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"Buffy" comic book: No future for Faith[Warning: Spoilers galore!] Since March of this year, many Buffy fanatics have been Glory-ing (I couldn't resist) in the season 8 comic book resurrection of Buffy and the Scoobies — both proper and fringe. The last three comics have been devoted to our favorite uber bad girl hero, Faith. And now, three-fourths of the way through the four-issue Faith story arc nihilistically titled "No Future For You," we've got ourselves one heck of a cliffhanger. Even if Faith's head is not precisely poised on the chopping block, Lady Genevieve Savidge (aka Gigi) is wielding a mean-ass ax and feeling more than a little betrayed. How, oh how, will Faith extricate herself from this pickle? We'll find out when the current Faith story line wraps up in issue No. 9, due out Dec. 5 (with the best. comic. cover. ever.). Until then, let's discuss how she got to this point in the first place, shall we?
Issue No. 6 opened with Faith stationed at the hellmouth in Cleveland — and no, that isn't redundant. Cleveland is actually quite a lovely city, despite how much I hate, loathe and despise their football team. I'm an evolved woman. I can compartmentalize pretty much everything. Anyway, Faith is tasked with the unenviable nasty cleanup jobs, like staking kiddie vampires, and is entertaining the recriminating voice in her head. Her existence is entirely in the shadows, solitary and stark, mirrored perfectly in how depressingly decrepit her apartment is. No finely appointed Scottish castle teeming with activity for our girl Faith. Her slayer stipend must be paltry. While Faith doesn't spend a moment bemoaning her lot, this is not to say that the allure of a better life, dangled before her eyes first by Giles and later by Gigi, doesn't garner her attention. Faith takes Giles up on his offer of money and a clean criminal record, but even in this, Faith isn't all dreamy eyed about a tabula rasa. No, her sad doe-eyed fatalism is too entrenched for that. She takes the assignment that Giles has pitched because, in her mind, that's what a true hero does. A hero goes in and does what no one else can, or will, do. This is perhaps the most poignant moment in the evolution of Faith. She's resigned herself to being a hero — even if she's the only one who sees herself in that role, it's one that she must believe in.
Tasked with killing off Gigi in order to "save the world," Faith goes to England and attends a ball at the Savidge Estate. There she and Gigi bond over fags (who doesn't?). And when Faith makes a threatening move, she gets the bejeezus beat out of her by a pair of flying stone gargoyles — before she goes all medieval on their asses and rubble-izes them. This proves to be an invaluable "in" with Gigi, who recognizes the same slayer strength in Faith that she possesses. Gigi nurses Faith back to full slayer power, cementing their fast friendship. Soon Gigi discloses to Faith her plot (hatched largely by Gigi's evil overseer, Roden) to kill Buffy, become Queen of the Slayers, and enslave the world. Bwahahaha!! What drunk-with-power underling hasn't thought about killing off the one in charge and seizing the control and glory for themselves? Faith has been there, tried that. She tries to gently talk Gigi out of her plan, but Gigi's having none of it, drunk as she on her own crapulence. It's apparent that Faith genuinely likes Gigi every bit as much as Gigi likes her. I mean, for heaven's sake, they took a bath together! A true moment of unrivaled comic book hotness. So, what does Faith do when Roden teleports Buffy from her castle sanctuary to the Savidge Estate? She tries to spare both Gigi and Buffy. Oh, Faith: You don't live in that universe. Buffy goes all accusatory on Faith, knowing nothing of the situation and not appreciating the predicament that Giles has placed Faith in. While I'd like to think that by this time Buffy would have more faith in Faith, I'm not surprised by her reaction — but it still sucked. Back at the castle, Willow locates Buffy and teleports her out of the Savidge Estate. Faith is left alone, again, but not for long ... Gigi is devastated, feeling infinitely betrayed, and is wielding an ax. Her tear-streaked face says it all. Let's discuss. What have I missed? Submitted by on November 14, 2007 - 12:31pm. |
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Subtext
I just got this issue yesterday. The bathtub scene was loaded with lesbian subtext between Faith and Gigi. I do believe Faith equated taking a bath with Gigi to heaven. They even discussed indie music. It's a good issue. :)
Thanks for the kind words about Cleveland. You don't have to hate my football team because your team schooled us last weekend. Ugh.
I seriously hope Joss
I seriously hope Joss doesn't screw up the Faith storyline this time :/ If he has her killed, or keeps Buffy being a bitch over her...then I will have lost total faith in how in-touch he is with BtVS fans.
I mean come on...as dark and kinda crazed as Faith is, we love her. We don't want to see her gone, or forever sitting in Buffy's shadow. We want them side by side, with all the subtexty goodness that follows :D
Oh, and nakedness in a bath? Wow, not something I would do with a 'buddy'...they so got it on...lol
Have a little Faith
It's actually not Joss that has written the Faith story arc, it's Brian K Vaughan who did Y: Last Man Standing, which I haven't read but I got the impresion it was pretty lesbian friendly. So I was annoyed that in the first of the Faith comics she once again prefessed how very gay she is not. I love the subtext as much as the next girl and I will never believe that Faith isn't madly in love with Buffy, but I think even I have to learn accept that Willow is the gay one.
On the other hand I think Joss is writing the next story arc himself so I hope he finds room to squeeze in some more Faith, or at least get Willow laid.
Yeah, Brian Vaughan wrote
Yeah, Brian Vaughan wrote it, but I was under the impression Joss was overseeing the story arc for the whole season, so he probably had a fair bit of input.
Anyway, Faith is my favourite Buffyverse character. I love her in all her dark complexity. Much like the TV series, again, this arc has me feeling horribly sorry for Faith. I know forgiveness isn't exactly B's forte, but she always seems incredibly harsh towards Faith. I hope she sticks around after this arc. There is so much more to explore with that character, with her background and all, and I'm dying for them to explore her and Buffy's dynamic more. That was one thing I really thought they dropped the ball with at the end of the last televised season.
As for subtext, hell yeah, it's all over the shop. Nothing more needs to be said about that bath scene, however ,what really had me going was Faith's flashback at the start of part two. Never mind the box reading 'This is friendship' (which funnily enough, I completely missed on my first read through), Faith was reminising in an awfully close to romantic way about the Buffster. I can't be the only one who got that vibe.
I just want to see them getting along again, but any way those two interact, it ends up all subtexty. I'm not exactly complaining. ;)
hehe...you're not the only
hehe...you're not the only one who got that vibe. I mean really...how appropriate is it to say you 'dig' a friend? I can't ever recall using or hearing that term before unless it's about somebody you have more than friendly thoughts about.
Maybe I'm just wearing those rose tinted things cos I'm a huge Fuffy fan and spend countless hours of my time writing about it...lol But it can't all just be in our heads :D
Oh, yeah, Faith wants Buffy...
Brian Vaughan
wrote Y: The Last Man and the first 7 (i think) volumes of Runaways, which Joss is now writing. Both series have an excellent lesbian main character. they are both excellent series.
a few weeks ago on bill maher janeane garofalo said that everyone should read y: the last man.
Got to have Faith, Faith, Faith...(so sue me - I like that song)
I didn't even notice the transition between writers, Vaughn picked it up so effortlessly plus I guess it helps that I loved his previous work and I've always preferred Faith to Buffy she was just so much more interesting.
That said, I have a horrible feeling that by the end of the series Mr. Whedon is going to have Xander and Buffy getting together - I've actually had nightmares about it ever since the whole cinnamon chapstick incident (I fear the cute asian girl is just misdirection)
I think I'll exit with my favorite Buffy/Faith tough girl talk:
Faith: That's mine. (regarding favourite dagger)
Buffy: You're about to get it back.
Seriously, when has true love ever sounded sweeter? ;-)
~kisses are a better fate than wisdom~
Satsu
does anyone know where i can
The Long Way Home Graphic Novel
Issue No. 6 opened with
Issue No. 6 opened with Faith stationed at the hellmouth in Cleveland — and no, that isn't redundant. Cleveland is actually quite a lovely city, despite how much I hate, loathe and despise their football team. I'm an evolved woman. I can compartmentalize pretty much everything.
I was at the game. The level of joy I felt when they missed the field goal cannot be described. Baltimore was more fun though, for obvious reasons. Cleveland does have Tower City, an awesome mall though, with a Hard Rock built in. I drive the 3 hours to shop and eat every so often (lord knows its easier than getting to the waterfront).
Something on topic: I haven't read this yet, but I cannot wait to see this bath scene. Since thats even more clearly a lesbian moment than hairbrushing.
It's rife with subtext!!
It's rife with subtext!! And I love it!! I've always loved relationships like that, where it's all implied. Yes I'd love to see some action, but there is a certain amount of pleasure in imagining it all for yourself.
As for Vaughn, he created Runaways, which is awesome!! And, as someone else said, Joss is currently writing. I love that they are each writing the others creation right now. Vaughn is and awesome writer, I think because his style is so like Joss'. Even reading the blog on his website it reads like something Joss would have written. I have yet to read Y: The Last Man, or Ex Machina, his other two big creations, but I really hope to at some point coz I think he is awesome and looked forward to his Buffy stint. He also writes for Lost.
I think I used 'awesome' a lot in that paragraph.