Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Interesting
Disclaimer: I am/was not a huge fan of Joss Whedon. However...

I read this because I read the equivalent book(s) for LOTR, Harry Potter, etc, and I'm a huge TV and pop culture trivia lover in general. Even though I don't like Joss much as an end product, I thought I'd be interested in what goes into his work that makes many people (just not me...) love it so much. I was not disappointed. The motives and symbols behind his writing become very apparent in this book. I gave Joss another try after reading this, and thought I still wasn't blown away, I had a much better appreciation for his work. Life lesson: truly learn about something before you judge it. ^-^

Why 4 stars? I wasn't mindblown, and there wasn't anything supremely groudbreaking in this book. I think there are much better such books for other series/authors.

- Marie J.
English Major

Decent Joss shtick
This book goes into the psychology of Joss Whedon's TV shows (buffy, firefly/serenity, not much dollhouse), but tends to cover the same ground several times; this falls at the feet of the editor.Perhaps there isn't more out there.We read about strong female characters and how the various sidekicks complete the main character.I'd say this is an OK book, but not outstanding.

Perfect for the casual reader
If you're not a psychology student/ scholar this is the book for you. It's interesting, informative and explains, in easy to understand words, the psychological terms it employs. So even if you've never taken a psych class you can still enjoy the book, and probably even learn a few things about your own psyche in the process.

Like the other reviewer said, I've seen essays referring to all seasons of Buffy and Angel, and every episode of Firefly. So it's definitely better if you have seen every episode before reading the book, just so it doesn't ruin watching the show for you.

Interesting and informative
This is the first book I have read in the Psychology and Popular Culture series, and I enjoyed it. Although I have taken a university psych course and had some background knowledge on the topics discussed, the book still would have been easy to understand if I hadn't.

The book covers mostly Firefly/Serenity and Buffy, although there are a few essays about Angel. The contributors do reference all seasons / episodes of the series, so this is a book that's best to read after you've watched all episodes (unless you want to be spoiled). ... Read more

Product Description
Strap yourselves in, folks! It's Joss Whedon and John Cassaday's final arc on Astonishing X-Men! After the shocking and brain-smashing events of recent issues, the X-Men are off to protect the Earth from its destruction at the hands of the Breakworld. And when it's all over, nothing will ever be the same! No, really, we mean it! Whedon and Cassaday prove they are more than Astonishing: They are unstoppable!Collects Astonishing X-Men #19-24 and Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men #1. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

Whedon's run ends without a bang!
Joss Whedon's run on Astonishing X-Men wraps up here and its underwhelming.Abigail Brand, Ord, S.W.O.R.D., Danger, and Breakworld are all in play and at times its too much.The different factions of the alien world aren't exactly fleshed out and the Brand/Beast relationship seems forced.Add to that the sacrifice of a long-standing X-Man wasn't needed, in my opinion, and the way it happened was kind off goofy.The art by John Cassaday was once again beautiful.Overall Whedon and Cassaday had a good run but it started off much stronger than it ended.I'll remember it as a decent but not spectacular run.

Jon's Review
This book is great.I didn't want to put it down once I started reading it.Joss Whedon is a great storyteller and really gets the characters.Also, did not see the plot twist coming at the end.Hopefully that's not the end of the character.The artist is really great too and I can only think of maybe 2 others that would've brought equal success to the book in terms of artistry, but no matter-I'm pleased with the way it turned out.And FINALLY, Scott starts acting like the leader that he is-in New X-men he seemed to take a backseat to Jean and even Emma in this series but he finally shows that he has smarts and great tactics that make sense in the last 2 volumes and it was really fun to read about him again.Overall, get this whole entire series (volumes 1-4) and you won't be dissapointed.

astonishing series, really?
Well, following on from the astonishing vol 1, to the confusing vol 2, to the fill-in vol 3, what does one make of vol 4?

There is no resolution on many issues. These include but are not limited to the following -
1.why has the breakworld created a missile bullet to fire at earth? The reasons for trying to save their world from supposed destruction by colossus is confusing.
2. I could not make out where all the X-men were running to around the breakworld. Coulld anyone really figure that out?
3. The indeterminate machismo on the breakworld. Not quite sure of the aliens' motivations. I think that the whole rationale here has been wound so tight that it cannot be unravelled.
4. So is Emma a traitor or not? Is she still with the Cassandra Nova influence?
5. What exactly did Colossus do in the end? There was a fight scene and some aliens (Ord) got killed. So did another Alien.
6. I didn't get that part where the FF, Spiderman said they saved the world and then, nadda? What happened?
7. I got the part that Kitty phased with the missile to pass thru Earth and save the world by sacrificing herself on a looong journey.

Am I the only comic reviewer here who didn't get any of the above? Was this last volume really that good?
I know that this is not as bad as Marvel's Last Planet Standing comic (see my listmania of direbolic comics), and it still has great art by John Cassaday.

The Enjoyment is Unstoppable
Astonishing X-men has been one of those series that is hard to stop reading.It's so intelligent and entertaining that I feel smarter after reading it.Whedon has an incredible talent for cinematic storytelling and I bet by now all of us wish this could be directly translated into a film.The characterization and interaction is so well structured and utilized, that we love every character.So when all the characters split up there is no difference in entertainment between each of their paths.It's all astonishing!

The ending to Whedon's story is very profound and impressive.I do want to read the whole series over for clarification, but you should be able to graps the main components of the story.Vol. 3 and 2 got a little complex, but I think this one wraps it up very nice and neat.When I read, I can tell Whedon is having fun throwing in twists and foreshadowings, so that I may feel anxious for the next panel.There are times when a piece of dialogue makes no sense, and then at the turn of a page there is a huge revelation to that line.I was blown away by how original and powerful that method had been used.The creators of this comic series know how to be different from all the others, and yet be just as entertaining if not more than the rest.

At last!An X-men tale anyone can enjoy
With over a dozen monthly comics and a cast of thousands of characters Marvel's X-Men franchise has always been one of the hardest to follow.Even long-time fans can become lost in the maze of alternate time lines, alien worlds and minor characters.

Which is what makes Whedon and Cassaday's Astonishing X-Men so darn good!

It focuses on a small group of X-men, gives them strong characterization and tells a coherent story free from decades of continuity.In this final volume of Whedon's run the X-men are stranded on an alien world, a world one of them is fated to destroy.And a world with plans to destroy the entire Earth to prevent that fate.There is much fighting, witty dialogue and some clever plot twists.In the end the day is saved but not without a price.

Whedon's background in film and TV is well-displayed here, the way the scenes are laid out and they way they cut from one to the other for humor, suspense or contrast shows his great timing and skill at using the visual medium.

Cassasday's art is among the best in American comics.He manages to give each character a different face, body type and even body language.

The four volumes of Astonishing X-men are among the best the X-Men have ever been. ... Read more

Product Description
One of Serenity's greatest mysteries is finally revealed in The Shepherd's Tale, filling in the life of one of the show's most beloved characters - Shepherd Book! Who was Book before meeting Mal and the rest of the Serenity crew, how did he become one of their most trusted allies, and how did he find God in a bowl of soup? Answers to these and more questions about Book's past are uncovered in this original hardcover graphic novel by rising stars Zack Whedon (Dr. Horrible, Terminator, Fringe) and Chris Samnee (Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps, Daredevil). A pivotal chapter in the ongoing Serenity saga, The Shepherd's Tale is also a rollicking, action-packed epic in its own right. ... Read more

Product Description

NEW STORIES. UNSEEN PHOTOS. SHINY.

“We have done the impossible, and that makes us mighty.”

Since its short-lived appearance on TV in 2002, Joss Whedon’s Firefly has indeed done the impossible. It’s sold over a half a million copies on DVD, spawned the hit movie Serenity, and most remarkably, inspired a loyal fan following — the Browncoats — whose numbers are still growing to this day.

Still Flying is a brand new celebration of all aspects of the show, featuring a wealth of rare and previously unpublished images — including storyboards, production design art and candid behind the scenes photos — memories from the cast and crew, a tribute to the Browncoats, and, as a special bonus:

EXCLUSIVE NEW FIREFLY FICTION BY WRITERS OF THE ORIGINAL TV EPISODES

FUN WITH DICK AND JAYNE written and drawn by Ben Edlund

WHAT HOLDS US DOWN by Jane Espenson

CRYSTAL by Brett Matthews

TAKE THE SKY by Jose Molina ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

With a fine pictorial survey of the award-winning 'sci fi-western' TV show
Firefly: Still Flying celebrates Joss Whedon's TV series with a fine pictorial survey of the award-winning 'sci fi-western' TV show from a cult writer and director. The show appeared briefly on TV in 2002 - but has sold over half a million copies on DVD with the hit movie Serenity its offshoot. Fans will find FIREFLY: STILL FLYING a fine celebration of the shows' cast, crew, and episodes, and film libraries will welcome this!

SHINY! MUST-HAVE!
I read the description to this product and the mere handful of reviews before I chose to purchase it.

Having now read it, I must say that I really do not find a single thing wrong with this book! It's original material, like Jane Esperson explaining the writing process on a Joss Whedon show, a large amount of pics that I have not seen in other "Firefly" books, and of course the 4 great original stories...well, ok, the 2-panel "Fun With Dick And Jayne" can hardly be called a story, though it was hilarious.

There is a page that shows 6 of the shirts Jayne wore on the show (with a screen cap of each) which I appreciated, since 2 of them were ones I'd forgottenabout or never recalled seeing.

There is also a storyboard of the "Battle at Serenity Valley" scene from the Pilot episode, which I enjoyed because it showed how well it matched what you see on screen.

Of course the interviews with each cast member is taken from collected interviews, yet each was presented very well, in my opinion.

There is even great coverage of the fan film "Done The Impossible" which I personally did not know about until I read it in this book, and will seek out as a result.

****POTENTIAL SPOILER****

It's a shame that in the book they state that there will be no sequel to "Serenity" however for me it wouldn't be worth it without Wash and Book anyway. For me, while I would love to finally learn answers to my lingering questions (What WAS Book's past? Was Inara actually quite a bit older and through some process remained youthful looking?) sometimes it's best to have an incomplete ending. With Firefly, I'm of the thought that we appreciate that we had it at all in the first place; we will always have Mal and the gang to revisit on DVD and Blu-Ray viewings.

*****End of Potential Spoilers*****

In a nutshell, I find this book to be a great addition to my Firefly/Serenity collection, and highly recommend it.

Browncoats forever!
Shiny! What else can one say about a book devoted to even more trivia and behind-the-scenes info revolving around a show which has carved a permanent niche into the hearts of many, myself included. Besides the wealth of new photos and interviews, there are also four new pieces of fiction by Ben Edlund, Jane Espenson, Brett Matthews, and Jose Molina. For fans of Firefly and the follow-up movie Serenity, the book is a welcome addition to the oeuvre, allowing us to live vicariously through the memories contained within its pages. For everyone else, it's probably a book which causes them to scratch their heads in confusion and wonder how anyone can continue to stretch out a cancelled t.v. show and less-than-stellar-performer-at-the-box-office movie into yet another book. But us Browncoats pay no nevermind to those folks because we all know no power in the 'verse can stop us.

Spoiler alert!
This book is great, except that in one interview with the cast, we're explicitly told that there will be no Serenity sequel.Ow....my hope.

Would that it were!
Well, reading this just serves to remind me of that Thomas Wolfe quote:

You can't go home again.

That is, all the Firefly-related stuff, whether it's new storylines in the comics, guest spots of the actors on other shows (or sly winks to the show like that Castle Halloween scene), or semi cash-in material like this book, always come up as inadequate because they remind me of the show and movie, and therefore pale in comparison.

Ah well.

This book is okay- some pretty pictures. Overall, it's a triumph of design over content. ... Read more

Product Description
Hundreds of years in the future, Manhattan has become a deadly slum, run by mutant crime-lords and disinterested cops. Stuck in the middle is a young girl who thought she had no future, but learns she has a great destiny. In a world so poisoned that it doesn't notice the monsters on its streets, how can a street kid like Fray unite a fallen city against a demonic plot to consume mankind?Joss Whedon, the celebrated creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, brings his vision to the future in this unique tale. As inventive in the comics medium as in that of television of film, Whedon spins a complex tale of a skilled thief coming of age without the help of friends or family, guided only by a demonic Watcher. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (58)

Beyond Buffy
I loved this book so much it made me wish that Joss had done Fray as a tv series instead of Buffy, were it possible.And I'm a Buffy fan!Absolute Whedonesque brilliance.Buy 2 copies because you will read the 1st to pieces.

proud owner of first graphic novel
I have never in my life owned a graphic novel before, until now. I have been a fan of the Whedonverse for years (though, I admit, I have not seen every episode of Buffy YET (I'd only seen s4-7 in syndication, up until a few weeks ago), watched "Angel" in syndication, have seen every episode of "Dollhouse", but I have not watched Firefly, minus a few scenes) and "Fray" was recommended to me by a fellow fan of the Whedonverse. I started reading "Fray" only hours after opening the package (I watched a few episodes of s3 of Buffy) and was immediately blown away. the introductions were comical, honest, and I knew that I would love "Fray" if only because of the introductions. Once I moved on to the actual graphic novel, I went into sensory overload, I wanted to read the story, but I wanted to examine every part of the images before me. The story was rich, dark, and comedic at times. I kept wanting to read more and so I did. It was not long before I had finished "Fray" and found myself wanting more (cut to me getting on Amazon and looking up "Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8" to order) of the Whedonverse. The art is amazing, the characters' poses look natural, the details are incredible, and the story itself is deep and complex.

I recommend this completely. I love it and cannot wait to get deeper into my new obsession.

Fray kicks butt!!
I enjoyed reading this book because I am a big fan of Sci Fi Fantasy genre.Joss Whedon, the author, does a great job creating characters that are dark and mysterious.Melaka Fray is described by Whedon as a hotshot, lower class, woman but has a dark past.The settings are also very cool.Whedon has a way of creating futuristic, demonic environments.He accomplishes this by using concepts that seem to work well in another of his futuristic environments from the Serenity series.Whedon is also famous for working on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series which some of the concepts show up a lot in this graphic novel.The plot really moves along with a lot of action with Fray killing vampires with ease and style.Artwork, created by Karl Moline and Andy Owens is awesome.The character poses were amazing and so were the environments.The action and art were all very dramatic.I only wish it was more of a series of comics like the original Buffy series. I would suggest this comic for young adults and Buffy and vampire fans. So I give this book four stars.-Joshua Clarke

Worth getting IF and when Joss does Pt. II; no-spoilers review
I'm a Whedon fan. I've seen every episode of every TV show he's ever done plus Serenity.
I'm also an anime fan, and I've read a few graphic novels--notably Watchmen and Maus.

Those things said, I just read Fray this afternoon. It was good. I liked it. I liked the fact that Urkonn looked a lot like the demon Giles turns into in a Buffy episode.

If you worship the ground Whedon walks on, as do most reviewers here I think, by all means get this. You'll love it.

But...even though I love Whedon, I'm not a fanatic. I thought Dollhouse fell short of Buffy/Angel. As for Fray,
it's obviously the first part of at least a second book. There were a lot of balls in the air at the end of this book. If I'd known that, I'd have waited to get this until the second book came out. Or at least known that the second book was in production (and/or the second book in the form of a series of comics).

I also have a more philosophical problem. It seems like today we have graphic novels, and we have novel novels. I think I'd like to see a resurgence of novels with illustrations. The images in Fray were nice, but they didn't substitute fully for the words you'd find in an equivalent novel.

I realize I'm swimming upstream with this. Just sayin'...

Magnificent entry in the Buffyverse
I bought Fray after reading the Fray-Buffy crossover in Season 8.I was hoping for something good, but I got something great.Fray is simply brilliant.The characters are strong, the scenarios believable.Everything is spot on.

Fray has the advantage of being semi-familiar (vampires, slayers), while being completely new (future, no slayer knowledge).

All Buffy comic fans should buy this, and then demand more Fray from Joss and Co.!!! ... Read more

Product Description
Tales of the Vampires presents stories ranging from medieval times to the Depression to today, all intricatelywoven around Joss Whedon's central story about a group of young Watchers in training. Not to be missed is Buffy's rematch with Dracula and Angel's ongoing battle with his own demons.Wrapped in a haunting cover by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, these diverse tales flesh out the history and the world of Joss Whedon's unforgettable creations and fill the void left by the Buffy TV show better than any other writers ever could. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

A Graphic Novel with Vampire Stories that fit into the Buffyverse.
This is a graphic novel with twelve unique vampire stories that fit into the buffyverse continuity. Each tale is framed by one continuous story by Joss Whedon. The stories are by different authors and illustrated by different artists. Some work better than others. My favorites are "Father," "The Problem with Vampires," "Numb" and the story that weaves in and out of the collection, "Tales of the Vampires."

A group of young watcher trainees listen to a vampire tell the tales gathered in this anthology.The first story, "Father," is a son remembering his father.I enjoyed "The Problem with Vampires" because two of my favorite vampires are featured, Dru and Spike."Numb" shows how Angel struggles to keep control of Angelus.The dialog in "Antique" was funny, but I didn't like how Xander was portrayed

Very Cool
Very cool comic book.I enjoyed it a lot, I received it in perfect condition.Quick read, keeps you interested.

book fell out of binding but love the buffyverse
I would give it a 5 star review except for the fact that the dang thing fell apart within minutes of opening it! Too much fuss to exchange it. :(

Interesting, but emphasizes art much more than stories
"Tales of the Vampire" is an only mildly interesting mix of vampire stories, and if you buy this book for the writing you're going to be disappointed, as I was.There are many distinctive art styles displayed in the book, and that's an excellent reason to buy it if you want more visual variety than was permitted in the TV show format.However, the collection ultimately isn't a major addition to the assembled lore of the BuffyVerse, unlike the Season 8 stories.

The wraparound story that rationalizes the existence of all the others provides a glimpse into watcher training of yore, and that's about it despite occupying the biggest chunk of the book.A couple others ("Father", "The Problem With Vampires") attempt to explain how soulless vampires can maintain emotional, loving, attachments to others."Jack" posits vampire activity to flesh out the story of "Jack the Ripper"; "Numb" gives a glimpse into Angel's mind around the time of "Amends", the Season 3 BtVS story in which snow came to Sunnydale; and "Antique" is an epilogue to "Buffy vs. Dracula".For 12 total stories there's just not much that's memorable.One in particular is pretty much a Dr. Seuss-like rhyme.

Mostly, though, "Tales of the Vampire" is about the art much more than the stories.Several of the story authors (Joss Whedon, Jane Espenson, Drew Goddard, Brett Matthews) repeat, but the artists are all unique.There's an additional gallery of full-page panels without text at the end of the book, featuring works by another 5 artists and 2 colorists.So this book is just chock full of distinctive artwork, and if you're looking for artistic range you may be delighted.The stories, alas, get short shrift.

cleverly done
I enjoyed reading Tales of the Vampires very much. I have missed BTVS ever since it ended in 2003 and this provided me with a much needed fix. I also found the artwork to be pretty cool. And as everyone keeps pointing out to me special effects are a lot easier in comic books than on tv. ... Read more

Product Description
Now in one titanic tome: the entire chart-topping run of super-team Joss Whedon and John Cassaday! Winner of multiple prestigious Eisner Awards, Whedon and Cassaday's Astonishing X-Men was a smash hit with critics and fans alike from the very first issue - winning praise from dozens of top media outlets including Entertainment Weekly, Publishers Weekly, TV Guide, and New York Magazine, as well as racking up nearly every major comic-book industry award. Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Whedon and Cassaday (Captain America, Planetary) assembled a tight cast - Cyclops, the Beast, Wolverine, and Emma Frost, joined by returning fan-favorite Kitty Pryde - and set forth a groundbreaking pace, from the opening pages of a Sentinel attack to the unexpected return of a beloved X-Man. Then, building on early momentum, they ratcheted up the danger and drama with a shocking second year, creating a must-read book that can truly be called "astonishing!" Collects Astonishing X-Men #1-24, and Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men #1. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Iconic X-Men Run
When it became public knowledge that Grant Morrison would be ending his "Iconic" run on New X-Men, I was worried. For me it had been years since X-Men had any good stories to tell...then Grant came along and put new life into the X-Men and so I was concerned that no one could follow up his "astonishing" run. Then they announced that Joss Whedon would launch an all new series in the form of Astonishing X-Men. I had no idea what to expect because I was not familiar with Joss or his work...I never watched Buffy or Angel, nor did I ever see Firefly. However, the moment I read issue 1 of Astonishing, I was hooked. From the word go, Astonishing X-Men was pure gold...Joss just got it right and never quit giving us what we wanted. From characterization to action to drama that the X-Men were always about, Joss nailed it. Joss took the best of the old school elements that Chris Claremont created and mixed it with the bold new ingrediants that Grant Morrison added and made it his very own. We got to see Cyclops be the bad ass leader he was always meant to be...Joss gave us a great mystery involving Emma Frost and brought perspective to a great character...we finally got to see the romance between Colossus and Kitty shine and end with a heart renching conclusion...Armor, a fresh new face brought an innocence the X-Men has lacked for some time...and we got what we always expect from Wolverine and Beast and some funny moments we never expected from them. I don't want to ruin any of the story lines or take away from the experiance of getting to read this incredible run of stories. I will say that personally for me, I read each individual issue of Astonishing X-Men and when the Omnibus was released, I gladly spent the money for this book that holds one of the three best runs in X-Men history. Chris Claremont may be the number one writer for X-Men with his original run...however Joss Whedon is right behind him along with Grant Morrison.

Liked it very much.
People seem to really love this series, but I much prefer the Ultimate X-Men stuff.

Best X-Men in a long time!
I haven't been a fan of X-Men since the 80's and early 90's. There've been interesting stories here and there but nothing that made the comic stand out from all the other super-team comics on the stands. Who would've guessed Joss Whedon would not only take the comic back to it's orignal story-telling roots but also create one of the best comics running for 25 issues?!

This omnibus collects the complete run Joss Whedon and John Cassaday did covering a complete story arch. The story centers mostly on Kitty Pryde and how the curent X-Men team of Cyclops, White Queen, Beast, Wolverine and Collossus are functioning without Professor X and Magneto. Their adventures take them from the original Xavier School to Genosia and finally concluding in outerspace. Add in some costume changesand great character dynamics and you have the best X-Men story arch we've seen since the Phoenix saga. Even better, if you haven't kept up with X-Men comics or are somewhat new to these heroes there's a complete and comprehensible time-line at the beginning of the omnibus which takes us through the ENTIRE X-Men history.

John Cassaday's art is terrific and perfectly evokes the fun and seriousness of these X-Men stories. What surprised me most about this collection though was of course Joss Whedon's writing. I've never been a fan of Buffy or Angel and I thought Whedon completely RUINED Brian K Vaughn's Runaway's comic. He not only makes Astonishing X-Men a fun read but adds a level of seriousness and personlized story telling I haven't seen in comics in a long time.

I really can't praise this Omnibus enough. It got me interested in the X-Men again and as I've said is easily one of the best super-team comics to come around. It's an all out winner and easily worth your money!

Astonishingly good!
When it comes to X-men stories, no one can beat the Chris Claremont of yore.That being said, I really enjoyed this volume of x-stories.This collection succeeds mainly because of what has become Whedon's trademark, his ability to give each character a unique voice feel, while maintaining that quirky, witty dialogue.The only disappointing thing for me is that much of his run concentrates on the Breakworld as the main antagonist, which were somewhat "blah" villains for me.Danger, however, is all types of awesome.Anyhoo if you are any type of X-fan this definitely belongs in your collection.

New X-Men standard
As far as X-men stories go, it was always the Pheonix story line which was the standard for a great story. That has changed. With Joss Whedon's writing and J.C.'s art, this brings X-Men to a whole new level. This story is amazing. It's exciting, suspenseful, and funny. The art and colors are simply beautiful as well. This is a MUST BUY for any X-Men fan, but also for anyone wanting to get in to the X-Men for the first time. Enjoy! ... Read more

Product Description
Buffy the Vampire Slayer has remained an enduring feature of late 1990s pop culture, spawning television spin-offs, rabid fans, and significant scholarly inquiry. Though there have been numerous books devoted to the work of Joss Whedon, this collection of fifteen essays is the first to focus specifically on the sexual rhetoric found in his oeuvre, which includes Angel, Firefly/Serenity, Dollhouse, and Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, as well as Buffy. Topics covered include the role of virginity, lesbianism and homoeroticism in the shows and the comics, the nature of masculinity and femininity and gender stereotypes, an exploration of sexual binaries, and a ranking of the Buffy characters on the Kinsey scale of sexuality. Together these essays constitute a much-needed addition to the expanding body of Whedon gender scholarship. ... Read more

Product Description
Joss Whedon’s Emmy award-winning musical tragicomedy tells the story of Billy, aka Dr Horrible, a budding supervillain who wants to beat superhero Captain Hammer and take over the world... and pluck up the courage to speak to his laundromat crush Penny. With exclusive new material from Joss and the production team, new photos, sheet music and more, this official book is a must for fans! ... Read more

Product Description
Eisner award-winning writer Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina) tackles Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight with "No Future for You." When a rogue debutant Slayer begins to use her power for evil, Giles is forced to recruit the rebellious Faith, who isn't exactly known for her good deeds. Giles offers Faith a clean slate if she can stop this snooty Slayer from wreaking total havoc - that is, if Buffy doesn't beat her to it. Georges Jeanty (The American Way) remains at the top of his game as series artist, and Whedon stays on as "Executive Producer" in this direct follow-up to Season Seven of the smash-hit TV series. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

All in the name
Before reading this book look at the title. Never has a title spoken loudly as this. NO FUTURE. With novels this bad following upon a series that was axed twice says loud and clear there is no future for this franchise. Page after page of nonsense will have you closing it as soon as you open it.

Reading with Tequila
We get to see a lot of character interaction in No Future For You, between Faith and Giles, Buffy and Willow, and Dawn and Xander. The character pairings give Buffy fans something they've been missing since the end of the show - that wonderful spark between certain characters that we can't get enough of. Much of the past shines through as these characters take on new challenges together. Oh, and Dawn seems much less grating. Of course, that may be because I can't actually hear her because she's certainly still whining up a storm.

As the story continues in this second volume, we're still trying to get a good picture of what's going on. No Future For You moves along a little slower than the last volume, but that could be personal bias due to my intense dislike and disinterest in Faith and all that she does. Either way, No Future For You is still amazing - the pictures and the story.

I thought that reading these graphic novels would be a poor substitute that could possibly help to fill the void Buffy the Vampire Slayer left behind. To my complete surprise, this volume, along with its predecessor, is so very good, it ranks right up there with the very best episodes of the show.

No Future For You... But Finally A Future For Faith.
This is a great installment in Season 8 of BTVS.

First of all, I have to say that it's good to see a Faith addition to the BTVS series that actually focuses around Faith in a good way. One that actually shows some character growth, that actually shows Faith trying to do good.
No, it doesn't start out that way, really... But it ends with the Faith character actually showing some growth outside of the "Angel" series (Which, IMO, is the only place that it actually happened in the past... Yes, in season 7 of Buffy, Faith had changed, but those changes took place as a result of "Angel" plot-lines).

It starts out as a kill mission from Giles but turns into Faith trying to make the target see the error of her ways and change sides. The result is accidental and Faith does not relish in it, as she did in the past to similar events. As a result of what happened, Faith decides to contribute to the good fight in her own way and probably the best way that she can... Helping and rehabilitating Slayers that have lost their way.

I've always thought that Faith was one of the more complicated characters in the BTVS world. Most of her story wasn't told on either show, I don't think, only the results of the things that made her the way that she is.
It's always been hard, nearly impossible even, for Faith to make up for the things that she did... And I think that this is a good way for her to really start. I don't think that normal 'Slaying' is for her anymore but she could end up doing a lot more good than she could ever do if she were to go that route.
She also knows that no matter what she does, Buffy and the gang will never trust her. She will never actually be a part of the team.. But that may end up being the best for Faith.

I definitely enjoyed this installment and I really hope that there's more to come of Faith's story.

Excellent dark and gritty!
If Buffy, the petite pop-modern vampire slayer wasn't enough for you this second volume from Joss Whedon's "Season Eight" of Buffy brings tortured, anti-heroine slayer Faith back into play in a role even more suited to her than vampire and demon slaying.
Part of the draw of the Buffy-verse is the balance of darkness and good. Every character has had their dips into evil, from Xander's flirtations with all manner of monsters to Willow's grief-induced stint as the Big Bad. But some characters start out from deeper in the evil well. Giles and Faith are two of the darkest, Faith representing the out of control youth, caught in a cycle of violence from a young age and carrying on the chaos in her own life in a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy. Giles' history, merely glanced upon in the TV series feels more like a betrayal, when you come to love this patient, always-trying man only to discover he has a hard core of frightening ruthlessness.
Buffy, Xander and even Willow are the Superman and the Spidermans of the Buffy-verse, but Faith and Giles are the Punishers.
This analogy is proven hard and fast from the first few pages when Giles calls on Faith to do what the other Slayers can't, walk into the house of a single mother who was turned into a vampire and slay the kids she turned. After this trying scene Giles meets back up with Faith at her apartment and asks her to handle a special case for him, one he doesn't even want Buffy, Xander, Willow and the other Slayers to know about. It stands to reason that not all the Potentials who are now endowed with Slayer powers would turn out good, especially as other creatures of power find and foster them since Buffy's operation is busy with the new threats from the mysterious "Twilight" and the good old U.S. Government.
Assassinating a Slayer, even if she is evil is not an easy task, as this volume proves.
Furthermore, "No Future for You" also proves that the switch to comics was an excellent move for Whedon and the Buffy-verse as the format allows a lot more playing, and a hyperfocus on characters otherwise glanced over in the series. Many plots dealt with Faith and her waffling between the forces of good and evil, but the glimpses we see of her past in these pages are heart breaking and enlightening at the same time.
One could easily argue, after this addition to Season Eight, that Faith might make a better lead, if the audience can handle a grittier, darker, less reliable narrator.

*Also, this volume features the cameo of my publisher's wife, Robin, which I was very glad to finally get to read.

Love me some Faith!!!
Brian K. Vaughan comes aboard and the story and dialog kepp clicking.Faith returns for a seriously "un-slayer" like mission but she's perfect for it.Seeing some things fro her point of view is great.We also get some answers to some nagging little questions.Great stuff! ... Read more

Product Description
Vampires that, at will, can transform into wolves, panthers, insects, or fog invade the Slayer base of operations in northern Scotland, and not only walk away unscathed, but in possession of Buffy's scythe, the symbol of Slayer power worldwide. Buffy and the Slayer-legion travel to Tokyo in order to learn more about their dangerous new foes, as Xander journeys to Transylvania to solicit the only person they've ever known to possess such power - Dracula! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

"Hello, manservant."
Up to this point, this comic book had been firing on all cylinders, and writer Drew Goddard only keeps it going. I'll be frank and admit that the Dracula episode on BUFFY years ago had me underwhelmed. Heck, I wasn't even whelmed. Having said that, the presence of the good Count in the "Wolves at the Gate" arc provides a tremendous boost.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Season Eight, Vol. 3: WOLVES AT THE GATE is a mouthful but it's a trade that collects issues #11-15 of the series from Dark Horse Comics. Joss Whedon kicks things off by scripting "A Beautiful Sunset," in which Buffy Summers predictably second guesses herself, there is the token fighty fight, and Buffy at last comes face to face with Season Eight's featured Big Bad, the mysterious, masked and all floaty Twilight. And then we arrive at the story arc proper which is titled "Wolves at the Gate."

When Japanese vampires invade the Slayer's Scottish stronghold, they come away with Buffy's mystic scythe - and remember that this is the scythe which personifies the Slayer's power. It's very much worth noting that these bloodsuckers, during their assault, exhibit the surprising ability to shapeshift into wolves and panthers and bats, into mist and swarms of bees and, for all I know, into a ham & cheese sandwich. It doesn't take a lot of wracking the brain before the Scoobies recall that the only other vamp to demonstrate these powers is none other than... Count Dracula. For Xander, this could only mean one thing... road trip.

Events unfold in Tokyo, informing us of the Japanese vamps' ultimate plan for the Slayer's scythe, some bit about casting a spell which in turn would undo that spell of Willow's (the one which transformed all Potentials around the world into full-on Slayers). For Xander, this could only mean one thing... yep, another road trip. But now, he's bringing with him his proud old master, Dracula, and a planeful of Slayers.

I don't mind Georges Jeanty's artwork; it just doesn't get my rocks off. Maybe it's because Jo Chen's awesome covers had me spoiled rotten. Maybe it's because I think Jeanty's art is a bit too, I dunno, cartoony, and so some gravitas is lost. New cover artist Jon Foster's stuff also rocks. Writer Drew Goddard does fantastic at aping Joss Whedon's flow; he evokes Whedon's witty, pathos-filled dialogue. "Wolves at the Gate" is often funny, frequently action-packed, and at points shocking and heartbreaking. Dracula and Xander's offbeat master/manservant relationship is played for chuckles, and yet they share moments that surprisingly touched me. And what's a Buffy story without some romance blossoming here and there? With that in mind, Xander and Renee's flirtation achieves the next level. Meanwhile, Buffy hasn't gotten laid in a while, but here we find her getting by. In fact, her post-getting-it-on bedroom scene assumes the absurdity of a sex farce, and it's one of the funniest things I have ever read. It also helps a lot that Andrew drops in and provides his Andrew-centric banter (his hilarious tutorial on Dracula may induce a spit take). Goddard even finds a credible use out of Dawn's giantess status (hint: it involves Tokyo and rampaging). I must say, though, that at this stage, Dawn's huge dilemma is now officially dragging. But be that as it may, "Wolves at the Gate" proves to be yet another superb entry in Buffy the Vampire Slayer's ongoing mythology.

Reading with Tequila
Wolves at the Gate contains some wonderfully shocking and completely unexpected plot twists. Andrew is back! And so is Dracula! And he's awesome. Dracula exclaiming "Oh balls" is the type of Buffy humor that makes me long for the good old days when I could easily get my weekly Buffy fix. Oh, and Dracula's majorly racist too. And Xander is his boy.

Romance seems to be blooming for more than one Scooby, but by now we know to expect only heartbreak when it comes to love in the Buffyverse. Lots of steamy love and lots of hurt. The action leads us to Tokyo for some Godzilla like action, giving Dawn something to do other than whiny about her giantness.

As always, the artwork is brilliant. The continuation of Buffy translates to this media wonderfully. An absolute must for any Buffy fan.

A good addition to the Buffy-verse
This paperback has a good story-arc well worth reading. Wolves at the Gate is one of the best Buffy comic stories I've read in a while and I highly suggest this paperback, especially for fans of the Buffy tv series. You get to revisit all those old characters you know and love, and a guest starring role from Dracula!

Wolves at the Gate
I started out skeptical.Elements of the previous comics seemed unlike the Buffy we knew and loved...and while l still saw some of that in the beginning of this volume, by the end of it, it really started feeling like classic Buffy again, and I was really glad to see that.It definitely still captures the characters well, but the plot contained too much senseless fighting, with not enough actual, well, plot, lacking intrigue.I feel like Willow, who, yes, I'm biased towards, since she's my favorite character, is not featured nearly enough, although I did enjoy how she was bonding with Satsu over Buffy.I'm...typically depressed by Whedon's tendency to not ever allow a couple to be happy.My one uber-random complaint?Why does Dracula look like a demented combination of Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka and Michael Jackson?

I'm loving it so far...
I just finished this installment of season 8. As a long time avid Buffy fan, I have to say that it really doesn't disappoint. I wish that I'd gotten around to reading it sooner. I think that they, so far, really do the series proud.

Things that I like:

The characters are more like their old selves, before seasons 6 and 7. The humor is back and the relationships between the original characters are more like they used to be, instead of being as distant as they were in later seasons.

Dawn - In my opinion- is actually likable so far! I'm actually enjoying her in the comics, whereas I couldn't stand here in the show. Yes, she still whines at times, but it's not nearly as bad as it used to be and she actually has a reason to now, for the most part, and honestly... She's a teenager. Whining is part of the package sometimes.. Not to mention the fact that, at times, she's actually useful. Her new 'situation' has come in handy more than once so far. It's nice to see her contributing in a different way.

It's nice to have Buffy out of Sunnydale. I'm so glad that they decided to make a season 8. I'm still sad that Buffy is no longer on television but I think that this works out really well because the things that happen in the comics could've never taken place on the show itself.

Without giving away anything for those that haven't read the comics yet... I'll just say that I think that the new characters work well and that it's good to see the Scoobies forming new relationships, even if they don't last in the long run or are doomed from the start.
Don't get me wrong, I loved and still love, the original characters... But it's nice to have some fresh meat in the gang. ... Read more

Product Description
Since the destruction of the Hellmouth, the Slayers - newly legion - have gotten organized and are kicking some serious undead butt. But not everything's fun and firearms, as an old enemy reappears and Dawn experiences some serious growing pains. Meanwhile, one of the "Buffy" decoy slayers is going through major pain of her own. Buffy creator Joss Whedon brings Buffy back to Dark Horse in this direct follow-up to season seven of the smash-hit TV series. The bestselling and critically acclaimed issues #1-5 are collected here for the first time, as are their covers by Jo Chen and Georges Jeanty. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (65)

Reading with Tequila
The Long Way Home starts off with a reference from the last television season of Angel, immediately bringing the reader back into the action. Visually, the book is perfect, capturing every minor detail in clear and recognizable depictions of the characters. In a way, the comics are actually better than the original because you get the chance to really know what's going on in the character's heads and there are no budget restrictions impeding Joss's creative ideas.

There are now 1800 slayers in the world, all connected and many "enlisted" to fight alongside Buffy and the rest of the Scooby Gang. Situations have changed and there seems to have been a lot of growing up for some of the characters. Our old friends (and any long-time Buffy fan knows that's what they truly are) still use the zany pop-culture laden humor that has always lightened up the darker subject matter.But, with Joss at the wheel, could you expect any less?

This first volume of Season 8 is simply amazing. I proudly confess to being a huge raving Buffy fangirl, but still this book blew my mind. This is Buffy on a grander scale - Buffy taken one step further. You completely forget you are reading and lose yourself in the pictures. You become so fully immersed in the story that you feel as though you have become a part of it.

A good beginning
I've been wanting to grab this for so freaking long that I finally went to [...] and snagged it.

It had its good points - the biggest being the continuation of the BTVS story itself and some head scratching ones - where the frak was Faith?? - but I really had fun with it.

I enjoyed this "season" a hell of a lot more than I enjoyed Angel's.

But there were some spots where I was lost plot wise and it did have its rusty moments. It ended with a heart tug, though, with the Underground Buffy, as I call her - a dark moment in print that reminded me how good Whedon was at doing them on the show.

I want the others now!!

I wasn't sure...but
Looking back at the endings of both the Buffy and Angel TV series, I was satisfied with how Buffy ended and much less satisfied with how Angel ended. I wanted a comic book continuation of Angel, but was wary of opening the Buffy story back up again.

Despite that, I'm giving the Buffy continuation 5 stars over only a 4 star rating for the Angel comic continuation.

The writing on this is top notch, as is the art. Both the writing and, to a slightly lesser extent, the art capture very well the personae we watched grow in the BTVS show.

It seems that most of the negative reviews come from folks who either a) aren't used to the medium of comics or b) are comic aficionados disappointed in the TV/comic hybrid pacing style of this series. This isn't television. This isn't Batman. This is a comic continuation of a television show story and designed to play out as well as the medium allows.

Highly recommended for Buffy fans, but those not used to comics as a medium might have some difficulty adapting.

Brilliant addition to the show.
As disappointing as it was for the show to end, Season 8 is Buffy at its finest in a new medium. The animation is beautiful, writing exquisit (as always), and the villain could possibly be the best the series has had. Season 8 is worth adding to the collection.

For Those of You Who Haven't Watched Buffy
The basis for my review will be a grade on writing and pacing, which Joss did an excellent job with in this comic trade.I haven't watched Buffy, and yes it was dumb of me to pick up season 8 when I haven't had a lick of Buffy at all.So I am here encouraging other people to not repeat my mistake.You should come into this comic with some solid knowledge of the Buffy universe, otherwise you'll be lost like me.I did however enjoy Whedon's witty banter from panel to panel, and watching the story unfold was more entertaining than I expected it to be.The good thing about this experience, is that now I wish to be exposed to more Buffy in the future.My mistake was not entirely fruitless, but I encourage everyone out there to not repeat that mistake. ... Read more

Product Description
Serenity: Better Days follows everyone's favorite space cowboys in a thrilling, action-packed adventure, where Mal and his crew take on a heist that promises a big payoff. But when one of Serenity's crew is taken captive and tortured, the gang must put their enduring differences aside and work together to save one of their own, even if it means losing the cash prize of a lifetime! Joss Whedon returns to the world of his blockbuster film Serenity, reuniting with Brett Matthews and Will Conrad, his collaborators on the bestselling 2005 series Those Left Behind. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (32)

SHINY!!
While it does not make up for the heartbreak of loosing the firefly series, It is fun to revisit the story again.

Will Satisfy Any Firefly Fan
This graphic novel is shorter than the previous Serenity graphic novel, but still delivers Whedon filled goodness.It seems to take place during the Firefly series and reads like a possible episode.

A Comic Book
Firefly was one of the best sleeper television shows ever.It was canned before it really had a chance, another example of network abuse of a very good television series.The follow-up movie, Serenity, lived up to all expectations and more.There is a reason SyFy lists it at a "four star" movie.It earned the kudos.

If you're looking for a comic book version of Firefly, this should suffice.Imo moderately tolerable drivel overall, but I tend to be rather demanding of my comic book fare. Most likely will appeal only to Firefly fans-- which I very much am-- but it still didn't impress me.Could be I wasn't in the mood for it, but this one simply isn't on my "favorite comics" list.

Enjoyable, not wow. Just think of it as a missing episode.
In mourning for the just canceled Joss Whedon series, Dollhouse, I decided to pick up a copy of this graphic novel (well perhaps graphic novella as it isn't that long) extending Whedon's Firefly universe just a little more. This is an easy and fast read, and probably won't take you longer to consume than it would to watch one of the original TV episodes. (If you aren't familiar with Firefly or the movie Serenity, don't bother getting this; Better Days spends almost no time on "what has gone before." You don't need to read any of the other Firefly graphic novels, though.)

Is the story awesomely good? No. Is it enjoyable? Absolutely. If you're a Firefly fan, you'll enjoy the character's witty repartee, the plot twists (okay they aren't TOO twisty, since this happens somewhere in the timeline of Season 1), and the teeny insights into the characters' motivations. If it had been filmed as a TV episode, it probably wouldn't be your (or at least my) favorite episode. But I'm glad I spent the money on Better Days, particularly since it isn't that much money; it'd make a dandy stocking stuffer for any Firefly fan.

If you're looking for a seriously good Firefly wallow, however, I'd recommend you buy Firefly: The Official Companion first. It costs a little more, but reading the original scripts is a real hoot.

Welcome back, Firefly!
Based on the best TV series ever canceled, Serenity takes over the story of Malcolm Reynolds and the crew of the Firefly class transport Serenity.All the characters are back and written by Joss Whedon.The same drama and humor of the series is found in these pages.Fans will love it!I love it! ... Read more

Product Description
Joss Whedon once identified himself as an "angry, hard-line atheist" who is nevertheless "fascinated by the concept of devotion." While organized religion seems to hold no satisfactory answers for Whedon, his dedication to exploring the meanings of faith and belief can be seen in many of the characters he has created for such works as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Serenity, and Fray. This work examines a variety of Whedon's characters and discusses what can be learned from their struggles and discoveries regarding religion and belief. Part One focuses on the characters' search for purpose, revealing how Dawn, Spike, and Angel attempt to define the meaning of their lives in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off, Angel. Part Two focuses on family, examining the unconventional family dynamic in Whedon's comic book miniseries Fray and television series Firefly. Part Three centers around the concept of redemption, using Angel's Doyle, Firefly's Malcolm Reynolds and Shepherd Book, and Buffy's Faith Lehane to examine the characters' search for salvation and their own acceptance of their past actions. Finally, Part Four focuses on the harmful potential of religious zealotry, revealing the negative aspects of absolute belief through Firefly's River and Buffy's Caleb. A primary source guide follows the main text, providing the writer, director, and air date of each television episode, along with publication data for Whedon's print works, including the in-publication "Season 8" comic books for Buffy the Vampire Slayer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent Whedonesque Book
Anyone who is a committed Joss Whedon Fan should really enjoy this book. While it falls into the are of literary criticism, it provides a lot of insight into the machination mind of Mr. Whedon (who is an astonishing man) and his characters.

I was left with a sense of gratification that there are multitudes of folks out there who know that while the shows are fun or sad or action packed and a host of other entertaining things, the one thing they are not is shallow.

I learned a lot about characters I am not (yet) all the familiar with and left the book headed for my dvds. The only thing I could have wished for was a discussion of the incredible chaaracter development of Wesley from Buffy to the last episode of Angel.

Loved the cover too! ... Read more

Product Description
Joss Whedon, the pop-culture mastermind behind Buffy the Vampire Slayer, bridged the gap between his cult-hit Firefly TV series and his Serenity motion picture with this three-issue miniseries. Penned by Whedon and Brett Matthews, a Firefly show writer, the ragtag crew takes on a scavenger mission with the promise of a big payoff. Only too late do they realize the gig is orchestrated by an old enemy eager to remake their acquaintance... with the help of operatives wearing bright blue gloves.
This new oversized hardcover has a new cover by Adam Hughes and shows off the work of penciller Will Conrad and colorist Laura Martin, and the array of pinups by phenomenal guest artists including:
John Cassaday,
Jo Chen,
Joe Quesada,
Sean Phillips,
Adam Hughes,
JG Jones,
Brian Hitch,
Josh Middleton,
Leinil Yu and
Tim Bradstreet

Also includes more than a dozen new pages with a behind-the-scenes section featuring concept and production art from the film, by Josh Middleton & Leinil Yu and a pre-production memo to the film by Whedon called A Brief History of the Universe, Circa 2516 A.D. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (108)

Perfect Condition
The book was in flawless condition. Even with shipping, this is an amazing discount from the cover price.

Seems Like a Comic Book
Well I surprised to hat this book was so short for one. And Then it seems to break off into like a comic book type of story telling. Truth be told I haven't really finished it yet because in comic book type format I have some what lost interest.I will of course finish reading it and report on my thoughts.

Everything's Shiny
Just wanted a little more of the crew now that the movie has long since come and gone. The characters were spot on at all times. I could hear their voices in my head and it felt like another episode. While it was short it is only one of many comics they've released. I'm simply glad I've added this one to my collection.

You Can't take the Skies from Me!
The western meets the ends of space - that's how I always pictured Firefly. You have technology that takes people to the ends of space, but those people that are there are just now starting up planets. That means every techno-city would have dozens of small farming planets just to support it. It also would have a large governing force, and that force would have HAD to have been challenged once upon a time. Enter our main man and his Browncoat ways, living on the edge of space so he can remina free. Add to that your motley crew of characters, the add-ons, and the strange things they run into along the way.
I have to say I like that.

What I didn't like in a lot of ways was this book, however, and perhaps that was because much of it was overly simplistic. Perhaps it didn't want to speak overly and bore or perhaps it didn't want to be anything but a highlight reel. whatever the case, it made parts of it not-so-fun when gone through. This hurt everything in its own way, with the impact of a bad story making the characters seem like paper and the world like the smae materials and - you get the picture.

The one thing I can say for the story is, looking at the show and it together, I do see a taste that started in here. This "beginning" is not a bad way to try to start out things either, but the way it was executed was flawed. I liked it in some ways and was conflicted as I sat down to talk about it, knowing that fans of the series would like this but that others might not want to even bother. So, here's the play (huddle up)

Look at some of the pictures provided. Pages are here, and breakdowns are here as well. If you like those, look briefly at the editorial and see if it sounds appeasing. If it does, you can always look at other stuff but, when you hit so many "good things," you might want to check on it. It isn't bad, per say, just not great.
Here's to choices.

So-so.
While this part of my order was received on time, I would have expected better, more expedient shipping from Amazon.The book arrived in fine condition, but it took quite a while to arrive. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (9)

Another grand book of essays
Just finished reading this book. It's as good, if not better than the 1st one. Very funny & insightful. Highly recommended indeed.

Husband loved it!
We are Firefly fans.This book is really interesting!The Nathan Fillion Essay was especially enjoyable!

Opinions, Opinions
As much as I enjoyed reading this collection of essays, I have to admit that some of them left me a little soured.Whether it was misrepresenting quotes or ideas from Firefly or Serenity, or even in some cases, nitpicking Joss Whedon!I found more than a few of the arguments unnecessary, unfounded, and worst of all, illogical.Regardless, it was interesting.

A Must-Read
Anyone who's seen Firefly or Serenity and fallen in love with it will find this book thoroughly entertaining and worth reading. I found myself agreeing wholeheartedly with much of what was written, and wanting to argue the authors of other essays, which is always a good thing in my opinion. Each essay was clearly written by a fan of the show, and the love shines through in the writing. Though some of them just seem pointless or shallow ('Things My Husband and I Argue About while Watching Firefly'), most are good, often thought-provoking, and they all bring back memories of the show. Which is always a good thing.

Read it. You'll enjoy it.

Serenity Found findings
Jacob Clifton's work alone would have been enough to get me to buy this, but I ended up enjoying nearly the entire book, even more so than its predecessor, Finding Serenity, which contained the silly "Firefly is like the Tick" essay, the ludicrous "Joss Whedon isn't feminist enough because Zoe loves her husband and respects her boss" essay, and the offensive as hell "Joss Whedon can't possibly be a feminist, because no thinking man would be" essay.
This second volume is better for following the movie, for one thing, giving the authors more of the full story to work with, whereas the first book had only the series with its unanswered questions to consider.There are still some weak points, such as the too-personal-to-be-terribly-interesting "Things my spouse and I argue about while watching Firefly" piece; and the script outline of 'Out of Gas' by a guy who thinks the structure should be laid out scene-by-scene to demonstrate how cool it is...that one really lacked a thesis; and the "admittedly I have a huge chip on my shoulder" exhortation to geeks to be proud of their geeky selves, in which it was actually suggested that David Krumholtz could be plausibly seen as other than hot....
But there were really insightful essays outnumbering the ones that had me rolling my eyes and mouthing, "Blah blah blah," as I read.Jacob's was great, of course (I refer to him by his first name because I am a huge fan of his work and knew him only as Jacob of TWOP long before I learned his surname).There was a really thorough examination of the Libertarian ethics portrayed in Firefly; a thoughtful discussion of the Unification War in terms of its deliberate reflection of the American Civil War and even more carefully depicted differences from it; an in-depth look at many of Joss Whedon's female characters who have been essentially weaponized by meddlesome men; and several other really interesting takes on the Firefly 'verse that aren't for whatever reason leaping to mind right now.
Both books could easily have been trimmed, and one big book might have included only the best of these essays rather than a hit-and-miss double collection.On the other hand, it's great to have new Firefly-related stuff to devour at intervals with the show and film in the past and no likely sequels on the horizon. ... Read more

Product Description
Willow and Buffy head to New York City to unlock the secrets of Buffy's mysterious scythe, when something goes terribly awry. Buffy is propelled into a dystopian future where there's only one Slayer - Fray, the title character of Joss Whedon's 2001 series, the first comic he ever wrote. Their uneasy alliance falls apart, leading to the death of a major character from the TV series, while back in the twenty-first century, the Scotland base falls prey to a mystical bomb courtesy of the Biggest Bad - Twilight! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Reading with Tequila
Buffy travels to a New York 200 years in the future in Time of Your Life. The future is apparently not so great. The bulk of the story dragged on as Buffy attempts to discover why she was there. There is some resolution, but nothing explaining the why behind it.

Buffy meets Melaka Fray, the lone remaining vampire slayer in the future. That meant nothing to me, but those who have read Joss Whedon's earlier graphic novels may find Fray's appearance more meaningful.

Kennedy's back and seeming much more harsh than she was in the series, which is saying something. And Dawn is finally becoming a bit more interesting - as an entirely new creature.

Time of Your Life is beautiful. It's definitely worthy of the Buffy name, but it is noticeably slower than the previous installments. I'm completely hooked on this series.

Don't bother
I loved the TV show and was hoping for more Buffy awesomeness only to be disappointed. The first couple books were sort of okay, but got steadily worse. I really wouldn't bother with the comic books if you were a fan of the show. The art is terrible (and I'm no art critic!) and the writing is messy and all over the place. It's a shame that Whedon is trying to cash in on his IP. He should have let the show rest in peace rather than be raped in this shameless manner.

Not a comic book fan.....but
I love all things Buffy. The book I ordered from you got here really fast. I like fast. No complaints here. It would be better if I was able to by the entire set of season 8 comic book/graphic novels of Buffy because it can get a little confusing.

Buffy for the win
Buffy season 8 is great for the person who wants to see how joss whedons idea of the buffy-verse continues on with no networks, and with limitless creativity. Highly recommend it.

Definitely a favorite!
Despite the last three volumes having different writers they've all held deliciously true to the Buffy-verse while not letting the storyline becoming dull or repetitive. With this addition the story moves the focus back to Buffy and to the large story arc, Buffy vs the mysterious Twilight. Except it moves at this plot from a side arc rather than straight forward.
It cannot be coincidence that a temporal anomaly sucks Buffy into the future right when Twilight has been trying to convince her of the futility of her spell to make all the Potentials into genuine Slayers. Whoever Twilight is, they are fighting to kill Buffy, to destroy the spell so the balance between good and evil will be restored.
So whether the anomaly and Buffy being present is due to Twilight's interference or not, Buffy landing in a future words where a Slayer is at war with her twin, who has been turned into a vampire, seems only to reinforce Twilight's attacks on Buffy's resolve.
But the main player in this tale doesn't appear to be either the strange, lonely Slayer, her vampire twin with the Slayer's memory, or Twilight. Instead the direct story behind Buffy's time trip is sadder and closer to home than Buffy could guess.
While ultimately a sad volume, so much is left undone, unexplained, unseen or heard that it takes from the depth of the final scene. Readers can only hope that the Buffy-verse continues its habit of baiting, teasing and most of all, delivering. ... Read more

Product Description
When writer and director Joss Whedon created the character Buffy the Vampire Slayer, he could hardly have expected the resulting academic interest in his work. Yet almost six years after the end of Buffy on television, Buffy studies_and academic work on Whedon's expanding oeuvre_continue to grow. Now with three hugely popular television shows, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly, and the film Serenity all available on DVD, scholars are evaluating countless aspects of the Whedon universe (or _Whedonverse_). Buffy, Ballads, and Bad Guys Who Sing: Music in the Worlds of Joss Whedon studies the significant role that music plays in these works, from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to the internet musical Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.Kendra Preston Leonard has collected a varying selection of essays that explore music and sound in Joss Whedon's works. The essays investigate both diegetic and non-diegetic music, considering music from various sources, including the shows' original scores, music performed by the characters themselves, and music contributed by such artists as Michelle Branch, The Sex Pistols, and Sarah McLachlan, as well as classical composers like Camille Saint-Sa`ns and Johannes Brahms.The approaches incorporate historical and theoretical musicology, feminist and queer musicology, media studies, cultural history, and interdisciplinary readings. The book also explores the compositions written by Whedon himself: the theme music for Firefly, and two fully integrated musicals, the Buffy episode _Once More, With Feeling_ and Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. With several musical examples, a table with a full breakdown of the Danse Macabre scene from the acclaimed Buffy episode _Hush,_ and an index, this volume will be fascinating to students and scholars of science-fiction, television, film, and popular culture. ... Read more

Product Description
Rebellious teens Nico, Chase, Karolina, Molly, Victor, and Xavin are survivors. All children of super-villains, they turned against their evil elders to become amateur super heroes. But when the authorities chase them out of Los Angeles, the Runaways forge an uneasy alliance with East Coast crime boss Kingpin, placing them on a collision course with the killer vigilante Punisher. The ensuing disaster hurls the kids a century backward in time, trapping them in 1907 New York - home of child labor, quaint technology, and competing gangs of super-folk known as "Wonders." Can the Runaways get back to the future? Find out in this timeless tale of comedy, romance, and old-fashioned heroism!Collects Runaways #25-30. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

i like the idea
I don't have any background on any of these characters; I came onto it cold when I saw it at a library and said, 'oh! Joss Whedon! awesome!' and checked it out.Some parts are weak but over-all its a pretty entertaining storyline; the reject kids of super villains revolt and land themselves in 1907.The MOST hilarious thing I've seen in a long time was cute little Molly sock the Punisher in the gut and while he's standing there, gurgling he's thinking to himself, 'a soldier does not fall'. SO FUNNY. So, over all, its pretty decent.

The Runaways go steampunk?
It seems each year the big superhero publishers throw out another group of 'cool' new teen heroes and each year they disappear from the shelves pretty fast.But not the Runaways.The book has been going strong for over 5 years now and remain interesting and innovative.

In this volume writer Joss Whedon sends them 100 years back in time to the New York of 1907.There they encounter sweatshops, union riots and several turn-of-the-century superheroes.

At first I worried Whedon had bitten off more than he could chew by creating 3 different factions of Steampunk Marvels but he manages to juggle the groups well and make an interesting point.After many intrigues and betrayals the Steampunk teams come together in a massive superhero battle.And the Runaways... walk away.One asks 'what about the war' the answer is 'it will still be there when we get back'.It makes for a nice statement about either violence in America, or at least the repetitive nature of superhero comics.

And I would totally read a Joss Whedon superhero book featuring his 1907 'wonders'.

So if you're looking for something different in your comic diet Runaways is definitely a good title to pick up.

Not so good.
This HC collects Runaways Vol. 2 #25-30

I loved BKV's run on Runaways, but when he left, this title died.The first issue was okay when the Runaways are back in NYC and meet the Kingpin and have a run-in with The Punisher, but after that when they get sent to the past it dive bombs.I love the Runaway series, but in my mind the series ends with BKV's departure at issue #24.I like Joss Whedon's work on Buffy & Angel, but this one is a bust.If you want some really good Joss Whedon check out Fray.

Great continuation of the Brian K Vaughan run
Before reading this book, read Runaways Vol. 1 #1-18 (in one massive hardcover that amazon sells for I believe $23) and Runaways Vol. 2 #1-24 (broken up into two nice sized hardcovers)

Even if you are only on this page because you're a huge Joss Whedon fan, I still think it's very necessary to read the entire Brian K Vaughan run first, and you won't be dissapointed! I myself am a huge Brian K Vaughan fan (his series Y:The Last Man is one of the greatest comics ever and Lost is the best TV Show ever) and a huge Joss Whedon fan (Buffy is the second best TV Show ever, his run on Astonishing X-Men is in fact astonishing, and Dr. Horrible has turned Nathan Filion and Neil Patrick Harris into two of my favorite actors) So now that I've tried to sell you at least a dozen other awesome things you'd like if you're on this page, I'll get to the actual book being reviewed.

After BKV concluded his run on Runaways he left it in the capable, fanboy hands of Joss Whedon, who I believe had been a serious fan/follower of the BKV run. It definately shows in Whedon's writing, he knows these characters very well and the way they're written doesn't skip a beat from previous books. The art, while different from earlier books, looks wonderful and stays true to the original character designs.

The book itself is Runaways Vol. 2 #25-30 and takes very interesting turns.

Possible spoilers ahead:

Everyone who reads Runaways loves when other heroes and villians from the Marvel Universe show up, in this book the runaways meet The Kingpin of Crime, Wilson Fisk and The Punisher which as you can imagine is very enjoyable. However after that the Runaways go back in timeto 1907 and get stuck there. While trying to get back to present day, there's a street war going on with a vast assortment of new characters, and I have to say it was a little too much for me. Too many new characters with not enough time to develop them all, leaving me confused at points as to who is on whos side, especially since there were 3 different groups involved with the runaways stuck between all of them. That however is the only negative thing I can possible say about the book, still highly enjoyable and recommended for any runaways fan.

If you're not really a comic fan, and just want to read Joss Whedon stuff this is probably not for you (unless you decide to read the complete Brian K Vaughan run, in which case you will LOVE those books and in turn love this book)
If you're just looking for Joss Whedon stuff, try his run on Astonishing X-Men, collected in 4 trade paperbacks or you could wait until they release it all in one big Omnibus coming out soon.

If you're on this page because you love Runaways, you need this book simply because it's a continuation of a great story. Is this book slightly weaker than the previous books...yes a little bit, but those of you who read the BKV run know taking over that story must have been a huge task for any writer, and Joss Whedon was able to write a welcome addition in the lives of our favorite Runaways.

This book is AWESOME
I love reading Runaways and when I heard that Joss Whedon was leaving the series I was sad and I wondered if the series would continue, but as I read the comics included in this book I realized that this was just the end of a chapter of the Runways' lives and the last comic included in this book was a preclude to bigger and greater adventures for these kids. I cannot wait to continue reading this series.Oh yeah the art work in this book was amazing as always and I loved the fact that the children met up with Gert's parents. Those two were pretty villainous!!! ... Read more

Product Description
This study examines the major works of contemporary American television and film screenwriter Joss Whedon. The authors argue that these works are part of an existentialist tradition that stretches back from the French atheistic existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre, through the Danish Christian existentialist Søren Kierkegaard, to the Russian novelist and existentialist Fyodor Dostoevsky. Whedon and Dostoevsky, for example, seem preoccupied with the problem of evil and human freedom. Both argue that in each and every one of us "a demon lies hidden." Whedon personifies these demons and has them wandering about and causing havoc. Dostoevsky treats the subject only slightly more seriously. Chapters cover such topics as Russian existentialism and vampire slayage; moral choices; ethics; Faith and bad faith; constructing reality through existential choice; some limitations of science and technology; love and self-sacrifice; love, witchcraft, and vengeance; soul mates and moral responsibility; love and moral choice; forms of freedom; and Whedon as moral philosopher. ... Read more