Some fic and a snit
Hey howdy hey! It's been awhile, pardners, but I have a couple of fics for you! Then I have a favor to ask! Aren't you glad you stopped by?
First, here's a tiny drabble about Xander's first experience being "Up With People"!
Title: Just In Time Delivery
Author: Rebcake
Rating: PG13
Word Count: 100
Character: Xander
Summary: Xander discovers a new core compentency.
Then, there's a ficlet about Número Cinco:
Title: Two Faces Have I
Author: Rebcake
Rating: PG
Word Count: 800
Characters: Los Hermanos Números with their myriad allies and enemies.
This ficlet turned into a crossover with Love & Rockets, though familiarity with that comic is not in any way necessary. However, if you want to read a comic that has amazing female characters of all shapes, colors, and sizes and that does not talk down to you, you might want to give it a try. Start with some of the older trades.
The reason I bring that up is I've been stewing about another comic lately, and sometimes it helps to remember the good stuff.
So, about that favor...
In response to Scott Allie's press release (if that's what they're calling them these days), I've written my first letter to the editor in almost 10 years, and I was wondering if y'all would be willing to look it over and make sure I didn't make any stupid mistakes. 'Kay? Thanks! Feedback appreciated!
Dear Mr. Allie,
In Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 #33, Buffy’s ex-boyfriend is revealed as the “villain” behind the mask. Nifty twist and all, but he proceeds to spend the entire issue telling her, essentially, not to worry her pretty little head about a thing, something virtually guaranteed to earn a person a smackdown from the Buffster. Quentin Travers (or anyone from the old Council, really), various baddies, and yes, Angel, have all tried it and paid the price. Angel’s been there multiple times. He’s a slow learner. People underestimate Buffy, probably because her head is indeed little and pretty, but she’s good at setting them straight. The smackdown might be figurative, but it’s often quite literal. She’s a woman of action. It’s part of what we love about her. So, I waited happily for the inevitable.
Instead, she gives him a kiss and they spend the next issue “f#@%ing”.
I admit I don’t like Angel. He hurt my (imaginary) friend badly, back when she was a young girl, and even if she forgives him, I don’t have to. Plus, it sure seems like he’s still hurting her. Also, maybe I’m old-fashioned, but it was my understanding that Angel having sex was a Very Bad Thing, so I’m petty much against him having sex. With anyone. And I definitely don’t want to see it.
But, you know, it’s comics, no actual worlds were harmed, blah, blah, blah. I figure Joss will pull it out at some point, and we’ll all go home saying, “That was really unpleasant, but she prevailed, and learned.” Or something like that.
I participate in online fandom, however, so it’s sometimes hard to avoid hearing the rumblings of unrest or glee (or, as we call it on the net, squee). So, the most recent (April 28) announcement from your desk came across my screen. Wow.
Not only do you mange to imply that people who don’t like #34 are prudes (and no, you don’t need to explain what porn isn’t to me-I’ve got the Supreme Court for that, thanks), and that fans who care enough to “ship” live on some other (more dimwitted) planet, you also manage to tell us not to worry our pretty little heads! You’ve hit the trifecta of arguments used to shut women up.
1) we’re uptight,
2) we’re stupid and emotional, and
3) you know what’s best for us.
Truly, an amazing achievement. Can you say patronizing? Because I sure can, though I had hoped never to apply the word to the staff of Buffy.
Suddenly, I’m not surprised by the problems I’m having with Season 8. It’s as if I’m caught in an endless feedback loop, wherein the people objecting to Buffy falling for the “don’t worry, be happy” line-something she never does, even in the throes of a demon-induced psychotic delusion- are being fed the very same line. I don’t think that the man behind the curtain/mask/blue pencil gets the point at all.
Feminist icon: I do not think it means what you think it means.
Warm regards,
Rebcake
San Francisco, CA
P.S. I fully expect this letter to be Jossed* in #35. God, I hope it is. I just might not be reading it.
*”Jossed” is internet-speak for having one’s hopes, dreams, and/or objections destroyed by a wacky plot twist.
+++
That's that. In other news, McDiva wanted me to tell you that she beat me in a music-related BtVS trivia matter. She thought "Virgin State of Mind" was used in Season 3, I guessed Season 7. I should know better than to go up against her savant-like powers of musical recall. Live and learn.
First, here's a tiny drabble about Xander's first experience being "Up With People"!
Title: Just In Time Delivery
Author: Rebcake
Rating: PG13
Word Count: 100
Character: Xander
Summary: Xander discovers a new core compentency.
Then, there's a ficlet about Número Cinco:
Title: Two Faces Have I
Author: Rebcake
Rating: PG
Word Count: 800
Characters: Los Hermanos Números with their myriad allies and enemies.
This ficlet turned into a crossover with Love & Rockets, though familiarity with that comic is not in any way necessary. However, if you want to read a comic that has amazing female characters of all shapes, colors, and sizes and that does not talk down to you, you might want to give it a try. Start with some of the older trades.
The reason I bring that up is I've been stewing about another comic lately, and sometimes it helps to remember the good stuff.
So, about that favor...
In response to Scott Allie's press release (if that's what they're calling them these days), I've written my first letter to the editor in almost 10 years, and I was wondering if y'all would be willing to look it over and make sure I didn't make any stupid mistakes. 'Kay? Thanks! Feedback appreciated!
Dear Mr. Allie,
In Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 #33, Buffy’s ex-boyfriend is revealed as the “villain” behind the mask. Nifty twist and all, but he proceeds to spend the entire issue telling her, essentially, not to worry her pretty little head about a thing, something virtually guaranteed to earn a person a smackdown from the Buffster. Quentin Travers (or anyone from the old Council, really), various baddies, and yes, Angel, have all tried it and paid the price. Angel’s been there multiple times. He’s a slow learner. People underestimate Buffy, probably because her head is indeed little and pretty, but she’s good at setting them straight. The smackdown might be figurative, but it’s often quite literal. She’s a woman of action. It’s part of what we love about her. So, I waited happily for the inevitable.
Instead, she gives him a kiss and they spend the next issue “f#@%ing”.
I admit I don’t like Angel. He hurt my (imaginary) friend badly, back when she was a young girl, and even if she forgives him, I don’t have to. Plus, it sure seems like he’s still hurting her. Also, maybe I’m old-fashioned, but it was my understanding that Angel having sex was a Very Bad Thing, so I’m petty much against him having sex. With anyone. And I definitely don’t want to see it.
But, you know, it’s comics, no actual worlds were harmed, blah, blah, blah. I figure Joss will pull it out at some point, and we’ll all go home saying, “That was really unpleasant, but she prevailed, and learned.” Or something like that.
I participate in online fandom, however, so it’s sometimes hard to avoid hearing the rumblings of unrest or glee (or, as we call it on the net, squee). So, the most recent (April 28) announcement from your desk came across my screen. Wow.
Not only do you mange to imply that people who don’t like #34 are prudes (and no, you don’t need to explain what porn isn’t to me-I’ve got the Supreme Court for that, thanks), and that fans who care enough to “ship” live on some other (more dimwitted) planet, you also manage to tell us not to worry our pretty little heads! You’ve hit the trifecta of arguments used to shut women up.
1) we’re uptight,
2) we’re stupid and emotional, and
3) you know what’s best for us.
Truly, an amazing achievement. Can you say patronizing? Because I sure can, though I had hoped never to apply the word to the staff of Buffy.
Suddenly, I’m not surprised by the problems I’m having with Season 8. It’s as if I’m caught in an endless feedback loop, wherein the people objecting to Buffy falling for the “don’t worry, be happy” line-something she never does, even in the throes of a demon-induced psychotic delusion- are being fed the very same line. I don’t think that the man behind the curtain/mask/blue pencil gets the point at all.
Feminist icon: I do not think it means what you think it means.
Warm regards,
Rebcake
San Francisco, CA
P.S. I fully expect this letter to be Jossed* in #35. God, I hope it is. I just might not be reading it.
*”Jossed” is internet-speak for having one’s hopes, dreams, and/or objections destroyed by a wacky plot twist.
+++
That's that. In other news, McDiva wanted me to tell you that she beat me in a music-related BtVS trivia matter. She thought "Virgin State of Mind" was used in Season 3, I guessed Season 7. I should know better than to go up against her savant-like powers of musical recall. Live and learn.