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

[angearia.livejournal.com]

In the short webcomic by Jane Espenson, when Spike returns from outerspace, Buffy asks him if he's "home" for good now. So, I'd say she's given him strong implications for wanting him around. At least, in the sense that this is "home" aka where she thinks he belongs.

[fenderlove.livejournal.com]

I've read the webcomic, but from what I've gathered thus far, within Season Nine itself, Spike has no prime directive outside of doing what he thinks will protect Buffy and being ready to answer her calls if she needs him. She's not asking anything of him directly, but it's possible that Spike interpreted what Buffy said in the webcomic (no matter how irritated her face was drawn in that scene by Jeanty) as a sign that he was wanted, so he may not feel justified in leaving SF even if he wanted to... but that dives into speculative and interpretation territory on my part.

It's quite interesting to read all the answers I've gotten to my questions. Unfortunately, I don't have the consensus I was hoping for. You know, when comics are the medium best suited for getting into a character's head directly (thought boxes are amazing when well-used), it doesn't seem that they're truly being utilized for BtVS as represented by the varying degrees of motivations and reasonings for character behavior I've gotten. The main thing that is consist is- Spike will stay where Buffy is because of (insert reason A, B, C, or D). I'm just not sure what that means for him, if it's a positive or negative thing, or how it makes me feel as a fan based on my own expectations and views of the character.