Reviews of Buffy S8 Issue 36 and that Riley Shot (Yes, I caved, can't you tell?)

[Yes, I'm editing this post, because I posted it at midnight last night and woke up this morning realizing I forgot to talk about some of the best bits. ]

So, since it was such an incredibly beautiful day - I decided to hike up to the promenade, check out the aforementioned comics, the promenade and pick up miniature chocolate, key lime, and mango mousses from Green Mountain Grocer (they have great mousses, and well I've got a craving.) I was not planning on buying the comic - I was planning on just checking it out.

(Halfway through the Buffy comic)
Comic book store gal: Miss? Miss? [At least she's not calling me M'Am, I hate M'am.] Excuse me? I can't permit you to read the entire comic in the store. (I look up and at comic book store gal - who has really ugly tattoos all over her body, heavy-set, dressed entirely in black, with some weird heavy metal band or something on the t-shirt, glasses, black fizzy hair, nose and lip piercings and clearly no older than 20.)

Me : Yeah, I guess that makes sense since you sort of want me to actually buy the comic. (Pause) Would it help if I told you that I already know everything that happens in it? And am just checking it out to see if I want to actually buy the thing? Because you know they've gotten progressively worse? (Look of death) Guess not. (I proceed to flip through the Riley one-shot to see if it is worth the price of admission...and then, feeling tension, feel guilty and purchase them. I really miss RocketShip.) So, out of curiousity how are the sales going for this one?

Comic book store gal (mumbles): the Buffy comic? Okay I guess. (another polite look of death). (Alrighty then, It's been one of those weeks.)

I read the things when I got home. Figured what the hell. Wasn't planning on writing a review, because let's face it everyone and their significant other, best bud, and mother has beaten me to it. Do you really want to read another one? What else can possibly be said on the matter? I say this after having scanned or read over 20 of them - most of them on my flist. The most detailed are moscow_watcher, local_max, beergoodfoamy , and 2maggie2 as well as angeria. My favorite? Is still aycheb but that's partly because I'm a movie buff and her review made me laugh my ass off. It should be noted, by the way, that as impossible as it may sound? I basically agree with all of these reviewers, at least in part. So, where was I? Wasn't planning on writing a review but thought, what the hell. You don't have to read it after all. Warning much snark ensues and some meta/analysis - on both issues, so if you don't like snark - you might not want to read it. It's not as snarky as beergood's, but close enough. In fact if you want - previouslies, go find his, most like on Dreamwidth. Also, a lot of spoilers - so if you haven't been spoiled by reading all the other reviews don't read this one.

Buffy Issue 36 and Riley One Shot Reviews

Let the emotional moments really land and don't use a lot of words to make that happen - it's all demonstrated through action - Jane Espenson's advice to inspiring writers. (Pity she didn't take her own advice while writing the Riley comic and Retreat, but what can you do?)

I've worked with Joss for more than ten-years, and I've picked up whatever I can about writing character-driven genre stories, but this was the best chance I've had to work hand in hand on a story. - Scott Allie (Hmmm, I thought editors work hand-in-hand with writers, particularly in comics on writing a story? Guess I was wrong. )

From the cover of Buffy 36 - to the epic battle, we expect passionate reactions from the die-hard fans - Scott Allie (Such as viceral hatred and vows never to read anything Dark Horse publishes ever again? Somehow I doubt that. Or incredulous laughter at the absurdity? Nah.)

[Warning - I think this is longer than the actual comics. Also multiple typos, because I did not proofread or edit this thing. I did proof and edit, but I'm human and I screw up, deal with it. I haven't even re-read it. So it's very rough. If you link to it and you have my permission to, of course, (I'm not necessarily asking you to, just granting permission - there is a difference. Yes, it's nice to be linked to, but... people who follow the link must behave themselves - which means no sending my blood pressure sky-rocketing through the roof because you hate my opinion. Rants against me or my friends or fellow fans must be restricted to your own journals. Disagreements are permitted, just no bashing of me, my frirends or fellow fans. And keep in mind these are just my opinions. They aren't gospel. ]

The Riley comic first - Commitment through Distance, Virtue through Sin
( the Riley One-Shot Review )

Buffy Issue 36 Review.

( Buffy issue 36 - the Last Gleaming )