"Love isn't brains children, it's blood screaming inside you to work it's will."

So, not a Spike-centric post. The quote seemed relevant, though.

Just wanted to A) thank you all for checking out my reviews. I'm really passionate about the Buffyverse, and it's a huge part of my life. This fandom rocks and has been crazy kind to me and my site, so thanks.

Now B) continue that oh-so-givingness. Stroke the hand that... you're already stroking. Stroke it more. Stroke it nicely. And how might you do that, you ask?

By watching my new short film, THE BUTCHER. I wrote and starred in it, and Steve Wisnowski co-directed with me and also starred. I really hope you guys like it. But if you hate it, dandy, just let me know why! We're always trying to improve!



And oh, yeah. ANGEL fan film. Coming December 2009. Get amped.

Doctor Horrible Has a New Nemesis

Well, not really.

I wrote a little short film last month called Ultimate Couples Therapy. It all came together rather fast. There were only about two weeks of shooting, and two or three of editing. I'm really proud of the film, so happy with the cast, and can't get over how awesome the Uber Chick costume was.

If you liked Doctor Horrible's Sing-along Blog, Everybody's Dead, The Guild, orrrrr other enjoyable things, you might find something to tickle your fancy and/or pickle in the film. I'm pretty proud of it, and feel really blessed to have such an awesome cast. Filming this was one of the best times ever, and I think the fun we had really translates in the final product.

Hope you enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRSIcsT5iiw&feature=channel_page

Oh, and please be sure to click on the HIGH QUALITY option. The cameras were uber nice, so allow them to strut their stuff.

I'll be back next Wednesday for a review of Buffy #24 and Angel: Blood and Trenches #2.

Until then, be safe, watch my film, and don't get caught by the Blond Bomber!

Groom Lake #1

Non-Buffyverse Related

What is It?: Groom Lake #1. (Written by Chris Ryall, art by Ben Templesmith.)

Timing: First of the series.

Review: Okay, impressed.

Along with Locke and Key and Everybody's Dead, Chris Ryall's Groom Lake is going to be one of those titles that prove that IDW Publishing isn't just the best at media tie-ins... they're also among the best at original titles. For a first issue that seems, for the most part, to be setting up the greatness to come, there were so many stand-out moments and great bits of dialogue that it felt more like the twentieth issue of the book. Ryall knows exactly what he wants to happen, where he wants to happen, and goddammit, he's going to have fun doing it. The issue is great to read because you can tell that Ryall is having a blast while writing it. I mean, with lines like this: "Your dad? Yeah, I see, um... you've got his eyes. [...] They're, uh, stuck on your shoulder, let me get those off you"; how could you not love it?

He's been an editor of comics for a long time, and the way he tinkers with the format really shows how deeply he knows the medium. His wacky story is made even wackier by little captions that introduce each character, not showing us their internal thoughts but giving a brief description of them for the reader alone. My favorite bit was the dog's ("Scruffs. 4, in dog years. Good boy.") It's so weird, sick in all the right ways, and puts so much originality into the old story of alien conspiracies that you would think Ryall invented the idea himself.

If you're going to add one new title to your Must Buy List for 2009, this is it. Buffy and Angel fans will absolutely love it and, judging by how great this first issue was, anyone who subscribes is in for a strange, twisted, great ride.

Art: Ben Templesmith at his very very best. I was skeptical during 30 Days of Night, he totally won me over with Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse Volume One, I joined the Temple of Ben Templesmith Followers for the second volume, and bowed to my knees--for worship, you sickos, get your mind out of the gutter--for Welcome to Hoxford. Well, his art in Groom Lake is by far the best he's ever done. It's just the right balance of his trademark creepiness, slightly lightened by the humor of the story. With skill and control that only men as prolific as Templesmith have, he manages to add layers to Ryall's characters by slightly distorting them, showing what characters are hardened, which are gross, and which are inappropriately overjoyed by the world around them. Wonderful. Just wonderful.

Rating: 8/10

Non-Buffyverse Related

FIR Part Two: The ElseWhere Chronicles

Non-Buffyverse Related

FIRST ISSUE REVIEWS: PART TWO

What Is It?: The ElseWhere Chronicles- Book One: The Shadow Door
Who Wrote It?: Original story (French) by Nykko, translation by Carol Klio Burrell
Who Pencilled It?: Bannister
Company: Graphic Universe

REVIEW: The series was originally written in French and got a decent amount of acclaim, which you can read on the back of the book. I met the Graphic Universe team at Comic Con and they were some of the most pleasant people I've met there. The series is different because the format of it isn't anything I've seen before. It isn't a series made up of single comics, nor is it a series of graphic novels that add up to a cohesive story, per say. It's sort of a mix. The books are like really skinny trade paperbacks and are roughly the length of two single comics put together. The story continues over the volumes, so don't expect to buy one book and get a full standalone story. Thankfully, each volume is priced at an affordable $6.95.

I'll get to the art first. The character design is great, evoking the feel of some 90s cartoons such as Hey Arnold and Doug. We don't get a good look at many of the monsters, but all the creepy stuff--the scenery more so than the little we see of the creatures--is very well done. No issues with the art sections. The story itself is also very good, keeping the scares to a minimum in order to not terrify their target readers (children), but the risk factor is never taken out of the story. To throw in another Hey Aronold reference, the scares get about as edgy as that show did, but always throw in a little lightness to remind the kids that it's okay.

The weakest part of the book, for me, was the translation. Some of the conversations the characters have don't really seem to make sense, and a lot of the dialogue feels clunky, as if it were directly translated, word-for-word, instead of getting the general meaning and then making it make sense, like most of the best translations do. I haven't read the original French versions so the problem might even be in the actual dialogue, but that was the only major issue I had with the book. The only other thing I'd say is that the balloon placement is haphazard, and confused me. I read comics all the time, so I'm not sure how a child would understand who is supposed to be talking in some scenes when it's really hard for me, in a few cases, to decipher it.

Overall, the book was decent. I hope it'll improve down the line, but it's not a bad read if you're looking for something new and interesting for your kid to read.

VERDICT: Yellow. THE ELSEWHERE CHRONICLES series is pretty good. Give it a try.

Non-Buffyverse Related

Locke and Key: Head Games #1 is out today, so if this sounds any good...

Non-Buffyverse related

What Is It?: Locke and Key- Welcome to Lovecraft hardcover collection (Written by Joe Hill, art by Gabriel Rodriguez)

REVIEW: With his first comic series, "Locke and Key," Joe Hill shows that he's already among the best of the best. The series kicks off with a six-issue arc, "Welcome to Lovecraft," that shows the Locke family moving into Keyhouse, a mansion their father grew up in, after the murder of their father by a crazed student at the school he worked at. The house is a mysterious place, complete with doors that enable you to leave your body behind for a while, and a mystery involving keys that turns out to be the catalyst for the main conflict in the arc. It's a fantastic way to kick off the series, leaving enough up in the air to maintain excitement for the next volume, but also ending the arc in a way that really satisfies. When reading the six issue series together in this beautiful collection, the scope, unity of vision, attention to detail, and character development make it feel more like a novel than a comic miniseries. Joe Hill isn't just a writer to watch, and "Locke and Key" isn't just a series to enjoy. With "Locke and Key: Welcome to Lovecraft," Hill has already put himself among the current comic greats, such as Brian K. Vaughan and Joss Whedon (both of whom he drops references to in the story), creating an engaging story that, like all the truly great works in any genre, truly transcends its medium.

Art: Just as good.

Ever since seeing his art in Chris Ryall's comic adaptation of Clive Barker's The Great And Secret Show, I knew that Gabriel Rodriguez was an artist to watch. He has a very specific style and certainly excels at drawing monsters and gruesome gore, but "Locke and Key" showed that he also nails the character moments. And Joe Hill writes plenty of tender character stuff that really allows Rodriguez to flex his muscle. The third issue even ends, instead of with a scare or a huge revelation as expected, with a really great character moment for Kinsey, which Rodriguez draws the hell out of. His art manages to be tender and relentless at the same time, and is nicely complimented by Jay Fotos' lush colors.

Presentation: When IDW knows they have something special on their hands, they really go all out with the presentation. Like the hardcover collections of Brian Lynch's Angel: After The Fall (personally, my favorite comic), IDW presents "Locke and Key" in a beautifully crafted hardcover edition that will really stand out on your bookshelf. Complete with a nice introduction by Robert Crais, a cover gallery, some concept work from Rodriguez, and even a bookmark, Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez's hit series is given the five star treatment. It's a deserving package for a brilliant series that fans of good stories need to own, medium be damned.

Rating: 9/10

Non-Buffyverse related

Okay, so...

...this ain't about Buffy.

But we haven't had a Buffyverse comic come out in a while, so I don't really feel that bad about whoring my own work through this site. I mean, it's only keeping this blog alive, right? ...Right?

*clears throat*

Here we go.

Laugh Track, my new webcomic, is up and running. You can read, love, hate, enjoy, scream at, smile at, etcetera the first issue over at the new Laugh Track site. It features art by the wonderful Paul J. Hollingsworth and will be updated with a new issue the second Friday of every month.

My Webseries

Hey guys,

I've created/written a webseries called "Whatz Good Studios" and the TRAILER for it comes out tonight. So please, check it out. Comments rock, high ratings rock hard, support rocks harder, and spreading the word rocks hardest.

They all rock equally, actually.

So please, check it out. I'll update when I know that the trailer has been added.

http://www.youtube.com/user/whatzgoodwebseries

Thanks.

Please Vote

Hello all,

This has nothing to do with Buffy, Angel, Serenity, Joss, Brian, or Everybody's Dead... but I'd still like to ask for everyone to participate. It's quick, probably painless, and fun! Well, not fun per say, but definitely not not fun.

See, for the past three and 1/2 years, I've been working on a YA book series. It's been going under the name "The Prophecy of Enoch," but that name is no longer relevant to the series, due to a change in the base mythology that happened pretty early on. But I've still been calling it TPoE, because it's pretty hard to change how you think of your own creation after working at it for so long. But, it's really necessary that I do change it, especially now that I am soliciting literary agents.

So please, take a teensy, finger-nail-sized amount of time out and vote on the title that you like best, or find the most intriguing. The poll is in the corner. You need not know what the series is about, just pick whatever sounds the best, because I really can't choose. Thanks ahead for your time.

I'm really in love with this series, as it's pretty much transformed my life. It's made me serious about writing, and working on the first novel in the series is what made me really put my all into my craft for the first time ever. Plotting out all the character arcs and the twists in the story has been so fun, and... I'm also thankful to the series because--as it's about vampires--I sought out other vampire stories in order to ensure that my story would be unique. If I hadn't begun writing TPoE, I would have never re-discovered Buffy (which I only saw the first two seasons of about eleven years ago, as a child). So yeah, it means a-like-woah-lot to me, so anyone who votes in the poll is forever awesome in my Book O' Awesome People. You can select as many options as you want in the poll, I kinda just want an idea of what titles suck and which don't.

Thanks ahead of time.

PS: I will post my review to "Serenity: Better Days #2" later on tonight. I wrote it a while ago, but I've been busy writing TPo---I mean, my "Untitled Series." (lol) And, something interesting about Serenity #2? Know how I, yannow, didn't like #1? Well I loved #2, so prepare for a favorable review!

Brian Lynch Breaks Away From the Buffyverse

My review for Angel #5 was posted earlier today. Click to read.

Non-Buffyverse Related

What Is It?: Everybody's Dead #1 (Written by Brian Lynch, part one of a five issue mini-series)

Timing: It's the first installment.

REVIEW: You might ask why I'm reviewing this at all. It's not Buffyverse-related, and the whole "Non-Buffyverse Week" event is over. Well, it's by Brian Lynch. If that wasn't enough, it's by Brian Lynch and it's good. If that ain't enough, you... you... you!

But yeah, this comic is definitely one I'm going to be picking up every time it comes out. The basic premise is that a B-team frat called Beta Eta Delta live in a really bad ass frat house--that a more "real" frat named the Omegas want back--and throw a party. Zombies eventually take over the world and all that, but this issue pretty much deals with the nautral and leaves the super- for the last two pages. What makes up this issue is a lot of college-comedy (which me, being a college student and all, loved), many introductions, a romance subplot, and a pretty basic frat vs. frat fight with a little funny/nerdy twist in the end. It's a lot of build-up, and it's really, really promising.

Gotta say, though, when I first opened up the issue and saw the flipside of the cover--a list of the cast--I pretty much said, "Shit." Last time I read a comic that had so many characters it needed a cast list was Umbrella Academy, which sucksuckSUCKED. So my weariness was less due to Brian and IDW and more due to friggin' Gerard Way. But eff "Umbrella," we're talking about "Everybody's Dead," and my reservations for a huge cast were pretty much wrong. I've only read the issue once through, and I already remember most of the character's names. Each personality is distinctive, and the main character--Westerburg--is very relatable, while being both a funny, interesting, and unique character.

All in all, I can't give this comic an amazing score, because it's pretty much just good for what it does, and for that I know I'll be rating it with a very good score. It introduces the situation and the characters, intigues the reader with the romantic subplot and the zombieriffic events of the final pages, and makes us laugh a lot. Also, puts me in the mood for a party. Spring break, anyone?

Overall, I can't wait for Issue #2. Which, by the way, comes out April 2nd. Along with Buffy #13. And Angel #6. Talk about an amazing week.

Art: I'm on the fence. I didn't at all expect realistic art, and I like most of the character designs. From page 10 and on, I noticed, there was an increase in quality. Thing is, sometimes--in the earlier pages--I pretty much had no idea what was going on in some of the panels. I had to do about five double-takes before I realized that the vomit-green puffy-meatloaf lookin' thing over Nuk's head was a cloud of smoke, and I only put 2+2 together for that one because the dialogue referenced him being a pothead. A lot of the earlier pages seemed sloppy and took a considerable amount of work to 'figure out' at times. As I said before, it really improved as it went on, so I hope #2 will be more consistent. As for the style, I don't love it but I'm liking it more than I thought it would. It's more Ren and Stimpy (the newer version, from SPIKE!TV) than realistic, which--coming from someone who tuned into Ren and Stimpy--isn't bad at all. The paneling just takes a little getting used to.

Characters We Know: Well, seeing as it's the first issue, we're just getting introduced to everyone. Everyone will surely return for the next installment.

Rating: 7/10

Non-Buffyverse Related

Astonishing X-Men: Kitty Pryde - Shadow & Flame

Non-Buffyverse Related

What Is It?: Astonishing X-Men: Kitty Pryde - Shadow & Flame (NOT written by Joss, written by Akira Yoshida)

Timing: After "Astonishing X-Men: Gifted" but before "Astonishing X-Men: Torn." Probably some time between "Gifted" and "Torn."

REVIEW (and Art): I wasn't sure what to expect with this trade paperback, because I've found Marvel comics to be extremely hit and miss. However, Kitty Pryde is my favorite Marvel character, and since she so rarely gets the spotlight, I knew I had to at least give this a chance.

It wasn't bad. It wasn't great or really that good either, but it definitely isn't even close to being one of those Marvel comics I start and don't even bother to finish, and eventually wind up selling. The story was thin as tracing paper and had some fairly big plot holes, but Kitty's characterization was strong enough to make this an enjoyable read. I had to put up with a lot of cliched, Anime-influenced dialogue from the villains, but hearing Kitty's trademark sarcastic wit made it worthwhile.

The art is good. The fight scenes were good for the most part--you have to like those to remotely enjoy this series, as two of the five issues are almost COMPLETELY made up of fight scenes--but I do wish artist Paul Smith hadn't used the cheesy, Anime-style "background-turns-into-a-liney-blur-of-color-during-intense-moments-of-fighting." Other than that, I can't really complain about the art. It was far, far better than the overrated New X-Men stuff.

Overall, nothing to get excited over, but this will leave you entertained enough that you might--maybe--go back for a second read.

Maybe.

Rating: 5/10

Non-Buffyverse Related

Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men

Non-Buffyverse Related

What Is It?: Astonishing X-Men Volume One-Gifted TPB

Timing: No idea. Frankly, Marvel's continuity is too convoluted and haphazard for me to care about in the slightest.

REVIEW (and Art): Most of the people checking out this review will be Buffy/Angel/Firefly fans. People who follow Joss Whedon, but find themselves weary about getting into an X-Men series. That's pretty much how I felt, and I'm very glad I got over my skepticism and bought this trade paperback.

I can't speak for X-Men fans, as this ("Astonishing X-Men: Gifted") is the only item in the series I've ever read as of yet. However, the story is great and the characters are interesting and, though they are mutants, each one of them is very human. Kitty Pryde is particularly done well, which is not surprising as she was one of the characters who inspired Whedon to create Buffy Summers. The villain, Ord from Breakworld, is interesting in enough, though his appearance is a lot cooler than his personality.

Everything you can expect from a Whedon story (plot twists, complexities, humor, crisp character banter) is all here, and it's all very clearly in his style. One minor problem that I did come across is that there is most certainly an extensive X-Men background story, and the references to certain events from previous story lines is a little confusing, though not to the point where it messes the story up. WARNING: Reading this Astonishing X-Men series will make you want to check out other X-Men volumes written by other writers, so if you just want to read Whedon and that's it, you'll have a bit of trouble with that.

I wouldn't recommend this to someone who has never read a comic before, but Cassaday's beautiful art makes it an easy read. It's just that there is so much going on, that I'd recommend a simpler story to pop your comic cherry. Perhaps one of the older non-canonical ANGEL comics from IDW? Again, I can't speak for the die hard X-Men fans, but I can for the Buffyverse lovers. Get this trade paperback, it's a great story and--if you like Whedon--you'll like this.

Rating: 8/10

***********************************

What Is It?: Astonishing X-Men Volume Two- Dangerous TPB

Timing: Short while after "Gifted."

REVIEW (and Art): While I had nothing but praise for mastermind Joss Whedon's first X-Men trade paperback (Astonishing X-Men Vol. 1: Gifted), I found the second arc of the series ("Dangerous") to be problematic. The story threads started and unfinished in "Gifted" were hardly touched at all in this arc, and a whole new, very confusing story starts. Those unfamiliar to pre-Whedon X-Men are going to find themselves lost when the mythology of "the Danger Room", Professor Xavier, and Genosha come into play, as they were hardly even mentioned in "Gifted."

This trade paperback collects the entire "Dangerous" arc, made up of six issues, and there are certainly many good points to be spoken of. The first and some of the sixth issue read very well, and--as with any Joss Whedon work--the character interactions are done perfectly. The character of Wing and his situation had a lot of potential for a great story, but what was done with him was convoluted at best. The baddie in this issue (a personification of the Danger Room itself) spends more than half the issue explaining itself, and I'm simply left saying "Huh?" Whedon even admitted his mistakes in this arc, saying that he was "so fascinated with the idea of new intelligence that (he) neglected the action and thus prevented the story from flowing well."

Overall, don't let this trade paperback change your view of Whedon. He was the best writer television has ever seen, and he's making a crater sized dent in the world of comics with this Astonishing X-Men, his arc of Runaways, and his Buffy: Season Eight series. Every writer has a bit of a slip up. This is Joss's. (NOTE: This was written before I read "Sugarshock," which was considerably worse than this. So allow the man two slip-ups. It's less than most writers have, I promise)

RATING: 5/10

***********************************

What Is It?: Astonishing X-Men Volume Three-Torn TPB

Timing: Short while after "Dangerous."

REVIEW (and Art): Let me preface this by letting everyone know what kind of review this is going to be. Joss Whedon is my favorite writer. His television series (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly) are what I consider to be some of the best stories ever told. He's captivated me in ways that no other storyteller has. Before Joss started on this series, I've never read any X-Men, so the only back story I had while reading this was the first two volumes of "Astonishing" which were, as this one is, written by Joss.

Now about this book. There are really great things going on here. The comedy is great (Wolverine is hilarious when he... 'reverts'), and there were a few very powerful emotional scenes. Joss is at his best when he's handling Kitty Pryde, who was not only the focal point of this arc... she was also the driving force. If I took anything away from reading this trade paperback, it's that I would do anything to have a Joss scripted "Kitty Pryde" ongoing series.

Now... the not-so-good things: The plot, especially to someone unfamiliar with the complicated X-Men back story and mythology, has a lot of very confusing elements. While it's certainly an improvement over Astonishing X-Men Vol. 2: Dangerous, which had me confused nearly 100% of the time, there were some plot lines that really bugged me out, and the reveal at the end... exposition heavy and ultimately unsatisfying. It added some new depth, but it also sacrificed a bit of the coherency of the story. Joss Whedon's fan base is large enough that I feel 50% of the readers will be Joss-fans unfamiliar with Marvel back story and the other will be X-Men fans. Sometimes, I felt like this was trying to please those who intimately know the Marvel mythology, because a newcomer just wouldn't get some of this stuff. Joss should have made it a bit easier to grasp.

Rating: 6/10

Non-Buffyverse Related

The Walking Dead, Issues 1-18

NON-BUFFYVERSE RELATED

What Is It?: The Walking Dead Volume One (TPB, Collects Issues 1-6)

Timing: It's the first thing in "The Walking Dead timeline.

REVIEW (and Art): I'm not really "into" zombie-flicks. I would watch one and likely enjoy it, but I never had the need to go out and watch a zombie movie. What attracted me to this book was the author's note in the beginning pages. He referred to this comic series as a "character driven" tale that will span years and "sprawling epic." To a fan of Joss Whedon, J. K. Rowling, Brian K. Vaughan, and Stephen King, those are the key phrases. I bought it.

The first quarter of the book was entertaining, but I wasn't sold. There were some great moments (Rick going back to put a zombie out of its misery, for instance), but I was very put off by the unique paneling of the book. The panels have very dark edges and are often very spaced out. It, at first, killed the flow of the story and made me feel like I was just looking at some pictures taped onto a page.

However, when Rick made it to the campsite and met all the other survivors, the strange paneling was the last thing on my mind. The story almost instantly became captivating once our protagonist started to interact with others, all of whom are reacting very differently to the world overrun by zombies. This is a very serious story and is indeed "character driven" and will surely end up being a "sprawling epic" as many of the catastrophic events in this book will have repercussions down the line.

Rating: 8/10

********************************************

What Is It?: The Walking Dead Volume Two (TPB, Collects Issues 7-12)

Timing: Directly following "The Walking Dead Volume One" TPB.

REVIEW (and Art): My review for the first volume of "The Walking Dead" was pretty much glowing. The review was even titled "A Character Driven, Sprawling Epic." That's pretty much a stamp of approval. The writing which ranged from bland to good to exceptional was balanced out by Tony Moore's art, which really gave life to Kirkman's characters.

Well, Moore is no longer the series artist, starting with this volume. He still does the covers, but the new penciller for each issue of "The Walking Dead" is Charlie Adlard, and to compare his art to Moore's is like comparing the scrawlings of an elementary level child to the prose of a published author. Adlard isn't horrible, but his panels are often ugly. The action scenes fall flat because the details blend together, leaving you guessing at what is going on some of the time. A lot of the characters are drawn to look quite similar, and it leaves you forgetting who is who.

Another bad thing about losing Moore was that Charlie Adlard's art isn't good enough to mask the flaws in Robert Kirkman's writing. As far as where Kirkman is taking the story and the plots he has going on, he's doing a fine job. However, he is pretty bad at dialogue. Every character speaks the same, and no one ever seems to be casual. To keep this exposition-heavy prose "light," he throws in words like "ain't" and "man" a lot, but that isn't enough to make these forced words seem like a person would really speak them. He needs to work on giving each character a voice. Also, he needs to tone down the sexism a tad. A few of the reviewers noticed it in the first volume, but it wasn't quite as blatant as it is here. In this story, men do the tough work and women watch the children and nag the men. That needs to change. Fast.

I was convinced I was reading a great story after volume one, but now I'm less sure. I'll probably keep reading until the end (if there ever is an end), but I'm hoping that things get a lot better than this. And yeah, I really wouldn't mind a new penciller.

Rating: 6/10

********************************************

What Is It?: The Walking Dead Volume Three (TPB, Collects Issues 13-18)

Timing: Directly following "The Walking Dead Volume Two" TPB.

REVIEW (and Art): Story gets more interesting. Art stays bad. Sexism gets worse.

The more morally grey something is, the more interesting it is to me. Hell, my favorite season of Angel is the fifth, when he becomes the CEO of the evil company he'd been fighting for the previous four seasons. I love seeing characters in a bad situation, forced to develop and do things that will up the drama-ante and push them in ambiguous directions. It's just plain interesting.

So I'm glad Kirkman filled this third volume to the top with moral ambiguity, because the whole idea is really seeing how these characters deal with a world taken over by the dead. The problem is, as I stated in the last issue, the characters aren't really distinguishable from each other. Rick develops nicely and so does Tyreese, but everyone else seems like cardboard cutouts. That, plus every time they open their mouths, they become exposition machines. The dialogue in this sucks. There is absolutely no way around that. Unlike the mediocre second volume, the story makes up for it a little, but it still leaves me a bit dry.

And there are also much worse problems. For one, the art--no long Moore, who illustrated Volume One which was the only really GOOD volume so far--is not getting much better than what we saw in Volume Two, which--to say the least--wasn't so good. But that doesn't even register when you compare it to the NEXT problem:

I just can't get over the overt sexism in this comic, and how it seems to be getting worse and worse with every issue. The character Andrea, who is known as the best shooter of the entire gang, has to convince the men to let her come along to kill zombies. They agree, but she is only allowed to get the ones they don't kill. Rick's wife Lori is pregnant, so every time she offers up a complaint--despite its validity--the characters blame it on hormones. Similarly, when Lori is arguing with Rick and calls him on trying to act like a patriarch, he tells her to "Shut the FUCK up!" Of course, no one comes to her defense, because in the world Robert Kirkman has created, women are submissive to men. It brings my enjoyment of this series down considerably, and I'm getting to the point where I'm not sure if I'll continue with this book or not, no matter how good the story gets, if it even does get better.

Rating: 5/10

OVERALL RATING: 6/10

NON-BUFFYVERSE RELATED

Runaways- Volume One

NON-BUFFYVERSE RELATED

What Is It?: Runaways- Volume One (Oversized Hardcover, collects the entire first "season" of Runaways, written by Brian K. Vaughan)

Timing: It's the first thing in the Runaways timeline, and--though it fits into Marvel continuity--isn't dependent on any other Marvel book.

REVIEW (and Art): I'll break it down into categories....

For Runaways Fans: This is THE way to read Runaways. Under the attractive dust jacket, the cover is made up of a soft black vinyl material that is extremely durable. The book itself is huge, letting you appreciate the art in a way that it may not have been able to be appreciated in the original comics and the infinitely smaller digest trade paperbacks. Plus, the book is loaded with extras. We've got an introduction, sketches, a letter from Joss Whedon (creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Serenity, and the man who eventually takes over the writing duties of Runaways himself), and the actual proposal for the series by Brian K. Vaughan. Whether you're buying this because you want to get the most you can out of the series or because you're a fan wanting to own a true collectors item, this is more than worth the $[...]. Forget those tiny, manga-looking digests. THIS is the way to go.

For New Comers: Not too long ago, I was one of you. I'll help you make your decision. Have you read any of Brian K. Vaughan's previous work? Do you like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Veronica Mars, Heroes, Supernatural, YA lit, or comics in general? Do you like quirk? How about a bit of geekery? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, give this book a try. It's a comic series worth getting into.

For Nay Sayers: The biggest complaint I'm hearing is that "Runaways" is 'too young' or 'too immature' for them. I say unto thee: the first issue left that impression on me as well. But read past it. Read between the lines, and a complex story will emerge through what seems simplistic. The mythology of the story (and the villainous "Pride") will grow, and the characters will have a sort of endearing depth to them. Give it another try, will you?

For Me: I loved this book. Eighteen issues of quirky, Young Adult, fantasy-drama written, pencilled, and colored beautifully is precisely what I was looking for when I purchased this book. My reviews for the individual six-issue arcs found in this book can be found HERE (Runaways Vol. 1: Pride and Joy and Runaways Vol. 3: The Good Die Young). The only problem I had with this book was finding a shelf big enough for it to fit in!

Rating: 9/10

NON-BUFFYVERSE RELATED

Serenity- Those Left Behind

NON-BUFFYVERSE RELATED

What Is It?: Serenity- Behind TPB (Written by Brett Matthews and Joss Whedon, meant to bridge "Firefly" and "Serenity.")

Timing: Between "Firefly" and "Serenity."

REVIEW (and Art): While the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight" comics make me feel like I'm hanging out with old buddies, this trade paperback feels more like a phone call from an old friend. Not that I was ever as big a Firefly/Serenity fan as I am of Buffy/Angel, that's a given, but I won't say I didn't expect a little more from this. Here, I'll break it down with an old fashioned list of + and -

POSITIVES

+ All of the characters are written and drawn pretty well, and each is given the amount of screen time they deserve.

+ The comics (there are only three of them) collected in this book tell interesting stories, and the end is particularly poignant.

+It reads like a lost episode of Firefly, bridging the series and the movie, and--ask any fan--there's nothing wrong with a new Firefly episode.

NEGATIVES

- I don't know if it's just me on this, but it irks me that the size of this book is different than that of normal trade paperbacks. I'm not talking thickness, I'm talking height. This is a short book, closer to the size of a DVD than a trade paperback collection. It looks kind of out of place next to my other trades, and I find myself wishing it was bigger. But, I digress. (NOTE: The hardcover has now been released, so this problem is void. You'd be senseless not to by the hardcover. It comes complete with new art and a mess load of extras.

- It's kinda boring. No new ground is really covered.

- The only real complaint I can think of is also something I mentioned in the positives: "It reads like a lost episode of Firefly, bridging the series and the movie." While that is good and all, the fact is that it reads like an OKAY episode of Firefly. It reads like "The Train Job," expect even still, not as interesting.

I love Joss Whedon and I (with perhaps a bit of a bias) believe he is the best writer of our age, but I am not as enthusiastic about Firefly/Serenity as the Browncoats (super F/S fans) tend to be. The show was great, the movie was great, but I just think that Buffy and Angel were leagues better. I liked this trade, and I'll read the next one if there ever is a next one. However, I'd be lying if I didn't say that I wish Joss would just concentrate on the getting "Buffy Season Eight"--and now "Ripper" and "Dollhouse."

Characters We Know: Book, Mal, Jayne, Zoe, Wash, Kaylee, Simon, River, Inara, and (SPOILERS:) Lawrence Dobson, The Hands of Blue, Badger, and The Operative

Rating: 7/10

NON-BUFFYVERSE RELATED

Non-Buffyverse Week (and change)

Starting tomorrow afternoon and until Angel #5 is released (likely 3/19), I'm going to be posting reviews for non-Buffyverse comics and--gasp--maybe even a few books! Why? Kinda goes against the whole name, purpose, and mission statement about the site, right? Well, yes and no.

See, I thought it would be cool to post reviews for things that I think other Buffyverse fans might like. Also, you'll see some reviews for things Buffyverse fans might THINK they'll like.... until they see me rip it to shreds and talk about how much Dick (Casablancas, of course) it sucks. Tomorrow, we'll be starting with... RUNAWAYS!!!

Oh yeah, but... there will be--as always--some Buffyverse stuff going on. I'll be reviewing "Angel: Long Night's Journey" in a few days, as well as writing a reaction post to some big news we're getting... And I ain't talkin' about Satsu taking Buffy to the Candy Shop, mind.

But yeah, "RUNAWAYS" tomorrow, "The Walking Dead" on Saturday, and "X-Men" (both Joss stuff and not!) for Sunday. Some other stuff you can expect to either be praised or pissed on over this next week and change are... SUPERNATURAL (both the series and the comics), THE GREAT AND SECRET SHOW, Y: THE LAST MAN, VERONICA MARS, THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY, and... a lotta stuff.

Check back.

Other Shat Pand Reviews, and... (as you all know by now) A Huge Crossover Event

A few bits o' news.

1. By request, here is a review I did of "The Origin" a while ago. Click meh!

2. Again, by request.... here are some other reviews I've done that do and don't fit in with the topic of this site. If you shop on Amazon, you might have (but probably not) seen some of these. But here is my Amazon review profile: Click meh (as helpful!)

3. Yeah, it's a few days old. Yeah, I knew about it a few days ago. Yeah, I posted about it on Facebook and debated elsewhere before posting it here. Yeah, I'm lazy and all that. Yeah, yeah yeah. Click the cover on the right. Remember how much Jon Foster sucked at covers (with the sole exception of #12)? Well... Jo Chen still does the opposite of suck. Well... actually the opposite of suck is literally blow if you think about it, but she doesn't blow. She rocks. She is the opposite of... things not rock-like. But yeah, that's the cover for #16 and its her triumphant return to the making of Buffy covers.

....and yeah, that's Buffy fighting Fray. The description of the issue, provided by SlayAlive, is as follows:

July trumpets the return of Jo Chen, but also heralds the return of both Karl Moline and Fray to the Buffyverse! The Buffster squares off against her futuristic descendant in this four-part arc by Joss Whedon and Karl Moline, who first collaborated in 2003's Fray mini-series.

Hoah yeah! So we've got Moline doing the arc, Joss writing, and both Buffy and Fray starring. I couldn't be happier we've got Moline for this, but how cool would it be if the "back in the present" scenes are pencilled by Georges. Very cool, methinks.

So lets look at what we've got coming up.

SOON

March 5th: Buffy #12 (Big surprise!)

Mid/Late March: Angel- After the Fall #5 (Two days are up, Angel)

April 2nd: Buffy #13 (Drac's back)

Mid/Late April: Angel- After the Fall #6, First Night 1 (We see how Connor, Lorne, and Spike's spent their first night in Hell)

May 7th- Buffy #14 (Hypno Dawn stomps shit)

Mid May- Angel- After the Fall #7, First Night 2 (Wes gets ghosty)

JUNE

Angel- After the Fall #8, First Night 3 (Conclusion)

Angel- After the Fall #9 (back to the main story)

Buffy #15 (Peace, Drew)

JULY

Buffy #16 (Hey, Fray)

(probably) Angel- After the Fall #10

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

Reminder... And A Stern Scold

+ Wednesday: Buffy #7 and Shadow Puppets #4 come out. Don't forget to get a copy of both issues! Support the 'verse.

+ Moonlight: New television series, familiar concept. Might sound wonky at first. Seems to me, though, people came into the picture expecting, wanted, even hoping to hate it. If you were any more negative, peeps, I'd have to name you Nancy. Give the show a chance. The pilot episode this past week wasn't horrible at all, and it's a new supernatural show. If a show like this succeeds, it'll make the biz more prone to taking on supernatural kinda shows. Screw Grey's Anatomy and Flavor Flav, that's the kinda TV I want to watch. So for the sake of all things fantasy, give Moonlight a --(insert Spikeism)-- chance, would you, you --(spikeism)-- --(spikeism)--s!

Reaper

REAPER

The trailer for this show looked ridiculously stupid. I was put-off. Uninterested. Eye-rolly. Well, until I logged onto my computer for my daily read of Whedonesque, the most reliable Whedon site on the net. It had a link to a site that was pegging "Reaper" (a show about a kid whose parents have sold his soul to the devil) as the new 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer.' I was a little more than skeptical. Hell, I even chuckled. But that was really all it took, a comparison to Buffy, for me to give the show a try.

I'm glad I did. The first episode, which premiered last night on the CW at 9, was really entertaining. It has a lot of off-color humor, pop-culture references galore, awesome demons (that fire demon guy was way badass), and even one or two 'deep' moments. For a first episode, I think that's pretty damn good. All the actors--except, perhaps, the man who plays Sam's father--are competent enough, and some of them are even good. The exchanges between Sam and his best friend "Sock" are hilarious--I mean, the humor really is the backbone of the show, so far. The way Sam's introduction to his new supernatural life is handled is a little too "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" for my tastes, but I do have hope that that aspect of the show will get better.

Overall, is it the new Buffy? Not by a long shot. But is it good? Yeah. Different, but good.

Spike: Shadow Puppets #4

Hey guys. Sorry to stink up the place with rotten news, but it turns out--from what I've been seeing--that "Shadow Puppets #4" doesn't come out until NEXT Wednesday. Which is a drag, yeah, but it'll be cool to go into the comic shop and pick up both the new Buffy and the new Spike issue. It'll sort of be like the olden days; catching a new episode of Buffy and Angel all in the same week.

To cheer your little hearts up, I decided to put a little list of pretty cool (Non-Buffyverse) things that'll be coming out soon.

September 25th
Leven Thumps and the Eye of the Want (Book; fantasy; 12 and +; quirky as hell)

September 26th
Supernatural: Origins (Issue Five) EITHER THIS WEEK OR NEXT WEEK (A comic prequel to an awesome show)

October 3rd
Anita Blake- Vampire Hunter (Comic): First Death #2 (A comic prequel to a book series that ranges from good to okay to stinky)
Runaways #28 (Need I elaborate?)

October 16th
The Invisible DVD (Movie. I never saw it, but the description looks pretty good. I'll be buying)

October 23rd
Veronica Mars- Season Three (The Joss Whedon show that Joss Whedon didn't make)

October 31st
Supernatural: Origins (Issue Six)

November 6th
Dresden Files #1: Storm Front (Re-released in Hardcover. Awesomeness between cardboard)

November 7th
Stephen King’s Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born TPB (Collecting the comic prequel to another awesome book series)

December 4th
Anita Blake (Book Seven) Burnt Offerings (Re-released in Hardcover)
24: Season Six (Not the show's best season, but hey, Jack Bauer can kick Chuck Norris' ass any day)

December 11th
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (DVD) (No explanation needed)

'Arry Pah-uh

Sorry for the non-abundance of new posts. I've been, like anyone else with taste, reading "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" since Saturday morning.

Now, I know it kinda goes against the whole "Buffyverse Comics" rule, but from this Wednesday to next Tuesday, I'm going to post a review of a Potter book each day. By the time this ends (Tuesday), I'll be ready to post the review of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight #5", so that'll be a treat for us all. I'm really excited for this next issue. Everyone keep your fingers crossed that there won't be another hiatus month again!