Yes, as per the Newsarama item, I will be writing a one-shot “Spike” comic for IDW in August. Long time “Buffy” fans will appreciate the concept that Spike winds up squaring off against none other than Hallie the Vengeance Demon, who has a rather unique connection to Spike that was hinted at during season six of BtVS. This story will actually address that connection, shedding some interesting light on Spike’s origins.
PAD
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This news is so wonderful that such a truly intlelligent and talented writer will be taking on the most interesting and multi-layer character in the Jossverse. Ecstatic doesn’t cover it. I would be horribly disappointed if the story only covered the old hat story of “evil” Spike. He had grown into such a complex character by the end of both series that I hope that his journey will continue from where it ended in that alley. Two dimensional Spike holds nothing for me, but the Spike that had transformed and matured by the end of “Angel”, sparked my imagination and anything that would explore his future story will command my loyal attention. Simple evil is banal and easy to write but focusing on a character’s intricacy and depth is where the challenge lies. I know you will not disappoint your fans, the Spike fans or those that are both, like I am and
I am looking forward to reading about Spike’s continued journey as seen through your eyes.
i would love to see a series about spike after the angel finale. he’s far more unique then angel.
see ya
this is great news. I love Spike and all the rest of the chaacters from Buffy and Angel but I have a question for you Mr. David. Is this going to be before or after “Not Fade Away”, the Angel finale? And if it is before the Angel finale, does it involve Evil Spike or Souled Spike?
I’m ecstatic that you’re doing this comic. Hopefully this will be wicked fun Spike instead of cardboard whipped and worthless S6/7 Spike. He was once a great character but in the hands of Noxon and Espenson he was turned into a virtual Mary Sue. Thankfully back in the hands of actual talent, I hope to see that rectified.
I’m also ecstatic that you’re doing this comic, but I very truly hope that it ISN’T evil Spike. The thing that makes Spike so fascinating is his changeability and adaptability that allowed him to slowly transform from a villain into a champion, yet some would deny him that, and force him back into the role of two-dimensional villain. That’s like only wanting Star Wars comics that have Luke Skywalker as a farmboy on Tatooine with his aunt and uncle. Yet Dark Horse never released a single comic that showed Spike as a hero. There were evil Spike and Dru solo comics, plus tales set during Season 2, and the duo made an appearance in Tales of the Vampires, so that side of him has been more than covered in graphic form. He’s had small roles as the semi-evil “wacky neighbor” Season 4 Spike, and ONE issue had him as Buffy’s Season 6 secret lover, but no comic writer has accepted the challenge of writing Spike as a hero. Snarky, impulsive, insightful, brave, heroic Spike, fighting the good fight because it’s what’s right. Any hack can write evil Spike, but it takes a writer of Peter David’s caliber to really do justice to the complexities that make up the Spike we saw during the last season of Angel. Anyone who saw that character as cardboard and worthless just wasn’t paying attention to the spectacular multi-layered character that Joss and company had slowly developed over the seasons.
This is great news, Mr David. I’ve been a fan of your writing for a long time – from back when you were writing The Hulk – and I can’t think of a better writer to further Spike’s story than you.
I’m sure that you will honour all aspects of the character, who changed from one-dimensional, disposable villain in season 2 of BtVS to be one of the most interesting and heroic characters in Joss Whedon’s world. If any writer can give us all the complexities of that character, I know you can. I look forward to reading the comic.
I’m really looking forward to a Spike book, though I’m really hoping it’s set after Spike moved to Angel and with the Halfrek scenes in the past. I’m interested in the complex good man that saved the world and how he’s moved on and grown from what he was, not cartoon Evol Spike.
I am a huge Angel fan (and Buffy) so I am very excited about the Angel comics. I hope this Spike comic is one that shows earlier Spike when he and Dru were a lot of fun. I also enjoyed the Spike and Angel relationship that developed in S5 of Angel.
Spike is my favorite character in Jossverse and I’m very excited by the news of this comic. Hopefully it will take place after AtS season 5 and we can learn what happened to Spike. Or at least the main story is when Spike is redeemed. I prefer Spike with a soul or when he was in love with Buffy and struggling with being a vampire to season 2 Spike.
I am really looking forward to getting this. Peter is one of the few people that I feel can nail Spike down (pun intended).
I am really impressed with the actor who played Spike, James Marsters. If they wanted an American to play John Considine, it should have been him.
Also looking forward to this comic. I find the journey of souled Spike fascinating.
CURSE YOU PETER DAVID!!
YOU STOLE MY ONE-SHOT STORY TO BREAK INTO LOYAL FRATERNITY OF COMIC BOOK WRITERS!
The Spike/Hallie storyline was one I was working on. It contained the whole backstory on how Cecily became Halfrek and how Spike fit into all of this, and it featured an epiloge with discourse between the two of them after Spike’s one time tabletop dance with Anya.
mumbling under breath and ganshing teeth.
Oh well, if it can’t be my shot, I’m glad one of the few writers I trust will handle this backstory and live up to the legend of Joss himself.
Count on me to buy it. I’ll just add my story up on some fan-fic post somewhere.
So excited to hear this news! Spike’s fascinating journey from basic villain to snarky, souled champion has earned him a permanent place in my heart. It’ll be interesting to see what you do with him.
I haven’t bought a comic in years, but I’ll be buying this one.
Sweet, Spike and PAD, can a fangirl squeal any louder? All this talk about evil Spike or champion Spike, me, I prefer the one that called the girl he saved in the alley a halfwit and a retard and the one who read his peotry in public for the first time. Spike the true anti-hero. The guy who saves the day and will never admit he is a hero, cause heroes are wáņkërš.
But hey, the Hallie/William story is one that was left hanging and I can’t wait to find out your spin on things.
Go Spike and PAD.
Oh this is exciting! Spike is one of the most complex, fascinating characters in the Whedonverse ,such a mix of evil and humanity in the early seasons and then developing into a true hero and champion . Best of luck I can’t wait to see what you come up with.
I have your entire Supergirl run as well as issues of Spider-Man.
I’m looking forward to this and the Angel miniseries.Since the Angel comic is going to be post NFA,is this?Personally my favorite Spike is evil Spike with Dru but even post NFA could include flashbacks to evil Spike.I couldn’t stand season 6 and especially season 7 Spike but liked season 5 Ats Spike.Also hope what Chris Ryall,Editor-in-Chief of IDW said at Newsarama happens down the line.That he would be open to doing an IDW/Dark Horse Angel/Buffy crossover.I would love to see a B/A reunion comic.
My favourite TV character of all time is to be turned into a comic book hero, by my all time favourite comic book writer. My cup runneth over !
Sarky,Sardonic,dynamic yet vulnerable – Spike !
Hi, I’m glad to hear you’re writing Spike of the Buffyverse. While my favorite characters remain Buffy and Angel (talk about complex!), I’m curious to see what’s going on with Spike as well. Personally, I enjoyed the character best during Buffy season 4 and Angel season 5. I love snarky Spike. I wish you the best luck in the new series and I hope to see a return to the character so many fans fell in love with (before being turned off by patethic, pseudo-Angel, slayer-whiped Spike)
I was thinking about commenting on this when it was first mentioned, as a rumor, on an earlier thread. By now, it seems as though just about every possible comment had been made (including someone who watched BtVS, multiple times, and didn’t like it !!!! Wow, I guess anything IS possible); but, with one of my favorite comic book writers about to write about one of my favorite characters from one of my favorite – things in all of creation (those three letters in my email address – not a coincidence) – gotta say something.
So … VERY cool, PAD. One of the first things I remember really getting into on this site were the old discussions of the show back when new episodes were being broadcast, so I’m well aware, and trusting, of your interest in the “Whedonverse”. I like Spike all through his evolution, and I’m sure wherever in events your work takes place, it’ll be a great read. Thanks!
I think I just saw a cover for this — by John Byrne? Whassup with that?
So when can we expect the FALLEN ANGEL/ANGEL crossover? 🙂
Okay, you’re doing a Spike comic. I don’t know how DC let you get away with it, but you’re doing it. So what happened to Sugar, and will the heirs of Sheldon Moldoff be angry at you?
Or is this the other Spike, the cute li’l bulldog with the protective father with the Jimmy Durante voice, and will Tom and Jerry appear in it? In which case, AOL-TW ought to be happy that someone’s doing something with the character.
1
2 thoughts:
–Can we get PAD to write a FAITH story (she’s my favorite Whedonverse character)?
and, I know I’m likely to regret it, but…
–what’s the Buffy/Supergirl can o’ worms I’ve seen a few people talking about?
OOOKay, bit late to this thread, but I’ll post anyway, and answer some stuff along the way. This is way TOO COOL for me not to comment on. Congrats, PAD. I can’t wait!
David Hunt,
“Seriously, I don’t think anything’s going to be helped by bringing up all that Supergirl/Buffy nonsense.”
I couldn’t agree more, especially since I don’t see a dámņ bit of similarity between the two characters.
Talest Fan Ever,
“Yo, I’ve never watched Buffy or Angel. I have a vague knowledge of who Spike is or what he does. Would i get anything out of this comic or not.”
Given PAD’s ability to tell a tale, I feel you will get a god sense of the character and care about him and what is going on, regardless of whether or not you currently “know” the character. Especialy since this is a one-shot. That is what a good-let alone great – writer does.
Themis,
“I wish someone would write a Spike and Darla”
Someone has. There have been three one-shots by Dark Horse starring these two characters. They have been reprinted in TPB as well. Happy hunting!
SirsApril,
“Ive been hunting around for some old graphic Bufy/Angel/whoever in the Whedonverse novels, and wasn’t overly thrilled by some results.”
Yes, few capture the “feel” of the show. One exception is the TPB “Buffy:The Origin”, which shows the movie exactly as it was imagined by Joss and not how it was shot (remember how on the TV show they mention Buffy burning down the gym yet t was never in the movie. It’s here, along with other darker, cooler stuff.
Anything by Scott Lobdell is good. He seemed to have the charcter down. My favorites are “The Death of Buffy”, dealing with the three months between Seasons 5 and 6, and “Viva Las Buffy”, which has Buffy going to Vegas…with Pike! Cool stuff all the way around.
Edison,
“Did you get any input from Whedon himself?”
Here is a quote from Chrs Ryall, Editor-In-Chief of IDW on the Newsarama thread concerning this:
“If it helps to sweeten the deal for you, Joss has personal aproval over everything we’re doing.”
Tim Lynch,
“B/A novels have been around for quite a while, actually. I haven’t read ’em and have no idea about quality but that’s a market PAD would have to enter before he can corner it :)”
The quality of the B?A novels has actually been quite god. Authors include Christie Golden, whose talents are more on display writing novels than comics, and Jeff Mariotte, who I feel is to Angel novels what PAD is to trek novels.
Tell me if it is after angel tv series.