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

[stormwreath.livejournal.com]

the vampiric demon being the id and the soul being the superego

I don't think it can be quite that simple, because of course ordinary humans have ids as well. It would get needlessly metaphysically complex if we had to assume that a human's id, ego and superego were all separate supernatural creatures co-inhabiting our brains... :)

(Although having said that, I vaguely recall that some belief systems, like the ancient Egyptian one, did claim that people have several different souls which perform discrete functions, and which go their separate ways upon death...)

But sure, as a first-stage approximation I think it's possible to compare a vampire's "demon" and a human's "soul" and say they're similar in function, but opposite in motivation/effects. And that expains why the Master would refer to vampire "souls" - he meant their demons.

[fenderlove.livejournal.com]

It would get needlessly metaphysically complex

I think it's already gotten to that point with the story. Magic comes from the earth, no magic comes from other dimensions... It's all so MacGuffin-y.