Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight #40, January 2011, written by Joss Whedon, penciled by Georges Jeanty
It’s funny how Joss’ admission in the afterword that parts of this series didn’t work makes me rethink my negative opinion of this book. Okay, not totally negative. I went from love to a slow building annoyance to utter confusion (like some relationships, am I right dudes?). This man that I trusted so much, the man who could do no wrong (I enjoy season 7, everybody), was suddenly making weird decisions and producing a…boring Buffy series. It helps to know that the creators felt some variation of this too. I could start griping about how I spent four years reading something that even the creators admit didn’t work completely but…it’s late at night and I feel generous.
Even without my overwhelming generosity (YOU ARE ALL GETTING A MOPED! YOU GET A MOPED! AND YOU GET A MOPED!) I still found this issue to be the most enjoyable one in a while. Positivity! Joss states that they kinda lost track of the characters, which is what made Buffy special. This issue reaffirms that theory, as it is all about the new status quo these characters are now serving coffee and simulating sex and dumping people in. The issue ends with Buffy fighting vamps in an alleyway, which is the Whedonverse equivalent of seeing a photo of a two year old’s face covered in cake on their birthday; it just makes me want to say “aaaaawww.”
After issue #39 I was totally checked out of Season Eight and shrugging my shoulders at the upcoming Season Nine. After reading this issue and checking in with Joss, I’m actually looking forward to Season Nine.
My Score: 8.7
1462. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight #39, December 2010, written by Joss Whedon and Scott Allie, penciled by Georges Jeanty
My Score: 8
1404. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight #38, November 2010, written by Joss Whedon, penciled by Georges Jeanty
My Score: 8
1351. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight #37, October 2010, written by Joss Whedon, penciled by Georges Jeanty
At least it’s only part two of the final arc and some big things have happened. I can’t get mad at this arc’s pacing, that’s for sure.
My Score: 8
1212. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight #36, September 2010, written by Joss Whedon, penciled by Georges Jeanty
My Score: 8.5
0733. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight #35, May 2010, written by Brad Meltzer, penciled by Georges Jeanty
My Score: 8.6
0732. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight #34, April 2010, written by Brad Meltzer, penciled by Georges Jeanty
My Score: 8.7
0731. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight #33, March 2010, written by Brad Meltzer, penciled by Georges Jeanty
IDW’s Angel: After the Fall was very hit-or-miss, with some okay ideas caught up in a mess of ugly art. I don’t know if this comic totally negates the canonicity (is there a real word that means what I want that made up one to mean?) of that series, but I’m fine with it if it does.
My Score: 8.6
0730. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight #32, written by Brad Meltzer, penciled by Georges Jeanty
My Score: 8.6
0728. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight #31, January 2010, written by Joss Whedon, penciled by Georges Jeanty
The big problem with licensed comics has to be telling characters apart. I thought Dawn was Faith until it was shown that Faith was kidnapped by Twilight, alongside Giles and I-think-that’s-brown-haired-Andrew-but-I’m-not-sure. At the end of the issue, again, not sure who that girl is with Xander and Dawn, looking up at flying Buffy.
Hrm.
My Score: 8.5
