It's hit scans_daily. People are, predictably, freaking out in various and sundry ways.

ETA: Scans from issue 12 behind the link, so, SPOILERS.

I am amazed.

"the cherry of misery on my sundae of dispair"?

Do these people have no lives to speak of? I had to stop reading.

On a serious note: I don't know if it's Joss' stand-by position to go to the lesbianism, or a deliberate attempt to push buttons he's already found to be touchy. I read Joss' explanation in The Times and, personally, I can see where he's going with it and why the story would go this way.

It also begs the question: whether he's going to kill Satsu off. He could do it because the whole "love Buffy, could die" thing. Of course, if he does, it's going to keep the Dead Lesbian Cliche_tm alive and kicking for the Kittens. Not that I think he would do something like that just for spite or to prove that he's in charge of the characters or the stories. He's certainly no stranger to stirring controversy but I don't think he does it just for its own sake.

Oh, and I had to go back and double check but is that Mr. Gordo in the scan, next to Buffy's panties on the floor?

Cashmere - Yeah, that's Gordo. I don't think Joss and friends will kill off Satsu - I think Satsu will kill Xand'. The classic signs are there, methinks, from a story point of view.

Cash - that was indeed. It gave me a huge giggle to think that she's still got him and he was witness to this before any of the scoobies. If pigs could fly talk.

I've got an LJ post brewing in my mind about this issue. There's tons of negative reaction to it among many of my favorite fanfic authors. I think there's just too many people reading with agendas in mind and when Joss just doesn't go there, they get all pissy. Listen folks, it's been eight years. Just because you think Joss took a hard left after season five doesn't mean that what he's doing with his characters and story today are wrong or that his Buffy is behaving out of character. Get a grip. Buffy is where he wants her to be and where he has taken her over the past eight years.

Kevin - NOOOOOOO.

Exactly, SailAweigh. I've only read the reaction on Whedonesque, as I literally daren't read elsewhere online, because I just know what it's gonna consist of.

Hm. It's not a plot development I would have expected, but when you look back at the luck Buffy's had with men, you can see why she might be motivated to explore other options. I don't have any objection to exploring this subplot with Satsu, though I do wish Goddard had found a way to introduce it that didn't play like a French farce. I'm surprised a vampirized Georges Feydeau didn't come tumbling out of a wardrobe in that scene .

I felt the opposite, Matt, in that I really enjoyed this being played as farce. It's typical of the disaster that is Buffy's love life. She may also look back on this and say, well, better French farce than Greek tragedy or Jacobean revenge, which describe her prior relationships.

edited for misplaced words

::sits with Frank, reads over his shoulder::