No more blogging for a month.

I've decided to focus all my energy on finding a job, which means that I probably won't post anything new here until after Christmas.

So Happy Holiday people.

Kelley Armstrong & Aftermath

As you might have heard, Kelley Armstrong will write the next Angel series, Aftermath, that deals with the aftermath of After the fall.

I just found this forum about her (made by her?) in case you want to know more about her, and maybe ask her a Aftermath-related question, or read other Angel-fans questions that have been answered.

Otherwise, there is always this interview you might want to read, that answers a lot of questions.

ANGEL PREVIEWS GALLERY

Angel: After the fall previews. Hopefully someone will do one for Spike: After the fall as well.

CLICK

Issue 4 Alternate Cover Re-Color?

What do you think, better than the issue 4 we have now?

COVER

I myself like that cover more than the one we have now LINK

Except for Xander's hair color. It should be dark.

Season 8 interview with Scott Allie on Darkstars Fantasy News

Scott Allie, the editor of Season 8, answers some questions.

LINK

My favorite part was;

"Amy Madison (and Warren) seem to be recurring characters for Season 8. Do you think there can be some redemption for them? After all, Amy started her relationship with Buffy & Co. as a friend and not a foe.

As Bob Dylan said at the Grammy’s, you can become so defiled in this life that even your own parents will turn their backs on you, but even then, God believes in your own ability to redeem yourself.But no, those guys are dicks."

That's wonderful news because I am so tired of the bad guys turning good. No more, please. I need to feel free to hate someone. And they really don't seem like the nice guy type at all.

Future issues.

In times of delay, frustration and nail-biting, we live on spoliers and wild theories on the future. So I thought I would tell you some of what has been revealed of the future issues of Season 8. So beware, spoilers are coming.

Cover gallery for Season 8

Take a look at those if you want to get your own ideas first. (I was so sure that it wouldn't be Willow that was the mystery women in Time of Your life, because the cover of 19 had been revealed before issue 17 was out. I didn't think that Darkhorse would give us such a dead give away.)

Unless I mention otherwise, Georges Jeanty probably does the pencilling and the variant cover, while Jo Chen does the regular cover.

Issue 19
Name: Time of Your Life part 4
Featuring: Buffy, Dawn, Xander, Kennedy, Willow, future Willow, Fray and many others.
Release: 26th November 2008 (we hope)
Writer: Joss Whedon (and Karl Moline does the pencilling)
Darkhorse's description: Buffy and Fray take on a powerful foe, who's lasted hundreds of years just so she can bring down the last two Slayers.

Issue 20
Name: After These Messages . . . We’ll be right back!
Featuring: We go back in time and get to see Cordelia and Angel again!
Release: 10th December 2008
Writer: Jeph Loeb (and Eric Wright works with Georges Jeanty as a penciller)
Darkhorse's description: Acclaimed comic-book writer Jeph Loeb (Batman: The Long Halloween) was set to executive produce, alongside Joss Whedon and animator Eric Wight, the proposed Buffy animated TV series. While Buffy fans won't be viewing that show anytime soon, Loeb, Wight, and Whedon offer the next best thing--a comic inspired by the animated series!
PS: READ and SIGN

Issue 21
Name:Harmonic Divergence (the first issue in an arc of five (#21-25), featuring different characters. This issue will feature one more character other than Harmony, but we don't know which one yet).
Featuring: Harmony (please Joss, kill her this time)
Release: 31st December 2008
Writer: Jane Espenson
Darkhorse's description: Television writer Jane Espenson returns to Buffy the Vampire Slayer in Season Eight. Espenson is the first of five acclaimed writers that tackle this groundbreaking story arc -- where Buffy fans are introduced to a new world where vampires are in and Slayers are out. Cue Harmony, the bubblegum cheerleader from Sunnydale High whose ambitions include blood sucking and stardom.

Issue 22
Name: Swell
Featuring: Kennedy and Satsu (yay!)
Release: January 28, 2009
Writer: Steven S. DeKnight
Darkhorse's description: Vampires are the hottest thing around -- forget hipsters; being a bloodsucking fiend is where’s it’s at! Slayers must take the good fight underground if they’re to avoid any bad press from the general public.When Kennedy is sent to Japan to evaluate Satsu’s efforts as team leader, they are taken by surprise by some fierce furry creatures who want to do nothing more than destroy Buffy (surprise!), while Twilight remains the captain of the anti-Slayer ship.

Issue 23
Name: Predators and Prey
Featuring: Andrew and Buffy.
Release: March 04, 2009
Writer: Drew Z. Greenberg
Darkhorse's description: It's Buffy -- and Andrew -- on a mission in Italy . . . together! Awkward? Yes! Since Harmony's television stunt, the ensuing of general vampire-love from the masses, and the destruction of the Scotland base, operations at Slayer headquarters have been somewhat strained. Rogue Slayers - -Simone and her gang -- have not been helping Slayer-civilian relations with their attacks against the military, bank robbing, and occasional snitching at Hot Topic. Now, Andrew has a lead on how to gain intel on Simone's plans . . . but he has to go to Italy -- now! With Xander and Willow busy holding together their Slayer legions Buffy seems to be the only one with an open schedule to act as Andrew's backup. Hours of travel . . . just Buffy and Andrew . . . Really?


Issue 24
Featuring: Faith & Giles
Writer: Jim Krueger (source)

Issue 25
Featuring: Xander & Dawn.
Writer: Doug Petrie will probably write this issue (I need a source).



Issue 26-30
Featuring: Oz.
Writer: Jane Espenson


Now before we read about issue 31- 35, read this quote from comicbookresources ;
"First, though, Allie confirmed best-selling New York Times author Brad Meltzer ("Justice League of America") would write four or five issues. "It will be issues #31-35, either all five or just four of those," said Allie. "But Brad will do the penultimate arc and Joss will do the final arc."
So 4 or 5...


Issue 31-35
Writer: Brad Meltzer

And assumingly, the last issues, 36-40(I wish I had a link to a source, but it's confirmed that it's 40 issues), will all be written by Joss, since he's suppose to do the last arc. In a few months, I will update. If you have information about the future issues, and a source link, e-mail me at skytteflickan@yahoo.se

The Buffyverse Onomasticon

I love reading about the meanings of names, and here we have a site that tells the meanings of the Buffyverse names. I doubt that they have all meanings of every name, since many names have different meanings in different countries and cultures, but it's still an interesting read.

For example; Did you know that Andrew means 'manly'? lol

The Buffyverse Onomasticon

BUFFY PREVIEWs GALLERY

The wonderful Emmie over at slayalive.com has collected all the previews of Season 8 in the thread below. I hope she makes one for After the fall too, otherwise I'll give it a try.

Lookie lookie

Custom Mikado Buffy

Have you ever heard about of seen a Buffy custom figure? They're usually the size of normal action figures and busts, since they're usually made of parts from action figures or busts and clay. Then they're re-painted and can look this good.

LINK.

Customs can often look bad, with spagetti-like hair, too shiny colors, bad pose and empty facial expressions, but trust me, this one is really well-made.

If you look around on this site, you will see some really beautiful craftmanship. And if you're lucky, you'll find one you like that is for sale.

The artist who made this custom (and others that can be found on the site) take comissions, as long as they haven't done the custom before. But look on ebay before you buy, because sometimes you can find very cheap but beautiful customs for sale.

Brian Lynch's podcast.

Mr Lynch, the writer of After the fall, now has a podcast available on itunes.

CLICK.

Season 8 test

No issue 19 this week either.

Maybe you have re-read Season 8 to fight the need. In that case you might be interested in this test;

The Buffy season 8 test - part one

New layout with the help of Fran Garcia

As you might have noticed, I have changed the layout again and this time I'm real pleased. The difference that can be made with a single beautiful picture.

The artists name is Fran Garcia (yep, real life name) a Spaniard Buffy-fan who has shown us over at slayalive.com some of the most beautiful Buffy drawings I have ever seen. If only he could do Season 9 of Buffy! (In case you didn't know, another season of Buffy AND a summer special has been announced).

Here are some more drawings CLICK

If you wish to give praise or advice to Fran, leave a comment here and I'll pass it on, or why not leave a comment in the thread I just showed you?

EXTRA LONG PREVIEW!!!!

For those who haven't noticed (or have and are annoyed by my previous post) on some sites, even Darkhorse, you only get a 3-page preview of issue 19 on Buffy, but here you get 7 pages.

Previews.

Preview for issue 14 of After the fall on the editor's blog http://ryalltime.blogspot.com/2008/11/angel-14-5-page-preview.html

and if you haven't seen it, here's the preview for issue 19 of Season 8 http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/Previews/15-739?page=0

MY THOUGHTS Review of Revenant (by me).

I read Revenant a Buffy fiction book by Mel Odom about a week ago and I recommend it.

It's set in late-ish season 3 (the gang knows that the Mayor is evil) and this is the product description taken from amazon.com;

When a Chinese gang hits Sunnydale, racial tensions in the community are sparked. Buffy has seen the baddies shake down Willy the Snitch, so naturally her Slayer senses are up. But to Willow, the situation poses a more personal threat. Her new friend Jia Li has been feeling the backlash from this cross-cultural hostility -- and it's tearing her family apart. Jia remains true to her ancient cultural heritage, but her brother, the angry, outspoken Lok, is ready to toss out old Chinese customs for the modern American lifestyle. And he's willing to use the occult for just that purpose.

Suddenly, a beautiful martial-arts warrior arrives on the scene. It's impossible to tell where her allegiance lies, but Xander -- whose romances are becoming habitually complicated -- is smitten, Giles is in full research mode, and before long, Buffy is wondering who's behind the gang warfare. Is supernatural evil brewing?
So, basically, one of Willow's friends have a troubled brother, Buffy is a target, Xander has a mayor crush on another... special women (poor Xander) and another Big Bad wants to rule the world.

What I love about this book is how the writer ”torture” the readers. We can be reading about how character A gets into trouble, and when he/she is about to get shot, Odom switches perspective, takes us across town and we read about character B who is doing something entirely safe. Sounds annoying doesn't it? But then characters B gets in trouble too and is about to get his/her butt kicked then the scene changes to character C, who laters get in trouble. Then we change back to character A, our blood still pumping, and we get a lot of action. Then it calms down for a bit, and we get ”deeper” moments.

I'm not sure if I'm explaining the "torture-writing" well, but trust me, it's a good thing. I did want to hit the writer a couple of times, but I never felt like putting the book down.

And although I would put this book in the action category, it has a plot and character development. We're not always thrown from one action sequence to another, there is some talk and feelings as well. For example, there are some bittersweet Buffy & Angel moments in there (with more handholding than on the show, but still nice realistic moments) and some friction between Xander & Buffy.

Another thing I like with this book that in every stanza/paragraph, we only get one characters point of view. I find it soothing not having to change from one characters perspective and thoughts to another ones within a few sentences.

I wouldn't say that this book will change my life, but it's an easy read. It's a feel good book, with adrenaline pumping (the fight scenes are very well written), some romance, endearing character moments and humor. I do wish that there would have been some friction between Xander & Oz in there ”scenes” tough, because of the cheating. But Oz is a cool guy, so I guess he's over it.

Also, Faith-fans, I should tell you that we see nothing of Faith in this book, in case you were thinking about buying the book, hoping to see Faith. I'm not even sure if she's mentioned.

Since I've only read about 5 of these non-canonical fiction Buffy books, I can't compare Revenant to that many Buffy-books, but I say; Read it.

MY THOUGHTS Review of Vol 3 by Andrew Wheeler.

I found this interesting review of the third collection of Season 8 (#11-15).

To read a review by someone who isn't a fan of Buffy and who has just read a few issues of Season 8 was very entertaining and a bit sad.

Season 8 is trully for the fans of the tv-show.

If you haven't watched Buffy, all seasons or just the latest ones, it must be hard to get invested in the comic. After all, how could an outsider read the dept, the hidden layers that are hidden beneath

more side jokes and pop-culture references than most of us see on network TV in a week.

if you don't know the characters? Wheeler thinks that no mayor things changed in A Beautiful Sunset and Wolves at The Gate, at least not plot wise. I guess I have to agree on that, but say that we fans noticed other things that may or may not be important to the plot, but be very important to the characters and us readers. For example, we discover that Buffy is still human and still lonely, carrying the world on her shoulders. She can share something so intimate with a person as sex, and then go back to being that person's boss, because she has too. She wants to be more than the slayer, but who else will lead the army?

That, a fan will see. And we can read (not always tough)

what's arch flippancy, and what’s true emotion, since the two are intertwined in the same panel.


The comic is cool, beautiful, fun and moving, but it's harder to get invested in than the tv-show or any tv-show(and I bet compared to other comics as well). On TV we could see the actors' lips twitching, hear the laughter or fear in their voices and we were drawn in by the emotion showing in their eyes.

Often when watching a show, that's enough to get invested, to understand the characters somewhat and want to see more. (Maybe I'm wrong, and for a non-fan it's as hard to get into the tv-show as the comic, but it's something to think about.)

What I'm getting at is, while almost going off-topic, the Season 8 comics, not the arcs, not the stand-alones, have boring background this-has-happened-so-far, the-characters-just-happen-to-be-reminiscing-about-their-past-lives-so-the-reader-can-get-to-know-them-before-the-real-story-begins frames and pages, eating away on the story. I haven't read a lot of comics, but I bet that many comic fans would agree with this guy Wheeler, and say that, at least volume 3 of Season 8 isn't all that unless you have the background story clear. Or maybe I'm talking out of my ass.

Sucks for this guy, but great for us fans. After all, more pages with story, less catching-up. Not that good tough, if Joss wants more fans...

What do you guys think about Wheeler's review and my comments? Ass-talk or do we have a point?

Awwww, Zoe sings Buffy.

This is the cutest kid on earth. She's singing Going Through The Motions.





And here's Rest In Peace




The links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VolmOsvSRdk&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1h2yoUd3Rw

Conspiracy?

Okay, watch this trailer before you read the rest of this post. I'm serious.

Have you watched it? Are you sure? Are you creeped out, have no idea if they're in a documentary, parody or trailer for something? Then you were like me, until I checked out these websites

Website 1

Website 2

So it's a book and Joss and the others (did you notice Brian K. Vaughn, writer of No Future For You, Season 8?) are doing a trailer. Not sure if they're all acting tough...

Throw blanket

The blanket.

This is the newest addition to the Buffy section on tvmerch.com and I'm not sure what I think. It's limited, but I think I would have prefered different pictures. 2 Angels, 2 Spikes, 4 Buffys. Couldn't there have been a Xander, Dawn, Giles?

But I think I would like a throw blanket with Buffy pics. Maybe it's possible to order one on your own from a online-store, with your own choice of pics. I bet that would cost a pretty penny tough.

Conquer the Internet: Essays on Online Fandom

Conquer the Internet

A new Buffy book, one I will definitly pick up when it's released. Because it's about me. Kinda.

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" transcended its cult-comic roots to achieve television success, spawning the spinoff series "Angel" and an academic movement along the way. This scholarly treatment takes a multidisciplinary approach to Buffy's fandom, which has expressed itself through fiction, videos, music, art, and other media. Ten essays analyze the sociology and psychology of the fan community and how it uses the Internet to share its passion.

Finally, someone tries to find out what's wrong with me. Or right. We'll see what the essays say.


Pre-order it, or wait until it's released (April 30, 2009), read the reviews and then buy it. Unless people say it sucks, of course.

New layout.

Woho, new layout. Really simple, but better than the ordinary text.

If anyone wants to help me make a new, cooler header, do it. No larger than 660x200 pixels tough, and I want "Buffyverse addict" somewhere on it.

How to Find Authentic Movie Props and Original Wardrobe on Ebay

I love props. I once had a sweater worn by James Marsters. It was brown and I think it might have been used in First Date. The COA had no episode on it, so I had to guess by looking on screencaps. I bought the Spike-sweater from http://stores.ebay.com/VIP-AUCTIONS and the Jonathan's sweater from a seller who provided print outs of the auction where she/he got the prop, and it was also with the same store, so I think I had the real deal.

But I wanted cash and sold it, together with the sweater Danny Strong wore in Seeing Red.

I regret seeling them both. Now I just have two original Buffy comic pages and some pieceworks *sigh*

Anyway, I wanted to give you guys some advice on how to find real props and how to look out for the fake ones. But I'm lazy, so here you have someone elses' advice(that I agree on);

Link-y.


And here is one guide from someone who also has dealt with vipfanclubs/VIP-auctions, same as me.

Guide.

Tattoos.

Have you ever seen Buffy/Angel related tattoos?

This page is full of them. I'm thinking about getting a Angel tattoo, the Angel one Cordelia drew for the Angel Investigation cards.

Like this one, but on my wrist.

And on this page, you can see the cast's tats.

And here WOAW.

The reason to buy Mr.Fix It.

Boreanaz starred in this movie, Mr Fix It, a while ago. I didn't like the movie that much, mainly because I very much disapprove of how the main character, played by our Angel, acted. He got paid to date women and mistreat them so they'd go back to their exes. Who gave him the right mess around with other people's lives? Maybe the women deserved better, did he think about that?

Let's just say that I really liked the what-comes-around-goes-around-twist in the end.

However, there's one really good reason to watch this movie. This reason.

Faith fan comic book- first installment

Here are the first pages of a fan-made Faith comic. I really do like the art, even tough the likeness isn't all there. I hope to see more soon.

Click-y.

New Dragonball pics with James.

James is starring in the movie-adaptation of the manga Dragonball.

He plays Lord Piccolo (yep, the big bad of the movie). Here are the latest pics I could find;

slayerverse.org

Now, you Dragonball fans, what do you think? Should they have kept him green, like in the manga?

And here's some older stuff;

James talk about Dragonball

Top secret pic

Talking about filming with James

ANGEL: ATF VOL. 3 Q&A!

Last week to leave a question in this thread and hope to have it published in volume 3 of After the fall.

What are you waiting for? I've left two already!

Wolves at the gate TPB out the 19th.

The season 8 issues 11-15 has been collected in this tradeback and will be released soon.

I Got My Mind Set On You

A young Alexis in a old music video.

Watch

So cute.

Sugarshock!

If you haven't read it already, check out Joss Whedon's free comic Sugarshock (scroll down).

It's so wonderfully silly.

WARNING: Makes little or no sense at all. I was either confused or amused the whole time. I loved it.

MY THOUGHTS Season 8: Who betrays Buffy?

In issue 10 of season 8, Anywhere But Here, we can see Buffy lying hurt, crying on the floor in a vision. The character Robin answers the real non-vision Buffy's question ("What happens to me here?") with;

"Betrayal. The closest, the most unexpected."

On slayalive.com we have tried to figure out who it is. The same person that is Twilight? Xander, Dawn, Willow, Giles, Angel, Spike, etcetc?

It could be "Future Dark Willow" from the Time of your life arc (#16-19) that Robin refers to, but I think that would be too obvious. I'm guessing that Buffy betrays herself.

Maybe she fails in saving her family, and feels that she has betrayed herself. Or maybe she realizes that she has become someone she hates. Maybe the part of her that is demon takes over, or disappears completely.

Or maybe the other slayers will turn on her, a la end of season 7. The people who she shares the most with turns on her.

What do you think? Tell me here.