3 fanon things confirmed

[maggie2]

Needless to say (!) I'm really happy about the preview pages.  It could get me to revert to being a Spuffy.

But aside from wanting (like crazy) to speculate about Buffy's smile and Spike's not-made bed, here are three things that Dark Horse has delivered us about Spike:

1.  It's now text that Spike has a more sizeable package than the other vampire.  Proof?  You don't boast to your ex about your package when she's in a position to make a direct comparison with your rival unless you think that comparison works for you.

2. Spike went to college.  OK, this was pretty much a given -- but now it's unmistakeable.

3.  He's got some sophisticated tastes underneath that bad rude exterior.

How many ways can I possibly say how happy I am that he's back at DH and being written by folks who know that there's more to Spike that womanizing and brawls?

Allie deserves a shout out on this.  So here's me, shouting out.

Finally: does that scene not reek of "Trust is for old marrieds, Buffy"?  I'll take it over space boinking and bestest day ever shenanigans any day of the week.

Comments

[elisi]

As for 2 and 3, then he was a Victorian gentleman, and I always took those things for granted. That said, it's nice to see it all confirmed.

And as for old married, then IMHO that's exactly what they're acting like. ♥

Considering what DH has done to Angel, I'm not at all ready to shout out. Yes it's nice to see Spike in character, but it's only since Lynch left that IDW went downhill.

[2maggie2.livejournal.com]

Agree that 2 and 3 were always obvious. To me it's just a splendid antecdote to IDW that they both surfaced here.

I don't think Lynch's Spike drinks Madeira, or could kick back with Buffy like that. He was better than what's happened since, but you and I part company on how much we like (or really don't like) Lynch's characterization of Spike.

But we'll take agreement where we can get it -- I'm big heart about the old married bit.

Did you notice that Spike's bed is tucked into a corner the way Angel's was in Surprise?

[angearia.livejournal.com]

Agreed. Lynch writes a Spike who thinks Angel is more evolved than he is--nobler than the noblest noble. Whedon/Allie write Spike who thinks Angel is a holier-than-thou idiot who trips over his own ego. Lynch writes a Spike who has ceded the battle of his ego inferiorities and now calls Angel the superior in all things. Whedon/Allie write Spike winning the battle as Spike continues to evolve while Angel remains trapped, unable to evolve past his curse.

[2maggie2.livejournal.com]

Word! Can I rep you?

[angearia.livejournal.com]

I'll never turn down rep! :)

I hate how we now have to read Lynch's SPIKE series in order to get the backstory. And I don't expect Joss will be looking over Lynch's shoulder editing it. Seems to me DH handed over an outline of what points to hit, but when it comes the psychology of Spike and how he views himself in comparison to others, we're going to be getting Lynch's Spike when I want Whedon's.

[2maggie2.livejournal.com]

And people are going to be citing him like he's canon. Sigh. Anything to escape the awesomeness that is this Spike.

[angearia.livejournal.com]

No one has suffered as we have suffered.

LOL! Canon.

[aycheb.livejournal.com]

Lynch's Spike would set my teeth on edge even if he wouldn't keep writing him in fanboy voiceover.

[fenderlove.livejournal.com]

Lynch writes a Spike who thinks Angel is more evolved than he is--nobler than the noblest noble.
He wrote a Spike that believes that Angel tries so hard to be noble that he's pretty much become ineffectual and might as well be in a coma. And hey, Twilight so we're already there. Lynch's Spike would rather be a chaotic 8.5 on the goodness meter than be completely useless in the longer run after worrying if he is "good enough." Nothing to do with evolution.

[2maggie2.livejournal.com]

I meant to add about Angel: I tend to be an Angel-basher. I work hard not to be, but it's the truth. It's really weird having my entire rap on Angel spelled out so clearly in the text. I'm thinking there's going to be a turn around for the guy. We're seeing my view of the guy, but my view is a painfully limited view, and there's always been more to Angel than the negative stuff.

[elisi]

It's funny you should say that, because I've recently had a post about Angel brewing. One outcome of having such a Spuffy-oriented flist is that I know a lot of people who dislike Angel, and their prejudices (like yours) have only been boosted by s8. I want to re-dress the balance. :)

[2maggie2.livejournal.com]

That'd be good. My prejudices are as strong as they are because I see myself talking to folks who think Angel is just the purest hero ever, and he obviously isn't. But the thing about dialogue is that it pushes you to one side or the other -- and Angel is most interesting because he's both. So I look forward to your meta!

[elisi]

Oh I've talked to those people too! (Or ones that hold similar views.) Makes me want to punch things. I like my heroes COMPLICATED!

[liliaeth]

My one fear is that the people currently in charge of Dark Horse, don't see these flaws as flaws. After all, most of them are men, would they even realize that to a lot of fan, Angel's tendency to make decisions for Buffy is seen as a flaw, and a really bad one at that?