Category Archives: Buffy The Vampire Slayer

JOSS WHEDON and MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

Joss Whedon’s contemporary take on “Much Ado About Nothing” has been picked up by Lionsgate. As reported by Deadline.com, Lionsgate acquired North American distribution rights to Joss Whedon’s low budget Shakespearean romp which played at the Toronto International Film Festival last weekend. It is packed with wonderful actors that have a history with Whedon, like Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof pictured below. And the look of the movie, judging by these stills, is lush and something to look forward to.

Here is a charming press release from last year, just after completion of principal photography:

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING is the first feature from Bellwether, a micro-studio created by Joss Whedon and Kai Cole for the production of small, independent narratives for all media, embracing a DIY ethos and newer technologies for, in this particular case, a somewhat older story.

Shot in glorious black and white by Jay Hunter (PAPER HEART, “Dollhouse”), the film stars Amy Acker (CABIN IN THE WOODS, “Alias”) and Alexis Denisof (“How I Met Your Mother”, “Angel”) as Beatrice and Benedick, the world’s least likely lovers headed for their inevitable tumble into love. As Joss Whedon puts it: “The text is to me a deconstruction of the idea of love, which is ironic, since the entire production is a love letter – to the text, to the cast, even to the house it’s shot in.” The supporting cast includes Nathan Fillion (“Castle”, WAITRESS) as Dogberry, Clark Gregg (AVENGERS, IRON MAN) as Leonato, Fran Kranz (CABIN IN THE WOODS, “Dollhouse”) as Claudio and Reed Diamond (“Franklin & Bash”, MONEYBALL) as Don Pedro.

The film was produced by Whedon, line-produced by Nathan Kelly and M. Elizabeth Hughes, and co-produced by Kai Cole and Danny Kaminsky. The super-impressive cast is listed below. Full tech credits (for the extraordinary crew) will be up shortly. The film should be completed by early spring and headed for the festival circuit, because it is fancy.

There’s a wonderful interview with Joss Whedon conducted by the editor of Rookie, 15-year-old Tavi Gevinson. It is a remarkable piece in that it brings out the key facts we’ll enjoy knowing about “Much Ado About Nothing,” like it was filmed entirely in Joss Whedon’s home and Shakespeare’s work plays a very important role in Whedon’s life and his group of actors. But, beyond that, Ms. Gevinson gets Mr. Whedon to open up about his childhood, the girl avatar in his work, and a bunch of silly and human stuff that would not emerge in a more standard interview. So, congrats to Rookie and Tavi Gevinson.

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BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 9 #13 Review

The stuff in the background is nicely fleshed out, the parody of Facebook and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. Instead, you have the social network Tincan and its kingpin, Theo Daniels. The idea that this media giant had to make a deal with the devil, so to speak, is hilarious. My only problem is I wanted more of the background! They even went to the trouble of creating an awesome logo for the fictitious Tincan, an Andy Warhol inspired soup can. And the Zuckerberg-like Theo Daniels should become an ongoing character. But, for the purposes of this story arc, the spotlight is placed on Eldre Koh, a rogue demon that Buffy thought she could trust but turns out to be terribly unreliable. He’s not much to look at and his social skills are limited. He’s a necessary foil to get us to where we need to go.

That said, let’s step back and look at what we’ve got. Do you feel like you have your own crazy mojo that you’d be willing to protect over anything else in the world? That’s what Buffy has been struggling with ever since joining her ex-Slayer pal, Kennedy, in the business of providing security for high-end clients. It just doesn’t suit her to be working for the suits. In the last part to, “Guarded,” we see what Buffy does when all hell literally breaks loose. Well, the girl can think on her feet, that’s for sure. She may have been distracted a bit by a seemingly good-natured and depressed demon. But, once she realizes that Koh is more than willing to kill her client just to restore his rep with the other demons, well, the claws come out. So, yeah, it’s a fun and action-packed ending that’s also true to life. Here you have Buffy working her ass off at a job that still sucks in her mind.

Andrew Chambliss brings this story to a satisfying ending with a big hint to where we go next. The art continues to be spot on: George Jeanty on pencils, Nathan Massengill on inks, and Michelle Madsen on colors, keep the action believable and lively. I don’t take anything for granted with this comic. It’s running smoothly with a nice build up to future events. But I sometimes wish some of the ideas that are brought up could be examined even more fully. You don’t bring up Facebook and all its issues and then abruptly move right along, do you? Well, maybe we’d end up getting off point. Or maybe it would be pretty awesome to delve further into the subject of social media. I’m just saying.

Issue 13 comes out September 12. Visit Dark Horse Comics.

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ANGEL AND FAITH #13 Review

“Angel and Faith #13” continues where we left our heroes, deep in the bowels of a most demented dimension of hell, in order to find that missing ingredient, that elusive mojo, that might kickstart magic back into the world. Willow had managed to pick up enough of a spark to call it a day when a lost tribe of cute floppy eared dog people, deep, deep within hell, let out a little yelp for help. Being all nice and stuff, Willow, Faith, Angel, and his son, Connor, literally turned right around and back into mortal danger to help out their new friends. And so continues one of the funnest rides in comics. That is, if you don’t mind a ride in hell, which I’m fine with, especially one drawn by Rebekah Isaacs. This is Dark Horse Comics, after all.

As you can see from the above page of comics, Faith is momentarily caught in the spell from hell emanating from their current location, Quor’toth. Happy thoughts! Think happy thoughts! Whew, that does the trick. It gives Faith enough strength to press on and even a little reserve of energy to lament the fact that Angel and Connor have such a solid father and son relationship but her dad remains a pud.

But getting back to the idea of, on the verge of escape, retreating right back into the jaws of death. That, my friend, is very counter-intuitive and, interesting. I wouldn’t exactly want these characters to just go to a very strange and dangerous place, get what they were looking for, and then just skip right out through a convenient magic portal. No, we want conflict and this is something that will keep us reading and wondering. Yes, indeed, Part Three of “Family Reunion” has knocked all the blocks down and the repair work is under way.

It was Connor’s previous stay in Quor’toth that inspired a whole race of dog people to live in sheer harmony and embrace peace and love. Not exactly conduct becoming of a demon. No wonder they’re being “hounded” out by the powers that be. The game plan is to rescue the dog people being held captive and then high tail it out of hell! One member of the dog race lends a paw in the battle royale that ensues. The action is gungo-ho earnest but Faith can be relied upon to eventually provide some irony. And, just before the momentum is lost, we have a complete scene change, back to the Giles mansion to check in on those two cute and highly irresponsible housesitting sisters, Sophie and Lavinia. They have the most unwelcome of guests: Nash and Pearl! And Whistler, who has his own agenda.

Christos Gage’s story makes a good leap forward once we return to Quor’toth. The players know what is at stake, magic in the world and their very lives. There is no time to lose and it all hinges on what Willow does next. Everything hinging on Willow? Yep, that’s a good place to stop and pick things up next time.

“Angel and Faith #13” release date: August 29. Visit Dark Horse Comics.

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SPIKE #1 Review

Dark Horse Comics continues to deliver Buffy goodness with Spike’s own comic! There is something joyful in that, don’t you think? The guy has charisma, a perfect story to tell, and he’s got that blimp with an army of  human-sized bugs that all think they’re C-3PO.

First off, Spike can definitley carry his own title. He’s full of swagger no doubt and, in this ish, it’s brooding swagger. As the title of this five-part story suggests, Spike has gone to, “A Dark Place.” It’s quite a familiar place. If you’ve ever had your heart torn apart from a failed romance, there’s literally nothing that will pull you out of that funk until you’re good and ready. At the time, it seems you may never pull it together. Friends begin to worry. But Spike has no friends. If he did, it would make it a little easier for him. What he does have is his faithful army of bugs and they can think for themselves, up to a point, and they know their master is lost at sea. That’s not good for him or his crew.

Spike gave orders to land his blimp/rockeship on the dark side of the moon. The bugs carried out his orders. Then they pondered over what they had done. They observed that their supreme leader was obsessively brooding, excessively drinkly, and repressively insulting his loyal minions. Sebastian, Elizabeth, and the rest of the bug crew, conclude that this can not stand! Enough! What happens next is a hilarious remedy cooked up by the bugs. It actually helps for a little while until Spike has to go all macho negative on it. The remedy is a play on dark and light and, in the end, it puts Spike off because it comes across as too easy to enjoy. The guy just thinks too much!

Now, think back to the last time we saw Spike with Buffy. Quite a heartbreaker. What did he say? Oh, yeah: “I don’t want to be the dark place you run to when things aren’t working.” Writer Victor Gischler, along with editors Scott Allie and Sierra Hahn, work with that idea wonderfully in this story. Is it possible to bring some light into Spike’s world? Yes, Buffy is proof of that. Do opposites attract? Yes! So, now what? Only his bugs, as best as they’re able, can try to talk some sense into him. They’re not saying Buffy is or isn’t the answer. They just want him to lighten up!

This issue to a pleasure. The art is tops. Paul Lee on inks. Andy Owens on pencils. Cris Peters on colors. Cover art by Jenny Frison. Alternative cover art by Steve Norris. It all adds up quite well. The color scheme is very inviting, playing off the interiors of the blimp and its crew with earth tones and greens. We are easily swept up by the narrative with bold and smooth artwork. It looks very effortless, very in tune with the story. I don’t think I would ever tire of views from inside that blimp! And those bugs are amazing.

But, there is a big “meanwhile” story going on. You didn’t think that Spike would be left to have some quiet time for feeling sorry for himself did you? Oh no, if it’s not one thing, then it’s another. Didn’t you know there’s life on the moon?

“Spike” comes out August 22. Visit Dark Horse Comics.

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BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 9 #12 Review

Buffy has gotten under my skin, as I’m sure she has for many of you faithful readers. And look at where she’s at now, right in the thick of the everyday mortal social/status/career morass we accept as our lives. Well, we don’t entirely accept it and Buffy, we’re pretty sure, is just biding her time until she can plot her next move, something we’re all doing ourselves in our own ways. And what an ironic showcase assignment for our Buffy to have: securing the safety of a Mort Zuckerberg-like character, one of these social media kingpins who promised to make our social/status/career thing run oh so smoothly. Just believe! Just add a new Friend or Like something!

Horror and biting social commentary can often make a good mix. And it can work for vampires or, more to the point here, vampire slayers, er, former vampire slayers. The key thing here is “former” vampire slayer. Buffy’s nose will continue to be rubbed in that harsh fact. She ain’t no slayer now. Who’s your slayer? Not Buffy, no way. She been downsized and upgraded, turned inside out, and gone corporate. But how long can it last, really? One thing we like about Buffy is that this girl can focus and her job right now is to keep one dumbass CEO of the latest and greatest social media, “Tin Can” from getting eaten up alive by some major demon mofos. And why would that be, you may ask. Because this Tin Can thing is geared up to the very depths of hell, that’s why! The guy made some bargain with some devil and now he’s looking for Buffy and her crew, well, actually Kennedy’s crew of elite security to save his sorry self.

This is one of the funniest and most enjoyable Buffy reads yet. It’s very bright, techy and geeky without trying and something that will put a nice kick in your day. This next issue comes out August 8. As always, please visit and enjoy our friends at Dark Horse Comics.

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COMIC-CON 2012: Clare Kramer, Buffy The Vampire Slayer Star and Founder of GeekNation.com

Clare Kramer has an impressive acting resume going back to her college days. She graduated from NYU’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in just three years. She appeared in numerous stage plays in New York. And, once in Hollywood, she got her big break in the role of Courtney, the cheerleader, alongside Kirsten Dunst and Eliza Dukshu in “Bring It On,” (2000). It was shortly after that movie that Clare gained herself a place in television legend as the arch-villain, Glory, in “Buffy The Vampire Slayer.”

Of course, excellent, creative actors are always looking for a new challenge and that’s what has brought Clare Kramer to host “Take Five,” a new show about the geek lifestyle at her new all-things-geek site, GeekNation.com, which makes its official debut at Comic-Con.

A lovely press release follows:

Known to Buffy fans the world over, Clare Kramer (‘Glory’ on Buffy the Vampire Slayer) is now host of ‘Take 5,’ an entertainment show on GeekNation.com, officially launching this weekend at Comic-Con. This year, Comic-Con will be hosting a Buffy the Vampire Slayer 20th Anniversary panel. We would love to discuss featuring Clare on your show to celebrate Buffy, Comic-Con, superfans, and discuss her new hosting and founding venture on GeekNation.com

Clare is not only the host of the podcast ‘Take 5,’ she is also one of the genius brains (aka Founder) behind the newly launched GeekNation.com. GeekNation.com, an online destination for all things entertainment including talk shows, web series, shorts, videos, podcasts, and game shows, is where science fiction, pop-culture and pure geek-ish fun coexist happily all on one site. As a full service web production company, GeekNation recently relocated to a 5,000 sq. ft. sound stage, acquiring a complete-package of state of the art production equipment to serve multiple shows across various platforms Geeks unite!

“As much as I love working in television and film, as an artists there is always a desire to create and to work on your own projects, no matter how big or small.  It’s the same reason why actors turn to directing their own feature films or shooting their own videos for YouTube.  Whenever my friends and I are not working, we spend most of our free time discussing our own projects that we’d like to produce ourselves and GeekNation has allotted us that opportunity.  GeekNation has a crew, a full-time editor, full camera and lighting gear and a 5,000 square foot sound stage… I’m creating now more than ever before and loving every minute of it.”—Clare Kramer, Founder of GeekNation &  Actress

Preview of GeekNation.com:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJOsUeYkvpE&feature=player_embedded

Clare first rose to Hollywood’s attention appearing alongside Kirsten Dunst and Eliza Dushku in the comedy Bring It On, playing the hard-nosed cheerleader ‘Courtney’, for which she was nominated for an MTV Award.  Clare is also beloved for her role as ‘Glory’ on the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, for which numerous action figures were modeled after!

Clare recently wrapped the Ghostbuster-like thriller Mega Spider, playing Greg Grunberg’s love interest, and her thriller Endure can currently be found On Demand.  Clare’s production company Defiance Entertainment co-produced the documentary Tyson, which screened at the Cannes and Sundance film festivals to critical acclaim.

Clare has been featured in Maxim, People, Entertainment Weekly, Stuff and Playboy magazines, to name a few.

Go Social:

Like GeekNation on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/GeekNation/193685917347345

Follow GeekNation on Twitter (@GeekNation)

Follow Clare on twitter @ClareKramer

Like Clare on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ClareKramerFanPage

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BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 9 #11 Review

“BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 9” takes another well-defined turn in the new story arc, “Guarded,” by Andrew Chambliss. Buffy, in many ways, is an artist. Her work as a Slayer has a singular vision. She is a Slayer down to the tips of her toes. And, like any good dancer or mime, she is completely dedicated to her art to the neglect of any kind of retirement plan. The world, magicless as it is, has pulled the rug out from under her. Barista work doesn’t seem to be cutting it anymore. Enter Kennedy, a savvy ex-Slayer, who offers Buffy that thing she’s been craving: stability, a “real” life. But, as any real artist knows, comfort comes at a price. Buffy doesn’t want to be a flake but she also doesn’t want to be a sellout. Buffy can’t stop being Buffy so her solution will forever be complicated. As she tells Kennedy, “I can’t just shut it off like you.”

But what’s a girl to do? So, Buffy goes corporate, sort of, and joins Kennedy’s venture, a highend security service where ex-Slayers are hired out as bodyguards for rich clients. Like it or not, Kennedy has breathed life back into a bunch of Slayers who were down in the dumps. Buffy and Kennedy are walking through the company training camp when Kennedy observes, “There’s not a lot ex-Slayers are suited for in a world that’s minus the magic. Most of us didn’t even finish high school.” Yeah, so it makes sense. What do you do after you’ve run away to join the circus? Maybe take the next job with a decent 401K? Of course, Buffy is hardly a circus act, but a harsh economy doesn’t care.

Buffy, the artist, is also a soldier who is not whole outside the fight. It plays with her mind. She can’t focus. Her big fail in training speaks volumes. Her goal was clouded at the first sight of a demon roaming the hotel corridor she was supposed to protect. It turns out that the demon she tackled into the maid’s closet was actually a bellhop and it was the maid who she should have had her eyes on. Try as she might, Buffy can’t push the pause button on who she is. Chambliss does a wonderful job of expressing the conflict Buffy feels as she struggles to do what she thinks she is supposed to do, earn a decent living in the modern world, as opposed to just doing what comes natural. Kennedy goads Buffy to go against her instincts. She chides her for not willing to try something new. She taunts her needing to do something larger-than-life. The simple fact remains that Buffy really is larger-than-life! It’s the way countless aspiring painters and writers feel as they toil away as receptionists and waiters. Chambliss knows. And Buffy feels your pain.

“Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 9,” #11, is available June 11, which also happens to be the first day of the San Diego Comic-Con! I will be there to see what all the fuss is about. Be sure to LIKE the brand new snazzy Comics Grinder Facebook Page. And check out the merch at the Comics Grinder store. And, as always, be sure to visit Dark Horse Comics.

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BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 9 #10 Review

The third and final chapter to “Apart (of me)” is a wonderful exploration of identity and free will. Buffy’s mind, trapped in a bot, regrets over never going to get the “perfect” life. But, her arch nemeiss, Simone, has all the confidence in the world in Buffy. If only she could tap into the very essence of Buffy, well then, Simone is quite sure all her vampire slaying dreams will come true. It’s all in how you look at things: for some, that glass is half empty and they can barely roll out of bed; for others, that same glass is half full and they’re well on their way to world domination.

Andrew Chambliss and Scott Allie have written a story that shows us just how complicated self-doubt can be. There’s Buffy mind, trapped in a bot. And there’s Buffy’s body, programmed to think it’s Buffy. All thanks to the most unreliable of Watchers, Andrew. Seemed like a good idea at the time. The programmed Buffy was “safely” tucked away in suburban digs. The Buffy bot was rigged up to kick vampire ass. The Buffy bot can’t help but wonder if it’s not all meant to be. It will take some strong will power if both Buffys are ever going to see that glass as half full.

As we drop in on this issue, the Buffy bot is tied up in a basement while the programmed Buffy stands guard. The Buffy bot tries to appeal to the other Buffy’s sense of reason. Is this really what she considers “freedom”? She escaped her nice house in the suburbs to lurk around a basement that “smells like bicycle chains”? The programmed Buffy ignores that and lectures her captive on how she betrayed the Slayer cause. How, she asks, do you form an army without any guns? Guns? That’s when it hits the Buffy bot that Simone, with such a fetish for guns, must be behind this! Simone, not one to disappoint, appears and quickly lays in on the Buffy bot. She barks a number of threats which are scary considering this one does bite.

Back in San Francisco, Detective Dowling is very messed up over his killing his partner-turned-zompire, Cheung. The tide seems to be turning, just a bit, against the zompires but things still look pretty dire. This leads us to Spike and Andrew, who have lost track of the Buffy bot but have stumbled upon a major stash of…guns. We also get a few more big hints that Simone is plotting quite a big plan, one with just as deadly a backup plan.

Cliff Richards on pencils and Andy Owens on inks continue to keep us locked into the story. Buffy has a very natural way about her, albeit she’s currently split in two! That said, we’ve got a natural and easy vibe running throughout, whether it involves action or contemplation. This issue gives us plenty of both. You’ve basically got Buffy versus Buffy; and then you’ve got Simone versus everyone! But that’s not all. The quiet stuff is very important too. Amid an intimate convesation between the two love birds, well the Buffy bot and Spike, there’s a moment when Spike comes out and says, “Come with me now.” It’s a quick little tease but shows that, whatever may happen, Spike remains quite smitten with Buffy. This sparks something in the Buffy bot and it looks good.

Issue 10 is out June 13. Visit Dark Horse Comics.

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BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 9 #9 Review

The second chapter to “Apart (Of Me)” teases out a little more of the tension between Spike and Buffy and gives us on eyeful as to what some people (Andrew) think is best for Buffy. If only Buffy, as a plucky mere mortal, could get it together and buy into the American Dream by getting a mortgage on a two-bedroom starter home stocked with IKEA furniture! That is Andrew’s dream for Buffy. And, ever since his amazing and disastrous “plan” to keep Buffy safe, he has managed to secure only part of it, “part” being the key word here. Buffy’s programmed body had been made secure in the suburbs, until it was kidnapped, while Buffy’s mind was encased in a bot! So, for the purposes of this review, “Buffy” is the one encased in a bot. And “the other Buffy” is Buffy’s body programmed to believe it has a personality. A bit confusing, no doubt, and a bit of a mystery as to how this was going to keep Buffy safe in the first place!

Buffy observes that the space in Buffy’s “dream home” that is designated as an office is in between a bedroom and a bathroom. Is it possible that the other Buffy might have plans for a nursery in the future? Spikes dismisses that as rubbish. But Buffy begs to differ. Indeed, there are two Buffys with their own ideas on what is real and what is rubbish.

And then, quite abruptly, Andrew reveals that he has placed a tracking device in the other Buffy’s necklace. That seems rather convenient but plausible. It’s an intimate chocker that she might like to keep close to her body indefinitley. Whatever the case, that’s what they’re working with.

Circumstances being what they are, it makes sense that things would have cooled down for Spike and Buffy. Buffy is simply not herself! However, there is a scene with Buffy trying to reach her friend, Dawn, on the phone and Spike casually asks if Dawn is aware that she is no longer going to become an aunt, at least, not yet. Yep, mark that as a tease for what my lie ahead for those two. Spike, for his part, remains protective of Buffy and has his own ideas to work through. That leads to a nice little dust up when Buffy pulls away from Spike and, given that she’s part robot, tells him she isn’t exactly all that vulnerable. But she may regret those words. Inexplicably, she takes things too far in the other direction and is barking orders! Andrew and Spike, feeling rather guilty, just follow along but maybe that’s not such a good idea. In what seems like a nod to Joss Whedon’s recent movie, “The Cabin in the Woods,” Buffy decides to split up the group as they zero in on the other Buffy and her captors. Andrew and Spike obey. And then Andrew thinks it over. Hasn’t Buffy seen enough horror movies? he asks himself. Doesn’t she know that splitting up the group is the last thing you should do?

“Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 9,” issue 9, arrives May 9. Visit Dark Horse Comics.

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DARK HORSE COMICS Announces New “SPIKE” Series and New “WILLOW” Series

Dark Horse Comics adds two new spinoffs to its “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” universe: a new “Spike” series and a new “Willow” series! “Spike” #1 comes out August 22, 2012. “Willow” #1 comes out November 21, 2012.

Details follow:

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