Spike ongoing writer, Brian Lynch, Answers Your Questions

For those who don't follow Brian Lynch on Twitter (and why don't you?) he occasionally goes to mindspring and takes on any question that he is asked.  I can tell you that he is finally gearing up to get the Spike book out soon and the things I have heard will make Spike fans very excited and happy.  Keep in mind, you can ask him absolutely anything whether it be about his comics or, if you're like me, something that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.  From his last Q&A session:

Q: In 1984, Clara Peller asked one of the most important philosophical questions of the human era.  It's a question many have answered but few have truly understood.  With that in mind I pose the query to you: Brian, where's the beef?


A: It was in you, all along.

You can see all the questions he's answered so far here and keep an eye out for the next time he's accepting questions on twitter.

Last Lines of the Whedonverse Dead

When Twitterer @monkeyonthelam issued the following tweet: "I wish there was a comprehensive list of the last line said by every dead Whedonverse character. I love lists, but that would be a lot of work"...we took that as a personal challenge. At least to come up with 25 of 'em. Well, this gets a bit lengthy so let's get to it.

...but before we do, we'd like to point out that during our research we realized there are many a great characters that do not really get a last line. The final thing they say may be a scene or 2 before the actual death or some-such. This includes: Anya, Buffy (the 1st time), Kendra (she's hypnotized), Jenny Calendar, Larry, Jonathan, Joyce, etc. Since they didn't get the glory of a last lick, why not make one up for them and leave it in the comments?

Without further ado, Buffyfest presents: Last Lines of the Dead.

-BtVS-
 

Jesse: - "You don't have the guts." - The Harvest






Principal Flutie: - "Are you insane?!" - The Pack





Darla: "Angel?" - Angel





Uncle Enyos: "I suppose you want answers." - Innocence





Angel (Becoming): "Quickly, you have to send me to Hell to stop Acathla, Buffy" (reportedly, all but the last word were "indicated with his eyes" [sic]). - Becoming Part 2




Mr. Trick: "Oh, no. No, this is no good at all." - Consequences





The Mayor: "Well, gosh." - Graduation Day Part 2





Magie Walsh: "Adam?" - The I in Team





Adam: "How...can you?" - Primeval






Buffy: "The hardest thing in this world is to live in it" - The Gift





Tara: "Your shirt..." - Seeing Red





Spike: "I want to see how it ends." - Chosen





Warren: "I know you're in pain, but-" - Villains





VampWillow: "Aw, f..." Doppelgangland

-Angel-

Doyle: " "Too bad we'll never know...if this is a face you could learn to love." - Hero

Lilah: "He's gonna kill us." - Calvary

Cordy: "Oh... and you're welcome." - You're Welcome

Darla (again): ""This Child, it's the one good thing we ever did together. You make sure to tell him that." - Dad

Fred: "Please, Wesley, why can't I stay?" - A Hole in the World

Wes: "I—I love you." - Not Fade Away

Lindsey: "You kill me? A flunky?! I'm not just... Angel...kills me. You don't... Angel..." - Not Fade Away

-Firefly-

Mr. Universe: "They can't stop the signal, Mal. They can never stop the signal." - Serenity




Wash: "I'm a leaf on the wind. Watch how..." - Serenity





Shepherd Book: "I don't care what you believe. Just believe it. Whatever you..." - Serenity

-Dr. Horrible-

Penny: "Captain Hammer will save us." - Dr. Horrible Act III

What do Cordy, Ponch & The Hulk Have in Common?

If you're answer was "Butterfinger" then you win the prize! What that prize is, I'll never know.

Peep Charisma at the 55 sec mark and visit http://www.butterfinger.com/defenseleague/ for more....uh..."Butt"erfingery fun? I really got nothin'. I'm tanking here, people. Bitsy!!

Angel or Booth?

Cliqueclack.com is polling people on whether David Boreano will be remembered as Angel or Booth when all is said and done. First instinct: Angel. He was attached to the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer for three years which will go down in history as the cult classic it's meant to be. He was also the lead in his own show for another five years. I don't watch Bones, so I might be way off base with its popularity, but I can't see it competing with the Buffyverse. As of now, Angel's winning with a whopping 77% of the vote. Go Angel!

Drones Premiere: A Summary (Spoilers)

Amber Benson and Adam Busch showcased their directorial debut on Tuesday at the premiere of their new Indy Film, Drones at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. I attended the event, which was hosted by 826LA, a non-profit writing and tutoring center for children in Los Angeles. Besides the directors, other Whedonites in attendance were Danny Strong and David Fury.

The Review:
Drones is the story of office worker Brian Dilks, played by Jonathan Woodward, who finds himself caught in a weird position when he finds out his best friend (Samm Levine) and would-be girlfriend (Angela Bettis) are both aliens. The story has a nice mix of office politics, romance and humor while adding a ting of sci-fi to the plot. Woodward held his own in the movie, but the shining star was James Urbaniak who played the office manager Pete, delivering his dry, witty lines in a hilarious manner.


Benson and Busch did a nice job directing the film, especially considering it was a 14 day shoot. The opening of the film, along with the depth of field shots were well-executed. The one negative element was the setting which was confined to the office space. A shot or two outside would have added to the dynamic of the film.

One extra comment about the short/trailer that was shown before the film. It was amazing! Check out the video for Academy Award Winning Movie Trailer.

The Q&A:
After the film, Kevin Pollak moderated a Q&A with the cast and crew. Some highlights include the idea of the film which was conceived by one of the writers whose wife worked in an office and found herself questioning if her co-workers were from another planet. Also, Amber Benson and Adam Busch were called the "Ying and Yang" of directing and the cast and crew said that the couple never fought during the entire shoot.

One of the last questions of the night was from a fan who asked Adam Busch if it was weird dating someone who he had killed which was obviously a play off of the Buffy characters of Tara and Warren. Well, I won't get too detailed, but let's just say that the people on stage weren't so amused.

Then it was on to the after party where the drinks were flowing. I got to talk to Danny Strong for awhile which was nice since I adored his movie Recount. All in all, it's a good night when you can support children's education and the Indy Film industry all under one roof.

Photos © Jonathan Reilly

Vote for Buffy vs. Edward at the Webby Awards!

The now legendary "Buffy vs Edward: Twilight Remixed" video has been nominated for a Webby Award in the Best Video Remix/Mashup category! Hailed as the "Internet's highest honor" by the New York Times, The Webby Awards is like the Oscars for the internet.

From now until April 29th, “Buffy vs Edward” fans can cast their votes at:
http://www.youtube.com/webby?x=remixmashup

So far it's in 3rd place with only 15% of the vote. So let's make it happen! Go vote!

From the creator, Jonathan McIntosh:

“Buffy vs Edward” is an example of transformative storytelling in which Edward Cullen from the Twilight Series meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer at Sunnydale High School.

The remix was created by methodically re-editing and re-combining clips from the Twilight movie with scenes from 36 different television episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Since its online debut last summer “Buffy vs Edward” has been viewed nearly 3 million times and has been translated into 30 different languages by fans (including Japanese, Bahasa Indonesian, Haitian Creole and Tagalog).

News of the Day - Joss To Direct 'The Avengers'

Marvel's upcoming film "The Avengers" is a blockbuster in the making amd now will be directed by our boy, Mr. Joss Whedon, thank you very much! "The Avengers" will potentially star Robert Downey Jr. (as Iron Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), Hemsworth (Thor) and Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury). Edward Norton may also return as the Hulk. Variety says Whedon will also rework thee film's script. Release date is May 4, 2012.

The Avengers, created by Comic Legend Stan Lee in 1963, are Labeled "Earth's Mightiest Heroes". They originally consisted of Ant-Man, Wasp, Thor, Iron Man, and The Hulk. Captain America joined in issue #4. The rotating roster has become a hallmark of the team, although one theme remains consistent: the Avengers fight the foes no single superhero can withstand — hence their battle cry, "Avengers Assemble!" The team has featured humans, mutants, robots, gods, aliens, supernatural beings, and even former villains.

So basically, nothing the dude's not used to. Congrats!

**Update** - Even though multiple people involved have commented on Whedon's involvement in The Avengers, nothing is confirmed as of yet. We'll keep you posted!

(Spoilers) Exclusive Interview with Writer Bill Williams on 'Spike: The Devil You Know'

Spike is the character that almost every writer, fan or otherwise, dreams of writing for.  He's a poet, he's a fighter, sometimes he's romantic, sometimes he's a cad, and sometimes, just sometimes, he's crazy in a basement; but he's always cool, always compelling and, arguably, he's always the most clever voice in the room.  Is it any wonder that IDW jumped at the chance to give him his own story in the midst of Angel: After the Fall?  

With Brian Lynch's Spike ongoing still in the planning stages, it would be a crime to risk letting Spike simply be part of the Angel Investigations team and so, Bill Williams and IDW teamed up to bring us Spike: The Devil You Know, a mini series that puts Spike center stage and gives him a whole new cast of characters to bounce off of.  No team, no prophecies, just an angry, blue demon and a dream.  Here now, we talk with writer Bill Williams (with a little help from editor, Mariah Huehner) about this new series and why fans are still chomping at the bit to see more from the man who brought us Happy Meals with legs.

"[This] piece of art is from the second issue when Spike and Eddie are trying to track down the location of the new improved Hellmouth. Spike was in the habit of signing out cars from Wolfram &Hart (under Angel's name of course) so he has a stash of classic cars to drive around in LA. Lucky for him that branch of the firm imploded and no one is looking for the stolen cars." - Bill Williams

Buffyfest: How did this book happen? Were [IDW editors] Chris [Ryall] and Mariah [Huehner] looking for ideas or did you pitch "The Devil You Know" to them first?

Bill Williams: During one of our first phone calls with Mariah, Willingham mentioned that I wanted to get more pages for Eddie and based on that conversation, I wrote up the pitch that would become Spike: The Devil You Know. I was a few months into the Eddie Hope back-up series in Angel when I got the project okayed by Mariah after she chatted with Chris. Those four pages a month break down to about sixteen panels which is not much storytelling real estate. I wanted to wedge Eddie into another series somehow without stepping on what Willingham has planned for Eddie in the main Angel series. Angel has mini-series all over the place, but there was a lack of extra Spike material in the pipeline. I proposed the story as a Spike mini-series with a special guest-star... Eddie Hope.

I originally pitched the mini-series as ’24 with vampires’ because there is a ticking Hellmouth out there and Spike is racing around Los Angeles trying to make sure that is does not open. By the time I finished the script, it was more like 48 Hours. As you can tell from the cover, the ‘buddy cop’ vibe is pretty strong. I write a lot of projects that revolve around crime, so more of that detective angle is in this series.

Buffyfest: What's the timeline of this story? Is it post-After the Fall? How does it coincide time wise with the upcoming Brian Lynch series?

BW: Eddie Hope was a regular guy who was transformed during the events of After the Fall, so this story is after that one. This mini-series more or less runs parallel with the Willingham run on ANGEL. Specifically, it fits between the Eddie stories in Angel #32 and #33 so it’s before Gunn but after Electric Gwen. The Eddie part of it is pretty easy to place because he hits another name on his list in the first part of the story. The adventure unfolds over the course of two nights so that it will not step on what Brian Lynch has planned for the upcoming SPIKE series. In the narrative, Eddie is on his vengeance- fueled shooting spree, trying to rub out another terrible person who revealed the depths of his inhumanity in Hell-A. And as in the television show, our two lead characters cross paths as Eddie has a guy in his sights that happens to be trying to help kill Spike.

Spike has a problem, a long lost and legendary vampire that was sired by The Master has been hired to open a new kind of Hellmouth under the city. Miss Tansy Fry has been running a monstrous crew that has been opening mini-Hellmouths for a variety of clients across the world. She has set up shop in Los Angeles to open a new portal to a dark place.

Buffyfest: Chris Cross referred to the book by a different title, Spike: Family Feud. Titles change all the time but, we're curious, why was the story originally called "Family Feud" and why was it changed to "The Devil You Know"?

BW: I wanted to put a reference to our new favorite devil, Eddie in the title. The Family Feud angle comes from the fact that Spike and Tansy have a common ancestor in The Master who was Tansy’s sire. If my math is right, The Master was Spike’s Great-great-grandsire. The project was called a few things as I worked on the pitch and batted it back and forth, but the current title is the one that stuck. It is the most descriptive.

Buffyfest: Speaking of Chris Cross, how did he, Marc Deering, and Felix Serrano, get connected to this project? Was that Chris Ryall's decision or had you wanted to work with them specifically?

BW: A lot of those questions are better suited to Chris or Mariah. I had no input on the decision to put Chris Cross and Marc Deering and Felix Serrano on the title. Writers often don't often have a lot of say about that aspect of creation. A ton of different factors go into picking an art team for a project like availablility, suitability, etc. and the writer is sometimes distant from that part of the process. I was thrilled when I saw some of the early studies on Marc’s deviantart page. www.emperios.deviantart.com/ I dropped Marc a line and he put me in touch with Chris. Now, whenever he was a question about the art, he can give me a call or drop me an email. He called me with a question one night about the reservoir set from Angel. When I first sat down to study the Angel series, I had seen it in syndication, but I knew I needed to do my homework. So I sat down with all of the seasons on DVD and made a big thick Angel Bible that I reference from time to time. So, when Chris Cross called I went back to my notes and then to the DVD and found the reference and got it back to him that night. The internet makes it much easier for the creative team to stay in touch.

[Update with Mariah Huehner] Mariah: Chris Cross had just sent in some samples and was looking for work, and I thought his style would be energetic and different to really make the mini-series stand out. He did some sketches of Spike which we liked a lot and we got him started. he brought along Marc and Felix. We move pretty fast and it's important to get these projects on the schedule and moving forward. The whole art team has been really great and is having a lot of fun with the scripts. I think half the fun of comics is getting to see different takes on the characters and playing around with art style.

Buffyfest: Getting back pages based off of what you've written is surely always exciting. What about the art for this book do you love best?

BW The Spike mini-series is full of action and Chris Cross does great kinetic action scenes. Spike is the target of a vampire organization pretty early in the story, so there are a few fights. Most of them are in the typical stages in the Whedonverse like parking garages and abandoned warehouses and the like.

Buffyfest: What do you think makes Spike such a popular character?

BW: In some ways, Spike is a Rorschach test for fans. Some see Spike as a romantic hero and a poet. Some fans see Spike as a guy who loves to fight. Depending on the story, Spike can fit in anywhere. One of the things that I loved about the character on the television shows was that Spike was fully engaged with his environment. By that I mean, when he was sad, he felt it. Spike is also witty and very funny.

I like the reluctant ally stage of Spike’s development in Buffy Season Four where he has the chip in his head so that he cannot harm humans. He is getting over Dru leaving him by spending more time brawling with the other demons in that cursed town. And he still manages to put the Scoobie Gang into harm’s way by working with Adam. Spike is clever and that side of him needs a good airing.

Buffyfest: There are so many Whedon related forums out there full of very vocal fans. Having spent some time engaging with the fandom, what is it you think fans want most from a Spike story?

BW: I spend some time on the IDW forums in the Angel discussion areas. I try to stay out of the conversations about who can beat up who and who should hook up with whoever. What fans want is simple. If my reading of the fanbase is right, some of the fans want to see Spike the warrior poet who gets together with Buffy but not long enough to quash a Buffy and Angel reconciliation. Some want more fighting and some want more relationships. Some fans want to see more of the Fearsome Foursome (Darla & Angel & Dru & Spike) in their cravats having Vampire Victorian Adventures. When you boil it down, what people on the message boards want is... More. Fans don't want the story to end.

The great thing about serial fiction is that we all want to know what happens next. The comics are a great way to revisit the things we love about the Whedonverse characters. I’m just happy to be able to create a handful of new characters for the fans to watch as they bounce around in the existing continuity. I’d be giddy if Willingham picked up some of the characters from the mini-series for the main ANGEL series.

Buffyfest: Is there a difference between what Whedon fans want and want they need in a story? If so, what do you see as the difference between those two?

BW: Well sometimes, you really need something you don’t know about or want yet. Whedon fans are very enthusiastic and very certain. They speak with authority. I think that most fans including Whedon’s fans need to know what happens next. What I think fans really want is to be surprised. Fans want memorable moments. The overused phrase is that drama should be surprising and inevitible.

What I wanted to show with this mini-series is that Spike no longer just measures himself against Angel. Spike’s only real competition is with Spike. After the mayhem of the Season Five finale, I think Whedon’s Los Angeles needs a new villain or two. I’ve introduced one that I hope sticks around.

Buffyfest: If you are in the midst of writing a story, how likely will fan opinions be in affecting where the narrative goes?

BW: The story is locked. I wrote the first draft of the mini-series in 2009 over about two weeks time. Mariah and the people at Fox went over it backward and forward and came up with a short list of fixes. I got the notes from them and did the rewrites which included a pretty big rewrite of the first issue and that was it. Now when I get in new pages from Chris and Marc, I get those little ‘Oh Yeah’ moments when I see that my blueprint is making a pretty cool comic book. I can’t wait to see it lettered and colored.

I know you’re not supposed to read your reviews, but I’m compulsive.

While I have been waiting for this project to hit the stands, I’ve written about ¾ of the first draft of a mystery novel. And in super cool news, I got called in on short notice to do a massive rewrite of a pilot for a television show that’s supposed to start shooting next month. The process for that was a lot like the comics writing process in that your first audience is the editor/ producer.

Buffyfest: Favorite Spike-centric episode of Angel or Buffy?

BW: I’ll be greedy and pick one from each series.

In the BUFFY Season Three episode "Lovers Walk", Spike shows up in Sunnydale and kidnaps Willow to get her to cast a love spell on Dru so that they can be together again. It’s twisted and brilliant and has some great little Spike moments. The Spike line of the show, “I may be love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it."

Meanwhile in Season One of ANGEL in the episode titled "In The Dark", Spike narrates Angel’s rescue of a woman in an alley. It is loads of fun and demonstrates just what Spike thinks of Angel at the time. Before the big rewrite of the first issue of the mini-series, I had Spike drop a reference to Angel as ‘Captain Forehead’ which of course he was the only one to get.

Buffyfest: How would you describe Spike in 10 words or less?

BW: (Wow. At least you didn’t ask for a haiku. Or iambic pentameter. Let me see what I’ve got here...)

William the bloody makes a pretty champion named Spike.

Or... Spike is a charming, clever and honest vampire killer.

Aaahhhh. Looks like Spike is bigger than ten little words.

Buffyfest: Spike has worn many hats - villian, lover, champion. Which do you think is the most interesting?

BW: I think the most interesting incarnation of Spike is the next one. I can’t wait to see what Brian Lynch has in store for half of fandom’s favorite vampire with a soul.

Buffyfest: Who's your pick in a Spike vs. Eddie Hope match up?

BW: Spike and Eddie don't really get along well at first so we’ll get to see it play out in the pages of the four issues. I want to keep the action moving, so the story is full of jokes and punching. Under the pressure of the Hellmouth plot, Spike and Eddie do spend some time making fun of each other and it breaks out into punches thrown at least once.

The truth is that the writer can tilt the playing field in favor of one character or another. Over in the pages of the Angel comics, Eddie Hope decides to add Charles Gunn to his hit list and then kill him for the things that Gunn did while he was a vampire in Hell-A. Now that would not seem to be a fair fight. Not only is Eddie stalking Gunn, but he has his devil powers. Later when Gunn catches Eddie distracted and he creases Eddie’s head with a lead pipe, he evens the odds. But that is a story for another comic.

Buffyfest: We love Eddie Hope, any chance he becomes a permanent member of the team?

BW: Willingham has the master plan for Eddie. I took his original pitch and moved Eddie to where he needed to be to bash him into Team Angel. The next chapter is up to Willingham. When I took the gig, I did send Mariah a map of where I thought Eddie’s story should go. I have it in my head and hopefully, it will bit the page.

Every year, the Clockwork Storybook guys get together for a few days. That’s a writing group that Willingham and I are in and I suspect that we’ll sit down and hash out the new status quo after the upcoming events in the main ANGEL series. http://clockworkstorybook.blogspot.com/

Buffyfest: What is it with Spike and women...do you see Spike as a bit of a player now that he's a free man? And speaking of women, any chance fans will get a mention of the "B" word in this book?

BW: That depends, is Beta George male or female?

Seriously, there are cameos by Connor and Illyria, but Spike and Eddie mostly interact with new characters. Part of the reason to do that is so that we can have a high body count without getting fan outrage on the message boards. Plus, Fox might take a dim view of that kind of murderous behavior with their cast. One of the new folks is in Tansy’s camp and he’s my favorite of the supporting characters. Sam'rskell the Giant is muscle for Tansy and he is a match for Eddie and Spike combined. The three of them have a knockdown dragout of a brawl.

To the first part of your question, I think that Spike is essentially monogamous but that he has not found a new mate yet. I suspect that is more of a question for Brian Lynch than for me.

Buffyfest: In your opinion, should Spike ever get to Shanshu?

BW: That is the kind of question that is above my paygrade. There are a long line of writers and characters that would have input before mine. That said, Spike and Eddie have a conversation about the Shanshu Prophecy in the third issue of the mini-series. Spike gives him the short version and Eddie gives him his outsider’s perspective on the whole thing. Eddie is new to the life of a Supernatural Being and has a definite opinion.

Given the fact that Spike earned his soul and is powerful and pretty, would giving that up for a mortal life be a good idea at all. From one way of looking at it, isn’t the Shanshu Prophecy more of a death sentence than a happily ever after?

"[This] page from the first issue of the mini-series when Spike gets a dire warning from Illyria. She is still adjusting to her Fredness." -Bill Williams

Winners of the DRONES Premiere Contest announced!

Congrats to reader BP and Twitter Tweeps @ghostgirl13 and @kellyorkids. They've each won 2 tickets to the premiere and Q&A of Amber Benson & Adam Busch's DRONES. In addition to Amber and Adam, the Whedonverse's Jonathan Woodward will be there. We'll be there too!

Congrats to all the winners and if you didn't win, you can still purchase tickets (as well as Red Carpet admission tickets, which includes the after party) here:

http://826ladronesscreening.eventbrite.com

Enjoy!

Win Tickets to the LA Premiere/Q&A of Amber Benson & Adam Busch's film DRONES

DRONES, directed by Whedonverse darlings Amber Benson and Adam Busch, will have its Los Angeles premiere at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood this Tuesday, April 13, 2010.

And we're giving away 3 sets of tickets to the premiere and Q&A with the cast! Amber, Adam & Jonathan Woodward will all be there!

You can enter the contest 2 ways:
Sign up for Buffyfest updates by simply emailing buffyfest@aim.com with DRONES in the subject.

or Follow us on twitter and RT the following:
We're giving away Tickets to the LA premiere/Q&A of @Amber_Benson & @AdamBusch 's movie DRONES on 4/13. RT to enter!


Winners will be announced this Sunday!

This premiere is being hosted by the non-profit group 826la (www.826la.org) and will include attendance by many of the film’s stars including: James Urbaniak (“The Venture Brothers”), Samm Levine (“Inglourious Basterds”), Paul F. Tompkins (comedian, “Best Week Ever”), Angela Bettis (“All My Friends Are Funeral Singers”), Dave (Gruber) Allen (“Freaks &Geeks”),
and Marc Evan Jackson (comedian, “The Slammin’ Salmon”). Also in attendance will be the films co-directors, Amber Benson and Adam Busch (both formerly on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), and the films co-writing team of Ben Acker and Ben Blacker (Acker &Blacker), writers of the “Thrilling Adventure Hour” as well as many more celebrity friends of the cast and crew.

“Drones” follows the story of Brian Dilks (Jonathan M. Woodward, another Joss Whedon Alumnus), an office Drone. He spends his days at OmniLink in comforting monotony as he facilitates the moving of products around the country, faxing, copying, joking with his best friend, Clark, and harmlessly flirting with fellow cubicle-mate, Amy. But how well do people really know those who they work with? Brian comes to discover that perhaps some of his co-workers may in fact be from another planet, leaving him to ask the question, “So who else in the office is an alien?” While many of us have silently asked this very question about our own co-workers, for the film “Drones,” the question couldn’t be more serious. According to Film Slate Magazine, this film “explores the common themes of life, love, work and what happens when a man discovers impending doom for planet Earth.

All profits from the premiere will benefit 826la, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, please email iwanttohelp@826la.org.

To purchase general admission tickets, as well as Red Carpet admission tickets (which includes the after party), for the LA Premiere and benefit for “Drones” please visit:

http://826ladronesscreening.eventbrite.com

Happy Birthday Michelle!

We love you! Hope you have a fantastic birthday!

How awesome is this cake from fairytale frosting ? 

We Have an Advance copy of Buffy Issue #34 - Translation: "OMFGWTFCAKES!"

Michelle's take:
Scott Allie just gave me the bestest birthday present ever - Buffy Issue #34, two days early. That's right people, I've read it and wow, I'm just...wow. I've read some speculation on fan sites today and all I keep screaming in my head is, "YOU HAVE NO IDEA!" I'm not going to spoil anything, but suffice it to say that this issue is filled with lots and lots of information and lots and lots of...well, everything! If you're looking for Buffy and Buffy to move in a different direction then I'd say this issue is for you. If you're an extreme shipper on any side of the fence, I'd say, hold onto your hats for this one. The art is fantastic and the issue is choc full of lore. Every issue since #32 has had me jonesing for the next and this one's no exception. If I had money in internet stock right now, I'd sell because I'm pretty sure the internets might explode tomorrow.

Tara's take:

Michelle's birthday has become all of our birthday because I read it too and whoa-oah! This issue is Cra-a-azy! To quote Ryan "JOSS!" ::with fists in the air:: What can I say without SAYING it? Well, issue #34 definitely over the top in a way that only a comic could be (or I guess a blockbuster movie with a huge effects/costume/actor budget.) My mouth was open the entire time. It's totally and completely shocking, in more ways than one.

I'm not going to even pretend to gauge fan reaction to this one. Nope, not me! I can't even deal. I'll be over here assuming crash position...with popcorn, of course.

Bitsy's take:
What to say, really, without giving it away? I don't even think the issue can be fully processed on a single read. What's interesting is that a lot of things get explained but I still don't have a clue what's going on or why. There are so many layers to this story and the scope is so big that, the more you know, the more you don't. I feel like Brad's arc is saying "Hey, everybody? You're totally screwed. I've got to go but, here, I'll let Joss explain to you just exactly how screwed you really are." Oh, and one other thing: Buffy? I guess she's done baking because her and Angel are making cookies like there's no tomorrow. By the way: it's possible that there actually is no tomorrow.

You look Horribly 8-bit, Doctor

If there is one thing I might love more than the Whedonverse, it's old video games.  So imagine my delight when I started hearing that artist and musician, Doctor Octoroc, was working on an 8-bit version of Doctor Horrible's Sing-along Blog.  A few tracks were released here and there but now, at long last, the first act is out.  I'm embedding the video here but please see the high quality version at his site here.  Remember: it takes hard work to bring something this amazing to fans so, if you're so inclined, please donate or buy his amazing Christmas album, 8-bit Jesus.  Here's the video:

Exclusive Look at the Buffy #37 Cover (Spoiler)

We just got this, so make of it what you will. I know I'm scared!

Clearing Up Some Dark Horse News

With all the information coming out about Whedonverse comics this weekend it's hard to keep up, but some Dark Horse news from WonderCon today confused us. We spoke to Super Scott Allie this evening and it seems as if some of those things are either not new or not entirely accurate. Here's a run down:

Confirming S9 is old news, Scott has been quoted as such quite a few times now in previous interviews. Also, no specific creative decisions have been made about the length or style of Buffy Season 9, nor has an artist been finalized. Georges has said publicly he'd like to be involved somehow, but it doesn't sound like he'll be the main artist.

Finally, regarding the Dollhouse comic announcement, Dark Horse mentioned Dollhouse a while back, but has taken that announcement back repeatedly over the last five months. There is nothing new to report about it at this time. Hope that clears things up!

HUGE NEWS: IDW snags True Blood License

Huge news coming from Wonder Con. IDW will be bringing True Blood to the land of sequential art. This is a huge win for IDW who has already brought characters from Angel, Doctor Who, Star Trek, Transformers, and G.I. Joe to comics not to mention original series like Locke & Key and 30 Days of Night.

The series has been co-plotted by none other than Alan Ball himself. It will be co-written by Angel editor Mariah Huehner and author of previous IDW title Star Trek: Year Four and the upcoming Angel: Barbary Coast mini David Tischman. Keeping with the Angel theme, we'll have artwork from from fan favorite, David Messina who is currently doing the pencil work for Bill Williams' back up Angel story about Eddie Hope. Covers will come from David Messina, Joe Corroney, Andrew Currie, and the absolutely amazing J. Scott Campbell.

I am unbelievably thrilled at this news. True Blood has become a favorite of mine and definitely satisfies some of my old Buffy cravings. Seeing it in comic form is going to be such a treat and it's fantastic to see Alan Ball on board. Here's the official press release via HBO:

Alan Ball’s hit HBO series, the sensually sizzling story of the lives and loves of vampires, mind readers, and all manner of creature, comes to comics with IDW Publishing! This six-issue series kicks off in July, and True Blood fans can pre-order exclusively with HBO.com!

In this tantalizing series spinning out of the hit show, blood and sex mix on a hot rainy night at Merlotte's, when Sookie and her friends are trapped by a vengeful spirit who feeds on shame. People die and dirty secrets are revealed as Sookie, Bill, Eric, Sam, Tara, Jason, and Lafayette and are all coerced to dig deep and tell painful memories from their past—those things we all have locked within us that we never tell another living soul!

Bon Temps, Louisiana has never been stranger, or more twisted, than in this story co-plotted by TRUE BLOOD series creator Alan Ball, with a script by David Tischman (Bite Club) and Mariah Huehner, featuring lush art by David Messina.

* Bonus inside every issue: an exclusive pullout gatefold poster by David Messina!

EDIT: and here is the press release from IDW:

San Diego, CA (April 2, 2010) - HBO and IDW Publishing are thrilled to announce an exclusive partnership to produce a multiple, all-new comic book series based on the network's hit show True Blood.  Premiering at San Diego Comic-Con in July, this sexy, visually striking comic series will add new and unique layers of supernatural drama to the wildly original Emmy^®- and Golden Globe^®-winning television show.  Developed closely with the show's Oscar^®-winning creator, Alan Ball (HBO's Six Feet Under, American Beauty), IDW's True Blood series are the exclusive, official comics for the show and will be available in both print and digital formats.

"I am very excited to be introducing the True Blood comic book series," stated Ball.  "These graphic novels are a great companion to the series and we are pleased that the popularity of the show is allowing it to branch out into different mediums."

The first six-issue True Blood comic series offers the same erotically-charged romance, wry humor and intriguing mystery and suspense the show has become known for. The plot was developed with Ball, along with series writers Elisabeth Finch and Kate Barnow, and co-written by David Tischman and Mariah Huehner.  Beautifully illustrated by top tier artist David Messina, the series captures all the bloody details and sexy reveals of this exciting new adventure.  Renowned artist J. Scott Campbell will join Messina in providing covers for each issue.

The comic series will explore the ongoing adventures of telepathic heroine Sookie Stackhouse, her vampire lover Bill Compton, best friend Tara Thornton, enigmatic and ancient vampire sheriff Eric Northman, loyal boss Sam Merlotte, brother Jason Stackhouse, perpetual-virgin vampire Jessica, and the flamboyant cook/drug dealer Lafayette Reynolds.

In the first storyline, Sookie and the rest of Bon Temps find themselves waiting in Merlotte's bar for a strangely portentous raging storm to subside.  Soon, they discover they've been trapped by an entity that feeds off of raw emotions and begins killing off the patrons one by one until his hunger is sated.

"True Blood is one of the most exciting dramas on television and has been eagerly anticipated by comics fans for a long time," said IDW CEO, Ted Adams. "We are very excited to bring more of this great entertainment franchise to fans."


True Blood #1 (of 6, 32 pages, full color, $3.99) will be available in stores in July.

We Have a Winner of The March Madness Whedonverse Character Tourney - The Worst of the Lot!

But what has he won, really? Well, pretty much the hatred, disgust and frustration of many. The rolling eyes and frowns when he graces our screens. The urge to write Joss Whedon some good ole' fandom hate mail. That's right, by a slim margin of only 5 votes against Warren, "The Worst of the Lot" is:

Connor (no real last name)!

(also known as Connor Angel, Steven Franklin Thomas Holtz, Connor Reilly and The Destroyer)

As a child of two dead people, Angel and Darla (also no last names), Connor's birth is an impossible one, despite being prophesied, and concerns much of the show's third season. From his parents he has inherited many vampire-like powers and abilities. After the infant's painful estrangement from his father, he returns toward the end of the third season as an emotionally inexperienced and mentally unstable teenager who has grown up in a hell dimension and harbors resentment toward Angel.

Later, he had sex with Angel's love interest at that time, Cordelia Chase, whose body, unbeknownst to Connor, was actually being inhabited by the morally ambiguous fallen goddess Jasmine. This results in a mystical pregnancy birthing Jasmine herself, but not after a little kidnapping and murder of an innocent virgin to make it happen! By the end of Season 4 he was a faithful servant of Jasmine but finally had to kill her as well, which sends Connor down a twisted path of mass murder/suicide by bomb. In the end, Angel had to make a deal with the evil Wolfram & Hart to save Connor by killing him and raping the minds of everyone in the series, as he felt he had no other choice. Yay! (Read more about Connor, not that you'd want to from these results, here)

Connor is played by Vincent Kartheiser, who is currently playing another douche on the series Mad Men along with fellow Whedonverse alum Christina Hendricks.

Click here to see how the entire month of hatred went down!

Thanks so much to everyone who played this year's March Madness! We'll have another tourney in the fall for September Silliness, it's tradition now.

How To Throw Your Own Spuffyfest

Holy Spuffaliciousness! Having a Spuffy party a.k.a "Spuffyfest" can be as simple as getting a few friends together and Spuffying it up!

The Menu:
"Spuffalo Wings"
"Those Onion Blossom Things"

For the drinkers in the house, we suggest:
Blood Orange Champagne Cocktails
or
Bloody Marys

Spike is a vamp after all. So Blood=Yes, Garlic=No. ;)

The Episodes:
Well, we've been doing 'fest parties for years now and trust us, more than 3 eps becomes a problem. Of course it's up to you to decide for yourself, but we suggest you take a poll shortly after guests arrive and choose 3 eps or pass a hat around for people to pull 3 eps from. Some great Spuffy examples to choose from would be the following:

Halloween, Something Blue, Crush, Afterlife, OM,WF, Smashed, Wrecked, As You Were, Touched

There are, of course, many others.

The Games:
The Buffy Fantasy Game (right click, download here). It's an interactive DVD type game created by Julia, resident TV Geek at VelvetParkMedia.com. Great party game!

The Music:
May we suggest something in this free download (right click, save as). It's the Spuffy classic "Don't Spuff 'til You Spuff Enough".

Enjoy!