Spontaneous Musings

Odd heading I know. But bear with me. Today, I listened to a moving sermon...so moving a good portion of the congregation was in tears. It was more a story than a sermon. A story about a family who was split apart by disagreement, and had not spoken in 20 years, but when the parents learned their son was sick and dying, they came as if by miracle. They put aside their differences. And the storyteller began the story simply with these words from a Biblical text - Amos 03 - "Can two walk together, unless they disagree?"

[Disclaimer: Please note that everything in this review is opinion only. I do not consider myself or the writers of this series an authority on any of the characters inside it. The people who created the characters to my knowledge have neither read these comics nor had a hand in creating them. These comics have no more weight on how the characters should be perceived than meta, fanfic, or drabbles written by fans. They are in my opinion - published fanfic much like The Wide Sagasso Sea is published fanfic or Ahab's Wife...albeit in a different medium. Nor do these comics in any way reflect my own views of the characters - of which I've written countless meta that can be found elsewhere on my lj - if you care to look. Arguments stating the words "authority" or "fact" or "canon" continue to bewilder me dear reader. This is basically a review of how I see the comic, take it as you will.]

Angel Issue 38 is not a bad comic book. It's actually an interesting read. It's about family. A family that disagrees and is contentious. When they are fighting the big bad, they are all on the same team, it's when they aren't in the midst of a physical battle that things...well they fall apart and the team drifts apart to go in separate directions. This issue examines from Angel's point of view, the relationships between Angel and Connor, and Angel and Spike - that's the main focus, which may explain why I sort of liked it - because those were my favorite relationships for Angel in the series, that and Darla.

( spoilers and general disclaimers apply )

[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 )

Currently enjoying Dexter Season 4. This is actually better than I expected. S2 and S3 were sort of slow in places and not as gripping. This season so far is by turns hilarious and suspenseful. But I am not for some reason emotionally affected by the characters. I have yet to cry during this series. Of course - part of the problem was the disc I got kept freezing during Deb's breakdown over the FBI agent Lundy's death. And well, I'd been spoiled by TV Guide that Lundy was going to die - just didn't know how.

Dexter is a rather dark comedy. About a serial killer who goes after other serial killers. The character is a blood splatter specialist by day, killer by night. ( Spoilers for Dexter Season 4 - this rambling meta sort of compares Dexter to Angel in some respects, the spoilers are only for episodes 1-7, please do not spoil me for episodes past that point! )

Please note before commenting that I have not watched past episode 7, the last episode I watched, was the one where Dex took his son on a sailing trip.

1.. Feminism - how people define this word continues to bug me.

Here's the wiki definition, because I'm too lazy to pull out a dictionary:

Feminism refers to political, cultural, and economic movements aimed at establishing greater rights, legal protection for women and/or women's liberation. Feminism includes some of the sociological theories and philosophies concerned with issues of gender difference. It is also a movement that campaigns for women's rights and interests.[1][2][3][4][5] Nancy Cott defines feminism as the belief in the importance of gender equality, invalidating the idea of gender hierarchy as a socially constructed concept. Feminists are persons of either sex who believe in feminism – and of course practice their beliefs.

In other words, folks, you are a feminist if you believe women are equal to men, should have rights equal to men, and should not be subservient or ruled by men, as the "weaker" and thereby
lesser, sex. Sigh, lesser, my foot. If you do not believe these things and think men, are, gasp, superior to women, you are NOT a feminist. And might I also state, a complete idiot. I mean honestly anyone who still thinks in this day and age, with information available at your fingertips, that one race, one gender, on sexual orientation, one ethnicity is better or more advanced or stronger or brighter than another is just plain stupid. Dangerously so in some cases. People don't generalize and make assumptions based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, nationality, size, and/or age, it makes you look like a fool. The item I struggle with making generalizations about is age. This weekend - someone told me that their 78 year old friend was off bungee jumping, zip-lining, and skiing. Mind-boggling. I can't do those things, and I'm much younger. Goes to show you, everybody is unique.

2. Read the preview page for Buffy issue 36 - out of curiousity - wanted to see what all the fuss on flist was about. Is it just me or does this plot thread feel a lot like the second season of Dollhouse? Possibly just me. Whedon seems a bit obsessed with the whole puppet thing, or doll thing - people using as dolls to entertain or satisfy someone else's fantasy or view of them. It's a theme I've seen done better elsewhere - notably the hilariously disturbing independent masterpiece "Being John Malkovich" - which is about celebrity and how we manipulate others to meet our fantasies. John Cusak plays a puppeteer who finds a way to enter John Malkovich's brain and literally pull his strings and do whatever he wishes through him, until he is finally forced to realize the nightmare himself, when he gets trapped inside the newborn child that ex-partner/girlfriend has with her new female lover. He can do nothing. He is just a bystander, his hands and body moved by someone else. There's also the quite splendid My Fair Lady and Pygamillion by George Bernard Shaw. And quite a few horror flicks that I've seen, including a B movie starring Vincent Price entitled House of Wax. Not to mention the superior and hilarious "Smile Time".

The idea of being used as a puppet or controlled by someone else is not new in science fiction or fantasy. Farscape plays around with it - regarding Crichton and Scorpius. It also has actual puppets, so part of playing around - is a direct commentary on the use of puppetry in the show itself. I adore puppetry - it is the one artform that seems beyond the grasp of technology.
There's nothing more magical than watching a puppet show - you know there's a human behind the puppet, but if the puppeteer is good, the puppet becomes more real, a character outside of the human, to the point you forget the human exists. There's a rather good horror tale based I believe on a Twilight Zone episode - where the puppet becomes more real than the man. He begins to pull the man's strings. Another good horror tale - is about people being turned into dolls - you are safer this way, I can protect you.
( fairly long meta on Buffy comics, Angel and Spike, and puppetry )

3. Farscape - finished watching the brilliant and hilarious Look at the Princess arc in Farscape, along with Won't Be Fooled Again, Beware of Dog, and The Locket.

There's a great line in Look at the Princess - A Kiss is But a Kiss.

"Do you know what they want to do to me? Turn me into a statute for 80 cycles. If I ever return to earth after that - everyone will be dead. Dad, DK, my family, my cousins, my friends, Angelina Jolie, Cameron Diaz....Buffy The Vampire Slayer!"

I laughed my ass off. Yes, Farscape's writers watched Buffy.

They were also super-aware of their fandom. Ben Bowder keeps stating that he would just go read commentary or fanfic to figure stuff out that the writers didn't explain. The fans often did a better job.

I don't have a lot to say about the episodes, except that they do a great job of building the relationships between the characters, maintaining tension, conflict, and exploring the psychology of each one. Farscape unlike most sci-fi is a messy series - it goes into dark places, and plays with your head.

Funny story about censorship - according to the commentary, someone at the BBC got really offended by something in Won't Be Fooled Again and cut the episode to shreds, so that it was literally two minutes shorter. While the only thing Syfy worried about was when they blow up the Scarren's head, not to show too much gore on the wall. (Sigh, times have changed.)
Another bit of commentary - Ben Bowder apologizes for parents of the under-12 set for saying the word "shit" on Farscape. Okaay. This brings up a question? Why would any parent care if Ben Bowder said shit on tv - after watching an episode in which he has shot someone, people have died horribly, and been blown up? I mean, why are letting your twelve year old watch Farscape to begin with? It's a violent tv series with adult themes, and not written for a 12 year old.
Shit should be the least of your worries. Honestly, people, you don't think your kid doesn't hear shit on the playground, at school, or at the store?

I find the continued censorship of foul language on tv mind-boggling. Also a tad hypocritical. Just as I find the continued censorship of nudity and sexual content. Apparently we have no problems showing a man or woman beat a woman or man, smack her or him, shoot her or him, suggest attempted rape, suggest rape or attempt to rape her/him - but nudity, a kinky sex scene, or the word fuck, shit, hell, or damn sends us running for the hills. Yes, we are an evolved species. Can't you tell?

(I swiped this from numerous folks on my flist. And trying to do it for a second time - tried earlier but got stuck on few questions, because I drew a complete blank. It's probably worth noting that I have watched way too much television in my lifetime and have most likely forgotten more tv shows than anyone else out there has actually watched.)

( ridiculously long 30 day TV Meme that I chose to do in one post. )

Yeah, I know everyone is sick of this by now, but indulge me. This is your way of stating your piece without having to write anything and making someone work to figure out what your opinion was. Also to see if you truly are in the minority.

Regarding the ships wars? I came up with a little drabble. Not to be outdone by Harmony, now that she's become super-buffy, Buffy has chosen to go on Harm's reality talk fest to set things right, once and for all.
( really bad drabble I wrote off the top of my head today on who Buffy would choose - be kind, not betaed. )




( The Buffy Comics Poll, cut for spoilers...massive, massive spoilers. )

The biggest problem about writing critiques, metas, reviews, or posts about anything other than the daily routine of my personal life (which ironically is the one thing I don't feel the need to write about, because, ahem, boring), is that I am bound to piss someone off. Someone will see my post, something will push their collective buttons, and they'll either tell me it did or rant about it in their lj, on whedonesque, on a fanboard, forum, or chat room. As long as I don't know about it - ie, blissfully unaware, I really don't care. Actually I prefer not to know about it. The times I've found out about it - result in horrible writer's block, increased self-consciousness, and frequent post deletions. I become careful and cautious about what I am writing and I start worrying about offending my reader's delicate sensibilities - and as any good fiction writer, critic, or internet blogger knows by now? That's the kiss of death. We become boring when we worry to much about who we might offend. I should know that's how I write at work, clean, crisp, polite prose guaranteed not to offend a soul. Just the facts, hon, nothing but the facts.

But *creative* writing as any good writer knows is about taking risks. The leap of faith. You know the moment you write that first paragraph or sentence that if it is any good - it will probably be torn asunder by someone. Criticism is part of the process. I remember getting a lj post linked on Whedonesque, then being invaded as well as seeing my post ripped to shreds. People did come to my defense. But the old ego was burned. And I found myself being uber-careful with posts after that. At least until I got back to my comfort zone.

Anyhow, this is a rather long prelude to what amounts to just another review/critique/meta what have you on a comic book. And it is just that - a comic book. Based on a tv series that was created for teen girls back in the 1990s. Which has spawned a fandom and numerous and rather fascinating fanfiction, some of which I like far better than the published novels I've attempted to read this year. It's odd, in a way, I'd rather write a meta on the fanfic I am re-reading, but I'm still not sure how to write it. Plus writing reviews on fanfic seems to be ...well, weird somehow. Recs are fine. But critical reviews and metas...much like what I've done on Whedon's works...on fanfic, get odd responses. So...I'm thinking keeping my opinions to my self on the latter may be the better approach? Or perhaps safer one?

A bit on comic books in general before I start. Comic books get a bad rap. I don't know why. I've never understood why. But I don't know why soap operas or for that matter pulp detective novels and romance novels get bad raps. Sure there are horridly written versions - but that is true in all the genres. I've read some literary novels that I have no idea how they got published, let alone made it into the literary canon. They all have their moments of brilliance. You just have to slog through a lot of crap to get there is all. Nature of the beast. Hmmm, maybe that's why? Human beings, love them, but not noted for their patience.

Anyhow...this issue much like the last one, has a classic comics cover, and kudos to the excellent embers_log for figuring out that I'd much rather have Jeanty's jaunty take on a classic comics cover than Joan Chen's romantic painting. Starting to realize that I'd undervalued Jeanty's style - he is deliberately coping a specific type of comic art. It may not be my favorite style - too Jack Kirby and Bubble-gum for my taste, but it is definitely deliberate. I'm more of a hyper-realism girl.

This cover is satirical homage to the classic Hoboglobin or Return of the Green Goblin reveal in Spiderman, which has also been done in X-men, with the reveal of who Death was - the villian's main henchman who was systematically attacking, isolating, and killing the X-men. In both cases - the reveal was a friend or close lover of the hero. In Spiderman, the Hobgloblin/Green Goblin Take #2 (Take # 1 was Norman Osborn) - it was Peter's best bud Harry Osborn. In X-men, it was Wolverine. This reveal got all sorts of ooohss and awwwws. And drove up comic sales. Comics like most serials - like to do big plot-twists to garner sales or ratings. They don't always have to make sense. As one pal/critic stated regarding soap operas - they are emotionally driven, not plot driven, half the time the characters are just being thrown into situations for the emotional angst, even if it makes no sense whatsoever logically. Comics, I pointed out to him, are the same way. I don't think he appreciated that. So for that matter, I said, is Buffy - which, hate to break it to you, is written by a comic book/soap opera fan. He didn't appreciate that comment either. We used to have five hour long battles while eating sushi over this very topic. It was fun.

So what to say about this comic? Do you want the snarky review or the meta review? Actually not really giving you a choice. My birthday. And I will snark and make fun of the comic if I want to. Seriousness is on hold until tomorrow, at the very least. Read or not, that's your choice.;-)

I already knew about the big reveal before I read the comic - I also knew how Buffy reacted to the reveal. People have been commenting on it for months. Been rather amusing. Much enjoyment had by all. (I'm serious, there was much enjoyment, that's not snark). So there were no surprises. All of that had been leaked ahead of time. Thank you, Dark Horse. Not that I'm complaining. Made it easier in a way to enjoy the comic.
( Buffy Comic Review for issue 33 - Major Plot Spoilers Within for Buffy S8 and apparently for Dollhouse as well, sorry about that...I tried. )

ETA: The comments have massive spoilers on Dollhouse. Sorry I didn't catch that sooner folks. I tried to avoid spoiling above, but failed miserably. Mucho apologies to anyone who got accidentally spoiled for Dollhouse.

As an aside : the whole argument that the slayers have upset the balance and Twilight's aim to repair it by sacrificing them for the greater good makes him redeemable - reminds me a lot of a rather fascinating fanfic I just read entitled Necessary Evils by lj user rarhirah. In it, Willow's bringing Buffy back, along with Spike changing sides has upset the balance, so Willow chooses to power up/join forces with the First Evil to set the balance straight. To do so, she has to kill Dawn and Buffy - which is a small price to pay for saving the world. She surrounds herself with the First's minions and demons, also kills people - justifying her actions - stating that it is for the greater good. She is saving billions of lives. But the truth is she's getting off on being the one to do it, her pride (hubris) and the desire for power (which she now has in spades) is blinding her to what she is actually doing, so she does not see that there is another way. Twilight apparently is doing the exact same thing.

( Where in the frigging hell is Spike? An argument for Spike's importance in the Buffy S8 arc, spoilers on the Twilight reveal and for S8 Buffy. )

So, I'm back in Brooklyn, more or less. Got back on Sat. Took Monday off, and I'm glad I did.
Gave me time to get my house in order. Also picked up the latest comics, finished Connie Willis' Doomsday Book, and watched the latest episode of Dollhouse as well as my netflix of The Incredible Hulk.

Regarding the comics: picked up Bill Willingham's Angel, Issue 28 (out of curiousity), Lynch's Last Angel in Hell (aka what Hollywood would have done with a film version of the Lynch Angel comic - also out of curiousity), and Buffy S8, issue 31, The Willow One-Shot by Whedon.

Have only read the Willingham to date. And, a lot of other reviews regarding it - one by ComicsForum (who liked it a lot more than I did, but then I think the reviewer may actually be Connor's age, which would make sense - this is clearly written and marketed for a young male demographic), flake_sake, and shapinglight (who liked it more than I did, but less than ComicsForum - at least I think it was comics forum.)

First off, I'm not anal about a lot of things, actually fairly flexible - or I wouldn't watch or read half the things that I do. Ecletic tastes, big time. Also when it comes to adaptations of stories from one medium to another, I sort of go with the flow. Same deal with fanfic.

But, there are a few things that I require in an adaptation, fanfiction or derivative work of an original:

1. characters should be recognizable - if they aren't, I start wondering why the person didn't write a story with brand new characters.
2. the characters should be explored in a new and interesting way - tell me something I could not find out by just rewatching the series, some new angle, new point of view, otherwise this is a waste of my time. Especially since the series probably did it better the first time around.
3. If you have decided to continue a story from the original series, book or work and you are calling your story a continuation of that one, and stating that it is a continuation of those characters based on the original canon and canonical to that story - continuity is important.
(Granted some flexibility must be allowed here - since each writer may view what happened before differently. I've seen and read too many serials that have changed writing teams too many times, not to be somewhat flexible in this regard. And, my memory is far from perfect. But, you should stick at least to a degree with what happened in the original, and you might want to make sure you've read or seen all of the original before writing. Because your audience has done so and will pick up on inconsistencies that take them out of the story. ETA: Note to Willingham and future Angel writers as well as IDW? You might want to take the time to actually watch the full series of Angel and Buffy, as well as read the comics that came before before attempting to write a new chapter in it - just saying. (Willingham apparently just read the comics, and watched part of the Angel TV series and the early seasons of Buffy.))

If you feel the same way that I do about the above three items? I'm guessing you are going to have problems with Willingham's take on Angel.
( Review of Willingham's attempt at Angel - Spoilers galore. )

Okay, I'm really hoping this is just allergies and if they are, they go away very soon. Because I'll be damned if they keep me from visiting my aunts in the Poconos this weekend.

Ahem. Difficult and hectic day. But accomplished what I needed to do.

Then on way home picked up the latest Buffy and Angel issues. Have mixed feelings regarding both, but will state I enjoyed the Angel one more - it made me laugh, while the Buffy one frustrated me. Sigh. The problem with serials is writers drag out plot arcs for forever and a day, so that by the time you finally get to the climax, you've either given up, or you're applauding and yelling, FINALLY! Maybe it's just me, but does anyone else out there feel as if this story is well, dragging just a bit or we appear to be going in circles, ie in that we are circling the same ground endlessly, but not really getting anywhere in the process? It's probably just me. [A better analysis is below.]

Ahem. (sorry, fluid clogging the throat). The Angel comic - which is basically a fun little fanfic character piece for profit, amused me greatly. While I may not always agree with Lynch's take on Spike, I do enjoy his writing, he makes me laugh. And that's always of the good. The art could be better - I prefer Frank Urru's fluid paintings to Mooney's photo - line drawings, although they do bare a scarey resemblance to the actors who portrayed the roles. But there's a flatness to the lines that I find jarring. I like fluid and softer lines. But, hey, still be better than Jeanty - who makes me work far too hard to tell the people apart, when you have a cast of 1000s, you really need to be better able to tell people apart.

( plot spoilers for Angel issue 26 or Spike's Identity Crisis )

Regarding the Buffy comic ...I'm on the fence about it. Like I said above, I'm getting frustrated again.

( Buffy S8, issue 29 - Retreat or  )

ETA - Note: for a more in depth, completely opposite, and far more positive review of the same Buffy comic - go see stormwreath.

ETA2: A really good review of Buffy S8 issue, can be found here, it's a lot more positive than mine and makes the wise choice of ignoring the editorial page: http://aycheb.livejournal.com/101120.html?style=mine

Ugh. Feel gross and achey. Taking a shower and going to bed. I better not be sick.