Season 8 spoilers from 8.07 up

[nerd4hire]

Time to start a new spoiler thread as the last one's choked. Here's where we are currently.

A cover has been posted for # 8

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/JimJohn/Buffy8no8cover.jpg

It appears to be Buffy she's drowning.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/JimJohn/Buffyunderwater3.jpg

Faith hits the ground running after she infiltrates the estate of a rogue Slayer, that is until Buffy pops in and is confronted by her longtime nemesis. Certainly, chaos ensues.

You can find the cover to # 7 here.

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0707/10/buffy7a.htm

Here's the alternate cover for # 7

http://images.darkhorse.com/covers/14/14842.jpg

I think this will be the cover pic for # 9

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/JimJohn/BuffySeason8_9Fc.jpg

and this will be the cover for the Faith Arc TPB

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/JimJohn/BuffySeason8V2Fc.jpg

There's a new Joss Whedon interview. Here's what he had to say about the Issue # 10 he's writing, and general stuff to do with Buffy 8.

"It'll lay out very differently because it'll take a period of several years, not several, but a few, and have a lot of side trips and sort of weird conjugative storytelling, because that's what I like…Then the more I started working on it, the funner it got and the more meaningful it got. When I write issue #10, most of it is Buffy and Willow talking. It goes to some very, really sad places, and really sweet and really out there [places, with] their complicated friendship. It wasn't just, ""Look! Dawn's a Giant! Which, believe me, Dawn's-a-giant is the greatest thing in the history of my life. Dawn's-a-giant makes me so happy I can barely contain myself. But then I started to feel characters and their pain and the funny. It was like coming home. It became important to me, much more than I'd expected."



http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/movies/news/n12919.htm

Scott Allie had some hints at spoilers in a recent interview also. On an upcoming cover he says, "there's an upcoming Jo Chen cover that pushes the ... nudity barrier. "

He reiterated on previous remarks as to whether, or not Dark Horse could use Spike, or Angel.

"SL: Speaking of Angel, how available is that character…as well as Spike, Cordelia and Wesley, all BtVS alums…for the Buffy series now? The two vampires with souls made a Buffy sandwich in a memorable dream sequence early on, but can you use them, at least in flashbacks, in speaking roles? Or would that have to be approved by IDW?

SA: We can use whoever we need to, but we're not gonna step on IDW's toes. Anymore than that would be telling."

Oh, and this is scary, as in a possible "Yuck" kind of way.

"SL: Does the “Antique” story in TALES OF THE VAMPIRES (which established that Xander, post-S8, was in the thrall of Dracula for nearly a year) fit into the new continuity, or can we just write it off now as perhaps Andrew’s version of an event that didn’t happen quite…that…way?

SA: I think we'll find out soon."

http://www.slayerlit.us/interviews/interview12.htm

l
don't know how accurate this info is, but i thought I'd share.

According to Wikipedia, there's gonna be TWO stand alone issues after the Faith arc, both written by Joss, and the next arc will, apparently, be set in Tokyo and written by Drew Goddard.

Link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffy_season_8)

Here's this audio interview with Joss I just listened to in case it hasn't been posted.
Joss Interview (http://darkcommandos.typepad.com/bloodline/2007/09/joss-whedon-int.html)

Apparently Doug Petrie is signed on to write (woot!!), nothing about David Fury though :( Also good to hear that he wants to make tv still.

Here's a spoiler for # 7 from a BKV interview.

What’s one thing you were able to write into your arc that you absolutely couldn’t have done if it were still part of the TV series?

VAUGHAN: I don’t want to spoil anything, but there’s a midair fight scene in issue #7 that probably would have used up the budget for an entire season of the TV series. Plus, I imagine Standards and Practices would have had a problem with all of my graphic, graphic sex scenes. Reserve your copy today, kids!

Wizard Entertainment (http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/005829723.cfm)

[nerd4hire]

They're calling the naked Faith one above the official cover for #9 now.

Here's the variant.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/JimJohn/buffy9b.jpg

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #9

Written by Brian K. Vaughan, penciled by Georges Jeanty, inked by Andy Owens, colored by Dave Stewart, covers by Jeanty and Jo Chen.

Slayers battle to the death in the thrilling conclusion to Brian K. Vaughan's four-issue run on Buffy Season Eight.

40 pages, $2.99, in stores on Dec. 5.

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0709/13/darkhorsedec.htm

[Angel's vision]

Aha! Advengers style! Like!

[Panda]

i recognize that outfit! from.. jay and silent bob haha. thanks for that!

[Panda]

PANEL PREVIEW from buffy #7

http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/preview.php?theid=14-663

everyone still think faith's straight? it's not so much the comicy subtext but the panel RIGHT AFTER the 'flashback' oozes of vaughan/joss humor of cut scenes. lmao i officially can't wait for this issue. hahaha ok yeah it still proves nothing. but a girl can dream, right?

[nerd4hire]

Well now, that is fun, isn't it? Wonder if Epo, and Doppleganger read the spoiler thread. They'll like that.

But yeah, what's going on there? First you're asking yourself who's the narrator. She seems to be talking about connecting with people. It's not necessarily sexual, but then they segue to Dawn saying "This is about sex, isn't it?" So was Willow the narrator? Was it a lecture from Willow while she was trying to figure out what went on between Dawn and Kenny? You think, maybe...then they're back with Faith present day, and that ends with the same narrator, and that is Faith, I'm pretty sure. So was Faith the narrator all along? If so does that mean Faith was associating the thought with the memory? Was the seque suggesting something Faith herself didn't know.

So yeah it's kind of cool. In the last issue they say Faith's not gay. Now they seem to be suggesting maybe there's this sublimated connection that could be released sexually. The physical reality is she still said it's not the way she swings, nevertheless there's something for everyone in that preview, isn't there?

Man, I wanted to keep reading.

[Panda]

about the narrator thing yeah i know. of course you say it's faith automatically, then it turns out willow may have been narrating the whole time, just with some strategically placed season 3 scenes.

about the subtext associated with the narrating, there's definitely something there. if she was indeed the narrator faith felt a closeness to buffy without wanting to explain or acknowledge it. whether or not she saw her as a possible friend or confused with feelings of a possible lover then that will of course only be solved with the new issues themselves. and yeah i do wonder about the slayer thing as well. but since she's been burned by buffy even at a friend level she may back off getting close to any more slayers. especially lady g if she turns out to not be evil... which is kinda doubtful. if willow was the narrator, however, i wonder why she would associate season 3 flashbacks? or was that just meant for the reader? i so badly wanted to keep reading as well. gah, 3 more weeks.

[nerd4hire]

Don't you think the final two narration boxes pretty much establish Faith as the narrator?

[Panda]

oh yeah, wow, i totally looked over those somehow. too excited about a preview for my own good i suppose lol

[nerd4hire]

Here's the cover for # 7 btw.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/JimJohn/FaithGilesCover7.jpg

[nerd4hire]

I just noticed something in a spoiler above for # 7 from BKV.

VAUGHAN: I don’t want to spoil anything, but there’s a midair fight scene in issue #7 that probably would have used up the budget for an entire season of the TV series. Plus, I imagine Standards and Practices would have had a problem with all of my graphic, graphic sex scenes. Reserve your copy today, kids!

On the off chance he isn't completely joking, who could possibly be having sex in # 7? Nobody's connected yet.

[Miss Sunnydale]

"... that is until Buffy pops in and is confronted by her longtime nemesis. "

Does that mean Faith??
Or ... Lady G?

Okay, I know they aren't the best of friends, but since when are Faith and Buffy nemisis ... es.. (Oh goodness! An unintentional reference!)

[CharmedSlayer85]

Not that I want porn or anything but I think it'd be cool if the Buffy comics went a little Rated R, especially considering they are seemingly very much more adult in the comics then in the television series. I mean look at the little Buffy fantasy of her curled up with naked Spike and Angel while she's in a nurse uniform. I definitely hope they continue with more stuff like that, not in terms of sheer nakedness but in terms of flat out obvious adult content. I think it just makes things seem more natural.

[alexa]

Wasn't sure if the #7 preview is here somewhere, so here it is :)
Comic Book - Issue 7 - Medium Quality Pages Preview (http://www.whedon.info/Buffy-Season-8-Comic-Book-Issue-7,23926.html)

[nerd4hire]

Yeah the link has been posted posted above. The preview has even been discussed. I'll forgive you though, because there's that big, long rehash in the first post. Who's going to read through that.

You know what though Whedon.info bugs me. I almost changed your link. The preview was originally posted at Dark Horse. Whedon.info snagged the pages and posted them on their site for the hits. I considered doing that here, but came to the conclusion it's wrong. It goes beyond fair use. It's not just a snip or clip to make an editorial comment on.

[goldenboy]

Hey, did anyone get their #7 yet? The goodness continues. I'm trying to imagine Faith speaking in a convincing English accent and it's not working. Some more good quips, not quite as many as #6.

[nerd4hire]

Hang on. I'll stake a discussion thread for that. Give me 2 minutes.

Edit

OK. Discussion thread for 8.07 is HERE (http://buffy-boards.com/showthread.php?p=454872#post454872)

[nerd4hire]

If magazine has an interview with Scott Allie

iF Magazine (http://www.ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=2393)

According to Allie Issue # 11 is going to "give us our first real concrete knowledge of what the Big Bad will be. The Big Bad has been hinted at, so you’ll understand that a little more."

I think I've heard these 2 before, but I don't think they were put this clearly, so here they are again.

iF: What is Drew Goddard’s arc going to be after that?

ALLIE: There are some vampires that have attained powers, that are very unusual for vampires, and [the gang] has to go root it out, and they go to Japan.


iF: Any other cameos from familiar faces coming back?

ALLIE: Dracula will come back – we’ll see him again

iF: Will it be as humorous as it was when he appeared on the TV show?

ALLIE: I’m not sure it will be as humorous, but it’s the same interpretation of the character. It remains to be seen how humorous it will be or extensive.


Season 8 will take 3 1/2 years to complete.

[nerd4hire]

Here's the Dark Horse blurb describing # 10.

Buffy and Willow meet a demon who reveals a dim future, forcing the two to reflect on their past.

Meanwhile, back in Scotland, Dawn confides in Xander the deed that led to her mysterious growth spurt.

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0710/05/darkhorsejan.htm

OK so in # 11 we get our first glimpse of what this season's "Big Bad" will be. We've already seen the Twilight, so are they saying Season 8's Big Bad is not The Twilight?

Dawn is going to talk about Kenny the Thricewise in # 10. So here's a guess - will Kenny the Thricewise be Season 8's Big Bad?

[goldenboy]

I was kinda half-expecting that Kenny would be a recurring gag - like we'd never actually see him "on screen". He'd just be referenced now and then.

But that's an interesing thought, if Twilight is not the Big Bad. Allie does seem to keep dropping suggestions about how mindblowing and epic future events are gonna be.

[nerd4hire]

I'm still thinking maybe the Thricewise will turn out to be the Jotuns (giants) of Norse Mytholology. They were badass. One even took Odin's eye.

Here's something interesting about that myth.

Sitting at the feet of the thrice-wise Jötun, beside the well of wisdom, he gave up his eye that it might rest there in the primordial waters, like the sun floating in the sea of life. Looking back at himself through this eye, he experienced self-conscious knowledge.

What's a Thrice Wise? - Buffy-Boards (http://buffy-boards.com/showthread.php?t=31783&highlight=thricewise) originally quoted from Theosophy Trust (http://www.theosophytrust.org/tlodocs/articlesSymbol.php?d=Odin-0388.htm&p=15)

OK now reread the blurb concerning what happens to Willow and Buffy in # 10.

Buffy and Willow meet a demon who reveals a dim future, forcing the two to reflect on their past.

[nerd4hire]

There's a preview up already for 8.08.

Cover Page (http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/preview.php?theid=14-664)

Preview Page 1 (http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/preview.php?theid=14-664&p=1)

Preview Page 2 (http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/preview.php?theid=14-664&p=2)

Preview Page 3 (http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/preview.php?theid=14-664&p=3)

[Allycat]

Did anyone notice that it says "No Future For You Part II" on the preview cover?!?

I somehow get the feeling that perhaps Faith has maybe lost her memory or something. I dunno.

[mogwaid]

#8 looks so good! Do you think lady G knows of Faith the vampire slayer? The falling out that Faith and Buffy had a few years back, two slayers battling out, surely would be something the new slayers would know/gossip about. And it does seem that Lady G has been doing some homework on Buffy.

[Lyri]

uh, what is with the sharing of the bath? doesn't seem like a very Faith-like thing to do to me. i think she's taking this Hope persona a little too far.

can't wait to see where this whole thing's gonna go...i'm really loving this Faith story-line so far.

[alexa]

k so I just took a peek at the preview, and I'm glad it's only 3 pages, cause feels like there's not much to read if they show you too much!
I'm glad Giles was worried about Faith dying, and his bearded friend looks really interesting. Faith being in a bath tub with Gigi... um.. well my first thought was that never happens. :p At least not to me with my girl friends, and I wouldn't expect it to unless I suddenly decided I was gay. So it's either a guy fantasy thing or that's the way every other girl outside of my circle of friends behaves! (or girls in England)lol. Then again it also reminded me of Faith (being Buffy) in Who Are You.
Having said this it didn't seem like an obvious attempt at pleasing guys who love to see naked chicks. Served more so at illustrating the growing connection between the slayers.
Also what's up with this nightmare thing? Is Faith really having nightmares aswell? I assumed she lied to Gigi... is it only the new slayers with them, or just Gigi.. and is there a relation to Buffy's dreams mentioned in Issue6... oi I'm confused. Although I have Buffy dreams, but pretty sure I don't have any sudden slayer strength ..damnit ;)

[MrGordo]

OK I'm REALLY confused!
Don't the girls sharing a bath look too young to be Faith and Gigi? I don't get it! I havent read #7, I'm getting it tomorrow so I really don't understand what's going on, are these girls young Faith and Gigi? (but then again that can't be because they mention the Arctic Monkeys so..) someone plese clear this up, I'm going crazy! :0

[mogwaid]

its Faith and Gigi, from now.

[MrGordo]

thanks!
does anyone else think this is extremely weird? do girls who've just met...share baths, do girls share baths, at all? it's very strange, I'm hoping it's some sort of 'imagination' sequence or something! but anyway can't wait for the issue!

[alexa]

No girls don't share baths.. especially naked.. if they are straight. Correct me if I'm wrong anyone :p Maybe Faith is playing along, but yeah.. weird.

[Lyri]

ok, sorry if this has already been mentioned here, but according to Wikipedia, the name for the #10 stand alone is 'Anywhere But Here'

Anywhere But Here (Buffy comic) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anywhere_But_Here_%28Buffy_comic%29)

reminds me of early BTVS, when Buffy, Willow and Xander used to play the game.

[white avenger]

[QUOTE=nerd4hire;455078]I'm still thinking maybe the Thricewise will turn out to be the Jotuns (giants) of Norse Mytholology. They were badass. One even took Odin's eye.


That's interesting. I always thought of the First Evil as a sort of take off on Loki, the Norse god of mischief and evil, who was chained in an underground chamber guarded by an army of trolls in punishment for killing Baldar.

Then, when Lindsey told Angel about, "Not AN apocalypse, THE apocalypse, the one that everything else has been building up to, the legend of Ragnarök, the final great battle to decide the fate of the universe and all of Creation.

Maybe Joss or some of his writing staff are mythology freaks.

[alexa]

Has this stuff been posted yet?
Buffy #11 variant and a little more of the #8 preview.. which so far I've resisted from looking at. Been a bit slow finding this because been all distracted by the Dollhouse :p

Comic Book Resources - CBR News: <I>Exclusive Preview:</I> "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" #8 (http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=12270)

http://images.comicbookresources.com/previews/darkhorse/buffy/08/sm/BUFFY-SEASON-8-11-ALT-FC.jpg

[nerd4hire]

We've seen the 3 pages posted above, but those others, and the variant are new.

Great stuff, I want to go out, and buy the comic right now.

[Allycat]

I like the Alt Cover for 11. It looks like they might delve deeper into the whole Buffy/Satsu/Cinnamon love-triangle.

[Tranquillity]

I like the Alt Cover for 11. It looks like they might delve deeper into the whole Buffy/Satsu/Cinnamon love-triangle.

actually, that got me thinking...
OK, so we now know that Satsu is Cinnamon lips; She kissed Buffy to wake her from the spell. So how did Willow know that someone in the room would be capable of kissing Buffy in a way that would qualify as 'true love'? Did she think Xander would do it? or did she know about Satsu's crush? But hadn't Willow just got back from (what is implied as) a rather long absence (to who knows where) so how would she know about the inner feelings of some random slayer to be confident enough to trust that buffy would be woken? So is there more to this than meets the eye? Is it of any importance? Or is this just some meaningless little nothing that has sent me up the silly speculation garden path.

(cos i gotta admit at this point in time i'm starting to think that Satsu is just a magical disguise for someone else that starts with an S and ends with an ike. i'll stop thinking about this now)

[alexa]

LOL yes, that's it! She's really Spike! ;) I got the impression that Willow tapped into the head of Satsu like she does in previous seasons.. not sure if consent of reading minds is needed for that magic, but yeah. I'm still sticking with my opinion that Xander was totally thinking about kissing Buffy. I don't get why this Satsu storyline is going on though, because it doesn't really interest me because I don't know her, I suppose it's leading up to something.

[MrGordo]

Buffy Season 8 #11 "A Beautiful Sunset" cover and details!

An ill-prepared Buffy comes face to face with the new Big Bad in the form of an old- fahioned death match in this standalone issue titled A Beautiful Sunset.

Buffy Season Eight continues to entertain longtime Buffy fans and newcomers alike with Joss Whedon at the helm and Georges Jeanty serving as series artist.

http://ccc.1asphost.com/jorgedg4/buffy/buffy-season-8-comic-book-issue-11-cover-mq.jpg

[Allycat]

Errr, wow... this one looks absolutely amazing. One of Jo's finest.

[Panda]

jo gets more and more awesome with each cover.

[alexa]

Didn't look like Chen to me.. little different. Says it's by Jon Foster

Dark Horse Comics > Profile > Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8: #11 A Beautiful Sunset (http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=13-628)

Still cool though, colours are awesome. For my money though I like #10 cover a little more :)
Sounds really interesting.. wondering who the big bad is.

[nerd4hire]

So that's the new Big Bad eh? Hmm let's see...Any clues?

I've got a funny feeling we might have heard of him. Is he wearing sneakers? He looks like he dresses casual. He doesn't really look like Twilight material. In fact the ep is called "A Beautiful Sunset". Is that a hint it's not a Twilight thing, or it is? Twilight follows sunset, right?

I'm still thinking Kenny the Thricewise.

[alexa]

Yeah Twilight is right after the sunset. I've noticed a lot of that in the comics, especially the first few pages in #1.
I was speculating on another site about the cover... some people have some really weird ideas. Some are saying Hank Summers.. gosh I hope not, really lame.

We don't really know that the guy on the cover is the Big Bad for sure. I mean, probably, but could be a just an ordinary bad guy.. and yeah it doesn't look like anyone we've seen before. What demons have masks? All the ones I can think of are in Angel... owh! unless he's wearing all that gear because he's a vampire underneath. Yeah I have no idea :p

Owh! Just had another thought. I know the covers aren't always indicative, but with the boots and jacket, he could be the mysterious boots and coat flying around watching Buffy in #1. Yeah I know.. I need to let go of those LWH boots. ;)

[Tranquillity]

I was thinking Mexican wrestler with really long arms but Kanga's idea that he could be the mysterious boots and coat flying guy from Buffy #1 is a much better idea. Gigi did say she had spent a small fortune on buying up the few photos and fotage that existed of buffy. meaning that she didn't have Roden do surveilance for her, meaning he is not flying guy as i had been supposing.

[alexa]

Ok! Talked about this dude in the cover and we've come up with the cyborgs in Angel season 5 'Lineage'. The masks looks the same as the one painted here, but I suppose we'll find out. Could be interesting considering they can turn into anyone...

[Allycat]

I don't think it's supposed to be a mask. I think it's just the artist's way of showing the face as unrecognisable because of all the back-light. I also agree that his outfit looks a suspicious lot like "Floating Boots" but also like Ethan Rayne.

[nerd4hire]

There's a new preview for Issue # 9.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8: #9 (Preview) PopCultureShock (http://www.popcultureshock.com/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-season-8-9-preview/42969/)

I laughed out loud during one part. You'll see what I mean, if you click.

[MrGordo]

OMG I love it! and I totally get the interview with Georges Jeanty now, you know the part where he said he had just gotten the hang on drawing Faith, she looks so good! can't wait to get this!

[Allycat]

It's a hard thing to do, but I'm fighting the temptation to look. I'll get my copy either tomorrow or Friday. That's soon enough for me!

[tommy]

I"m not going to peek either. This preview has come so close to the full issue, I think I'm better off waiting.

I'll probably look at the preview for the January issue though. I'm anxious to find out what's coming up after this Faith arc.

[Keanoite]

There's a new preview for Issue # 9.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8: #9 (Preview) PopCultureShock (http://www.popcultureshock.com/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-season-8-9-preview/42969/)

I laughed out loud during one part. You'll see what I mean, if you click.

Was it the thing about the cleaning cottons? It looks really really good. I'm gonna miss this arc

[The Chosen]

Oh, my God! I don't have the issue yet but I looked at the little thumbnails of the preview -- spoilers in moderation, people! -- and I saw that picture of Gigi flying through the glass and it looked like someone laying on the ground bleeding! So I clicked getting ready for either Faith's death or Gigi's and I was like, "YES! Faith isn't dead...yet..."

Lol!
- TC

[Tranquillity]

From Scott Allie an interesting snippet of information:

For those of you complaining that Buffy the Vampire Slayer's new incarnation has been sadly lacking in vampires, we've been saving up. And the surprises we have following Drew's run . . . well, we aim to please.

link here (http://www.darkhorse.com/zones/buffy/editor.php) for his full editorial at Dark Horse's Buffy Zone

[GATEGOD]

From Scott Allie an interesting snippet of information:

For those of you complaining that Buffy the Vampire Slayer's new incarnation has been sadly lacking in vampires, we've been saving up. And the surprises we have following Drew's run . . . well, we aim to please.

link here (http://www.darkhorse.com/zones/buffy/editor.php) for his full editorial at Dark Horse's Buffy Zone


But it's 2008 that's really going to blow your minds.

Joss comes back with a powerful pair of issues. In #10, he puts Buffy and Willow through the emotional wringer--as usual--foreshadowing worse times ahead for the girls, and revealing the pain and guilt one of them has carried around for years. If you've ever cried over an episode of Buffy--and I know a lot of you have--we might just get you with this comic book.

That sounds good... I just don't want something horrible to happen to Buffy or Willow.. But if something happens to Dawn... that would still suck and be sad, but not as sad :cry: What do you think is going to happen?

[Tranquillity]

Maybe the whole bringing Buffy back from the dead thing will finally get dealt with? Maybe some post-sunnydale, pre-long way home events or feelings will get discussed? God i hope so.

[Allycat]

The editorial is an interesting read. I wish Scott would do them a little more regularly.

What we can tell you about Drew's Buffy run is that we see the return of a major villain, made more major by this story, and we see some Japanese vampires unlike any group of vamps ever seen in Sunnydale.

The major villain is Dracula right? I vaguely recall someone mentioning this a long time ago. Could anyone confirm this? I hope that it is though, because that could help clear up the whole post-Chosen-TotV-Xander-is-Dracula's-butt-monkey-for-a-year-thing. Or maybe it's Drusilla. I think I heard her name mentioned somewhere too.

[Kemy]

Drusilla would be good, Juliet showed how good a villain she could be when she got the spot light, I know her stint as the First Evil wasn't technically Drusilla but her performance was excellent.

A comic wouldn't convay her as well, theres just something about her personally that would be missing but it would still be great to see.

Dracula? not really, as a one time Big Bad he was ok, I wouldn't want him to be the seasons badguy.

You know, go watch "Draucla: The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires" and see if its still such a good idea. Dracula traveling to the orient to become the head of an ancient sect of super Vampires terrorising China.

[nerd4hire]

According to Wizard Entertainment (http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/006989015.cfm) giant Dawn is going to stomp through Tokyo in the Drew Goddard arc, like Godzilla. How does she get to Tokyo would be my question.

Also Joss is slated to take over the arc following Drew's, according to them.

[GATEGOD]

Do you know why it is entitled "Wolves at the Gate." ?

[nerd4hire]

Isn't there supposed to be werewolves, or something like that. I'm not going to reread this whole thread to find it, but seems to me I saw something about that here. I know there's wolves on the first cover of the arc.

[Kemy]

Well in most classical Vampire legend, they are capable of limited or even drastic metamorphosis, shape shifting basically into other forms.

Buffyverse Vampires have always curiously lacked this ability, except for Dracula who had learned how to do so mainly by magic. Its possible the oriental Vampires have studied many forms of meditation and magic to allow even greater extensions of their powers.

On the main cover of Issue 12 we see therianthropic Vampires, halfway between Human and animal.

[alexa]

Preview for Issue#11 :D Just about to read it.. the cover looks beautiful
IGN: Exclusive Buffy the Vampire Slayer #11 Preview (http://au.comics.ign.com/articles/845/845689p1.html)

[Lyri]

i guess that answers the question on whether or not it was Rona in Fake-Buffy issue...the name of which escapes me at the moment, lol.

Rogue Slayers, huh? interesting. but they seem to be a lot more rogue than Faith ever was! lol

[alexa]

Is anyone else having issues with that site? When I click on the pages they don't come up... :(

[Lyri]

right click on the image you want to open, then click 'open link' that's how i got it to work.

[alexa]

Thanks, I got it to come up eventually.
I know a lot of people are worried that Xander will be the betrayer. Got to say though that I'm not too worried, because Xander is in the 4 core.. Joss loves all his main characters as he's stated a fair bit.. although the only character I've heard him say that he won't ever kill off is Willow, but I'm sure he'll look after Xander no matter what road he goes down. Right now I'm more worried about where Buffy is going. But I'll still be pissed if Xander is becoming the villain... it better be a short road back to Buffy's sidekick and love interest.

Like Maggie's description of their walk and talk scene.. it also reminded me of LWH pt2, and they do look affectionate while walking into a room together.

Because Willow is gone, does that mean Dawn is still a giant? ..Wonder when Willow comes back.. I want more scenes with her, I really don't like being annoyed with her.

[Allycat]

Oh my, oh my... these first five pages got me all excited. Thanks for posting the link.

[nerd4hire]

Yeah, good find. I've been wanting more info on the Simone character, and it looks like we might get more meat put on the Satsu, Buffy-crush storyline.

[Allycat]

Dark Horse just posted a pencilled (but not coloured yet) version of the variant cover for Issue 15; the conclusion to Wolves at the Gate.

http://images.darkhorse.com/darkhorse/index_images/news/Buffy15.gif

Source: http://www.darkhorse.com/zones/buffy/editor.php

Looks, like Buffy, Xander, Satsu, and Dracula to me. But who are the others?

[Clem Rocks]

Nice cover, but is Buffy ever gonna hold the "Scythe" (I put "" around it because we all know it's really an axe) properly? XD!

[nerd4hire]

Here it is all colored in...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/JimJohn/SevenSamuraisBB.jpg

The guy next to Willow is Andrew, right?

[alexa]

I can't figure out who some of them are still..
I'm going with Dracula>Xander>Renee>Someone(Andrew maybe)>Willow? (Doesn't look Willowy), Satsu?
Satsu looks different some of the time, it's a bit confusing. I love the cover though. It's very 7 samurai.

[Cordelia Chase*]

Thats is Andrew and Renee. But I like the picture. WOnder what Dracula has to do with things.

[nerd4hire]

When I first heard Dracula was coming I thought it was a dumb idea, then I bit the bullet and forced myself to read Tales of the Vampire. Drew Goddard's Dracula is a much more interesting character than the one we know from Buffy meets Dracula. Goddard's Dracula is in reality a withered old man. The young Dracula you see above is a glamor. Goddard's Dracula is lonely, and by some weird quirk of chemistry he actually likes Xander. The stalemate toleration of each other between Buffy and Dracula is built on. I find myself looking forward to seeing Goddard's Dracula again.

[Allycat]

I think it's interesting to see that Buffy always needs a vampire sidekick.

BTW. According to an article on Wizard Entertainment (http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/006989015.cfm) Joss is gonna write another 4-issue arc right after Drew Goddard's one ends. So that would be issues 16-19.

[VisionGuy]

When I first heard Dracula was coming I thought it was a dumb idea, then I bit the bullet and forced myself to read Tales of the Vampire. Drew Goddard's Dracula is a much more interesting character than the one we know from Buffy meets Dracula. Goddard's Dracula is in reality a withered old man. The young Dracula you see above is a glamor. Goddard's Dracula is lonely, and by some weird quirk of chemistry he actually likes Xander. The stalemate toleration of each other between Buffy and Dracula is built on. I find myself looking forward to seeing Goddard's Dracula again.

I really like the idea od Dracula being back. I think it'll make things interesting. I hope he sticks around. Or at least be like Angel in BtVS season 1 where he occasionally lent a hand.

[alexa]

I'd really like to take the credit for all these cool theories, but this one isn't mine. I know there's a lot of Twilight theories going around but I found another good one. If you look at this cover for #12 Dark Horse Comics > Profile > Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8: #12 Wolves at the Gate (http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=14-829)

The wolf guy in the middle is wearing the same belts across his waist as Twilight. So maybe this is Twilight unveiled.. unless he's part of Twilight's gang and they all like to dress alike? ;) Interesting.

[nerd4hire]

Except, are you sure that's the same belt? Here's a pic of twilight on the Who's the Big Bad thread.

Who Do You Think the Big Bad is? (Major spoiler for current issue # 9) - Buffy-Boards (http://buffy-boards.com/showthread.php?t=35196)

[The Chosen]

It could have been a drawing error Jon Foster or Georges' favor. So now me, Evilyn, and kanga (I can't bring myself to call you alexa lol!) all think that Twilight is a wolf. Cool, I guess!

[nerd4hire]

I'm chuckling. If he's the big bad, he would be the big, bad wolf * groan *...:whistle:

[alexa]

Sounds like something Joss would do just so his characters get to say that ;)

Major event coming in Issue #12
Found this topic on whedonesque. Whedonesque : Comments on 15348 : (SPOILER) BtVS #12 rumors from Lying in the Gutters. (http://whedonesque.com/comments/15348)

I'm saying it has something to do with the betrayer... but could be anything really. Something big that Buffy fans will want to get their hands on.
If you look at the cover for #12 Buffy's eyes are a little red.. so I'd guess it's upset her.

[nerd4hire]

I'm going to guess the return of Oz, just because that's what I want to see.

[Allycat]

I agree that the return of Oz could be an event that draws more people into the comics. But it could also maybe be the unexpected death of someone. Or a big reveal about the Big Bad or the Betrayer. I dunno... there's a lot of possibilities, but if I had to put my money on something it'd be Oz.

[Allycat]

Scott Allie (the editor of Bs8) did an interview with the SlayAlive.com forum.

LINK: SlayAlive - A Buffy Forum - Ask Dark Horse: The Answers! (http://slayalive.com/index.cgi?board=buffyseason8&action=display&thread=1202285631)

Some spoiler-y stuff. Scott said that they have a last name for Renee and someone on there pointed out that it might be Mottler. I definitely think they're on to something.

[nerd4hire]

There's an entertaining little time killer here.

http://www.darkhorse.com/zones/buffy/downloads.php?did=742

It's a jigsaw puzzle for I believe it's the 8.12 variant cover.

[alexa]

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #14

Written by Drew Goddard penciled by Georges Jeanty, inked by Andy Owens, colored by Dave Stewart, covers by Jon Foster and Jeanty.

The Scoobies' mysterious new foes have obtained a powerful instrument that may destroy everything that Buffy has worked so hard to build. Screenwriter Drew Goddard (Lost, Cloverfield) continues his fun-filled romp through Tokyo with Wolves at the Gate part 3.

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0802/13/buffy14.jpg

source (http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0802/13/darkhorsemay.htm)

Looks cool. Wonder if the cover is just fun or if Dawn really goes nuts and starts stomping on people.::huh1::

[Tranquillity]

Looks cool, i'm wondering how did they get dawn there???

[Allycat]

It looks cool... I wonder why the variant isn't up yet... though.

I just ran across this on the web. Two ads for "Wolves at the Gate" with art from an as-yet unrevealed panels.

http://images.comicbookresources.com/ads/728_buffy12.gif

http://images.comicbookresources.com/ads/120_buffy12.gif

[alexa]

Who's the vampire there? Female?
Been suggested that Buffy's scythe is stolen to reverse the slayer spell. If that's what it's stolen for, I doubt that it can be done...

[sosa lola]

That's Dracula. He's gonna be a part of this arc.

[Allycat]

Lol, Dracula has boobies! I think the female in the second banner is the girl who kidnapped Willow.

[The Chosen]

VARIANT COVER!!!!

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/6175/watgtw6.png

Ooh! I like how Buffy's shirt says "Georges." Lol!

[Rowan Hawthorn]

"RRAARRGGGHHH!! DAWN SMASH!!"

LOL! Go, Dawnie.

[Tranquillity]

that is an awesome cover! thanks for posting. (still interested to see how they get her to Tokyo)
ha. Mutant Enemy is on one of the billboards in the background too.

[Slayerfest 99]

(giggles)it's a godzilla Dawn.

[iluvcosmo14]

Does anyone think that Dracula (or whoever that is) has to do with the Betrayal? I saw someone say that they think Xander might be the Betrayer, and that Dracula has an affinity for Xander. Do you think, maybe, that since Dracula has put a spell on Xander before, he'll do it again and make Xander betray Buffy against his own will? That way the Betrayal will happen, but it won't be Xander's fault. Am I crazy? Have I delved too far into this?

[nerd4hire]

There's a complication with the Xander/Dracula thing. It's detailed in another comic from Dark Horse called Tales of the Vampires. Joss Whedon's name is attached to that one, and also Drew Goddard's - the guy who's going to write the Wolves at the Gate arc in Buffy 8. The feeling now is Tales of the Vampires is canon. Dracula is a little deeper a character in the comic, than he is in the TV episode Buffy vs Dracula. We actually have sympathy for Dracula in Tales of the Vampires. He appears to have actual affection for Xander.

So the way it is right now they can go two ways with Dracula. Enemy, or Ally.

[iluvcosmo14]

I guess I'da known that had I actually kept reading Tales of the Vampires. When I bought it I read it as a sort of "bedtime story." I'll never do that again. I'll just have to finish it during the day, hehe.

[nerd4hire]

The preview pages are up for 8.13.

http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/preview.php?theid=14-830

[Allycat]

Awww, poor Dracy. I am sort of upset that they drew Old Dracula like this drunk with a beard rather than the way they drew him in Antique, but oh well. Just means there's more dollz for me to make.

[Allycat]

Sorry for double-posting. Second time today, naughty me. Anyway, I got a picture of the regular cover-art for issue 15. It looks like Buffy and Dracula fighting the vampire gang.

http://comics.virtualslayer.net/BS815A.jpg

[nerd4hire]

There's also a teaser...

Having traveled from her base in Scotland, Buffy ventures to the heart of Japan in order to reclaim her stolen scythe, in Drew Goddard's conclusion to Wolves at the Gate. Along the way, Buffy and the legion of Slayers join forces with the irresistible Dracula to defeat a tight-nit group of nefarious vampires, in which the Slayers suffer a massive hit.


Dark Horse Comics > Profile > Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8: #15 Wolves at the Gate (http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=14-832)

[Tranquillity]

Looks good! I swear i said to someone (my son, i think) just today that we'd have to start seeing some slayer casualties soon. Looks like 'soon' is soon.

[Tranquillity]

From the NYCC Dark Horse Panel:

Issue #16 of Buffy will be a four-issue arc, with Whedon writing and Karl Moline on art, featuring Buffy and Fray, the future slayer. "It does begin with Buffy getting stuck in the future, and confronting Fray. ... Something very big changes for Dawn in this arc."
The Fray arc will be followed by an issue by Jeph Loeb, who will revisit the Buffy animated series that never happened. "It's Buffy sort of revisiting her high school life, but drawn in the style of the animated series that never happened."
Several one-off issues will be written by Jim KruegerJane Esponson, Doug Petrie, Drew Greenberg, and Steven DeNight. "The world of BUffy's going to change, for the worse. If the slayers are looked on as terrorists now, it's only going to get much much worse.'
What's the reaction to Buffy's lesbian exerience? "Wait til you see the last panel of issue 15," Allie said.
Allie explained the background, and the reaction to Willow and Tara's first kiss. "Joss thought, well, those were the people I was supposed to piss off," Allie said. After 13, though, "people reacted to the story rather than the hype," he continued. Atkins and Allie mentioned that the ABC news story really stirred things up, and the comments on the web site quoted a lot of scripture.
"We didn't want to make it just a bunch of pinups of characters," Allie said of the Buffy Tarot. "We wanted to make it, if you believe that sort of thing, a working tarot." Not all cards will feature characters, and not all characters will be represented if they don't fit the card themes




Link here (http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=16098)

[goldenboy]

I see whedonesque linked to a Time of Your Life promo poster:

SlayAlive: A Buffy Forum - Buffy Time of your Life Poster (http://www.slayalive.com/index.cgi?board=buffyseason8&action=display&thread=2161)

Pretty cool, huh? So, we got Dawn, looks like. Buffy (looking hot), Mel, Harth, Erin. Who is that other girl behind Dawn? She's holding a stake.

Dawn's doing some wild magical thing...

[Lyri]

I'm actually thinking it's Willow, not Dawn. Her dress looks similar to the one Willow was wearing when she first arrived in the comic. And, also, isn't Dawn still Gigantic?

And I'm thinking the girl in the back is either Faith or Kennedy. Kennedy would make more sense since she's on one of the varients.

[goldenboy]

It totally looks like Dawn to me. I dunno.

Kennedy's a good bet, yeah.

[Lyri]

I agree, the face does look like Dawn, but the dress isn't something she would wear. Plus, we've seen that's she's still big, and having some sort of 'problem' involving stomach pains or whatever. We know that Willow went with Buffy to wherever they were going to find out about the Scythe, so my money's on Willow.

I wonder if there's a colour version out there? Might make things clearer.

[nerd4hire]

I'm thinking Willow too, and what's that thing she's floating?

I don't think this means anything, but doesn't that stake look a little bit like Mr. Pointy? The stake I mean, not our Mr. Pointy.

[Groosalugg]

Gotta be Willow, for all the reasons already given: the clothes, the magic coming off her hands, and the fact that she's not 60 feet tall. Her face does resemble Dawn, but I think having red hair will make her look more like herself once the color version shows up.

[Clem Rocks]

That has to be the worst season 8 artwork so far o_O

[Lyri]

That has to be the worst season 8 artwork so far o_O

I actually really like it. I'd love to see a colour version, though.

[Clem Rocks]

I actually really like it. I'd love to see a colour version, though.

Did you notice the Scythes? They're like twice the size they should be and don't even look like the Slayer Scythes D=

[Groosalugg]

They might be a little big, but twice the size? I'm not seeing that. And how do they not look anything like the Scythe? Karl Moline is the one who originally created it, even before it ever appeared on-screen on "Buffy", so I'd be pretty surprised if he messed that up... :confused5:

[Clem Rocks]

They might be a little big, but twice the size? I'm not seeing that. And how do they not look anything like the Scythe? Karl Moline is the one who originally created it, even before it ever appeared on-screen on "Buffy", so I'd be pretty surprised if he messed that up... :confused5:

The blade's aren't the right shape

[Canon]

I actually really like it. I'd love to see a colour version, though.

I like it too, and yeah, a colour version would be great to see.

I'm also pretty sure that it's Willow and not Dawn, and that it's Kennedy behind her holding the stake.

[goldenboy]

All reasonable arguments for Willow, against Dawn. My brain still refuses to see Willow though :)

Why does Harth have a humongous claw hand, btw? Artistic license or plot point? Hard to tell, cos Moline's kinda playing fast and loose with proportions here.