I recently finished watching Buffy and have been debating whether or not to start the comics. Should I just find solace in that Buffy and Spike kiss several times in them? I've heard that the writing is all over the place and I'd rather not sit through that. You seem to have read at least some of the comics and you're also a Spuffy expert. I'd much rather read fic that continues/expands upon the story if the comics are as bad as claimed.
I also just needed to say that I love your posts and although I've only read two of them so far, your fics too.
I haven't read all the comics -- I know what happens in them, and Season 8 in particular is one I would avoid just based on what I've heard storywise and about the writers -- but my personal opinion is they are a fanfic continuation that happens to be licensed. There's some good stuff in there, but there's also a lot of crap.
Seasons 9-11 are Spuffy friendly, and it ends on a Spuffy note (though there's an off-screen breakup that literally makes no sense and exists, IMO, solely because JW is a fence sitter who wants to appeal to both ship camps and believes strength is solitude, which is bullshit). We get some amazing healthy Spuffy in Seasons 10-11.
I much, much, much prefer the unlicensed fanfic continuations. They're written out of love and, again IMO, by people who are much more deeply immersed in the world and characters than many of the comic writers. I just think fan creators are (by in large) more diligent about lore accuracy, consistency, and characterization.
So my recommendation would be fic over comics. But then I am hella biased.
Also, thank you for the compliment! I am going to be riding that high all day.
