyed the issue well enough, although the pacing problems and a general sense of confusion still remain in evidence.

I loved the rip on cheesy VH1 reality shows. I can honestly say that "Harmony Bites" would probably be a big hit, especially with the "Rock of Love" crowd.

And this appears to be setting into motion a VERY unexpected turn of event... vamps = GOOD, slayers = BAD.

I think the problem for me is there aren't enough comic-booky type things like helpful captions and 'what came before' synopses and stuff. This book would REALLY benefit from those things. This isn't TV, it's a completely different format.

But now I am wondering if I've missed any appearances by my other favorite characters.

Can anyone tell me if ANYA or DRUSILLA have appeared yet? Or DARLA (I know she died, but since when did that matter?) or ILLYRIA/FRED? Or even been mentioned?

Lash, I'd say the "Wolves at the Gate" arc has been the very best part of Season 8 so far. If you have a chance, pick up the trade for it. It features the return of Dracula in a surprising role, and Buffy has a legendary brush with bi-curiosity!

No Anya, Drusilla, Darla or Illyria/Fred. But over on "Angel: After the Fall" (published by IDW), both Fred and Illyria play huge roles as well as nearly every other character who's ever been on Angel's show (Cordy, Kate, Gru, etc.). And it's all about what happened after that show's (in?)famous cliffhanger! Not bad!

NO WAY. I had no idea. I bet I've missed like tons of issues. Is it traded? I'll definitely check for it, thanks Lardy!

Oh, and I'll also get the "Wolves..." tpb, thanks for the tip.

Yer welcome! Yeah, there're a coupla trades out. The series is at about issue 15 or 16. If you can deal with the fact that Los Angeles has literally gone to Hell after the events of the series finale, you should dig it.