Season 9

[Tranquillity]

Season Nine was confirmed by Dark Horse at Wondercon 2010 and not as long a wait as many of us feared...

Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans worried what they'll do when Joss Whedon wraps up Season Eight "“ the hit Dark Horse comic series continuation of the late TV show "“ can breathe a sigh of relief. Today at WonderCon, the publisher confirmed that there will be indeed be a Season Nine, which will debut six months after Season Eight concludes. More details after the jump.

Previously, Dark Horse had announced it hoped to do a Season Nine, but now the publisher explained that not only will it definitely happen, but, unlike that of Season Eight, its story won't take three years to tell.

"We're going to be taking a shorter approach to it," Dark Horse's Jeremy Atkins told me, "With Season Eight, we didn't know how long it was gonna take to tell the story Joss wanted to tell. But we think that for this next time around it's gonna be a little tighter, a little more concise."

Dark Horse has not yet announced any writers, but their intent is to have popular Season Eight artist Georges Jeanty continue as the principal illustrator of Season Nine.

Wondercon 2010: Dark Horse Confirms Comic - FEARNet

 

[white avenger]

It sounds suspiciously like Dark Horse just plain doesn't to lose their big money maker. I just hope that this doesn't mean that Joss is just going to be a "consultant" on Season 9, the way novelists become when their books become movies, or disassociate himself from it completely, the way he seems to have done with "Angel: Aftermath." I'm really surprised that D H is even allowing a whole six month gap between seasons. Maybe they're planning something like a "Tales Of The Slayers" or "Faith" miniseries to fill in the gap.

Now, here's a thought. The finale of Season 6 gets Buffy and several of her friends blown literally to hell, and the next six months is a jump gap arc between seasons where everyone still on this side scrambles to find a way to bring them back. By featuring entirely new characters, it wouldn't be so noticeable if Joss had less input into it.

 

[sosa lola]

I heard that S8 won't cover everything up, that there will be some loose ends. S9 seems to be the aftermath that ties all the loose ends.

 

[AndrewCrossett]

It sounds suspiciously like Dark Horse just plain doesn't to lose their big money maker. I just hope that this doesn't mean that Joss is just going to be a "consultant" on Season 9, the way novelists become when their books become movies, or disassociate himself from it completely, the way he seems to have done with "Angel: Aftermath." I'm really surprised that D H is even allowing a whole six month gap between seasons. Maybe they're planning something like a "Tales Of The Slayers" or "Faith" miniseries to fill in the gap.

Scott Allie has said Dark Horse wouldn't do any more Buffy comics without Joss directly involved in at least an Executive Producer role. When it stops being canon, they'll stop doing it.

 

[Kean]

I heard that S8 won't cover everything up, that there will be some loose ends. S9 seems to be the aftermath that ties all the loose ends.

I heard that too, even going so far as to say the whole Twilight thing won't be completely tied up.

Well at least we only have a 6 month wait for season 9 once 8 concludes. I was expecting something much longer.

 

[Tranquillity]

Apparently not all the facts were straight at Wondercon. Scott Allie corrects a few things on Buffyfest Blog including the news that Georges Jeanty will most likely NOT be the main artist.

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!

Buffyfest: Clearing Up Some Dark Horse News


and, if you're interested, an actual transcript of the Wondercon Panel (buffy mention only) and it makes a bit more sense that the first Twitter feed posted above:

Switching over to “Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8,” Atkins asked, mock-sheepishly, “So how many people want to throw something at me for the whole Angel-Twilight reveal?” He assured “Buffy” fans, however, that Twilight’s identity is a small part of what’s to come. “There’s still a lot more to find out about why [Angel]’s Twilight and what’s happening.” Atkins also teased that the next issue contains a huge payoff for fans of the Buffy-Angel romance. “For those of you who are Spike fans, you might be a little disappointed in the outcome of the next issue.”

Joss Whedon will be back to write the final arc of “Season 8,” which closes later this year. “There are big surprises coming for that,” said Atkins. “As you know, if anyone knows how to end a season, it’s Joss Whedon.”

WC10: Dark Horse Panel - Comic Book Resources

 

[Xanderfan]

Damn man i still gotta Read Season 8 #1 and get up to date with the entire season

 

[Skytteflickan88]

I heard that S8 won't cover everything up, that there will be some loose ends. S9 seems to be the aftermath that ties all the loose ends.

I hope the opposite. I want season 9 to be the start of something new.

Sure, there's will be some lose ends that will be adressed, but since there's a 6 months long gap, they can't be too big.

But I want no cliffhanger, no Warren, no Amy, no Twilight, no Spike or Angel (definitly later, but I'm currectly fed up with the Spuffy and Bangel stories and can wait).

I'm so glad they're going to be more "conscice". Not that I don't love one-shots, but Season 8 needed more arcs, and less in-between stories. I never thought I would dislike one-shots, but the Predators and Pray "arc" was a bad idea. It would have been better if that had been a seperate mini-series, released along-side Season 8. But I guess that might have taken away from the story since I think that one-shots shouldn't include things that are necassary for the story at large, which means that at the very least issue 21 and 25 were necassary to be apart of the on-going series.

I guess you could say that I view one-shots as "luxary", kind of fill outs. And those should be kept rare. I really think issue 23-24 could have been seperate one-shots released along side season 8, like The Thrill and the Willow one shot was, and issue 21 and 25 could have been "kept". But I would have to re-read issue 22-24 too be sure that no major plot point would have been missed out.

 

[sending signal]

This is awesome. It makes me feel like the buffyverse will continue on forever (which is exactly what I wanted when the shows ended.)

Not many intellectual properties make me feel like I want them to keep going and going, but this one has been so consistently good.

 

[Xanderfan]

I Hope The Comics Continue To At Least 12 Seasons as long as Joss is Writing It

 

[Primal Slayer]

Im fine with S9 being shorter and with a possible new aritst since it would help distinguish seasons. Only thing I really want is it to go back more to the tv tone. This season has been good but after this, it is time to bring Buffy and friends back down to the "real" world.

 

[white avenger]

I think that as long as the series continues to make money, Dark Horse is going to continue to push for more Buffy, whether it be divided up into set seasons, multi issue arcs, or just stand alone issues. Hopefully, Joss will continue to have, if not total control, at least major editorial input into it. Also, you can almost certainly forget any statement made made by anyone at DH concerning not doing anything Buffy related without Joss. Money is the bottom line, and as long as it keeps coming in, Buffy will, in my opinion, continue to defend the world from vampires, demons, and all things supernatural. Angel and/or Spike will continue to drop by occasionally, but don't expect any definite, absolute answer to the "big question" for a long time to come, if ever. Buffy may even go so far as to say at some point that she loves both men and can't really decide between them (I said MAY, Bangels, get your hackles back down).

The bottom line is, like "Star Trek," "Highlander," "James Bond,"and any number of cult classics before it, the Buffyverse will almost certainly take on a life of its own, independent of its creator. Hopefully, that life will remain faithful to the principals and the quality of the man who created it.

 

[AndrewCrossett]

Scott Allie is the one who said DH wouldn't do anything Buffy-related without Joss in at least an Executive Producer capacity. Since he's the Editor in Chief, that's his decision to make. If Scott leaves DH, I guess the new EiC will make his own decisions. Hopefully, he'll see the advantages of having Joss's involvement (canonicity) in a project. Each issue of season 8 -- even with circulation down to around 40% of what it started at -- sells about 3 times as many copies as an average issue of the old non-canon Buffy comics they used to publish.

Joss won't live forever, and he may not be interested in continuing Buffy's story forever. He may one day pass on the "showrunner" job to someone else he trusts.

But for now... I've said it before and I'll say it again... without Joss, canon does not exist in this dojo.

 

[white avenger]

But for now... I've said it before and I'll say it again... without Joss, canon does not exist in this dojo.

I'm a Tae Kwon Do instructor, and we have doJAHNGS, not doJOS, but I understand what you're saying, and agree. For now. All that I was trying to say was that, when the issue of money conflicts with art, money, sadly, wins out just about every time. And while I'm certain that Mr Allie is an honorable and sincere man, ultimately his loyalty will almost certainly go to his paycheck. If the bean counters at IDW say that "Buffy" is making the company enough money, they will make that report, and it could, again sadly, mean that the matter is taken out of the hands of the artists and put in the hands of the businessmen.

And I also agree that, without Joss being involved, canon is at the very best, highly in question, and at worst, nonexistent. But my main point is, as long as it continues to make money, there will almost certainly be a comic book published by Dark Horse featuring Buffy.

 

[Superstar]

I hope the opposite. I want season 9 to be the start of something new.

My predicition: Yes, and no.

I believe season "9" will be the re-invention of Buffy.
The original movie is disowned by Mr. Whedon.
Dark Horse's Buffy Origin comics are partial adaptations of his original script with the tv Buffy gang and situations thrown in to make it mesh as done by Christopher Golden.

I believe this season "9" will be the "last word" on Buffy and her beginnings now that Mr. Whedon has had 15+ years to contemplate Buffy. If it allows Buffy to go forward, great!

I would not expect to see Willow, Giles, Xander, Angel, Spike or anybody else either. They are dreamspace creations.

I believe it will be a whole new beginning.
20 issues is essentially half-a-season, if you measure it by season 8. This meshes with the original 1st season of Buffy.

There may even be a hint of this development in issue #3 [Long Way Home] where Buffy is talking to some people who are most notably not Willow and Xander - the same page as the cubed "memories" of past Buffy "events" and which also has the cameo appearance of Mr. Whedon.

Ethan Rayne expains Dreamspace pretty well there (although curiously he sounds a lot like Spike does when he talks).

In brief: you are always dreaming every dream you could dream all the time. Even when you're awake. A part of your brain is stirring that brew.

Which one you choose to remember in the morning (or what everyone considers that "c" word) is based on your wishes, anxieties -- in your case, your collective slayer memory and prophesies are mixed in as well.

It's a vast and fascinating place. Everywhere you turn a part of you.

In other words the "c" word is no better or worse than anything else written; be they novels, comics, fan-fic or whatever. They are all Buffy's dreams. All have equal meaning. That's one of the nice things about fantasy-land places like Oz, you can shape it however you like and there is no wrong.

Keep this in mind as the last arc of Buffy season 8 wraps up.

 

[AndrewCrossett]

And I also agree that, without Joss being involved, canon is at the very best, highly in question, and at worst, nonexistent. But my main point is, as long as it continues to make money, there will almost certainly be a comic book published by Dark Horse featuring Buffy.

They weren't making money, though. Dark Horse cancelled their non-canon Buffy line years ago for low sales. In the years since then, the comics market has gotten even worse.

The IDW Angel books are still viable, for the moment, because a) many people who started reading them because they were canon, have continued reading them even though they're not anymore (that includes me, but maybe not for much longer), and b) they have a star writer working on them in Bill Willingham, and he carries his own fanbase around with him like Joss does.

I've talked to Scott Allie via Q&A's and such, and he genuinely seems to be more interested in the Buffy story than in the revenue it generates. It's still their best-selling book (but wouldn't be if Joss wasn't involved). A lot of readers... I would venture to say a majority of them... have been unhappy with recent story developments, but Scott has repeatedly said he was more interested in Joss telling his story than in making concessions to please readers and increase sales.

As for season 9 being a complete reboot of the franchise... I doubt it. I don't think Joss would want to do that now. Scott has dropped many hints over the last couple of years that seem to indicate season 9 will be a "going forward" deal rather than a "going backward" one, though it will be "a very different landscape" for the characters. I don't think Joss is nearly done with Buffy's ongoing story, that he'd want to put her back in miniskirts, popping her gum and staking vamps in the graveyard.

But what do I know? I've learned to stop trying to predict what Joss will do.

 

[white avenger]

In Issue #35, Buffy makes a comment that she doesn't want to end up in "the snow globe at the end of St Elsewhere." For those of you unfamiliar with the show, "St Elsewhere" was a medical show that ran for several years, and, in its last episode, turned out to be only the dreams of an autistic child who spent all of his time staring into a snow globe containing a replica of the series' hospital. I mention that, because several people have speculated that Joss might someday actually end the series by revealing that the entire Buffyverse was just the delusional imaginings of a disturbed girl in a mental hospital, as in, "Normal Again." The only real information that I can remember hearing about Season 9 is that it will be "several years into the future," and that it will involve "Buffy in a different location." Maybe Season 9 is going to go back to that girl in "Normal Again," and Willow, Xander, Giles, and all the others will be just hospital staff.

 

[AndrewCrossett]

In Issue #35, Buffy makes a comment that she doesn't want to end up in "the snow globe at the end of St Elsewhere." For those of you unfamiliar with the show, "St Elsewhere" was a medical show that ran for several years, and, in its last episode, turned out to be only the dreams of an autistic child who spent all of his time staring into a snow globe containing a replica of the series' hospital. I mention that, because several people have speculated that Joss might someday actually end the series by revealing that the entire Buffyverse was just the delusional imaginings of a disturbed girl in a mental hospital, as in, "Normal Again." The only real information that I can remember hearing about Season 9 is that it will be "several years into the future," and that it will involve "Buffy in a different location." Maybe Season 9 is going to go back to that girl in "Normal Again," and Willow, Xander, Giles, and all the others will be just hospital staff.

Well, I really doubt Joss would end his story by plagiarizing an old TV show... especially after calling attention to said TV show right in the story itself.

In ToYL, Buffy reads the Watcher Diaries and is very puzzled by the lack of any mention of the Slayer Army in them, although she and the Scoobies are apparently referred to. This suggests that Buffy will travel back in time to before the Scythe Spell was cast in "Chosen," then do something that will cause the timeline to split, leaving this world without demons, vampires, magic or Slayers until Fray's time, and leaving Buffy, her friends, and the Slayer Army in some alternate timeline world where magic and demons still do exist.

Remember, right after Buffy unmasked him Angel said that the cosmic balance wouldn't allow the Slayer Army to exist "on this plane."

I think Season 9 will take place either in another world, or in an alternate version of this one -- on a different timeline from the one that leads to Fray.

 

[Superstar]

I mention that, because several people have speculated that Joss might someday actually end the series by revealing that the entire Buffyverse was just the delusional imaginings of a disturbed girl in a mental hospital, as in, "Normal Again."

I'd really like "Normal Again" as the basis for a Whedon movie. That would be sweet. No need to explain any aging for anyone, if he wants. It's an auto-handwave on everything.

I've mentioned it before but I believe that Mr. Whedon has already told the fans what's happening way back, and long before "Normal Again".

Buffy season 1 only had an intitial order of 12 episodes, and was unknown if it would be picked up.

So, what does Mr. Whedon do when Buffy is picked up for a full season? [season 2 that is]

In the frickin' teaser he outlines the entire series in his now recognized cryptic fashion, but was unknown then.

I draw your attention to these quotes (which, since fans were unaware of Mr. Whedon's storytelling style have been passed off as inconsequential).

'In the few hours that we had together, we loved a lifetime's worth.'
Dreams are funny that way, aren't they?

'It's a madhouse, a madhouse'
Yes, so was every frickin' season of Buffy and Angel. Comments* to follow on that point.

'Use the Force Luke'
Endgame... or "How to blow up a Death Star".
I like the dead Gammorean Guard in Long Way Home #3 when Buffy gets to the "meat" of the matter.

'It's like they knew I was coming'
Imagine that. Oh, wait... maybe she already did.

--------------------
* The utter weirdness of many Buffy and Angel moments on tv used to make me crazy. Like, "WTF were they smoking when they wrote this?" type crazy.

From the smallest things like 3 demons can say some mumbo-jumbo, hurl themselves into the Hellmouth with the 'Word' of Valios (a necklace? Seriously?) and the Apocalypse starts. Nice. And they know this works how? Previous example? Did some other world end this way? And what a frickin' easy way to end it.

To... well top of my list used to be Jasmine. I mean, really...

There are just so many WTF? WTF?? WTF??? moments on both shows that season 8 is nothing more than "more of the same", just amped up to endgame status.

Until you realize that it's a madhouse, and it's not supposed to make complete sense. Then, it makes sense.

 

[Primal Slayer]

Frankly, whenever Joss does deciede to stop working on the Buffy comic, I would be fine with them giving the offical comic an end and start up a non canon comic series again. Start from the beginning again and work their way up.