James Marsters' Spike Comic
Don't know what's gone on over here, but the details of the standalone Spike comic have been released via this interview, and I have to say that I think it stinks.
Folks are up in arms because the Spike fans think that James is pissing on the character, and the James fans think that the Spike fans are jealous of James' wife...Yeah, okay.
Sources here and here and here.
Here's a long, ranty comment I left on one of the FB boards in an attempt to clear things up for both sides, and thought I'd share it here:
I think you guys are kind of talking past each other.
What the James fans have to understand is that the Spuffies are very protective of their ship, and what occurred in canon (even though it wasn't 100% Spuffy positive, and most of those fans know and acknowledge that). Spuffy fans have been beaten down in fandom almost as much as Spike has So, putting Spike (allegedly) with another love interest in the same timeline of s7, right after getting his soul for Buffy, is 1) Yet another slap in the face to Spuffy fans and 2)Not true to canon in that Spike didn't start speaking to women until after he's out of the basement, not so crazy, and living with Xander. And those are only women he *talked* to.
In regards to the Anya/Spike thing, comparing a moment of (what should have been private) solace of two people who were blown off (or worse in Spike's case, in a way) by someone they loved is NOT the same as randomly hooking up with some chick cause you feel lonely one day. Not that Spike was of sound mind right after getting his soul, so any "relationship" would be sketchy anyway.
And what the Spuffy fans have to understand is that 1)What James wants will ultimately trump what BtVS/Spuffy fandom wants, 2) The comics are just comics, and will not negate the TV series canon, and 3) Nothing will be worse than space!frak with grossly OOC Angel.
As for using his wife's visage, yes, I do agree that it comes across as unprofessional. Not necessarily in deed, but in presentation (i.e. the i09 interview). And yes, it came across as poor form. But just because I or anyone else who thinks that does not make them jealous or hateful (though that isn't to say that some aren't jealous or hateful); I just don't think it's accurate or fair to make that a blanket statement for all who feel that way. I feel what I feel as a BtVS fandom person, and I respect the source material. It sounds to me that most of those in opposition are speaking from a fandom point of view as well.
I've had the pleasure to be both in the James fandom, as well as the Buffy fandom. I think those who are just in the James fandom have missed a lot of fans' displeasure at the comics overall--Spike's portrayal and treatment in particular. Like it or not, this will be viewed as another layer of mistreatment to Spike fans. No one seems to love the character as much as we do as of late, or respect his story. That's including Scott Allie, James, and Joss. Visit some of the fandom boards or LiveJournal and the like--this isn't new nor is it limited to James. This just a new round of "kick the Spike" the fan edition. That's how they view it; that's how they feel, myself included. In the comics, Spike has been jerked around, acted OOC, put on a bug ship that was a metaphor for his fans (a loyal bunch of roach beetles, basically--nifty comparison! Not), and having his feelings jerked around. Spike changed his existence for Buffy all the way back in s5, but made it crystal clear to non-believers upon the retrieval of his soul as irrefutable proof of his love and loyalty. So yeah, giving him a love interest in season 7 (who "kicks him to the curb") is pissing all over that. It just is.
Folks are up in arms because the Spike fans think that James is pissing on the character, and the James fans think that the Spike fans are jealous of James' wife...Yeah, okay.
Sources here and here and here.
Here's a long, ranty comment I left on one of the FB boards in an attempt to clear things up for both sides, and thought I'd share it here:
I think you guys are kind of talking past each other.
What the James fans have to understand is that the Spuffies are very protective of their ship, and what occurred in canon (even though it wasn't 100% Spuffy positive, and most of those fans know and acknowledge that). Spuffy fans have been beaten down in fandom almost as much as Spike has So, putting Spike (allegedly) with another love interest in the same timeline of s7, right after getting his soul for Buffy, is 1) Yet another slap in the face to Spuffy fans and 2)Not true to canon in that Spike didn't start speaking to women until after he's out of the basement, not so crazy, and living with Xander. And those are only women he *talked* to.
In regards to the Anya/Spike thing, comparing a moment of (what should have been private) solace of two people who were blown off (or worse in Spike's case, in a way) by someone they loved is NOT the same as randomly hooking up with some chick cause you feel lonely one day. Not that Spike was of sound mind right after getting his soul, so any "relationship" would be sketchy anyway.
And what the Spuffy fans have to understand is that 1)What James wants will ultimately trump what BtVS/Spuffy fandom wants, 2) The comics are just comics, and will not negate the TV series canon, and 3) Nothing will be worse than space!frak with grossly OOC Angel.
As for using his wife's visage, yes, I do agree that it comes across as unprofessional. Not necessarily in deed, but in presentation (i.e. the i09 interview). And yes, it came across as poor form. But just because I or anyone else who thinks that does not make them jealous or hateful (though that isn't to say that some aren't jealous or hateful); I just don't think it's accurate or fair to make that a blanket statement for all who feel that way. I feel what I feel as a BtVS fandom person, and I respect the source material. It sounds to me that most of those in opposition are speaking from a fandom point of view as well.
I've had the pleasure to be both in the James fandom, as well as the Buffy fandom. I think those who are just in the James fandom have missed a lot of fans' displeasure at the comics overall--Spike's portrayal and treatment in particular. Like it or not, this will be viewed as another layer of mistreatment to Spike fans. No one seems to love the character as much as we do as of late, or respect his story. That's including Scott Allie, James, and Joss. Visit some of the fandom boards or LiveJournal and the like--this isn't new nor is it limited to James. This just a new round of "kick the Spike" the fan edition. That's how they view it; that's how they feel, myself included. In the comics, Spike has been jerked around, acted OOC, put on a bug ship that was a metaphor for his fans (a loyal bunch of roach beetles, basically--nifty comparison! Not), and having his feelings jerked around. Spike changed his existence for Buffy all the way back in s5, but made it crystal clear to non-believers upon the retrieval of his soul as irrefutable proof of his love and loyalty. So yeah, giving him a love interest in season 7 (who "kicks him to the curb") is pissing all over that. It just is.