Review: Buffy Issue 14 - Wolves at the Gate, Part 3

Author: scout  
Posted: May 12, 2008 | Category: Comics, Buffy 
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buffy war

If you want a roller coaster ride of emotions, try reading Buffy Season Eight #14. The excruciatingly long wait has been worth it. In my book, Part 3 of the Wolves at the Gate arc has a solid place in the Top 3 issues of this season so far.

Last issue:

A mysterious gang of vampires from Tokyo raided Buffy’s headquarters in Scotland, successfully stealing the Scythe. Buffy takes all the slayers to Japan to retrieve the powerful weapon.

*** SPOILER WARNING ***

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    Buffy Comics Sales: Defying gravity

    Author: scout  
    Posted: April 23, 2008 | Category: Buffy, News 
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    Buffy logoRemember that whole hoopla that followed when Buffy did it with fellow slayer Satsu? Well, the assertion of some people that it was just a marketing gimmick made me extra curious about the comics’ sales, especially the effect of Issue #12. The Diamond Comic Distibutors Top #300 list for March 2008 has just come out, and they are the biggest in North America. In the absence of more complete data, I used this as a benchmark for my graphs. OK, here I go on geek mode.

    Each month here corresponds to the release of an issue, and the monthly data you see here are for that issue only (not cumulative sales). Now, still remember the story arcs?

    • #1 - #4 : The Long Road Home (Mar-Jun 2007)
    • #5 : The Chain (July 2007)
    • #6 - #9 : No Future for You (Sep-Dec 2007)
    • #10 : Anywhere But Here (Jan 2008)
    • #11 : A Beautiful Sunset (Feb 2008)
    • #12 - #15 : Wolves at the Gate (Mar-Jun 2008)

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      Review: Buffy Issue 13 - Wolves at the Gate, Part II

      Author: scout  
      Posted: April 5, 2008 | Category: Comics, Buffy 
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      Buffy ComicsLast time on Buffy: Vampires disguised as wolves attacked the Slayer HQ in Scotland and got Buffy’s scythe. Buffy and another slayer, Satsu, had a one-night stand. Xander and Rene went to Transylvania to enlist Dracula as an unlikely ally.

      Xander, Rene, and Dracula

      The first part of the issue gives us an intimate look at Dracula’s private life. It shows him as a wasted old man, a far cry from the dashing Dracula of legends. When he sees Xander flying in via helicopter, and he quickly transforms into his handsome persona to meet his visitors. This issue canonizes Antique, a Tales of the Vampires story wherein Xander goes to live with Dracula for some time as his servant. It’s a subject of debate, but I won’t get into that here. For this review, I’d just like to say that I’m pleased with Rene and her “no fear attitude” towards Dracula. I don’t mind seeing them tangle at some point, with Rene kicking the crap out of the Master Bater. When Xander and Drac were complimenting each other nonstop, which was so gay, even for me, I’m glad Rene stepped in and called a time out. I mean, what was that all about?

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        A Thesis on Satsu, the Vampire Slayer

        Author: scout  
        Posted: March 17, 2008 | Category: Comics, Buffy 
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        satsu.pngI found a wonderfully detailed analysis of Satsu’s character on Season 8 of the Buffy comics. Stormwreath studies virtually every panel Satsu appeared in and gives us his own clinical interpretation. Here’s an excerpt:

        Recent developments would tend to suggest that Satsu is becoming a major character in ‘Buffy’… In fact, if the show were still on TV instead of in comics I suspect she’d be added to the main credits by now. (Instead, she gets to appear on the alternate cover of 8.11, and in at least one more cover in the current arc). The problem, of course, is that compared to characters who appeared for years on the show - and had a living, breathing actor to depict them - we don’t know that much about her.

        That’s not to say she’s a non-entity, though. (And there are plenty of compelling characters who only appear on paper… there are these things called “books” which used to be quite popular once… [g]) So as a hopefully helpful guide to people who want to get to know her better, I decided to put together a giant picspam of all Satsu’s appearances in the comics, and analyse what they say about her character. Some of which is probably self-evident, while other conclusions I come to might be really pushing the evidence to the extreme. I’ll leave you to work out which is which…

        Click here to read the complete article: All About Satsu.

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          Buffy. Satsu. Sex.

          Author: scout  
          Posted: March 9, 2008 | Category: Comics, Buffy 
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          buffy_satsu_sex1.jpg

          Some pictures are worth a thousand words. This one is worth at least a million. When this frame appeared in Issue #12 of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 comics, the Buffy forums went in fire. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it that way since the series finale Chosen. A lot of people liked it, and more than a few dissed it. I refrained from writing about the issue for a day or two to ponder, because I didn’t want this post to sound too emotional. Now, let’s take a closer look at the arguments, shall we?

          Where did that come from?

          While I admit that even I was surprised, upon reflection, I think the nano-second of disbelief at the sight of Buffy and Satsu in bed was more of “Joss actually went ahead with that?!”, rather than “But that’s impossible!”. The Buffy/Satsu thing has been developing for quite some time. I re-read the whole season and came up with this timeline:

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            Issue 12 - Wolves at the Gate, Part I

            Author: scout  
            Posted: March 8, 2008 | Category: Comics, Buffy 
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            buffy_cover_12.jpgBuffy Season 8 Comics Review

            Previously on the BTVS comics: While on a vampire hunt, Satsu admits her feelings to an understanding, open-minded Buffy. The new Big Bad, Twilight, comes out of nowhere and gives them a mean beating, leaving Buffy visibly shaken.

            Recap / Review of Issue #12 - SPOILERS ALERT!
            It’s a foggy night in Scotland, lit by a beautiful full moon. Renee is on patrol duty at the Slayer Central tower, and Xander is hanging around for company. They spot wolves approaching the castle gate. They sense some weirdness is happening, but they’re not fully aware of any danger. Flirting ensues…

            XANDER: Trust me, I’m on my own time here.
            RENEE: Really?
            XANDER: Are you kidding me? Look out there – the moon is full, the stars are bright, the fog is particularly fog-tastic… who wants to be alone on a night like this?

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            Satsu, Buffy, and the Kiss of True Love

            Author: scout  
            Posted: February 12, 2008 | Category: Comics, Buffy 
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            buffy_11_cover.jpgBuffy Season 8 Comics Review

            If somebody told me that Buffy could possibly be bisexual and that she’s gonna be romantically involved with another slayer, I would have said, “Nice fanfic. Did you write that yourself?” And yet here we are with the latest issue of the Season 8 comics, and we’re faced with exactly that. But the other slayer isn’t Faith, as most of you shippers might be salivating over. It’s Satsu, an apparently lesbian Japanese slayer and Buffy’s best protégé.

            See, it all started in Issue #2 - The Long Way Home, when Amy the Witch put a sleeping spell on Buffy, which can only be broken by a kiss of true love. Yeah, yeah, cheesy, I know. But admit it. It was interesting. All the slayers, Xander, and Willow were in the room with our hero. It was suggested that they all close their eyes, and after a few moments, voila! The spell has been broken, Buffy is awake, but our mysterious kisser remained a secret.

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            THE BLURB

            About Womyn is a blog on lesbian culture. It's a journey and an exploration. We feature news, films, books, and even comics that depict us, whether as heroes or villains. If you're gay, or just simply open-minded, you're more than welcome to sit back, relax, and join the discussions.