Buffyfest's Top Ten Moments of 2011!

Major Buffyverse spoilers for Season 8 & 9 if you're not completely caught up...

Another year is gone. And listen, we were definitely confused about compiling this year's Top Ten list. Did Giles get killed this year or end of last? Did Buffy and Angel conceive a baby universe this year? When did she even have random lesbian sex? Well the answer to all of that is: Not in 2011! Oh no, 2011 was all about restructure and transition in the Whedonverse. The Buffy and Angel stories are all back under one roof, living at Dark Horse, and Joss Whedon was off creating new and wonderful projects for us to feast our eyes on in 2012. Helping us with what will be the Top Ten moments of 2012, assuming the world doesn't end before that.

So now that we have that all figured out, here's a look back at our Top Ten Whedonverse Moments of this year. And a very Happy New Year, readers and friends!

#1 - Photobombed!
This was one of the most embarrassingly huge things that ever happened to us as Buffyfest, so it was definitely landing the top spot this year. Joss Whedon officially became our White Whale. While doing an interview at SDCC, Andrew Chambliss is actually saying the words "Joss is busy with The Avengers" and dude, Michelle, Joss is right behind you. Doesn't get sillier than this!

#2 - The End of All Magic
2011 marked the fallout of Angel and Buffy's universe-creating space sex, which ultimately ended in Giles' death and Buffy needing to break the seed, thus ending the flow of magic on earth. What a long, strange trip it's been.

#3 - Buffyfest 2011
This year we had a fancy brunch featuring Funny Shaped Pancakes, Mr. Gordo Bacon, Oh Hey! Juice!, and coffee from the Espresso Pump, along with all the morning fare one could dream up for a Buffy Breakfast event. Michelle even made a fanvid using the Wham! classic "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go." Good times.

#4 - Dark Horse Goes Digital
With Dark Horse taking over the Angel license, 2011 not only marked the year that Buffy and Angel were back under one roof, but the company finally digitized their full range of Whedonverse titles old and new. Which brings us to....

#5 - Angel & Faith
We're not sure if anyone was prepared for the fabulosity that the Angel & Faith series has become. Angel is arguably one of the most hated characters in the entire Whedonverse at this point (after basically killing Buffy's dad), but man smashing these 2 anti-heroes together has created a seriously compelling story to watch unfold.

#6 - Much Ado About Nothing
Joss writes, directs and produces a whole movie entirely in secret. He may have an evil clone.

#7 - Buffyfest at Comic Cons
Buffyfest once again made the pilgrimage to Geek Mecca SDCC 2011 and it's little cousin NYCC 2011.

#8 - Buffy's Birthday Bash
Buffy had a big birthday on Januray 19th this year, coinciding with Season 8's grand finale...and there were bashes all over the country to celebrate! Our spot? Forbidden Planet in NYC.

#9 - Joss Whedon's Favorite Shirt
Joss wore that two-toned henley to death, from Comic Cons (it's in the photobomb!) to parties to film sets. 'Twas funny.

#10 - Buffy Movie Reboot: DOA
Funny thing is, last year's #10 spot of this here list had the news of the Whedonless Reboot along with the line "It's possible that by this time next year, the reboot release will be a rumor of the past". And now it looks like it is. Life's cute like that sometimes.

(Spoilers) Exclusive Interview with 'Angel & Faith' Writer Christos Gage & Artist Rebekah Isaacs

In just a few issues, Angel & Faith has become a fan favorite. It's really no surprise, the art is fantastic and writing is super-solid. We had the opportunity at New York Comic Con to meet the team responsible for the first time in person, writer Christos Gage & artist Rebekah Isaacs. Watch as we pick their brains about the Whedonverse...

NYCC Panel - Buffy & Angel Present: DARK HORSE DOES VAMPIRES RIGHT!

Dark Horse Comics Editor Scott Allie and Director of PR Jeremy Atkins were joined by Angel & Faith’s writer Christos Gage and artist Rebekah Isaacs as well as Annemarie who was representing House of Night. The panel focused on not only Buffy and Angel & Faith, but other books in the Dark Horse catalog that feature vampires and would be recommended to Buffyverse fans. These other titles included Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden’s Baltimore, P. C., Kristin Cast’s House of Night, and Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s The Strain.

After the panel, every attendee received a free copy of Angel & Faith #1! See below for the full video of the panel. Enjoy!

Exclusive Interview with Scott Allie at NYCC 2011

So New York Comic Con 2011 is finally over, but we're still rolling out the footage and tidbits! After Dark Horse's Panel here at NYCC, we had the always lovely chat with Super Scott Allie, Editor of Buffy Season 9 over at Dark Horse Comics, of course. We will have that panel up in full as soon as possible as well.

Here we spoke to Scott about all things Whedonverse Comics: The 'Free Comic Book Day" Serenity Flip Book, beloved characters like Giles, Illyria and Harmony & Clem, Buffy getting pregnant (I know, huh?), the structure of the rest of the Buffyverse season and the crossing of the universes with the Angel & Faith book. Most of the Angel & Faith stuff was reserved for our interview with Christos Gage and Rebekah Isaacs. enjoy!

Interviewers Tara & Dan

Camera: Nanci Ocello

Audio: Michael Flaccavento

'Husbands' Panel from NYCC 2011 featuring Jane Espenson

Whedonverse alum Jane Espenson and writer/performer Brad Bell (aka "Cheeks") have created a marriage equality comedy called Husbands (www.HusbandsTheSeries.com.)

At this panel filmed at New York Comic Con 2011, Espenson, actor Sean Hemeon and Cheeks spoke about the show. It was moderated by Alyssa Rosenberg. Enjoy!

(Spoilers) 'The Avengers' Panel from NYCC 2011, Full Video!

Yesterday was definitely "The Avengers" day at New York Comic Con 2011. Anticipation was off the charts and the largest hall in the Javitz, the IGN theater where the panel was being held, was full from the morning on. Con guests were not budging to see this thing, leaving many others sad. Finally at 7:10 pm, over a half hour late, the audience cheered so loud that the audio was a bit distorted for the first few minutes. It was crazy. Seriously, you'd think we were seeing The Beatles reunion show.

Panel guests include Clark Gregg (Agent Phil Coulson), Cobie Smulders (Maria Hill), Chris Evans (Captain America), Tom Hiddleston (super villain Loki) and Surprise Guest Mark Ruffalo (The Incredible Hulk). Highlights included: Clark Gregg singing "Avengers" theme. Ruffalo shared that since he's a friend of Ed Norton, that they'd be making jokes about the whole "Hulk casting" situation. Hiddleston hinted that he also plays his villainous character in other forms (Sif?)  Kevin Feige confirmed that he is in pre-production talks for Iron Man 3 which will be phase 2 of the Avengers Initiative and will lead into an Avengers sequel.

During the panel they showed the official trailer and a fantastic scene cut just for NYCC 2011 that focused on The Incredible Hulk's impromptu encounter with Black Widow, which had a very "Joss Whedon flavor" to the directing and dialogue. The film is of course written and directed by Whedon, who wasn't present because he was busy editing. It opens May 4, 2012. See the panel below in full!

Camera: Nanci Ocello

Asst: Michael Flaccavento

Get on a Buffyverse Comic Cover at Dark Horse's Booth at NYCC!

Yeah so....this happened. Not sure what went wrong, really. The concept of the Green Screen booth they're doing at Dark Horse is awesome, but Bits and I kind of screwed the pooch on the whole thing. I mean, that doesn't even look like me. I look more angry at the photographer than the "vampire" I'm staking. And Bits just looks confused. He isn't even showing his fangs! Fail.

If you want to take a crack at it, the Angel & Faith/Buffy cover will be back on the schedule on Sunday at Dark Horse's booth!

"Spotlight on Felicia Day" Panel - NYCC 2011

Conventions can be so tricky with the scheduling. Yesterday, the panels for Felicia Day and Jane Espenson were at the exact same time, of course! So Bitsy and I split up and filmed each separately. Now not only does everyone else get to see these panels, but we even get to see what we missed.

Felicia was with fellow Guildie Sandeep Parikh, who was hilarious at the panel. Watch as they chat about The Guild's season finale, writing & producing Dragon Age on a budget, kissing on camera, the idea of a musical version of The Avengers inspired by Dr. Horrible and more!

New York Comic Con 2011!

It actually started yesterday and so did Bitsy's drunkenness...but that's neither here nor there. We're here today at New York Comic Con, holding it down! We got Dark Horse Comics, we got James Marsters, there's some Jewel Staite action in the house, Clare Kramer, Felicia Day, Seth Green, the fabulous Jane Espenson and what's this I hear? Last minute Summer Glau and Eliza Dushku? And let's not forget some serious Avengers goodness. Where the hell else would we be? Now let's get this party started!