Introduction - From the Mind of Joss Whedon: An overview of (1) the book's approach (Howard Gruber's case study method for understanding the nature creative work) and (2) Whedon's imaginative signatures. Chapter One - Television Son: In which the offspring of two generations of television writers, John Whedon and Tom Whedon, enters this dimension. Chapter Two - Fan Boy: In which the young Joss Whedon grows up under a variety of high and popular cultural influences. Chapter Three - Film Studies Major: In which a creator-in-the-making goes to college and falls under the influence of the movies and professors like Jeanine Basinger and Richard Slotkin. Chapter Four - Television Writer: In which the college grad goes West in hope of realizing his dreams and gets stuck in television. Chapter Five - Creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (I): In which his first film script (and greatest creation) is ruined by others and disillusionment sets in. Chapter Six - Script Doctor: In which Whedon tries his hand (with some success) at saving the work of others. Chapter Seven - Creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (II): In which the F. Scott Fitzgerald "no second acts" maxim is proven false and a botched movie becomes a TV masterpiece. Chapter Eight - Creator of Angel and Firefly: In which the Whedonverse expands and the pains of cancellation are known. Chapter Nine - Joss Whedon, Television Auteur: In which Whedon's signature writing and directing are elucidated through examination of such singular episodes as "Hush," "Restless," "The Body," "Once More with Feeling," "Waiting in the Wings," and "Objects in Space." Chapter Ten - Comic Book Author: In which a childhood dream comes true as the fan boy authors Fray, Astonishing X-Men, Runaways, and Buffy Season Eight. Chapter Eleven - Creator of Serenity: In which a failed television series becomes a movie. Chapter Twelve - "You think you know, what you are, what's to come. You haven't even begun": In which predictions are made about the future achievements of Joss Whedon. Afterword - Michael Bay vs. Joss Whedon, Weapons to be Determined: In which two Wesleyan alumni square off, caveman vs. astronaut, for the future of the imagination. Notes Bibliography Index
Presents Joss Whedon's multi-faceted magic from the source - early influences of parents and teachers, comics, books, films, television, collaborators - to artistic incarnation, including Whedon's "Dollhouse".
David Lavery is Chair in Film and TV at Brunel University. He is co-editor of the online journal 'Slayage' (on the "Whedonverse"), and a founding editor of 'Critical Studies in Television' journal. His many books on US TV drama today include 'Reading "The Sopranos'" and 'Reading "Deadwood'", both from I.B.Tauris, as well as volumes on 'X-Files', 'Heroes', 'Lost', 'Seinfeld' and 'Twin Peaks'.
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