Comic Nation
Preview – Review! Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #5 – Slayer Interrupted
By Chuck Suffel
Preview – Review! Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #5 – Slayer Interrupted
Writer: Andrew Chambliss Penciller: Karl Moline Inker: Andy Owens Colorist: Michelle Madsen
From the Dark Horse site:
“Buffy’s dreams have become all too real lately as she deals with a magicless world. She’s still fighting creatures of the night, as Willow and Xander grow distant and nightmares plague the Slayer. But something is telling Buffy that there is more to her dreams than meets the eye . . . and that her greatest fears may yet become reality!”
When I was in grade school I used to go to my grandmother’s house a lot. I would wind up there after school when I was too young to hang out around the school where my mom was teaching after-school. It was great, she always treated me like a little prince anything and everything I liked was always at my disposal, but I also remember her need to watch her “stories”. General Hospital was, I think, her favorite. I remember being so unbelievably bored when she had that on just waiting for my chance to turn on cartoons. I remember promising myself that I would never care about stupid stuff like that.
Well friends January 11th’s Buffy has shown me that I was fooling myself if I thought I didn’t have stories of my own. Buffy was a soap opera as a tv show and has definitely remained one in comic book form. The slayer army, Xander’s inability to have a girlfriend that doesn’t get killed, Dawn’s crazy love life, Willow losing her powers, face it fans this is a soap. So obviously I must hate it, right? Well no lately I’ve been noticing the comic books I really enjoy are definitely action packed and super-heroy but they all have very character driven plots. X-Factor, X-Force, iZombie, Irredeemable, Animal Man I could go on and on.
I do have to admit that the plot had gotten a little stale towards the end of Season 8. What with the whole “Big Bad” named the same as that annoying sparkly vampire series. Also the deaths not only of Giles but of all magic as well. It had gotten depressing and I was kind of reading the title out of habit, waiting for the plot to turn.
Well wait no longer fans of the Buffyverse! It finally seems like our heroes are getting back to just that, being heroes! Last months finale to the “Freefall” four parter was a good issue, chock full of action and drama (as well as a cool cameo by Spike) but it left me wondering where they would go next. This new issue really felt like a return to the show, there was slayer lore, Buffy getting help from a “scooby” or two and some really huge reveals. No the magic has not returned to the world but our heroine is finally working on it.
Buffy’s world has always been a little angsty and emo-ish and the start of Season 9 wasn’t much different. A lot of hand wringing and it’s all my faulting. Now it seems that Buffy has been punched in the gut and told to woman up! As well as stumbling across a clue to finding out just how, if possible, to undue what she’s done. And that big reveal I mentioned? Definitely big. I’m really looking forward to seeing just what Joss and the crew have cooked up for us this time. I just hope those dark kids will be quiet while I’m enjoying my stories.
Come see me @ http://charlessuffel.com
DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES THE PROMOTION OF MATT PARKINSON
DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES
THE PROMOTION OF MATT PARKINSON
TO SENIOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Dark Horse is pleased to announce the promotion of its former director of online marketing, Matt Parkinson, to the newly appointed title of senior director of Marketing.
Parkinson, who celebrated his sixth year with the company in 2011, will be moving into new responsibilities in overseeing the Dark Horse Marketing Department.
In his time at Dark Horse, Parkinson has been an instrumental part of the brand’s growth online, through the development and execution of advertising, cross promotions, and social-media strategies.
Along with Dark Horse’s senior managing editor, Scott Allie, and director of public relations, Jeremy Atkins, Parkinson helped to develop the company’s first foray into original online content with MySpace Dark Horse Presents. Following that, he managed and developed the DH:HD program, showcasing original eight-page stories from top Dark Horse properties on the USA Today comics web page. Additionally, he had a big hand in the development of the Dark Horse Digital comics strategy and website, and has acted as the company’s spokesperson for the initiative thus far.
“My time at Dark Horse has been one of the most satisfying experiences both personally and professionally,” said Matt Parkinson. “I have enjoyed working with Mike Richardson and the entire Dark Horse team, and look forward to new challenges and opportunities. I am truly proud to have played a part in the company’s rich history, and look forward to having a larger role in carrying Dark Horse’s message to the world.”
“We’re very excited by the vision Matt brings to his new position,” said Dark Horse president Mike Richardson. “With his experience, leadership ability, and knowledge of the comics market, he’s uniquely qualified to make an immediate impact on our marketing efforts.”
Richardson also praised the efforts of former VP of Marketing Micha Hershman, who leaves after a two-year stint to pursue opportunities in the field of animation. Richardson was quick to wish Hershman well in his new endeavor.
Please join us in congratulating Matt Parkinson on his past accomplishments, and wishing him luck in his new role in the company.
Comic Nation TV: Big City Dare 2 Draw
WIN THE DARK HORSE PRESENTS #10 ReLEASE PARTY!
DARK HORSE PRESIDENT MIKE RICHARDSON VISITS YOUR COMIC SHOP!
You may be asking yourself why your issue of Previews features Dark Horse president Mike Richardson’s handsome mug.
Well, as we near the landmark tenth issue of Dark Horse’s flagship anthology, we are offering one very lucky comic shop the chance to host the official Dark Horse Presents #10 release party!
In addition to a king’s ransom in prizes, the winning store will receive a visit from Dark Horse president and founder Mike Richardson!
Here’s how the contest works:
Step 1: Cut out the Mike Richardson mask in this issue of Previews. Enter to win by commenting or posting images on the Dark Horse blog (http://www.darkhorse.com/Blog/777/mike-richardson-comes-your-store) beginning on December 28. You have until January 31 to tell us why your store deserves a day with Mike Richardson, or post a photo of yourself in the mask in your favorite store. Retailers may post as many photos as they can of store staff, customers, and people off the street. We’ll narrow it down to five finalists based solely on the number of comments and notify them the following day, February 1.
Step 2: After two more weeks of fierce competition, Dark Horse will pick from the five finalists, based subjectively on a combination of volume and creativity of the Mike photos and comments. The winning store will be announced in the February 13 FOC newsletter, and on the Dark Horse blog that same day.
Retailers: Tell us why your store deserves to host this exclusive event!
Fans: Here’s your chance to show your comic shop loyalty!
One entry per person.
The party will be held the day Dark Horse Presents #10 is released in stores. One store will win a release-night party package including:
200 various Dark Horse comics to give away
10 trades to give away
Dark Horse Comics key chains
An assortment of Dark Horse Comics buttons
4 Dark Horse Comics coffee mugs
Pizza
A store-exclusive Dark Horse Presents miniprint
And more!
The other four finalists will each receive 10 copies of Dark Horse Presents #10, signed by the big guy himself.
The fine print: No purchase necessary. You must be eighteen years of age or older to enter. Contest entries only accepted if they are submitted by 11:59p.m. (PDT), Jan. 31st, 2012, to be eligible. Winner will be selected, as determined at Dark Horse’s sole discretion, from all applicable entries and will be notified by Feb. 13th, 2012. Entry becomes the property of Dark Horse upon receipt. Entry constitutes agreement by winners to be publicized and permission to use each winner’s name for the purposes of promotion of the Contest without further compensation. Contest void where prohibited. Odds of winning dependent on number of entrants.
Comic Nation TV: a talk with Dean Haspiel
Comic Nation TV:Big City Dare 2 Draw
Hero Initiative!
Preview of Dark Horse presents #8
DARK HORSE PRESENTS #8 (KRISTIAN DONALDSON VARIANT COVER)
A brand-new B.P.R.D. story, the beginning of Brian Wood and Kristian Donaldson’s The Massive, new Skeleton Key, and the conclusion of Howard Chaykin’s Marked Man?
Join the legendary anthology as Dark Horse Presents commemorates the 100th Anniversary of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan with Thomas Yeates, unravels the mysteries surrounding Neal Adams’s Blood, Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson’s Beasts of Burden returns, and more great comics!
* Brand-new B.P.R.D., the conclusion of Chaykin’s Marked Man and more!
On sale February 1, 2012 – 80 Pages – No ads.
The Caption Box Podcast 19: Year End Wrap Up
Rob Base sits with Ed Gamblicher, Juan C Pineda and Chuck Suffel as they talk about the year in comics for 2011.
[podcast]http://media.alternativemindz.com/mp3/CaptionBox/19_caption_box_podcast_Year_End_Wrap_Up_12232011.mp3[/podcast]