Buffy #9: Cue The Avengers' theme song

[locker_monster]

So Buffy #9. Bought the Faith/Giles Avengers variant cover because who doesn't love The Avengers? I know some people out there weren't overly thrilled by the art, but personally I loved The Avengers, especially the Emma/Steed era. And hee, there's a reference to them too, so it justifies the cover.

A fine ending to a fine arc. Very wise to put Brian K Vaughn up first from the outside writers Joss recruited for the comics. BKV's voice is very in tune with the Buffyverse so any of the fans who were anxious about having these comic book writers coming in can see that these guys know their stuff.

And you know this has to be said: Yay! Giles actually got to appear in more than one panel! Numfar, do the dance of joy! :-D He got to be a bad ass, too, blowing up Roden's head like that. Okay, gross, but smart. Of course, everybody's relationships are all screwed up now. I get that Giles wouldn't want to involve Buffy in Gigi's murder. We've seen him try to protect her from the really hard decisions no one should ever have to consider before; just look at "The Gift" or "Lies My Parents Told Me". Each time though, well except for "The Gift" since no one knows that Giles killed Ben, it messes up Buffy and Giles' relationship. But really, I think Giles knows his going behind Buffy's back will upset her but he does it anyway because it will prevent Buffy from becoming a killer. He cares that much that he's willing to be outcast. On the show we never really saw the two of them at odds so this should be interesting. I always thought Buffy's rejection of Giles at the end of "Lies My Parents Told Me" was resolved too easily during "Chosen". We'll see if Giles working with Faith will upset things further.

I still wouldn't mind seeing an entire story or an entire arc devoted to Giles. They haven't shown him coping without the Council or really answered why Giles hasn't been in touch with the gang too much. Okay, we've seen here he doesn't want to involve them with murder, but he's clearly been up to more stuff than researching. And it's been a year and a half since "Chosen"! Things must have happened.

So with Faith and Giles working separate from Buffy and the gang does this mean we're heading towards a conflict between the two groups? The stuff with Twilight at the end hints that might be the case. We've already seen the bad guys manipulating the gang so their evil plans can work but we've never seen the gang divided, some supporting this, some supporting that. Obviously with Faith and Giles travelling the world to stop evil Slayers that's going to clash with Buffy's ideals. A resolution won't be easy since there are trust issues. I'd like to see that scene between Buffy and Giles; we got cheated out of a good confrontation scene this issue.

This Twilight dude is interesting. It was his floaty feet in issue #1. Since he wears a mask it could be anyone under there. And the military lady says they have a man on the inside, man being a general term here. One of the girls could be a mole; that's an idea I like. Maybe it's Satsu or Renee because they both like a main character and that would mess things up real good.

How awesome is it that Giles made a reference to The Avengers? See, this totally proves he watches TV, at least British TV. And he and Faith are totally Steed and Emma. Older guy working with a younger woman to fight evil. I wonder now if Giles is going to start leaving behind notes that say, "Ms. Lehane. We're needed." ;-) Okay, obviously not because if you really think about it, every time Steed did that he was breaking into Emma's place. "Oh, how charming Steed. You broke into my flat again and set up an elaborate display to tell me we have an assignment." Anyway, Faith and Giles as Emma and Steed equals awesome. It works out for the both of them. Faith has somebody who trusts her and she can trust in return and Giles isn't on his own dealing with the darker stuff.

Now I want Giles to make a reference to Doctor Who but then it would totally void the cameo the Doctor and Rose made in issue #6. :-D

Comments

[ladylavinia.livejournal.com]

"I always thought Buffy's rejection of Giles at the end of "Lies My Parents Told Me" was resolved too easily during "Chosen". We'll see if Giles working with Faith will upset things further."


I don't think it was ever resolved. I think that in "Chosen", Buffy and Giles had put aside their differences for the big fight.

The fact that Giles had refused to inform Buffy about Faith's mission tells me that he might still resent her for rejecting him as her authority figure, following the attempt on Spike's life in "Lies My Parents Told Me".

[ladylavinia.livejournal.com]

"Anyway, Faith and Giles as Emma and Steed equals awesome. It works out for the both of them. Faith has somebody who trusts her and she can trust in return and Giles isn't on his own dealing with the darker stuff."


I have deep suspicions about this. I cannot help but wonder if Giles is trying . . . in a more subtle way to create another Slayer/Watcher relationship, following his estrangement from Buffy. I don't trust him.