Scott Allie Q&A for #25

Hey Buffy fans! Dark Horse Editor, Scott Allie, is back for another Q&A to celebrate the release of Buffy Season 8 #25 Living Doll written by Doug Petrie and pencilled by Georges Jeanty.

1. trunktheslayer: Awhile back it was said that issue 25 would have a big development in regards to Twilight. It wasn't stated as his character being revealed, but something about him being revealed at least. So the question simply is: What happened to that? Or did I miss something?

Scott Allie: Emmie directed me to something I wrote in the #20 lettercol - When I said "another Twilight turning point," I meant a turning point in the Twilight storyline (Season Eight and Twilight are synonymous. Joss and I refer to them as the same thing - Twilight is the name of a character, but it's also the name of the 40-issue story), rather than for the character of Twilight. I was refering to the fact that we'd finally learn about the Thricewise, and that Dawn would finally resume normal human proportions.

2. AndrewCrosset: Haven't gotten my issue yet, so I'll base this first one on the preview... The Veronica Mars reference was very cool to see, considering how closely tied the Buffyverse and the Marsverse are, and makes me thing og how much I'd like to see a Veronica Mars comic (DC having apparently passed on its otion to do one?

Was that shout-out Joss's idea or Doug's?

Scott Allie: I believe that was Doug's, though we all know Joss is a big fan.

3. bamph: Now that Predators and Prey concludes today, would you say this arc made of five standalone stories with different writers for each was a success and do you prefer this format over the norman general arcs with one writer and one issue standalones in between arcs?

Scott Allie: I prefer the longer arcs, because you can get so much deeper into character, and getting deep into character is what I love about Buffy. This series did what it needed to do, in thatv we wanted to see a lot of the world, check in with some characters, and give some of our favourite writers a chance to jump in on a short commitment and have some fun without having to push the main story ahead the way we've needed to in the big arcs, or even the one shots from Joss.

4. Jay: Hey Scott, before I asked you a question that I feel was worded wrong, so I'm going to rephrase.

How do you feel about Joss' comment at the Buffy reunion where he said that he'd be willing to throw out the Season Eight story in favor of a new show or movie? Maybe Joss' opinion on this has changed, but this is somnething that I've been wanting to know for a while. I mean, a LOT of work has been put into Season Eight and he was willing to throw out the ENTIRE story. But I want your thoughts, and I apologize if this has been discussed before.

Scott Allie: It hasn't been discussed before, but onviously I'd be disappointed if Season Eight were thrown out. It is canon, moving the main story of a TV series into a comic is an unprecedented thing, something I'm proud to be a part of, and I'd hate to see it yanked from under us. But I understand where he's coming from. I think he's partly coming from a place of not really thinking it's gonna come up.

5. maggie: Hi Scott! The opening line in Dollhouse is that nothing is as it seems. My question for you is to what extent would that line apply to season 8. For example, (and this is just for example), is the Giant!Centaur!Dawn arc all about Dawn wanting Buffy's attention and all the stuff they talk about in their last conversation -- or is there anything more to it?

Scott Allie: Well, there's always more to it, but I think in Buffy things are sort of what they seem. You know what the mysteries are: I think with something like Dollhouse, there's more of a mystery about what you're even watching, what's really going on with the characters. You don't know what Twilight's up to, but you know what Buffy's up to, even if you don't know all her secrets. And the themes are what they appear to be, although they'll come into sharper focus over time.

6. AndrewCrossett: We all know from "The Guild" what a talented writer Felicia Day is, and what a big fan favorite she is now. Has any thought been given toward recruiting her to write a Buffy comic one-shot or miniseries? Maybe even a Tales of the Slayers story about Vi?

Scott Allie: I met Felicia last year at San Diego in the context of the Dr Horrible promotions, and we're talking about doing something. I'm a big fan of The Guild.

7. Wenxina: Assuming that #25 is the conclusion of Dawn's current character arc, are you at liberty to divulge if it turned out pretty much how Joss and yourself envisioned it? Were there certain things that got lost in the process?

Scott Allie: Well, the transformations ended exactly as planned, but her arc's not over with. A lot of stuff has landed a little different, but so far the main points are right where they're supposed to be.

8. Nicholas: in 25, someone makes the comment that Kenny is a simple thricewise and shouldn't have been able to cast a spell that tricky... but when Dawn says she's sorry, the spell is broken. So my question is, is the moral of the story that Dawn's changes were her own personal punishment for herself until she was able to forgive herself and apologise to Kenny, or is there more to it?

Scott Allie: I think what's interesting about fiction, especially fiction based on magic or any of those sort of mysteries, is what it inspires in you, rather than any sort of systematic analysis. In terms of writing craft, I'd suggest that that line about Kenny not being able to cast such a spell is meant to leave some room for doubt or at least interpretation about what Kenny did, or what happened to Dawn; and with all Joss stuff, the magic becomes a metaphor for something more human and emotional. Earlier, someone made the point that Dawn was doing everything she could to get Buffy to notice her. I think all of these things ring true to the reader, and that's how Joss' work, and the work of his writing partners, illuminates, more than just entertains. It makes you think about real things, not just girls fighting monsters. But if there were a simple answer to your question, it wouldn't leave you thinking the way he likes to leave you thinking. Which is why this doesn't answer you question at all... sorry...

9. sosa lola: The public's love for vampires, choosing them over slayers, has been more "tell" than "show". Characters are talking about it so much, but we hardly see it. Will there be more explaining as to why they love those vampires? 'Cause one reality show isn't enough to make such a big, unlikely thing.

Scott Allie: Hopefully Tales of the Vampires next month will satisfy. We're talking about doing more, but the main story of Season Eight simply doesn't have room for the detour that would require.

10. vampmogs: Now that Dawn's Thricewise story is over I was just wondering if her character will be still getting some interesting stuff for the rest of the season? Obviously you can't divulge any spoilers but is Joss using this arc as a springboard for her character? A lot of fans have expressed disappointment over the Buffy/Dawn relationship in the show, on a few occasions we've been teased that they'll grow closer (like at the end of 'Grave') only to be disappointed when the epiphanies don't amount to anything. Buffy and Dawn have come to a good place again, will it stick and continue to grow?

Scott Allie: Dawn's arc isn't over. More stuff is gonna happen with her. I'm a fan of the character, and I'm real glad about what we have going on with her in the series.

11. bamph: Was Dawn's big arc always supposed to end at this point in season 8?

Scott Allie: Not ended...

12. Jay: I personally think that Kenny is awesome. Will he be returning?

Scott Allie: Kenny is awesome, but no plans for his return. He could come back, but he doesn't have a significant role planned out.

13. weredog: Maybe there isn't an answer to this, but I was wondering where Kennedy's been residing since "Time of Your Life"/"Swell" -- is she with Willow and co. in Scotland in their new hideout?

Scott Allie: Mostly, although Kennedy was sent to Japan, as you saw, and has had some other stuff to do. Willow spends her time in Scotland, with Buffy, though.

14. Rebecca: This last arc we saw vampires come "out". Will we see them cast in a negative light by the public again in this next arc or possibly the one after? Or will it last until the end of "Twilight"?

Scott Allie: Definitely got no answer for that...

15. AndrewCrossett: Joss is on record as saying he doesn't think "Dollhouse" would work as a comic because it's not "visual" enough, but there are plenty of other shows like that that have been successfully adapted. (The "Fringe" comic being one example, the "Heroes" webcomics being another). I personally think full-length graphic novels would be the ideal format, whether written by Joss or just outlined and overseen by him.

Scott Allie: Joss has a point, and I don't think the comics you mention are the best argument for Dollhouse comics. I'd like to do a Dollhouse comic, I talk to Joss about it occasionally, but I don't really have a plan of attack for changing his mind. He knows how I feel. But his original explanation to me for why we shouldn't do Dollhouse comics was simply that, at the time, the show had not found its identity well enough to make the jump to another medium. That's something we both agree on. Now that its found its identity, the leap to comics would mean redefining it a bit to make it work better for this medium. You've gotta remember, he created Dollhouse entirely as a vehicle for Eliza. I just don't know that he'd be that motivated to do it without her.

ETA: After just watching the finale for Dollhouse, I want to add to my answer to 15 - it's not just that Dollhouse was not, when Joss and I talked, sufficiently defined as a TV series to become a comic. We had the same conversation about Firefly - given the background, my history with him, whenever he tells me about a show or a movie, I immediately want to do a comic. We've already talked about what can and can't be done with Cabin in the Woods. So as soon as he told me about that lunch with Eliza where he came up with Dollhouse, I asked if we could do a comic. I'd asked him when he first told me about Firefly, and back then, he said he wanted to wait. TV shows develop, characters find their identities between the actors and the writers. Relationships between characters develop, evolve over time. I think it'd be hard for a TV show to be fully formed by the time of the pilot. So the temptation to launch a comic at the same time as a show is a bad impulse. It's the way people think of branding, but it's not the best thing for creativity and the integrity of a story. There could certainly be exceptions, but Joss would know if he was working on an exception. The exception would require a certain kind of built-in planning. I'd love to see Joss do THAT.

16. bamph: What has been your personal favorite issue of the Predators and Prey arc?

Scott Allie: Probably #25, because it pushed the story ahead significantly, whereas the others sort of explored little corners of it. I love the Vampy Cats issue in that it reminded me of a sort of whacky episode from early in the series. I thought #21 was real funny. I liked Andrew's issue because I've been waiting to see a little more of Andrew.

17. Tyler Austin "tiewashere": It's said in this issue that all Dawn had to do was apologize to Kenny in order to sto herself transforming. But in "Time Of Your Life" Xander and Dawn talk about how she will turn into three different things. Is this a continuity error or did the characters get the wrong information?

Scott Allie: Well, she DID make three transformations, and she DID get better when she apologized. Are you asking, if she'd had the opportunity to apologize sooner, would she have stopped her transformations? Yeah, probably - Xander and Dawn didn't know that in Time of Your Life, though, right?

18. Jay: What's the update on getting Brian Horton as a cover artist this season? he NEEDS to make a cover. (For all of you who don't know who he is, check out the "A Stake to the Heart" Buffy comic. His artwork is AMAZING!)

Scott Allie: Brian's a great friend of mine, a great artist, but the opportunity just hasn't resented itself. Jo is taking another short break, but when we talked about it, Joss and Sierra and I came up with two names, they both said yes. I loved Brian's covers for the old series and the Omnibuses. Check out his MySpace page (probably Facebook too, though I don't go on there) for his recent projects, which sort of continue in the vein of Stake to the Heart.

19. cheryl: We just got a look at the cover for issue #27. Although Xander looks exactly like Xander, some of us are having a hard time with the female. Is it Willow or Dawn? Same with the second image. Oz or Andrew?

Scott Allie: Dawn & Oz. Jo keeps picking angles where it's hard to recognize Dawnie.

20. AndrewCrossett: As a fan of Leah and Rowena, I've wondered what happened to Rowena's thick German accent that she ahd in the first issue or two. In the beginning she was saying stuff like "Dat vent vell," but later her dialog started to be written more normally. Was it abandoned because it was too awkward to write it out phonetically like that? Is it still the intention that Rowena is German?

Scott Allie: This was an oversight. For one of the tbps we went back and fixed it, I think. I don't necessarily want it AS dialectic as it was at the beginning, but we do want to retain that diversity, as it were.

21. sosa lola: How much time has passed since Dawn had cheated on Kenny? Because he's still looking for a roommate, does that mean it's been a few weeks?

Scott Allie: He's looking for a roommate again, because quite a bit of time has passed. Living with a Thricewise is unpleasant shit, so he goes through a lot of roommates.