Angel’s back and it’s almost like season two or three again.
Creative Staff:
Script: Christos Cage
Art: Rebekah Isaacs
Colors: Dan Jackson
Letters: Richard Starkings and Jimmy Betancourt
What They Say:
“Old Demons Part One”
Just as Buffy and the gang were wading through their individual breakups and hookups, a new Big Bad named Archaeus came to light, and he’s someone they can’t fight alone. So, however awkward it may be—now that Buffy and Spike are officially an item—Buffy’s ex, Angel, has been called in to help.
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
There’s an old kid in town and his name is Angel—née Angelus (sort of). Old flame and current flame finally meet face to face as they are, Buffy’s ex and Buffy’s boyfriend.
It didn’t turn out well—at least not at first. Spike’s afraid that Buffy’s going to go running back to Angel like she always does, but Buffy’s someone different now. She’s older and wiser now and she’s actively dating someone who’s been pining after her for five seasons. Former evil incarnate turned vampire with a soul—just like Angelus to Angel—and Buffy’s fallen for him.
And her line is very indicative of Buffy, how she’s always been. Spike’s own words echo, but it’s Buffy’s that resonate. Buffy is her own and she chooses who and what she wants to do. She always has, she always will.
It took fighting a Morituri Demon, a suicide mission demon that kills all it can before dying itself, to “shake off their rust.” Angel didn’t just come here to see Buffy again or even expecting what…usually happens…when the two meet back up. Angel has other stuff going on in Magic Town and Buffy has her hands full in San Francisco. Not to mention it wouldn’t really be good for either to start dating or having sex…
There are bigger and stronger things out there to deal with anyway. Archaeus exists and is threatening their existence and probably the humanity of too many people. Past differences and current loves aside, it’s time to get the Scooby Gang back together and fight together…or die together.
In Summary:
This issue was a lot of reinforcing what used to be. This is how Buffy was back in season three—rife with sexual tension, though now it’s of a different sort. And there’s a contrast here to what used to be. But things are different now. It’s been (presumably?) seven years since then and A LOT of things have changed since then—namely the restart of the universe and the rewriting of most of the rules of magic. The only important thing is that Archaeus gets defeated in the end, I guess…
Content Grade: B+
Art Grade: B+
Released By: Dark Horse
Release Date: June 17, 2015
MSRP: $3.50