Buffy : Season 8

1. trunktheslayer: Awhile back it was said that issue 25 would have a big development in regards to Twilight. It wasn’t stated as his character being revealed, but something about him being revealed at least. So the question simply is: What happened to that? Or did I miss something?

Scott Allie: Emmie directed me to something I wrote in the #20 lettercol—When I said "another Twilight turning point," I meant a turning point in the Twilight storyline (Season Eight and Twilight are synonymous. Joss and I refer to them as the same thing—Twilight is the name of a character, but it’s also the name of the 40-issue story), rather than for the character of Twilight. I was refering to the fact that we’d finally learn about the Thricewise, and that Dawn woudl finally resume normal human proportions.

2. AndrewCrossett: Haven’t gotten my issue yet, so I’ll base this first one on the preview... The Veronica Mars reference was very cool to see, considering how closely tied the Buffyverse and Marsverse are, and makes me think of how much I’d like to see a Veronica Mars comic (DC having apparently passed on its option to do one?)

Was that shout-out Joss’s idea or Doug’s?

Scott Allie: I believe that was Doug’s, though we all know Joss is a big fan.

3. bamph: Now that Predators and Prey concludes today,would you say this arc made of five standalone stories with different writers for each was a success and do you prefer this format over the normal general arcs with one writer and one issue standalones in between arcs?

Scott Allie: I prefer the longer arcs, because you can get so much deeper into character, and getting deep into character is what I love about Buffy. This series did what it needed to do, in that we wanted to see a lot of the world, check in with some characters, and give some of our favorite writers a chance to jump in on a short commitment and have some fun without having to push the main story ahead the way we’ve needed to in the big arcs, or even the one shots from Joss.

4. Jay: Hey Scott, before I asked you a question that I feel was worded wrong, so I’m going to rephrase.

How do you feel about Joss’ comment at the Buffy reunion where he said that he’d be willing to throw out the Season Eight story in favor of a new show or movie? Maybe Joss’ opinion on this has changed, but this is something that I’ve been wanting to know for a while. I mean, a LOT of work has been into Season Eight and he was willing to throw out the ENTIRE story. But I want your thoughts, and I apologize if this has been discussed before.

Scott Allie: I don’t think this has been discussed before, but obviously I’d be disappointed if Season Eight were thrown out. It is canon, moving the main story of a TV series into a comic is an unprecedented thing, something I’m proud to be a part of, and I’d hate to see it yanked from under us. But I understand where he’s coming from. I think partly he’s coming from a place of not really thinking it’s gonna come up.

5. maggie: HI Scott! The opening line in Dollhouse is that nothing is as it seems. My question for you is to what extent would that line apply to season 8. For example, (and this is just a for example), is the Giant!Centaur!Dawn arc all about Dawn wanting Buffy’s attention and all the stuff they talk about in their last conversation — or is there anything more to it?

Scott Allie: Well, there’s always more to it, but I think in Buffy things are sort of what they seem. You know what the mysteries are: I think with something like Dollhouse, there’s more of a mystery about what you’re even watching, what’s really going on with the characters. You don’t know what Twilight’s up to, but you know what Buffy’s up to, even if you don’t know all her secrets. And the themes are what they appear to be, although they’ll come into sharper focus over time.

6. AndrewCrossett: We all know from "The Guild" what a talented writer Felicia Day is, and what a big fan favorite she is now. Has any thought been given toward recruiting her to write a Buffy comic one-shot or miniseries? Maybe even a Tales of the Slayers story about Vi?

Scott Allie: I met Felicia last year at San Diego in the context of the Dr Horrible promotions, and we’re talking about doing something. I’m a big fan of The Guild.

7. wenxina: Assuming that #25 is the conclusion of Dawn’s current character arc, are you at liberty to divulge if it turned out pretty much how Joss and yourself envisioned it? Were there certain things that got lost in the process?

Scott Allie: Well, the transformations ended exactly as planned, but her arc’s not over with. A lot of stuff has landed a little different, but so far the main points are right where they’re supposed to be.

8. Nicholas: In 25, someone makes the comment that Kenny is a simple thricewise and shouldnt have been able to cast a spell that tricky...but when Dawn says shes sorry, the spell is broken. So my question is, is the moral of the story that Dawn changes were basically her own personal punishment for herself until she was able to forgive herself and apologise to Kenny, or is there more to it?

Scott Allie: I think what’s interesting about fiction, especially fiction based on magic or any of those sort of mysteries, is what it inspires in you, rather than any sort of systematic analysis. In terms of writing craft, I’d suggest that that line about Kenny not being able to cast such a spell is meant to leave some room for doubt or at least interpretation about what Kenny did, or what happened to Dawn; and with all Joss stuff, the magic becomes a metaphor for something more human and emotional. Earlier, someone made the point that Dawn was doing everything she could to get Buffy to notice her. I think all of these things ring true to the reader, and that’s how Joss’s work, and the work of his writing partners, illuminates, more than just entertaining. It makes you think about real things, not just girls fighting monsters. But if there were a simple answer to your question, it wouldn’t leave you thinking the way he likes to leave you thinking. Which is why this doesn’t answer your question at all ... sorry ...

9. sosa lola: The public’s love for vampire, choosing them over slayers, has been more "tell" than "show". Characters are talking about it so much, but we hardly see it. Will there be more explaining to why they love those vampires? ’Cause one reality show isn’t enough to make such a big, unlikely thing.

Scott Allie: Hopefully Tales of the Vampires next month will satisfy. We’re talking about doing more, but the main story of Season Eight simply doesn’t have room for the detour that would require.

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