Anyone else get beyond issue 1?

==NZ

I haven’t even started yet… What’s your thoughts on it so far? What about Issue #1 made you not want to read the second one?

I’ve glanced through a couple of issues. Waiting for spike or angel to show up… then i’ll buy.

The art looks great though!

Not so much that I didn’t like it, but there were too many things that were unfamiliar.  From what I understand, the storyline merges the series finale with storylines that have been building in the comic books.  They’re supposed to put out a graphic novel that republishes these comic threads to help us “catch up.”

It’s tough when you’ve seen pretty much every episode and you still feel like you’re missing the back story.

==NZ

I just finished the last issue. I personally think it’s fantastic. The thing for most Buffy fans - who are not also graphic novel fans - is getting used to the panels and the ways the stories are told. Having said that, there is much to like about the format. First, Joss is able to do things he would have never been able to afford with his WB or UPN budgets. And his language: I think the snappy dialog and Buffy-speak is what I’ve missed most from the series. That’s why so many fans flocked to Gilmore Girls when Season 7 ended - and of course it didn’t hurt that at least two writers from the BTVS staff started working back over there. But I’ve laughed out loud so many times at the first part of Season 8—I think the writing in them has been superb. And the art, as was mentioned, is gorgeous.

I’m a big fan of graphic novels, so the format hasn’t been much that much of a deterrent.  To sum up my previous post, it felt to me like more of a lack of continuity.  Will that go away in a few more issues?  Likely.  But with S8.1, it seemed like more happened between since the time when Sunnydale imploded and the gang got on the bus than I had “expected.”

Don’t get me wrong, I still relish the fact that I can augment my Joss fix with more than just Amazing X-Men!

==NZ

Just cruising in, and delighted to see the site is back up and active.  Yes, many of us never left the Buffyverse.

I have read all 5 season 8 episodes so far.  Since I always read the comics, I can’t relate to the continuity issues.  It seems very fluid to me, realising there were stories that never were on the air that were tangents from the TV episodes.  I love how Joss brings back characters.  Something he frequently did on the TV show, he continues to do in the comic.  No small facts are waisted, no character is trivial.  It leaves you expecting that anything can and will happen.  I subscribe to TFAW (Things From Another World) since I don’t have a good comic book store near me.  Not as interested in the Omnibus issues (They recap everything from the comic seasons), but sounds like it would be a good investment, if you didn’t previously collect the comics.

I’m so glad Slayage is back!  I will be lurking and participating.

VinSlayer!

I’ve only read #2 and 3.  But they were great, and the Scooby-speak is definitely there, which is so satisfying.  It would have been nice if the story had picked up from the finale of season 7, but i think filling in the backstory will be a big part of the comic’s development, and will allow the writers some extra flexibility with storylines.  If we weren’t there to see everything, then we can still be shocked and suprised.

Welcome back Slayage!  I popped in from time to time just waiting for some new somethin…

Season 8, what can I say, it’s Buffy.  That’s enough for me.  I do like it, although it is difficult for me to follow since I am not generally a comic/graphic novel fan.  I would much rather it be on the little screen (or big screen would be cool too), but then again don’t we all?

I love the ideas and storyline, although I am a little behind, I have only read up to issue 3.

NewZero - 30 July 2007 11:51 AM

Not so much that I didn’t like it, but there were too many things that were unfamiliar.  From what I understand, the storyline merges the series finale with storylines that have been building in the comic books.  They’re supposed to put out a graphic novel that republishes these comic threads to help us “catch up.”

It’s tough when you’ve seen pretty much every episode and you still feel like you’re missing the back story.

==NZ

Hey there,

Actually Season 8 has nothing to do with previous Buffy comics. The regular comics (excluding Season 8) are not within Buffy canon and are to be seen more like fan-fiction with a higher production value. They do not affect the Buffy tv series or season 8 continuity and any missing information is intentional by the writers. We’ll have to wait and see if we learn more about what happened between season 7 and 8.

- Matt

I just finished No Future For You and really enjoyed. I think the season 8 is getting better with every issue. I thought The Long Way Home was good, but i liked No Future For You a lot better. I agree with sarai that they can fill in the back story from between seasons 7 & 8 as the comics continue. I think Joss decided to set season 8 a year and a half after the end of season 7 so he could hit the ground running rather than building up to the action. The gaps in the story can be filled in later through flashbacks.

Getting warmer.  Warmer still.  WARMER, WARMER… H.O.T.!!  OH YOUR GOD…
The latest issue (#10), ‘Anywhere But Here’ is the 1st time I ever felt something
(dare I say) DEEP from a comic book.  Maybe I’m even ready to use those words,
‘graphic novel’.  Although it still seems they should be in an adult section.  I didn’t
buy such ‘literature’ at all until Buffy.  7 seasons weren’t enough for me.  And I’ve
read all of season 8 FAITH*fully (*see issues #6 thru 9).  Still, either I was under
the learning curve on how to READ them, my ‘new’ medium, or #10 is REALLY the
one!  Joss (back here to author) has entered the building!  I wish I could say it’s
o.k. to begin at this point… But, what the hell.  How many of us saw Buffy eps. 1 -
144 chronologically the 1st time anyway?  Yes, you’ll wonder what’s going on at
several turns.  Yet to MISS the opportunity to get your fix a.s.a.p… Imagine that
your 1st viewings of Buffy was ‘Surprise/Innocence’.  It’s THAT good!  To quote
the best line in this issue, you might think that Buffy’d gone Catholic:  “Hail Mary.”
Plus, you can probably still get some other recent issues if you want to ‘reach out
and touch Faith’.  Though Joss didn’t write that 4-parter title, ‘No Future for You’.

I also still waiting for this

Major spoiler alert!  I am interested in reactions to Buffy’s involvement with Satsu.  I have very mixed feelings about this.  Buffy can be daring, selfish, and experiemental, but I don’t buy that she would use someone who looks up to her like that.  It’s like if Giles had gone after Buffy.  I feel bad for Satsu.