Buffy 8.09 "No Future For You", Part IV Discussion Thread

[KingofCretins]

Five page preview released today... issue comes out tomorrow --

Buffy 8.09 "No Future For You", Part IV

Wow... very awesome *new* content from off-screen in Season 3 between the Faith and Mayor, and Vaughan has Wilkins down perfectly.

As for the current situation? Well, Faith still has some fight in her...

[Nostalgia]

Yeah.. I just read it.. I'm so pumped for the final act. I really didn't expect Faith to put out her angry side.. I knew she was duping her but what happened to the reconciling? Well, looks like we can throw away the "pushing Buffy to save Gigi" possibility that some have speculated.

[KingofCretins]

Oh, I don't dismiss that out of hand. Faith is in a pretty raw place emotionally herself. She just then tried to reach out to Genevieve and explain and got nothing but snot from her. So, the beatdown ensues.

I kinda wonder whether or not the real tragedy of Genevieve is that she's clearly overmatched not only by Buffy, the "queen of the Slayers", but by Faith as well.

[alexa]

I didn't resist reading that for very long. I wanted to smack down GiGi myself. Bloody hell, she needs to get over herself, living in her little bubble.
I liked the Boston Tea Party nod.

[KingofCretins]

The best was that Faith took being referred to as a New Yawka as more painful that getting hit, I think.

Based on that last preview panel, not only has Faith, at least temporarily, disarmed Genevieve, she's still interested in a dialogue -- she seems like she's about to go on to explain her motives and the broader situation. The very first opportunity (and last, if she doesn't take it) Genevieve will have to learn the truth outside of the "bubble" she lives in.

[Weredog]

Standing ovation for Faith when she kicked Gigi across the yard!
And the Mayor -- that was beyond awesome. It felt like watching the musical sequence in "Selfless." I am not sleeping tonight. Staying up til I get the next issue.

My only complaint will have to be, again, how Faith was drawn. I'm sorry but was that Willow in the first panel? 'Cause that couldn't be Faith. The one where she looks down saying "Thanks" looks like Faith, though.

[KingofCretins]

My only complaint will have to be, again, how Faith was drawn. I'm sorry but was that Willow in the first panel? 'Cause that couldn't be Faith. The one where she looks down saying "Thanks" looks like Faith, though.

This is the kind of thing I think is just unfair. I have to assume you're using the idea of mistaking her for Willow as a bit of hyperbole, because... with the arc being about Faith... and the narration being by Faith... and the outfit being the same one we've seen her in before... and the context being a scene with *the Mayor*... is there actually a mistake to be made about who that is?

[Nostalgia]

Any predictions? I honestly think we will have to watch out for Faith in terms of survival. What was that quote you had again Kings, kind of giving up hope for survival?

Maybe it would be too early actually.. I just know they're going to leave on a bad note.. whether that's Faith dying or not.. there's going to be some revelation.

[Weredog]

I have to assume you're using the idea of mistaking her for Willow as a bit of hyperbole, because... with the arc being about Faith... and the narration being by Faith... and the outfit being the same one we've seen her in before... and the context being a scene with *the Mayor*... is there actually a mistake to be made about who that is?

Of course it's a hyperbole. I didn't actually scratch my head and asked aloud "Oh, dear, why is Willow talking to the Mayor?!" Of course I knew it was Faith, I was commenting how Faith in that panel looked more like Willow than Faith herself.

[KingofCretins]

I just spotted something very profound... Faith's first narration is "Evil scumbag. That's what most people think about the last guy to put me in a dress."

I think it's very significant that Faith is obviously drawing a parallel now between Wilkins and Giles. It almost makes me wonder if, by the end of this that we'll be at a moment not unlike the one at the end of "Harsh Light of Day", but instead of Buffy, Harmony, and Anya wronged by lovers, we'll have a convergent look at the relationships between Buffy and Giles, Faith and Wilkins, and Genevieve and Roden.

Seriously, "No Future For You" could place itself in the top 10 Buffy 'episodes' of all time when this issue hits.

[Nostalgia]

Seriously, "No Future For You" could place itself in the top 10 Buffy 'episodes' of all time when this issue hits.

Oh I'm on the same boat... I already cried top 20.. but I'd have to really really die for the final act for it to be top 10.. it's definitely possible.. and I never had any clue that Brian K. Vaughn was such a great writer. Imagine if he was on the boat with the last 7 seasons..

[sueworld]

My only complaint will have to be, again, how Faith was drawn. I'm sorry but was that Willow in the first panel? 'Cause that couldn't be Faith. The one where she looks down saying "Thanks" looks like Faith, though.

Yes, sadly she looks about 12 in that drawing. Seems to be happening a lot to the women in this comic.

The Mayor looked great though. So pleased to see him again, even if it is just for a flashback.

God I miss him.

[KingofCretins]

Yes, sadly she looks about 12 in that drawing. Seems to be happening a lot to the women in this comic.

When not being oversexualized and exploited

Oh I'm on the same boat... I already cried top 20.. but I'd have to really really die for the final act for it to be top 10.. it's definitely possible.. and I never had any clue that Brian K. Vaughn was such a great writer. Imagine if he was on the boat with the last 7 seasons..

I think it's really going to work for me, because I started watching Season 3 with "Helpless" today while studying and am about to start "Dopplegangland" and will probably run the rest of the Season... so my context for reading 8.09 will be the Faith-Mayor relationship.

[alexa]

Hmm yeah I love this episode as a whole.. if I count all four issues. The Long Way Home p2 is still my favourite single issue though.

I have lots of free time today, I might watch some season 3

I hope there is more Giles...

I think Jeanty nails Faith sometimes, and not so much others, but it's hard to draw precise likeness for every angle! I'm a fan of Georges now, at least you can see all the detail.. and Joss likes to fit in lots of info in every scene.

[sueworld]

When not being oversexualized and exploited

That and being ridiculously young looking. *g* But then I really don't like his artwork all that much I'm afraid.

I hope there is more Giles...

Oh god same here. So much for the whole 'core four' business. We've hardly seen anything of the character. The cynic in me would say it's because he's an older man, not a nymphet looking Potential that he gets the short straw when it comes to any real 'screen time'.

[Nostalgia]

Hmm yeah I love this episode as a whole.. if I count all four issues. The Long Way Home p2 is still my favourite single issue though.

I have lots of free time today, I might watch some season 3

I hope there is more Giles...

I think Jeanty nails Faith sometimes, and not so much others, but it's hard to draw precise likeness for every angle! I'm a fan of Georges now, at least you can see all the detail.. and Joss likes to fit in lots of info in every scene.

You can't really look at single issues though (unless a standalone).. because they are episodes as a whole.. just in small increments.. once the issue hits tomorrow.. there's a good chance it will be one of the best Buffy episodes written in a long time.. dating back to Dirty Girls.

[Weredog]

I hope there is more Giles...

I agree. I feel like Dark Horse haven't been promoting this arc right (similar to how UPN marketed the series.) For example, remember way before the covers were even released, Dark Horse announced that "Giles and Faith travel in Britain for the mission of her life" (more or less)? Though they were technically right, I feel like they gave a false sense that Giles was going to be the sidekick of the arc. As we have seen, he isn't. Giles served this purpose in the first issue, but in the last two he had few lines in a single scene.
I know there are things that need to be dealt with in "No Future for You" in the expense of Giles, I just feel let down after feeling like this was going to be his co-arc.

[Nostalgia]

Considering all we saw was him and Faith in the first two arcs.. I'd say we've seen a pretty good deal of Giles in this issue. It's a hell of a lot more than TLWH and The Chain.. and he's going to pop his head in issue 4.

[KingofCretins]

I gotta think that we're either going to get Giles involved with whatever ultimately plays out between Faith and Genevieve or seeing what happens with Buffy calling him on the carpet, or both. My local comic store opens in about 8 or 9 hours

[Wolfie Gilmore]

Loving Faith's dissection of her relationship with the Mayor, and her nuanced view of what makes someone worthwhile, despite their flaws. Or evilness. Liked the "snake not a dog" line.

Based on that last preview panel, not only has Faith, at least temporarily, disarmed Genevieve, she's still interested in a dialogue -- she seems like she's about to go on to explain her motives and the broader situation. The very first opportunity (and last, if she doesn't take it) Genevieve will have to learn the truth outside of the "bubble" she lives in.

It seems that Faith's experience of being on the wrong side of the evil tracks has given her insights that perhaps Buffy doesn't have - a willingness to try talking. Ok, talking while hitting someone. But still, serious discussion, not just snark! Since she's been The Lawless rather than The Law, she's had an odd kind of luxury - the luxury of not being in a position to judge, and so, perhaps, easier to be merciful and understanding of someone's human failings? Even while they're trying to kill you?

Gigi, seriously girl, I have two words for you. Waterproof. Mascara.