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The Joss Whedon Companion (Fully Revised Edition): The Complete Companion: The TV Series, the Movies, the Comic Books, and More
THE ESSENTIAL AND EXPANDED UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO THE WHEDONVERSE!
This revised and updated edition covers every aspect of his work, through insightful essays and in-depth interviews with key figures in the 'Whedonverse'.
This revised and updated edition covers every aspect of his work, through insightful essays and in-depth interviews with key figures in the 'Whedonverse'.
- GenresNonfiction
496 pages, Paperback
First published April 21, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 10, 2015
This isn't what I expected. Just a bunch of research-paper-articles I had already read online while writing my own Buffy research paper in college.
June 26, 2017
Sigh ...
Imagine, a collection of essays built around Joss Whedon and his creations; critical commentary allowing readers and viewers to see the connective tissue between Avengers, Buffy, Firefly, X-Men and more; summative recaps to allow readers new to particular worlds to understand the basics of the stories so they can better understand the commentary; essays that call Whedon to task when needed.
I only wish that is what this book was.
I've been away from this site for a very long time. This book is the reason for it. I just didn't know what I was going to write or if I was calm enough to write critically about something that so angered me. So, let me just clarify what this book is.
Each section of the book contains essays centered around one of the key creations in Joss Whedon's career. This begins with Buffy The Vampire Slayer and then proceeds chronologically (giving quick tangential info on Alien Resurrection towards the end) until The Avengers (focused only on "why Whedon is a good choice"). The sections do include his comic book career, but mainly focus on his work in television.
The first section - covering Buffy - is the best. Most of the commentary is critical and able to balance the things done well and the things done a little more iffy. Even so, there are hints of what's to come. The overwhelming message is "look what this genius has done! He's such a prophet of strong women!" In Buffy - from the season and a half that I watched - this seems to be an accurate statement.
However, this line of reasoning continues throughout, until we stop getting critical essays and just fanfolk gushing over their hero. This means that a great deal of the latter essays tend to be less informative and more just internet blogposts (and yes, I know PopMatters is an internet site ... but while I was reading that site regularly it seemed to do a great job of keeping objectivity in play even for their editorials).
So that's what this book is. And I probably would have been fine with it ... But I watched Avengers: Age of Ultron. The interactions in this movie colored my view of Whedon a great deal, especially the scenes that he fought to keep in. I began craving perspectives in the essays that allowed for this person to be fallible; not some geek god.
For some folks, this book will reinforce the wonders of Whedon they already believed.
For others, this will not convert.
Imagine, a collection of essays built around Joss Whedon and his creations; critical commentary allowing readers and viewers to see the connective tissue between Avengers, Buffy, Firefly, X-Men and more; summative recaps to allow readers new to particular worlds to understand the basics of the stories so they can better understand the commentary; essays that call Whedon to task when needed.
I only wish that is what this book was.
I've been away from this site for a very long time. This book is the reason for it. I just didn't know what I was going to write or if I was calm enough to write critically about something that so angered me. So, let me just clarify what this book is.
Each section of the book contains essays centered around one of the key creations in Joss Whedon's career. This begins with Buffy The Vampire Slayer and then proceeds chronologically (giving quick tangential info on Alien Resurrection towards the end) until The Avengers (focused only on "why Whedon is a good choice"). The sections do include his comic book career, but mainly focus on his work in television.
The first section - covering Buffy - is the best. Most of the commentary is critical and able to balance the things done well and the things done a little more iffy. Even so, there are hints of what's to come. The overwhelming message is "look what this genius has done! He's such a prophet of strong women!" In Buffy - from the season and a half that I watched - this seems to be an accurate statement.
However, this line of reasoning continues throughout, until we stop getting critical essays and just fanfolk gushing over their hero. This means that a great deal of the latter essays tend to be less informative and more just internet blogposts (and yes, I know PopMatters is an internet site ... but while I was reading that site regularly it seemed to do a great job of keeping objectivity in play even for their editorials).
So that's what this book is. And I probably would have been fine with it ... But I watched Avengers: Age of Ultron. The interactions in this movie colored my view of Whedon a great deal, especially the scenes that he fought to keep in. I began craving perspectives in the essays that allowed for this person to be fallible; not some geek god.
For some folks, this book will reinforce the wonders of Whedon they already believed.
For others, this will not convert.
reluctant-dnf
January 22, 2024Jan 2024:
Read up to page 60 and I've decided to DNF the book. The essays look interesting but some of them are pretty dated (this book was printed in 2015 before Age of Ultron). And while I like Buffy and Firefly I haven't seen enough of the shows and media to follow some of the arguments beings made.
Generally, I've realised I am not likely to read essay collections - especially academically focused ones. A few are fine and informative etc but reading a large collection is not my preferred analysis. There have been exceptions but I've needed to like and be familiar with the property (see: Star Trek and History) or the topic is wider than a retrospective / examination of one thing.
In the end - I've had the book for a while and I keep looking at it without much desire to read it. That is a sign that it's time to move on I guess.
Read up to page 60 and I've decided to DNF the book. The essays look interesting but some of them are pretty dated (this book was printed in 2015 before Age of Ultron). And while I like Buffy and Firefly I haven't seen enough of the shows and media to follow some of the arguments beings made.
Generally, I've realised I am not likely to read essay collections - especially academically focused ones. A few are fine and informative etc but reading a large collection is not my preferred analysis. There have been exceptions but I've needed to like and be familiar with the property (see: Star Trek and History) or the topic is wider than a retrospective / examination of one thing.
In the end - I've had the book for a while and I keep looking at it without much desire to read it. That is a sign that it's time to move on I guess.
February 3, 2016
I may be somewhat biased, since I contributed to this book, but this remains the strongest collection of essays about Whedon's work that I have ever read.
February 14, 2017
If you're a fan of Joss' work, from Buffy to Dr. Horrible to movies, you'll enjoy this, as I did.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews