“I want you to destroy everything that makes her who she is”
What They Say:
As Xander, Dawn, and Willow retreat into their own complicated lives, Buffy finds herself drawn more closely to her new friend Severin, a mysterious crime fighter in his own right, and a snappy dresser to boot. Together they take on a new kind of vampire threat while Buffy’s not-in-the-know roomies start snooping through her unslept-in bedroom. Now what could they possibly find?
The Review:
The first arc of season 9 wraps up with a bang – and a flash! We start off with a quick flashback to round out our knowledge of the motivations of the mysterious Severin, and then jump right into his battle with Buffy. Spike and Koh are rushing back from Alcatraz, but will they be in time to help her?
The action is nonstop and vibrantly drawn. We cycle between Buffy’s battle, her friends rushing to her assistance, and the police force heading out to capture her in the act of vampire slaying. Even the scenes that involve characters that aren’t directly heading to the battle are tense and dramatic, revealing tidbits to fuel future conflicts.
All the characters in this issue worked for me. Spike is a perennial favorite, and I was pleased with his part in the resolution of the arc. I adore his faithfulness to Buffy and I’m happy to see that this is continuing to be an important part of the story. Eldre Koh is extremely cool. He’s beautifully drawn, I’m intrigued by his motivations, and I’m curious to see where his tale will lead us. Severin’s powers give just enough of a twist to the slayer mythos to keep me guessing, and I loved how his mysterious mentor ties back into the earlier parts of this season as well as season 9.
The art, as always, is wonderful, especially when tightly focused on the faces of the characters. I find the way the demon Koh is drawn to be marvelous, and Severin’s eyes darkly fascinating. The panel structure for the battle between Buffy and Severin is one of my favorites in the series, increasing the drama of the scene for me.
In Summary:
This issue was everything that an arc finale should be. I was left completely satisfied with the resolution of the battle with Severin but eagerly anticipating the next arc. How will Buffy’s new roommates react to her job as a slayer? Will the demon Koh continue to be involved in the plotline? Will the detectives find a way to join Buffy in her struggle or continue to block her? I hope to see more of these characters, as well as seeing more of Willow in the arcs to come. Overall, it was an excellent end to the four issue arc that leaves enough dangling ends to get me ready for the rest of the season.
Grade: A
Readers Rating: [ratings]
