Spike Mini-Series Comic Thoughts
Aug. 22nd, 2012 11:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shipperxRead it. Liked it.
But, as a caveat, I've also been a fan of Red Dwarf and Farscape...which is my admission that I'm somewhat amenable to these types of stories.
The moon-frog-demon (yeah, I just wrote that) reminded me of some [i]Red Dwarf[/i] monster (and in deference to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sueworld, I can understand not wanting that sort of thing with BtVS, but I have great nostalgia for Red Dwarf so it doesn't bother me). Frog-demon-monster isn't all that different than Red Dwarf's 'despair squid' or that thing they killed with beer because the only thing that could kill a Vindaloo monster is -- of course -- beer.
Of course, being a Red Dwarf fan, I'm also not particularly bothered by grumpy snarking.
It's a particular brand of humor. Most of it is for the joke (for the reader's amusement). There's grousing but not actual ill-will (though a fair bit of self-loathing.) as shown by the fact that when the chips are down, Spike declares that no one messes with his crew.
Speaking of, the moon demons rather remind if of this guy.
(That or Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy's Vogons.)
Actually the bug-ship's solarium reminds me of Farscape.
Heck, the beach fantasy reminds me of Farscape as well. Really reminds me as thematically it seems quite similar to the fantasy/dreams Crichton had in "Crichton Kicks". Where after Crichton and Aeryn's big fight in "Dog with Two Bones" their relationship implodes and they separate.
The next season opened with "Crichton Kicks" with Crichton on a derelict space ship, friendless and alone... except for the bug-like droids (he offhandedly names one 1812) meanwhile he has dreams of Aeryn on a beach. Actually he at first dreams of her as pregnant as he asks her why their relationship never works out, until he resolves to stop visiting the dream beach and move on. Let's hope Farscape's Noranti isn't hanging around with her "forgetting dust" to snort (just say No, Spike! ;))
Again, I can understand not wanting your Gothic-Dramady detouring into British and/or Austailian sci-fi comedy and/or dramady. But for a brief detour, I'm good. Though it's that's exactly that, and that sort of tone that makes me sort of shake my head at anyone having real problems with the deadpan snark in the Spike/Bug interaction. It's part of the tone/genre they're employing. It's a feature not an...er... bug. ;)
Anyway, sprinkled with the sci-fi dramedy are some nice character vignettes. There is some self-pity mixed with frustration mixed with self-loathing going on with Spike (though being Spike I tend to think that after a good wallow he'll kick himself back into gear). He is flailing right now (and that tends to lead to messes). But Spike's also doing a bit of reflection, which is good.
So while I can understand if the issue isn't everyone's cup of tea, I'm actually relatively pleased with it.
Sure, I prefer the show to the comics and don't see that changing. And I really don't see dissecting it deep meaning in the subtexty layers (because I tend to be wary of reading too much into what isn't said. With something so subjective, it's far to easy to read something that isn't there or to read something entirely differently than the story they think they're selling. If I'm reading what isn't said... I tend to like to do it in retrospect rather than as a prognostication tool. It usually sucks as a prognostication tool).
But, as a caveat, I've also been a fan of Red Dwarf and Farscape...which is my admission that I'm somewhat amenable to these types of stories.
The moon-frog-demon (yeah, I just wrote that) reminded me of some [i]Red Dwarf[/i] monster (and in deference to
sueworld, I can understand not wanting that sort of thing with BtVS, but I have great nostalgia for Red Dwarf so it doesn't bother me). Frog-demon-monster isn't all that different than Red Dwarf's 'despair squid' or that thing they killed with beer because the only thing that could kill a Vindaloo monster is -- of course -- beer. Of course, being a Red Dwarf fan, I'm also not particularly bothered by grumpy snarking.
It's a particular brand of humor. Most of it is for the joke (for the reader's amusement). There's grousing but not actual ill-will (though a fair bit of self-loathing.) as shown by the fact that when the chips are down, Spike declares that no one messes with his crew.
Speaking of, the moon demons rather remind if of this guy.
(That or Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy's Vogons.)
Actually the bug-ship's solarium reminds me of Farscape.
Heck, the beach fantasy reminds me of Farscape as well. Really reminds me as thematically it seems quite similar to the fantasy/dreams Crichton had in "Crichton Kicks". Where after Crichton and Aeryn's big fight in "Dog with Two Bones" their relationship implodes and they separate.
The next season opened with "Crichton Kicks" with Crichton on a derelict space ship, friendless and alone... except for the bug-like droids (he offhandedly names one 1812) meanwhile he has dreams of Aeryn on a beach. Actually he at first dreams of her as pregnant as he asks her why their relationship never works out, until he resolves to stop visiting the dream beach and move on. Let's hope Farscape's Noranti isn't hanging around with her "forgetting dust" to snort (just say No, Spike! ;))
Again, I can understand not wanting your Gothic-Dramady detouring into British and/or Austailian sci-fi comedy and/or dramady. But for a brief detour, I'm good. Though it's that's exactly that, and that sort of tone that makes me sort of shake my head at anyone having real problems with the deadpan snark in the Spike/Bug interaction. It's part of the tone/genre they're employing. It's a feature not an...er... bug. ;)
Anyway, sprinkled with the sci-fi dramedy are some nice character vignettes. There is some self-pity mixed with frustration mixed with self-loathing going on with Spike (though being Spike I tend to think that after a good wallow he'll kick himself back into gear). He is flailing right now (and that tends to lead to messes). But Spike's also doing a bit of reflection, which is good.
So while I can understand if the issue isn't everyone's cup of tea, I'm actually relatively pleased with it.
Sure, I prefer the show to the comics and don't see that changing. And I really don't see dissecting it deep meaning in the subtexty layers (because I tend to be wary of reading too much into what isn't said. With something so subjective, it's far to easy to read something that isn't there or to read something entirely differently than the story they think they're selling. If I'm reading what isn't said... I tend to like to do it in retrospect rather than as a prognostication tool. It usually sucks as a prognostication tool).
