Buffy : Season 8

1. First of all, what was your initial reaction when you heard that the news had broken early? In the solicitations for an issue which we’re not going to see for about 3 months down?

Georges: I was really disappointed. This was a nice payoff that was just months from happening. But after some thought, I realized that Twilight’s reveal is really just some of the story. Not even the biggest part, in my opinion. There are so many other things that are happening, readers are going to get caught up in all the drama. Especially when Joss comes in to wrap it all up!

2. When you joined the team, were you handed a copy of the "Buffy Manifesto" for S8? What were your reactions as you read through it? And more specifically, how did you feel about Angel being Twilight? Were you aware by then of the rich history that Buffy and Angel had/have? Have any of those feelings/views changed since then?

Georges: At the beginning it never really had an impact on me because, while I knew who Twilight was from the beginning, I didn’t really know the history between him and Buffy. At the beginning I really just looked at Angel and thought how much he resembled Dylan McKay from 90210. I didn’t really see why it was such a shock in Issue 3 to have Angel and Spike with Buffy. Over the years I began to appreciate what the climax would mean. It was like someone was cooking as you were entering the room and all you can do at the beginning is smell that something is cooking and after a while, you smell that something really good is cooking!

3. This tracks along with question #2. Your response to a fan question asking what the anticipated response was when we found out who Twilight is was:

Quote: Georges: Shock. Surprise. Panic. Anger. Shame. Delight. Disbelief. Take your pick (I’m not kidding).

So far, I’d say that you were pretty much on the nose for the majority of fans. Assuming that you went through the same suite of emotions, what can you offer us in terms of what you think the fans will feel once we fully understand S8? We’ll see how close you are the second time around. :)

Georges: I think Season 8 will come to stand as one of the most important seasons of the series. I kid you not. Now that we are heading to the final stretch, things are getting bigger in terms of scope. Ask me this question again at the end of the series and see if you don’t agree.

4. Since you are the main artist of S8, you’ve also had the privilege to be the behind quite a few pivotal character designs. What inspired the design for the Twilight costume? You’re usually excellent at injecting a personal sense of style into all your creations (looking at that first spread that you did in #1, with Buffy, Satsu, Leah, and Rowena dropping out of a chopper, I cannot help but be struck by the individuality of each girl, even though they were wearing the same Slayer uniform), so I’m wondering if you injected any of your perceptions of Angel into the costume? Or was that a strict no-no, given the secrecy of his identity.

Georges: While Angel is a huge reveal no doubt, let’s not forget we still have that strange symbol on his chest to contend with, the same symbol that has popped up on Black Magic books and tattooed on various individuals. I put a lot of things together when designing the costume. Joss really wanted him to wear a trench coat which, now, would seem like a dead give away, and from there I just kept giving him design after design until he liked something he saw. The girls were the same way. I tried to give them all a personality when we first see them and I have tried to stay with that. I think I bit off more than I wanted to with Satsu because she’s one of those detailed girls who’s always wearing a lot, be it earrings or belts or what have you. I knew that when I would have to draw her I would be spending more time on what she wore. [image]

5. Your cover for #34 seems very light-hearted, and Valentine’s Day-ish, with all the hearts and the people kissing. Can you offer an explanation for why you chose to do that, considering the tone of the comic would presumably be much darker? Or would that be too spoiler-ish?

Georges: Brad Meltzer had suggested that cover. It’s a homage to an old Action comics cover by Carmine Infantino where it is indeed Valentine’s and Superman is kissing someone, not Lois Lane, I can’t remember who at the moment, and in the hearts below are Lois Lane with someone and Jimmy Olson with a girl. [image] [image]

6. Final question: For better or worse, you’re now officially part of what could be the most controversial season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer to date. How does that make you feel?

Georges: I am delighted to be at the center of this incredibly perfect storm that is the Buffy universe. I am proud and honored, as I’ve said many times, to be associated with so much wonderful talent that I’ve had the good fortune to work with on this series. It will certainly be one of the highlights of my career if nothing else, and it has afforded me an opportunity to meet so many incredible, not fans, but friends over the years! If there’s ever a Georges Jeanty retrospective, and we would be talking way down the line here, I’m sure the Chapter on Buffy will be a stand out!

Thanks Georges for talking to us. We’ll definitely be in touch AFTER the season wraps up. That’s definitely for sure. Those of you who would like to ask Georges any more questions, I have opened up a Q&A session for him.