BACK TO THE BUFFYVERSE IN DRAWING ON YOUR NIGHTMARES

[MattBrady]

by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean

Buffy The Vampire Slayer may have ended its small screen run but the Buffy-verse is set to expand in the funny books this October with the release of Drawing On Your Nightmares, which features a prelude story to December’s Tales of the Vampires, a new series of comics to be written by Buffy creator Joss Whedon. Newsarama spoke to editor Scott Allie, writer Brett Matthews and artist Sean Phillips for more.

Breaking down the special, it contains three stories – a Cal McDonald story set in Vegas written by Steve Niles and illustrated by Ben Templesmith, a Goon story by creator/writer/artist Eric Powell, and the aforementioned Buffy-verse story. The issue comes roughly on the heels of Hauntings, another Dark Horse horror anthology, but with Drawing, Allie was aiming for a different target.

“I wanted to do an anthology different from the Dark Horse Book of Hauntings, something less ambitious, more of a taster than a main course, and I wanted it to be more directly tied into, and tying together, the horror line,” Allie said. “So I considered the projects we had rolling, and thought this would make a good cross section. Then, as it turned out, Marketing needed a promotional item for a series of retailer events, including one in Vegas. We decided to theme the book to Vegas, albeit loosely. The Goon story doesn't happen in Vegas, but it has some gambling.”

As mentioned earlier, Matthews and Phillips’ story acts as a lead-in to the upcoming Tales of the Vampires series of books, and Allie gave a slight tease. “It’s set in Vegas, with a grifter trying to take advantage of a young woman who's obviously a little more worldly than she tries to let on,” Allie said. “It's all about how much of a monster a regular person can be. Brett worked with Joss for a long time on Angel, Buffy, and ultimately wrote for Firefly before it went away.”

Matthews elaborated a little more on “Dames.” “The story is about a Rat Pack-era vampire that haunts the Strip in Vegas and just sort of grifts his way through his undead life. Of course, his being a couple hundred years old makes him very good at it. So, we spend what starts as a night like any other with him, until things go awry in the interesting ways they tend to in stories...”

“It's set in the Buffy-verse in as much as the rules regarding vampires, their abilities, etc. are all consistent with that wonderful world created by Joss. Basically and importantly, nothing contradicts the Buffy universe in any way. That said, ‘Dames’ is a period piece and not set during any specific mainstream Buffy chronology, nor do any characters from the show appear. I like to think the connection between the two shows most in the way it hits on some of the overarching themes from the series, if indirectly so.”

Having worked with Whedon on the creator’s short-lived TV show Firefly as well as co-writing Angel: Long Nights Journey, Matthews jumped at the chance to write the story, and pave the road somewhat for Whedon. “’Dames’ is to sort of prelude Tales of the Vampires with a story that also fit into Dark Horse’s Halloween special, the overall theme and tone of which was sort of summed up to me as Vegas, dirt, and gasoline. I knew immediately those were things I could work with, and ‘Dames’ is the result.

“Sean Phillips is responsible for the art, and I mean all of it -- pencils/inks/colors/letters. I love it when an artist handles the majority of the art duties for the simple reason that their vision usually gets more fully expressed -- it's really just a matter of having fewer cooks in the kitchen. Sean's work is just outstanding, and it speaks for itself -- all you have to do is look at the pages and you'll see what I mean. What I like most about how this story turned out is its overall sense of synthesis -- the story motivates the art and the art supports the story and the overall tone/mood of the work really comes through as a result. It's a very uncompromising little story in those and most all respects, and it's largely because of the support and efforts of the two men I've just rambled on about above.

“I didn't really work as closely with Sean as I do most artists -- it's largely because there was really very little for me to do an artist turns in thumbnails that make my jaw hit the floor. He was very respectful of the script, which, as a writer is always nice and not always the case, and at the same time brought his very unique talents to the table. His work just really shines in this, at least to my eye. The story really does look exactly like I imagined it in my head -- I mean, what more could a creator ever ask for...?

As for Phillips, the artist’s return to blood suckers marks nearly a ten-year break from the monsters. “I painted an eighty page vampire story for 2000AD, called, ‘Devlin Waugh- Swimming in Blood.’ It's about an underwater prison with an outbreak of vampirism. Devlin is sent in to sort it out. It's going to be collected again early next year as a hardback from Rebellion. But for this story, I drew the vampires as they appear in Buffy.”

Nevertheless, the artist changed his drawing style “totally” this time around. “I drew this story really big in charcoal. Each panel was scanned separately and manipulated in Photoshop. Short stories like this are always a good chance to experiment artistically.”

Matthews has another, longer TOV in an issue of the upcoming series. It’s “on the literal drawing board, currently in the artist's hands. Beyond that, it's the usual whirlwind of everything and nothing all at the same time -- I'm not sure what project will be the first to crystallize and be up next. But for this one, I hope everyone who picks it up digs it. Neat little projects like this really do need the support.”

[Fazhoul]

Sounds interesting. I just hope that the books aren't solicitied until Joss has actually WRITTEN the books this time. The eight issues of Fray over two years kind of ruined any suspense they were trying to build.

[Mister Farrell]

That was a little daunting... But what do you expect from a guy who works with Ben Edlund (where's that last issue of Tick, Ben? Come back! All is forgiven!)

Fazhoul, is that a Firefly quote in your sig? Is there another Browncoat in the house?

[Kurt Avery]

You mean there are FIREFLY fans other than me?

Kurt Avery

[riotgear]

Dude, are you kidding? Firefly was the best show to come on last year. I just hope (pipe dream, probably) that the movie will cause a clamor to bring the series back.

[FIG]

While it may have taken 2 years to get issues 7 & 8 of Fray out, I still think that Fray would do tremendously well were it ever a regular series. I'm surprised it isn't a show, especially with all the computer graphics readily appearing in shows.

[Danny Donovan]

Originally posted by riotgear
Dude, are you kidding? Firefly was the best show to come on last year. I just hope (pipe dream, probably) that the movie will cause a clamor to bring the series back.

There were rumblings about six months ago, that Sci-Fi channel was going to pick up the series and go back into production with it. They've been looking for another "original series" since Farscape ended, I thought they were supposed to have had the Firefly reruns on by now to gage intrest. Guess its on the backburner.

[Markisan]

Originally posted by Fazhoul
Sounds interesting. I just hope that the books aren't solicitied until Joss has actually WRITTEN the books this time. The eight issues of Fray over two years kind of ruined any suspense they were trying to build.

I don't think Joss was responsible for the delay, Fazhoul. Karl Moline signed up with CrossGen when he was drawing Fray. He had to finish the project on his own time.

[lorbaat2]

Originally posted by Danny Donovan
There were rumblings about six months ago, that Sci-Fi channel was going to pick up the series and go back into production with it. They've been looking for another "original series" since Farscape ended, I thought they were supposed to have had the Firefly reruns on by now to gage intrest. Guess its on the backburner.

The Sci-Fi Channel is notorious for being "interested in" cancelled sci-fi shows. I heard rumours about Babylon 5 moving there between it's 4th and 5th seasons, and of Crusade benig picked up there when TNT fumbled it.

Err. I just re-read and I should clarify: I don't mean that the Sci-Fi Channel themselves produce these rumours, I just mean that it seems like every time an SF series is getting pulled for low ratings, suddenly rumours appear that the Sci-Fi Channel is going to think about adding it as an original series "next season".

eric

[Fazhoul]

Originally posted by Mister Farrell
That was a little daunting... But what do you expect from a guy who works with Ben Edlund (where's that last issue of Tick, Ben? Come back! All is forgiven!)

Fazhoul, is that a Firefly quote in your sig? Is there another Browncoat in the house?

Why yes, yes it is. At long last someone has recognized my quote! And here I thought that it was doomed to go unappreciated forever!

In case you fellow Browncoats aren't aware the complete series (all thirteen episodes) are due out on DVD on 12/9. They are supposed to have extensive commentaries with Joss and the cast, a gag reel, deleted scenes and many more features. I'm NOT waiting for Christmas on this baby that's for certain!

As for the Sci-Fi channel's interest in Firefly, Joss reported on his site that Sci-Fi turned the series down claiming that it was TOO sci-fi. I'm not sure what they were thinking.

[Fazhoul]

Originally posted by Markisan
I don't think Joss was responsible for the delay, Fazhoul. Karl Moline signed up with CrossGen when he was drawing Fray. He had to finish the project on his own time.

I had also read that Karl signed up with CG because he needed to make a living while waiting on the scripts from Joss. Hard to say which is true. Maybe they both are.

[Tom Daylight]

Originally posted by Danny Donovan
There were rumblings about six months ago, that Sci-Fi channel was going to pick up the series and go back into production with it. They've been looking for another "original series" since Farscape ended, I thought they were supposed to have had the Firefly reruns on by now to gage intrest. Guess its on the backburner.

Joss Whedon publicly stated that Sci-Fi turned it down as it was "too sci-fi". I think this is probably a slight exaggeration as the story I'm hearing from numberous sources is that Sci-Fi is trying to get away from "space shows" - besides the obvious budgetary issue, the genre just isn't as appealing to the masses as it was ten years ago.

[Reaper]

Joss rocks. I’m there for this project.

Fray was great. Yes, it took much, much too long to finish but I'm glad Mr. Moline was able to draw the whole thing. I’ve become a big fan of his on Route 666. The Fray trade was solicited in September’s Previews so I'm looking forward to receiving that.

Speaking of Firefly, the complete series is out on DVD on 12/9/03. It includes the three unaired episodes. And I seem to remember reading somewhere that every episode (or at least most of them) is going to have commentary from Mr. Whedon. Buy.com has the four-disc set for preorder for $34.99. And apparently the big screen version is officially a go with Universal w/Joss directing. Whoo-hoo!

You know, for a cancelled TV series, there sure are a lot of good things going on with it. Dumbass TV executives.

-Tim

Take me out to the black
Tell ‘em I ain’t comin’ back

[Mister Farrell]

This is amazing! I had no idea we had so many Firefly fans here. Speaking of which, y'all should check out Fireflyfans.net. It's the Newsarama of Firefly info!

[I-Ching]

Well lets not blame the TV executives here. Firefly had poor ratings. Blame the people that didn't watch the show. I'm one of them. I just didn't care for it. It was ok but I just couldn't get into it. Glad for it's fans though, the DVD does indeed have commentary and it's not just Joss plus the movie coming out has many of us Buffy fans jealous.

I'll check this out because I love Joss's work.

In terms of "Fray" I do recall Joss taking the blame for some of that since he was so busy with three TV shows.

[jasinmartin]

Loved Fray and Firefly. Haven't been able to get into the Buffy stuff though, doesn't grab me...

Glad to hear there may be a Firefly movie and at the least, a DVD.

Regarding the delay on Fray, I recall reading (maybe in the newsarama article on Moline moving to Route 666 way back when) that the delay was all on Joss, and Moline had the green light from Crossgen to do the Fray pages as they were available...

[Reaper]

Originally posted by I-Ching
Well lets not blame the TV executives here. Firefly had poor ratings. Blame the people that didn't watch the show.

You're right of course. I just had to take the shot. Calling TV executives “dumbasses” is curiously invigorating. But like the Boss once said, “I’m sure if I knew (‘em) I’d love (‘em).”

Fox gave some other shows with similar ratings and less critical praise the full season to catch on. Fastlane comes immediately to mind. I reckon I’m still bitter over that. Obviously, you're not so much.

I can understand why you didn’t take to Firefly though. I think that it takes the “space as the Great American Western Frontier” parable a little to literally. (It’s GOTTA be expensive to truck horses all over the galaxy. ) But I think that given more time it might have built a sustainable viewership.

Back to comics and Mr. Whedon though; around the same time as the first handful of issues of Fray, he also co wrote a four-issue Angel mini. It was good too.

I too am left cold by the Buffy comics even though I’m a huge fan of the TV show. Joss is the CREATOR though so I’m going to buy any comics he writes.

You know, the X-Files is the only comic licensed from the big or small screen that I’ve really enjoyed.

-Tim

You can’t take the sky from me

[Jeremy Williams]

It`s all well and good, but Joss needs to do something a little more MAGOR than that in comics.

[Tom Daylight]

More "MAGOR" than bringing a whole new audience the the medium?

[Jeremy Williams]

More "MAGOR" than bringing a whole new audience the the medium?

Yea a new audience is the reason why he should do something that would have more of an impact in the scheme of things. Crossgen tried the experiment of bringing a new audience in(girls) but today, they`re almost dead as a publisher, because things like that are great on paper, but if you fail to attract the core audience of comics, it`s a dead knell. Also Frank Miller made an impact in comics, changed it for the better, by doing it through Batman.

I`m sad to say, if Joss Wesdon wants to do things that matters, he would have to stop being scared, embrace the spotlight and try his hands with the big boys. Be it with Batman, Superman or The Avengers. THEN these sales can bring a larger audience to his offbeat Darkhorse progects.

That`s the way it works in comics. But i`m not his master, so he can do what the Hell he wants.

[mpg]

wasnt Firefly's timeslot on friday night?

i would certainly blame the execs for that one.

[Reaper]

Originally posted by mpg
wasnt Firefly's timeslot on friday night?

i would certainly blame the execs for that one.

And how about running the pilot movie last rather than first where it belonged? I could see not airing it to start the series if it sucked but I thought it was the best episode of the lot.

-Tim

[Tom Daylight]

Originally posted by Jeremy Williams
I`m sad to say, if Joss Wesdon wants to do things that matters, he would have to stop being scared, embrace the spotlight and try his hands with the big boys. Be it with Batman, Superman or The Avengers. THEN these sales can bring a larger audience to his offbeat Darkhorse progects.

Offbeat?!? The man has found fortune and FAME through his Buffy work. His work on that franchise has millions of fans. While I'd love to see him tackle the "mainstream" comics characters, I'd rather see him explore his magnificent world in this medium, and at the same time introduces those fans to comics. As for sales, FRAY has sold very well for a Dark Horse book, but just wait til you see the TPB sales