Buffy (season 8) #17 -- Fray returns!!

[Super Maverick]

http://flippedcomics.com/

“Time of Your Life” (part 2)

Why is Joss Whedon so fracking awesome? Well, really there are several reasons, but one of the many is his writing. It’s fun to read. It draws you in. It stimulates your intellect. And that’s how it should be. It’s been over ten years since Buffy first hit prime-time television, and Joss hasn’t missed a beat. He knows Buffy, and he knows what the fans want and expect. The best thing is that you can really tell Joss just plain loves writing Buffy. And why shouldn’t he? She’s awesome!

Buffy Season 8 has been outstanding. Readers have been fed one outstanding story arc after another. “Time of Your Life” may perhaps be one of the more anticipated arcs, not only just because Fray returns, but also because Joss has reunited with Fray co-creator Karl Moline. Moline is outstanding. He has a firm grasp on future tech, and he has a unique way of presenting Buffy and Fray as tough and agile, yet uniquely feminine.

That’s it, that’s my review. I’m not going to sum up the events of the issue for you — go read it! It’s awesome to see more of Melaka Fray, mostly because we never really get past her origin story in the original Fray series. And watch out for that twist at the end!

http://www.majorspoilers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05a/darkhorseaugust08solicitations/BUFFY2-17-FC-FNL.jpg

[Fat Elvis 007]

I really disagree with that review. From the issues I've read, and what I've heard about the rest, I don't think Joss does love writing Buffy any more. I think he's trying to, and maybe he thinks he does, but I don't think the guy who allowed Willow to question Satsu on how Buffy is in the sack has a firm grasp on the characters at all anymore. I haven't picked up an issue since the Buffy/Satsu sex. I just don't see anything that makes me believe this is worth spending my money on. I've never read Fray, so this issue isn't a big draw. And now they've brought back Dark Willow, who is perhaps the biggest reminder of how far downhill the show went after Season 5. I just don't see the appeal.

[Super Maverick]

Well first of all I'm pretty sure Drew Goddard wrote that arc. And I think it was an interesting twist on the true love kiss from the first arc.

Jeph Loeb begins writing his arc with issue 10. For those of you who don't know, Jeph Loeb is a former Smallville writer, was writing Lost for a while, and is now on the writing team for Heroes.

[ginnyfan]

I'm excited to see Buffy and Fray together. I'm not really into the Buffy comics as a whole. But I'm definitely buying the Fray arc. I skipped over Satsu for the most part. Though I did think her crush was cute. Buffy is a black hole when it comes to relationships. Unless Spike shows up, I'm hesitant to ship her with anyone. But to me the set up of Satsu's crush and Buffy's intense loneliness... I didn't think it was TOO out of character. I just felt sorry for Satsu. LOL! Biting off more than she can chew. I loved the Faith arc. Now THERE's a series I'd like to read. Faith and Giles. YUM!

[Super Maverick]

The Faith arc was written by Brian K Vaughn, and yes, was masterfully written.

[Fat Elvis 007]

Well first of all I'm pretty sure Drew Goddard wrote that arc.

But Joss Whedon had to approve it, especially since it was something so big. And in all the interviews I read, Joss talked like it was his idea, while I don't remember if Goddard was even asked anything.



And I think it was an interesting twist on the true love kiss from the first arc.

Satsu being the one to kiss Buffy was interesting. Buffy hopping into bed with a woman who was in love with her even though she didn't feel the same way was selfish and completely inexplicable given that Buffy has never shown an attraction to the same sex.

Jeph Loeb begins writing his arc with issue 10.

I think you mean issue 20.

I might pick up his issues. I like the animated style, and it looks like it will take place at least partly in the early seasons, so it should be fun to re-visit a time when the Scoobies weren't all manic depressives.

----- Added 1 Minutes later -----

The Faith arc was written by Brian K Vaughn, and yes, was masterfully written.

This I agree with. It was very well done. The only part I didn't like was Giles being so distant from Buffy still. I wish this would be more explained. But overall the Faith arc was wonderful.

How come this is the first thread for the Buffy comics on here?

[Super Maverick]

But Giles was already sort of off the tv show anyway, wasn't he? The final season he was billed as 'special guest star', so if the tv show had continued it's likely we'd be seeing about as much of him.

Yes, I suppose I meant issue 20 with Loeb. And honestly, that's the first I've heard that it'll be an all-scooby adventure. Sounds like fun.

(I think maybe there's one other Buffy comics thread, and at least one more for the Angel comics from IDW.)

[ginnyfan]

Satsu being the one to kiss Buffy was interesting. Buffy hopping into bed with a woman who was in love with her even though she didn't feel the same way was selfish and completely inexplicable given that Buffy has never shown an attraction to the same sex.


Yes but isn't that classic Buffy? LOL! She can be very selfish. And she was so lonely leading up to that...

[Fat Elvis 007]

But Giles was already sort of off the tv show anyway, wasn't he? The final season he was billed as 'special guest star', so if the tv show had continued it's likely we'd be seeing about as much of him.


If the TV show had continued, we wouldn't have gotten GiantDawn or FlyingWillow or Buffy's threesome dreams and probably no Batsu. So I don't see how that's an excuse. The comics allow for things the show couldn't do, so they should be taking advantage of that by giving Giles more "screentime" then he would have gotten in RL instead of just using it for special effects and over-the-top scenarios that don't jive with the tone of the series at all.

----- Added 2 Minutes later -----

Yes but isn't that classic Buffy? LOL! She can be very selfish. And she was so lonely leading up to that...

Buffy can be selfish, but she can also be very empathetic, and it was just really, really horrible to play with a young girl's heart that way.

As for the loneliness thing, Xander was the only male in a castle full of females, and that's when Buffy decides to experiment?! Just wrong. For all the media coverage surrounding the Batsu sex, Bander sex would have been far more bold and had more impact to long-term fans, and it would have made more sense.