Apart (of me) ~ Part Two

Buffy Season 9 issue #9

Cover One. Anyone feel like they're watching an episode of Ringer? Or like, Oops! that awkward moment you walk into yourself, apologise and then realise 'Heyy! Impostor!'. No that doesn't happen. Of course it doesn't. Makes me wonder what my doppelganger out there is like. I digress! So we have waitress Buffy, plain and on minimum wage, in her uniform, a green bandanna and apron serving coffee. I say 'plain' but that's only seeming to the eye of the living because the dead know better as we see zompires all around. A crowd of the undead stare ogle eyed through the coffee shop window front; eyes fixed on Buffy. Their expression, as if gushing at a puppy in the pet shop window and sight of joy; one even waves. They don't look scary at all! Well... except for the blood glistening, pallid skin and everything that makes then look dead. But otherwise they look cheerful. Ha! A zigzag crack painted in blood down the middle splits the page like a sliding-doors moment and we step into a posh, candle lit and wooden panel walled room. I applaud the recreation of the wood grain patterning for added texture. A domesticated Buffy, looking rather posh and British-like (Giles would be proud or should I say rather shocked too see) ...stands adorning pearls in a conservative turquoise ensemble, hair drawn back into a bun, holding teacup and saucer. Both stare placidly at each other with lips parting in a loss for words. But of course they can't really be seeing each other. The displacement is evident of that but nevertheless the mirrored hypnotic look of one another is ever so trancing even to the third party looking into the colliding lives. That being said the dumb look on the zompires face doesn't look so stupid. Would I go too far in saying maybe the zompire is actually staring at us? And a second sliding-door moment has erupted? If Buffy sees herself, then are we also looking into a mirror too? Ha!

Cover by Phil Noto

Hah! I didn't realise the cover was by Phil Noto. This is a second cover of his I've been impressed by now. Bravo!

Cover Two is by Jeanty. I'm not really sure where to begin to describe this one. Which you might think is a good thing but actually I feel lost looking at it. The cover is suppose to be exciting, we have Simone and Buffy falling together from the night skies but I don't feel it as mush as I should. Judging by their expressions they have common goals. Issues resolved I see? The glowing neon lights create an exuberant pink and aqua hue over the two slayers. Simone dives in, shotgun in hands while Buffy, traditional as always lands feet first with stake in hand. I have to say both are rocking it in their ensembles. 

This issue was very much a mixed bag of goodies. Not exhilarating but every bit of the way you get quality and it was great to see veteran Xander getting back into the action. And just the sight of Buffy with with a Terminator arm just makes me crack a smile.

Visually, the greatest page was the one with the series of panels with the lovely green starry night sky. I don't even know what to call that green. But gosh would I love to see a night sky like that in real life. It's like the Aurora Borealis but the one green engulfing the skies. But gosh would I also love to be able to see the Aurora Borealis too!

That's it. Till next time. Oh and happy Mother's Day!

Daddy Issues ~ Part Four

I've been a slacker with my posting but I have been quite busy. In addition I hadn't got a copy of A&F #9 until today so apologies for the lateness for those who read my critiques. So without any further adieu...

Angel & Faith issue #9

After a cliffhanger ending to last issue, I'm quite undecided whether I like the events that followed as a whole. I mean there were good bits but I'm not so sure how I feel about the fall out.

Cover One. At first glance it doesn't seem like such an interesting cover, Angel throwing himself off a building. He's done that a lot in the series; even when it was on TV. But it's not what is drawn. It's how it's drawn. Morris has really gone for something different this time and I have to say I'm quite impressed. The chalky texture and pastel tones make for quite an effect contrasting with the dark colours of Angel's figure. The night sky is all whirley splodges of blue and pinks with highlights of yellow and orange. I would say its twilight veiled with sparing clouds but the spots of yellow stars make me think otherwise. Is it night or not quite? Angel leaps forth, broad sword in hand. Bellowing smoke from chimney pipes whirl about. And the Gherkin makes a faint appearance in the backdrop.

Cover Two. Well. It just looks bizarre to me. Created by Rebekah Isaacs with Dan Jackson. You can definitely identify Isaacs depiction of Drusilla and Faith's faces. But the bold back outlines are clearly not her style. It's intrusive! The cover depicts the familiar scene of the last page in issue #8 except this time Drusilla stands behind Faith, both hands placed on either side Faith's temple; Faith is in prayer, soothed by her touch; and the Lorophage Demon stands where we stand, only his long claws in view held out in front of him. All the figure are centred perfectly so that the image is symmetrical. The geometrical shapes makes the image very medieval. The bold black outline acts to superimpose the figures as if they were part of the stained glass background, like those holy figures often depicted in church windows. And so Faith's poised prayer and Drusilla's ritualistic pose in front of a halo around her head with the oncoming claws of the demon makes the scene so utterly strange. Is what's to happen an act of good or that of evil? One thing Faith's calm expression and poise is clearly unsettling. She looks as though she is about to take her holy vows but then we see the claws. That is what makes the image so strange. If she was drawn in pain like the actual image at the end of last issue the scene would look less strange; it would make sense. But in this case, no, it looks wrong and what's to happen is definitely wrong.

This issue essentially explores 'baggage'. It probably could use a better description but that's basically what it is. There are some great fight scenes. I never cease to marvel at the depictions of Drusilla, particularly the three panels of her slowly losing her self again. The tears that cascade down her cheeks are so moving and we feel for her (well, I did) in the second panel, the look of uncertainty in her eyes as we realise she's come to her last strand of sane thought.

And so the curtain closes for poor Drusilla and this Act ends.