MySpace Dark Horse Presents the newest issue in its Buffy the Vampire Slayer series, Tales of the Vampires. We've got an exclusive preview of "Carpe Noctem Part 2" here (and read the first part here) as well as an interview with writer Jackie Kessler.
Kessler is known for her dark fantasy/paranormal novels, and this Whedonverse vampire comic is her very first comic. Read on as she sheds light on the experience as well as what's next for the Buffyverse.
UGO: Can you tell us about the new issue, "Tales of the Vampire: Carpe Noctem Part 2"?
Jackie Kessler: Scott Allie, the editor, asked if I would like to write a "Tales of the Vampires" comic book story, one that showed what it's like for vampires now that things have changed for them in the Buffyverse. So I thought about how these immortal creatures would react to suddenly being (A) outed and (B) thrown into the spotlight, thanks to a celebrity-centric culture.
The more I thought about it, the more I decided that while some vampires would take advantage of the new world order, some would absolutely loathetheir new role. And no matter how you dress up a vampire -- brooding, glittering, sexy, friendly, funny, what have you -- at the core, the vampire is a monster. Can you ever defang a monster?
That's when I came up with Cyn, the pissed-off protagonist of "Carpe Noctem," and Ash, her bubbly nestmate.
UGO: How has it been writing your first comic?
Kessler: So. Freaking. Cool.
You have to understand that growing up, my dad and I would go to the comic book shop every weekend, and we'd spend Saturday afternoons reading comic books and talking about the stories. My bat mitzvah present was Uncanny X-Men #94 - 100 in mint condition. One of my grad school papers was called "Of Spiders and Steel," and it was all about how comic book stories changed with the decades. I'm not a regular comic book reader any more, other
than Buffy Season 8, but I'll always, always, always love comic books.
So when I had the chance to write a comic book script...and for the Buffyverse...well. Dream come true.
UGO: What has been the most challenging and rewarding aspects of writing comics so far?
Kessler: Rewarding? Dude, I WROTE A COMIC BOOK!!! And not just any comic -- a comic set in the Buffyverse! That all by itself is the reward.
As for challenging, the biggest thing I had to tackle was the new format. Not only was I writing a script for the first time, I was writing a script with art direction as well as narration and dialogue. My editor, Scott Allie, was a mench and gave me quite a few tips, as well as almost
instantaneous feedback. (I seriously believe that man doesn't sleep.) And working with Paul Lee was an absolute dream. He's brilliant.
UGO: Do you talk to Joss Whedon at all for this project?
Kessler: I'd love to lie and say of course, he's on my speed dial.
But no, the closest I've personally gotten to speaking with Joss is him calling Scott while Scott and I were on the phone. Scott said to me, "Jackie, that's Joss on line one, can I call you back?" And I was like, "Oh, sure thing." But I was thinking to myself something along the lines of, "OH
MY GOD THAT'S JOSS WHEDON ON LINE ONE!" That being said, Scott cleared the synopsis with Joss before I wrote the script.
UGO: What's your favorite Buffy episode? Or favorite Buffy moment?
Kessler: Ooh. My favorite episodes include "Once More, With Feeling" (I cannot wait for the Joss-directed episode of Glee), "Earshot" (Joss took the concept of mind-reading to the extreme, and I loved every second of it), "Hush" (a storyline that is mostly without any dialogue? BRILLIANT), and "The Body" (one of the most powerful, moving episodes of any series I've ever seen, and
it's a crime that the script, the writers and the actors didn't win awards for it).
My favorite Buffy moment? From season 2, when Buffy realizes that Angelus is once again Angel...and she still has to send him to Hell. Absolutely heartbreaking.
Favorite line? Dark Willow in season 6, saying "Bored now."
UGO: What direction would you like to see the Buffyverse go in, in your comics as well as for the franchise overall?
Kessler: I'm very happy with the direction of the Buffyverse. Joss and company have
done a terrific job with Season 8, and I'm looking forward to what happens next. As for me, I'd love to do more vampire-themed stories. Maybe I have a soft spot for monsters. Or maybe I just have a thing for blood.
