Question: Spike's Role in the Comics?

[fenderlove]

Quick word: I won't be responding with my own opinions to any comments left in this post, so feel free to answer honestly without fear that I shall pounce upon you. I may have further questions to ask.

How would you describe Spike's role in the comics in Season Nine? And to go further, what is his literal role in the comics? What has he literally been doing? What has been clearly asked of him by any other character or characters? The key words for all this are definitely- literal specifics. I'm looking for less interpretation "if you turn it sideways and squint and read between the lines" type of examples and more for just what has been presented.

Like I said above, I won't be responding with my own opinions. I'm just curious to find out if I've missed something in translation.

Comments

[lusciousxander.livejournal.com]

What is it that makes her flirting with Spike more relevant? Is it how the scene is set up or the words used?

Maybe because she was flirting with him first. And she wasn't so drunk when she was with him. I'm not sure she was even drunk. She was peppy, but I don't know. With Riley she was obviously drunk. I don't consider her scene with Xander flirting. Xander was pissed off and really sad, she was comforting him.


How so? What exactly is going on?

In the beginning of #2, Buffy was being asked to repay her student loan by a demon. Willow was more interested about the consequences of breaking the seed while Spike was being supportive and giving helpful suggestions to get Buffy out of this problem. Later, when Buffy runs away from the police, she asks Xander and Dawn for shelter and they refuse, she meets Spike later and he's supportive and caring -in a way Xander and Dawn weren't- and he says he'll keep investigation the danger that's after Buffy.


has Buffy made any mentions of her romantic feelings for anyone at the moment in any of the issues?

Romantic feelings? As far as I read, no one. She cares about Spike and her friends and sister, but she didn't show romantic feelings toward anyone yet.


Couldn't Spike be crying because of immense pain? I don't know how Severin works, but it sounds like it would be terribly painful to be Siphoned.

Maybe he's tearing up because he's in pain, but the scene shows Buffy looking at Spike sadly, saying, "Spike... don't..." Spike is looking right back at her and whispering, "Buffy."

The scene is oozing of Spuffy.


There were a lot of Bangel-centric covers in S8, so what makes this cover more relevant?

Because is Spuffy at their best, fighting back to back, looking at each other, Buffy with a look of longing - that's how I see it - and Spike with a confident smirk. I love this cover.


Is there an expectation that Spike and Buffy will be a normal couple, i.e. is there an expectation that this cover is being literal?

We don't know yet. But Buffy is pregnant now and she's going to have a meaningful talk with Spike in the next issue according to Scott, so I think she's going to settle down and have a normal life for the sake of the baby and Spike is gonna help her. Spike told Koh that Buffy needs normal and Spike isn't normal, but I think he's gonna try and be normal for her. That's just me guessing. We'll have to wait and read the issue.

[fenderlove.livejournal.com]

Let me try to make sure I understand. Are you saying that the theory is that because of the Siphoning, which may have somehow activated Spike's semen to being fast little swimmers again, happened a few days after the party at which Buffy conceived her child or that she didn't actually conceive the child until five days later? I have to admit that I'm very grossed out to imagine Spike's non-motile sperm staying in Buffy's area that longer and that Buffy didn't use any feminine hygiene products (or Plan B, for that matter) after the party. Although, since this is probably a mystical miracle baby, Plan B probably wouldn't have worked.

[http://users.livejournal.com/mad_brilliant_/]

The theory is that Spike and Buffy had sex at the party. A couple or so days later, the Siphoning caused Spike's semen to come alive inside of Buffy, and she conceived at that time. I don't know if Buffy douched, but that doesn't prevent pregnancy anyway (doesn't flush everything out, and some say it can even make conception easier.) Plan B, I dunno why Buffy didn't choose to use that, just in case.

Anyway it's a doable theory. Whether Joss is going there, I have no idea. If he does, he'll be my favorite fanfic writer of all time. ;-D

[http://users.livejournal.com/mad_brilliant_/]

Yeah, that's really fast morning sickness. lol

[fenderlove.livejournal.com]

Oh, well, super healing abilities, super morning sickness. It all evens out, I guess.

I like that icon, by the by. Poor fluffy William. :D

[http://users.livejournal.com/mad_brilliant_/]

And the preview for the next issue just came out. One cover has Spike/Buffy fighting back to back. It's rather shippy. The other cover is a flashback, with Nicki the slayer and Spike. We find out in the issue that Nicki had been going through her test, where the council drugs her to take away her powers, while she was pregnant. I think they're going to explain that's why her son had no special strength or power. AND, that foreshadows Buffy's baby as having slayer strength, IMO.