Buffy likes Coke

[buffylikescoke]

[buffylikescoke]

Willow #3

Like the coldest, purest rush a person could ever feel. A whole life force in my hand. ~ Willow Rosenberg

With another beautiful issue this title is shaping up to be the best Willow series ever!

After a night of dancing around the bonfire and feasting on marshmallows Willow wakes up in her bed at the inn. Abhainn seems different. The witches are extra nice to Willow, in fact the entire town is suddenly full of life. Willow's naturally suspicions of it but Aelara is eager to explain the nature of the place, its inhabitants and its power. She brings Willow to the town's garden and, in a moment hearkening back to a scene from the show's fourth season, asks her do you trust me? The older witch takes Willow's hand in her own and the garden explodes with magic. Like a proper Disney princess Willow makes the flowers and the plants grow and blossom. It's gorgeous.

Not everything is this bright and colorful though. During a hike through the woods Willow notices the eeriness of Abhainn's birds, she also encounters a group of rather unpleasant witches escorting the girl from the first issue. It's Tara, the resemblance is evident. As the witches leave Tara gives Willow a pleading look and the girls lock their eyes. Something is not right with this town and Willow, with a full-on resolve face, decides to figure out just what it is.

The trees are hands.

[buffylikescoke]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #16

We are the professionals! ~ Kendra Young.

This issue feels pivotal, setting up the drama but also further differentiating the reboot from the classic continuity.

Kendra and Giles came to visit Rose, still unconscious in the hospital. Giles tries to cheer Kendra up, telling her that she cannot blame herself for what happened. Kendra decides to end Giles' entire career. She doesn't blame herself, she doesn't even blame Buffy - I blame you, she tells Rupert, Buffy may wield the sword but you taught her how to swing it. Giles defends his methods he is convincing but still, there is some truth to what Kendra says. Anyway, Buffy's about to enter the hospital room as well but she overhears Kendra and Giles arguing about her so she just leaves the flowers and a note for Rose. Poor Buff.

Later at night Buffy's riding Zeppo. No, not like that. In a bizarre dream Xander and Buffy are riding through Sunnydale on a giant talking dinosaur, obliterating everything in their path. Like her previous Xander dream this one is also very suggestive and sexually charged but outside of the rather straightforward foreshadowing I can't really decipher its meaning and neither can Buffy. She decides to use google - talking dinosaur...dream...best friend...dead...meaning - looks like Buffy's google-fu remains as advanced as it was twenty years ago. Suddenly Buffy receives a massage that makes her jump out of her bed. The message is from Xander. Meanwhile, Jenny's enjoying her evening, drinking wine and reading tarot to her cat. She pulls the fool card before she's interrupted by somebody knocking on her door. It's Xander, looking horrible, begging for help. Jenny invites him in....

Buffy makes it to Giles' place. It appears that Kendra lives with Giles, sleeping on his couch - or, maybe, it's Giles who is sleeping on the couch. Oh look, the reboot effortlessly solves yet another issue of the classic vampire slayer. Giles assumes that the message is a work of a tasteless prankster but Buffy's not so sure about it. Kendra points out the obvious. Xander's not dead. The discussion is cut short after Giles receives a message from Jenny. I'm so fire emoji right now, come over. Rupert and the slayers head to Jenny's place and find her house on fire. Buffy and Kendra rush inside, looking for the teacher. Buffy falls from the crumbling stairs but Kendra pulls her up and gets on top. That's where Xander's waiting. He grabs Kendra by the neck and throws her through the window. The confrontation between Xander and Buffy is interesting. There's the classic Angelus and Spike brand of malicious lust with an undercurrent of misogyny but there's also sincerity. Xander's offer seems to come from a place of genuine feelings. Buffy is having none of it. She dropkicks Xander and falls onto the floor of the burning house, Jenny's tarot card landing on her face. Buffy's ready to fight but Xander is gone, she menages to save Jenny's cat though.

Back at Giles' place Buffy hands the cat to Rupert as well as the tarot card and assures him the Jenny will be found. Giles takes Dolly to the garden and the slayers get a chance to finally bond over their battle experience and their feelings towards, respectively, Rose and Xander. The final scene depicts Willow, back from her adventures in Abhainn holding Rose's hand in the hospital.

Go big or gourd home.

[buffylikescoke]

Willow #2

Is it possible to belong to a place you've never been? To feel this way so fast? ~ Willow Rosenberg

Belong is absolutely magical!

The issue opens with a dream, perhaps a nightmare. Back in Sunnydale Xander asks Willow where are you? He then proceeds to search for her, calling out her name louder and louder before turning into a bird. I think that this scene is about Willow's subconscious guilt over abandoning Sunnydale but the bird part is interesting as there might be an actual entity it represents. During the hellmouth arc Willow's use of magic attracted the avians and in this issue they're featured prominently, following and observing her. The scene with Aelara serves as an emotional counterpoint to those feelings. Willow tries verbalize her trauma and Aelara offers empathy and acceptance. You've been through so much. But you're safe now. And you are welcome here.

The real highlight of this issue is how it portrays Willow being Willow, happy and at peace for the first time in months. It's such a joy to see her positively frolic through the woods, all pure and adorable, in her comfy new sweater. Finally, the scene of bonfire night is simply beautiful. Willow's sudden understanding of the town's nature, her feelings toward Aelara and her apparent decision to stay in Abhainn all coalesce within the archetypal imagery of dance and fire. We've never seen Willow like this, not even in Wonderland, radiant and utterly unself-conscious. It's awesome!

Lavender and hot fudge!

[buffylikescoke]

Willow #1

Dear whoever you are, for the first time in a long time, I feel really alone. ~ Willow Rosenberg

You Don't Have to Go Home is a treat for us Willow fans!

This issue is a very personal, light-on-plot series opener. After arriving back from England Willow is simply not ready to face Sunnydale. While everybody thinks that she has extended her studies overseas, she empties her bank account, buys a one way ticket to whatever and makes her second escape. She arrives in a place called Abhainn. There she meets a mysterious white-haired lady who invites her to a full moon bonfire night. It's obvious that something is not quite right with the seemingly idyllic town, as evidenced by Willow's prophetic vision and a scene with a distraught young woman running through the woods. Let's get this out of the way - blonde hair, large blue eyes, full lips - the woman looks like Tara! Don't freak out just yet, take a deep breath. Willow's vision is pure foreshadowing: Buffy fighting Buffy the drummer from Where All Paths Lead, elderly Buffy showing up, scythes, portals, dark Rose, Faith's knife! Deep. Breaths.

What makes this issue truly great, however, is Willow's characterization. Willow's inner monologue brain voice is uncannily on point and her state of mind feels emotionally true. She's still our Willow, just in a space between depressive aimlessness, desire to run away and youthful wanderlust. The art is tailor-made for the comic's protagonist - soft and clean, with vibrant pastel coloring.

Willow the red, hexer of chocolate.

[buffylikescoke]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #15

Did you even look into his eyes before you placed him in that glass prison? ~ Buffy Summers Angst, revelations and a new art team - this is a yet another strong issue! There's a new big bad in Sunnydale and, of course, his first scene is a big, fat villain speech. Blah blah darkness blah blah suffer blah blah blah. Is Buffy the Vampire Slayer not supposed to laugh at stuff like this? Anyway, Buffy and Robin are on their proper first date at the Sunnydale's botanical gardens. I love how those two are portrayed in this reimagining. In the classic continuity Buffy's romantic relationships always had a theatrical grandiosity to them, as if they were exempt from the postmodern irony otherwise permeating the show. In this issue Buffy greets her date with a hey, dude! and a high-five. It's down to earth and normal in a way none of the classic relationships were, incredibly adorable as well. Buffy and Robin are joined by Kendra and Rose, also there for the terrarium date night. Gay girl(s), botanical garden - if it wasn't obvious enough before Kendra and Rose are officially an item now. Awesome.

Inside the couples are learning how to build terrariums. It's cute, even if Buffy doesn't share Robin's fascination with moss. Fair enough, I mean, it's moss. Buffy's oddly bothered by Rose being involved with somebody else. Robin points out that Willow and Rose weren't exactly married which sends Buffy into a spiral of projection and angst. Robin tries to lighten the mood with a toy dinosaur he names Zeppo but Buffy just gets up and angrily storms out. Suddenly, the garden is attacked by...plant life? Think vines, like in Where the Wild Things Are. The slayers tear and punch through the furious flora but it's not giving up. Buffy notices a little boy seemingly controlling the vines, now assembled into a hulking greenery golem. Kendra knows what they're actually dealing with. She grabs a shovel and goes for the kill but, as she's about to slay the child-shaped beastie, Buffy stops her. Buffy thinks that the boy is being possessed, she goes as far as to tell Kendra I'm in charge here, listen to me! Why, Buffy? Why are you in charge? The demon isn't just waiting for the slayers to stop arguing. It attacks Rose and horribly wounds her. Kendra hurls the shovel into it and makes the shrub Satan scamper. Holding the bleeding Rose, she is understandably livid. Leave us alone! You so badly want to do everything by yourself then go! Go! Brutal. If all of this sounds like Buffy's rapidly losing her mind it's because she probably is. Buffy's been through a lot in last ten issues. Buffy's a teenager. Of course she's not fine.

Rose is taken into an ambulance and Buffy heads home. Robin follows, trying to reassure her. We've spent years discussing the TV show, trying to figure out what is wrong with Buffy - Conversations With Dead People shines some light onto her issues but comes very late into the story. Here, fifteen issues in Robin basically tells us. You've got a real martyr complex going on. Why do you always have to be the victim and the hero? Why do you always have to walk this world alone when you have so many people trying to hold your hand? Why do you ignore another slayer who knows exactly what you're going through - and he just keeps going! You don't like yourself, and Kendra is just the closest thing to you that you've ever met. It's an absolute take down slash therapy session! Finally, Robin flat-out asks Buffy if she loved Xander. Buffy doesn't answer but if her dream from the previous issue is anything to go by she kinda did, no? Which is why what is about to happen will be so painful for Buffy. In his underground abode (big bed, candles, chains, cute little demon servant - it's a proper lair!) the new big bad is hanging out with his two demon girlfriends. It's Xander. A soulless, vampire Xander. Buffy, you're not a plastic toy dinosaur!

[buffylikescoke]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #14

Great, thanks for being there. You've been an A+ mom, gold star, would daughter again. ~ Buffy Summers

Focusing almost entirely on Buffy and her trauma with a new art team delivering some stunning visuals this is one of the strongest issues of the rebooted Buffyverse so far.

This is an entirely character-driven issue, there's no action and nothing supernatural whatsoever and yet this comic is packed with so much content and is so full of interesting material that it feels like several issues. In the opening scene Buffy's hanging out with Robin at the Tuna 'Verse, catching up on the events. Flushed, deer in the headlights look Buffy is adamant that their meeting is not a date when Robin describes it as such and Robin is quick to agree that they are just friends but, no, it's a date. I adore this entire scene. Buffy and Robin are both funny and cute and there's something so cool about seeing Buffy Summers in a context like this, just hanging out with a regular person her age love interest at a fast food joint - classic Buffy never had anything this normal. Suddenly Buffy notices that she's late for her watcher-slayers meeting and quickly runs out of the restaurant, then, as is tradition at this point, runs back in and gives Robin a hug. Adorable.

At the school's library we get the first taste of the new chemistry between the chosen ones. It's all healthy rivalry and zesty banter. I love this take on Kendra - she's confident and quick-witted - an excellent foil for a more introverted Buffy. Giles is trying to explain the concept of multiple Hellmouths but Buffy's clearly not in the right headspace for occult metaphysics. The meeting ends when Joyce shows up to pick up Buffy. Joyce realizes that Buffy's upset. She tries to be there for her and be a good parent and cheer her up but it cannot work because Buffy's not a young child anymore and her problems cannot be fixed by a parent. What happened is that Buffy's fears became reality. She lost her best friends. Xander was killed. Willow left. Now Buffy is being eaten alive by soul crushing guilt and self-loathing that's only intensified by recurring nightmares. In another dream Buffy's friends are once again turned into monsters but, this time, with a notable twist. Buffy notices a couple holding hands. It's herself and Xander. They kiss, then reveal that they have both been turned. It's fascinating. Buffy's grieving Xander but it appears that it's not just about missing a friend as there's a sexual component to it. I think that between that scene from Hellmouth and this one, Xander's just become Buffy's love interest, even if he's currently deceased.

Jenny's and Rupert's morning conversation is the only scene in this issue that doesn't feature Buffy even though it's still about her. One of the great things about this reboot is that it's also a commentary on the classic continuity. It shines light onto things that the show ignored, you could see it in Buffy's attitude toward Angel in Hellmouth and you can see it in this scene as well. Jenny emphasizes the discrepancy between Giles and the girls - watchers get to have everything (life, future, children) the chosen ones are denied. This doesn't feel right and I just can't be part of it anymore...it's killing me, Jenny states. Foreshadowing much?

Next day Buffy and Rose are paired in chemistry class. Their experiment ultimately turns into a volatile chemical volcano but their chat is amicable enough. Rose asks Buffy if they could just be friends. I wouldn't suggest it, Buffy replies, my friends tend to just disappear. Ouch. It's a very bleak outlook but it explains Buffy's state of mind. Later in the evening Buffy and Robin meet again at the Tuna 'Verse. Buffy wants to end their relationship because she's convinced that Robin will eventually abandon her like Xander and Willow. The idea that she is abandoning Robin obviously doesn't register to her but it's understandable as this is Buffy going through an absolute meltdown. It's heartbreaking - I lost the only people who cared about me, and it's my fault. I'm a screw-up, I shouldn't have any friends at all, I don't even deserve them, she rants, I'm going home, see you never and tries to storm off. Robin grabs her hand and pulls her closer. You're the best thing in my life right now, he whispers and kisses Buffy's forehead. Buffy reciprocates. They kiss and they hug and it's kinda perfect.

In a corn field somewhere a person emerges from a portal. It's Willow but it's not this dimension's Willow (no dark streak of hair present) and it's not Willow the vampire slayer either. So who is she? It seems that she's a witch of considerable power and she does not look like a teenager. Wait - is this Willow from the classic continuity? Is this our Willow?!

Oxygen. Magnesium.

[buffylikescoke]

[buffylikescoke]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #13

I am so in love with Jamaica ~ Kendra Young

This is Kendra the Vampire Slayer backdoor pilot.  

Story-wise, the issue explores Kendra's relationship with Zabuto, her watcher and Vea, her caretaker in the days before her department from Jamaica to Sunnydale. Kendra faces a nemesis-y vampire and learns that she's been called. Kendra herself is fine - her inner monologuing is especially interesting as it both contrasts and mirrors Buffy's thoughts. I so want them to be friends. It's everything else that I have a problem with. Zabuto spouts internet troll brand of sexism which makes very little sense considering that Kendra, whom he seems to respect and/or love a lot is a woman and, last I checked, there are female watchers, no? Similarly, the vampire makes some very valid, reasonable comments comparing slayerhood to slavery but then he compares tourism to colonialism and that's just insane troll logic. It's all rather contradictory.

The art is pretty awesome even though the artist's style seems more suited to a cartoon network's show adaptation than to a post-modern horror phenomenon and that's just one of several odd decisions made around this issue. The time to release this comic was somewhere around #8 or #9, right after Hellmouth #1. Not now! An introductory, backstory-esque issue seems unnecessary after the character has already been introduced. Moreover, this is the sixth Buffy the Vampire Slayer issue without Buffy in a row! Enough! BOOM! really need to stop treating the main, dare I say, flagship title as a dumping ground for random side stories and improve the messy structure of their Buffyverse releases. Don't get me wrong - this is a good issue, however, at the end of the day, it's not what I'm here for.

Don't like Jamaica, oh no, she loves her, oh yeah. I'm so sorry.

[buffylikescoke]

Hellmouth #5

Shut up, you're the best. ~ Buffy Summers

Epic, funny, emotional - this issue feels like a proper season finale!

Buffy faces the hellmother, just as unnecessarily talkative as ever. They trade blows but it's obvious that the big bad is just too powerful. She menages to get an upper hand and throws Buffy into the cave's wall, knocking her out. Suddenly a comically large ladle hits mom's head. Augie and Drusilla found the cavern. Furious mother grabs Buffy and rag dolls her into Dru and the little demon. She lifts Drusilla and unceremoniously throws her into the lake. Mother's minions quickly encircle Buffy and Augie. Your blood will be mine, girl. You'll live on in me, the big bad gloats, at least you won't be alone anymore--

She was never alone. Get away from my friend, reverberates through the cave, followed by a booming Camazotz help slayer always. From above them Rose, Cordy, Anya, Kendra and Willow descend into hell on Camazotz's back. Armed. Cordy has a quarterstaff, Anya a bow, Rose a tomahawk, Kendra dual-wields sabres and Willow...Willow came with a fucking katana. It's so awesome! Buffy looks incredibly happy to see the gang, possibly aroused. She explains Angel's situation while Augie and Camazotz befriend each other when the big bat realizes that little demon fights big bad demon - well, Camazotz is not exactly an intellectual but his heart is in the right place! Willow figures she is able to separate Angel from the hellmother but she needs time. The Scoobies intend to give her as much time as she needs. Camazotz, with Augie on his back, tears through Ulfreth while the girls deal with the minions. Buffy takes Willow's katana and goes after the mother. The big bad pounces on her and breaks the sword, then, with a broken piece of weapon goes for the kill. Camazotz shields Buffy with his arm, and, after Augie's suggestion, fwoomps the demon with his wing. Meanwhile, Willow's found a way to expel the mother from Angel's body but she doesn't have enough mojo to grab onto her. Anya suggests to draw on the power of the hellmouth. That doesn't seem particularly sane but it works - with a magical oomph Angel and Mother are separated. This draws all of hellmother's attention to Willow. The witch tells everybody to get out, willing to sacrifice herself, but Buffy doesn't listen. She slams into the crone, sending them both falling into the lake. Camazotz takes off and catches Buffy, saving her once again. The mother plunges into the lake. Drusilla and Buffy (the other Buffy) emerge from the water, grab the mother and drag her into depths. It's over. Angel is not quite sure what happened and, despite some objections (Kill all vampires!) Scoobies decide to spare him and get back home. This is where Buffy notices that somebody is missing. Wait, where's Xander? Willow...? Where's Xander? Issue #12 is ambiguous about Xander's fate - it certainly shows Xander returning Willow's soul but it does not show his death which makes sense - what would even kill him? This issue, however, makes it patently clear that Xander is gone. Wow.

Back in Sunnydale Buffy, Willow and Giles gather at the library. Giles feels extremely guilty. Buffy tells him to stop blaming himself and reassures that if anybody is responsible for what happened it is her. I couldn't protect you, and now we've lost one of our own, Giles weeps, we could have lost everything. Hearing this, Willow, who has watched the entire exchange silently, walks out of the library letting the door slam behind her. After all, Xander was Willow's everything. Buffy finds Willow near Xander's locker, looking at their photos, reminiscing. I can't stay here, she tells Buffy, it's too much. Willow reveals that she was accepted into a study abroad program. She's leaving Sunnydale. Buffy, you know that I love you, she says giving Buffy a photograph, but I need to do this on my own. It's sad to see Willow go but her choice is very human and very understandable. I think that, considering the situation, the decision to prioritize taking care of herself is ultimately an adult thing to do. Some time later Giles visits Anya's shop seeking information about the hellmouth. We learn that Anya is at least a thousand years old and that she used to be a watcher! After some friendly banter Anya produces a handful of floating, occult maps, each representing a different dimension with its own hellmouth and arranges them in a circle. She also reveals that the slayer that was activated before Buffy is alive! I wonder if BOOM! plan to bring back India or will they introduce a new character? This closing pages give us the first glimpse into one of the alternate realities. Sunnydale. Buffy works behind the bar at a light beers away establishment, hanging out with her childhood friend (possibly boyfriend?) Xander just before the closing. Outside of the bar they're attacked by a vampire - it's an exact copy of the opening scene from issue #1, but with a different couple and a different superheroine! Combat boots, leather jacket, red hair - it's Willow the vampire slayer!

Camazotz plushie when?

[buffylikescoke]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #12

Xander when! When when when! ~ Anya Jenkins

This issue is a real return to form - exciting, interesting, well-paced and fun! It's got this season finale vibe where every character gets to be awesome!

With Robin knocked out the men turn into a mindless hell-hive-mind horde. They lose interest in the Scoobies and almost immediately start fighting each other. Typical. Anya leads the kids to a secret entrance to one of the tunnels crisscrossing the town. Some vital exposition is dropped. Anya explains that, as some suspected, Kendra was activated because Buffy entered the hellmouth, as in, an another reality and thus left this mortal plane. Loophole! Clever loophole!

Meanwhile at the Tuna 'Verse Rose is still waiting for Kendra. Cordy, who works a night shift there, is about to close the place. Rose decides to help her clean and the two discuss their unattainable dreams of career in LA. Suddenly the fast food place is surrounded by a horde of possessed men, Giles among them. The men start banging on the doors and the glass trying to get in. Jenny Calendar notices that the town's men are heading towards the 'Verse and decides to bring some backup of the big and angry variety. Anya's group makes it to the fast food joint first. Anya erects a protective barrier around the building but it won't be able to stop the horde for long. However, Anya has an ace up her sleeve. Turns out, she hid a bunch of magical weapons and artifacts inside the Tuna 'verse - wait, she did what?! You know what, this is Anya, if she wants to stash an occult arsenal at a fast food restaurant, more power to her! Say Anya, that white suit sure goes well with your cocaine addiction, no? Anyway, Scoobies grab the weapons and get ready to fight as the barrier is failing. Fortunately, Anya has plan B. What's Plan B, asks Willow. You're plan B. Willow doesn't believe she's ready. Then Anya's barrier finally fails and the men break through the windows. When one of the hell mom's puppets manages to lay his hand on Rose Willow changes her mind. She tightens her grip on a magical dagger and, drawing power from the weapon, lays a super-magical smackdown! Turbo-witch is here bitches! Black eyes, purple lighting, levitation - the whole shebang!

The men are incapacitated but Willow still keeps floating in the air with the dagger in front of her, both engulfed in purple energy. She sounds like she's dying. I'm not sure what's really happening in this scene and it's the writer's fault. Anya tries to offer an explanation but it's so completely obtuse that it's basically useless. The way I understand it the magic is harming Willow because her soul is shattered. Xander, in an act of selflessness, decides to save her. Anya asks him to wait until they're safe. As if on cue the mighty Camazotz, with Jenny on his back, lands on the joint's roof. It's time to evacuate. If she's sick, I wanna be sick, too, says Xander and, touching Willow's hand, returns her soul. The magic loses its hold on Willow and Xander collapses. The women leave the ruined restaurant before the knocked down males get up on their feet. They climb onto the bat and fly away, leaving the soulless Xander behind.

Big bat energy.

[buffylikescoke]

Hellmouth #4

I don't understand ~ Buffy Summers

Excellent art and some decent dialog buried under piles of expository drivel.

The opening pages shed some light on the big bad. The hellmother was a servant of the first evil until it left the hellmouth, seeking the promises of infernal splendor. She now reigns over all forgotten things. The cast-asides and the left-behinds. Hmm. Speaking of cast-asides, Buffy is done with Angel. She deems him unworthy of her trust and decides to pursue the hellmother on her own. Angel tries to explain his situation but Buffy's not listening. I like Buffy's take-no-crap attitude. It's full of chutzpah and, realistically, she's known Angel for mere hours. She has no reason to trust him.

The hellmother forces Auginteegharekk to help her. Apparently she needs Buffy's and Angel's pain in order to manifest. Why does the hellmother need to be summoned inside her own hell? Also, hasn't she already manifested as the skeletal giant?! Anyway, Augie makes it to the now arguing Angel, Buffy and Drusilla. A few words is enough to sow more distrust, cause more pain and bring the mother. A beam of light shots from the demon's eyes. Buffy takes off deeper into the caverns. Follow me and you die, Angel. I won't hesitate, she warns. Angel tries to follow her anyway but a wall of fire blocks his path. From the flames the hellmother emerges. She knocks back Drusilla and Augie and, touching Angel's face, she claims him as her vessel.

Buffy arrives in a grotto with an underground lake. Inside she meets her doppelganger. Bare feet, shredded clothing, rumpled hair, ugly scar from a vampire bite on her neck, very cryptic. The other Buffy reveals that she came to the hellmouth alone and lost - everybody and everything. She's not Buffy, she says that much, but she also says that she's been Buffy. Is she the future Buffy? Alternate future Buffy, perhaps? Impossible to say. The double steps into the lake and vanishes under the surface of the water. Soon after Angel enters the cave. Possessed and transformed by the mother, he wants Buffy's blood.

Drusilla, you absolute sexpot!

[buffylikescoke]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #11

Yeah, what would Buffy do? ~ Kendra Young

This is one of those issues that you can safely skip.

After dealing with Luke Kendra, Rose and Robin hang out at the Tuna Verse. We learn a bit about the family situation of the girls as Robin continues his descent into insanity. Over at the cemetery Xander's not doing much better, having a rather nasty altercation with Willow. Interestingly, Xander's the second person to accuse Willow of being into Buffy. So that's a setup, no? The argument ends abruptly after the furious Xander goes bumpy - it makes him instantly lose all of his anger. Turns out, the vampire side protects him from the Hellmother's influence. Ben is Glory.

Suddenly, Kendra (with Robin in tow) shows up and attacks Xander. What follows is a lot of tussling and even more explaining involving Willow, Xander and Robin. It’s the main problem with this issue. I know all of this! There's no new information here, just a lot of regurgitating in a dry, inelegant and mostly humorless fashion. Blah. Robin's breakdown is interesting but is it even still Robin talking, especially since immediately after he succumbs to Hellmother's influence? Anyway, after Xander declines Robin's offer to join him and his army of men (no straight explanation etc) a bunch of goons spring out of nowhere and surround the Scoobies. Suddenly, the teenage watcher is WHAMed with a mallet. It's Anya, pretty grumpy that she has to save the world again.

Food analogy? Pathetic.

[buffylikescoke]

Hellmouth #3

Oh, you darling girl, he didn't say he was your friend ~ Drusilla

Amazing visuals and intense action hampered by unfocused, meandering writing.

Another issue, another waste of page space gloat-fest opening. What is the point? I'd be more understanding if the panels underneath depicted something interesting - bring us up to the speed on the happenings in Sunnydale or Los Angeles, maybe deliver extra material in the form of exposition or foreshadowing but it's just scenes we have already seen. There are some nifty new details like Rose's last name (I'm so sorry Ken-doll) and a really cool picture of Willow but with three pages of space so much more could’ve been done. Anyway, Buffy and Angel are not sure what to do with Drusilla. Buffy wants to immediately dust her but Angel insists on freeing her. Unsurprisingly Drusilla and Angelus, as she refers to him, know each other. Drusilla quickly reveals that Angel did nothing to help Xander. That makes Buffy understandably furious, especially since Angel's explanation (I didn't know what I was seeing) is nonsensical and obviously a lie meant to conceal his nature. Suddenly the chains break. The hellmother herself rises, enormous and unnecessary talkative, breaking through the ground, sending Buffy, Angel and Drusilla flying, separating them. The slayer lands close to Drusilla. Buffy's first instinct is to just grab the chain and tear the vampire's head off but as they're both attacked by hellish doppelgangers and visions, they come to an agreement. Armed with the chain Buffy deals with the creeps, while Drusilla runs off to find Angel. The scene is very interesting because the way Buffy and Drusilla interact is very reminiscent of Buffy's and Spike's dynamic from the TV series. Chains. Loathing. Sexual tension. What's the name of this pairing anyway? There's another important line here: Every time I've pushed somebody away and tried to go it alone, it's blown up in my face - sweet realization indeed! It took the classic Buffy all of the seasons to arrive at that conclusion - just shows how different this take on the character truly is.

But what is Angel up to? An enormous, potentially world-ending entity has arisen inside literal hell and Buffy is possibly fighting it and/or Drusilla. So instead of trying to find her as soon as possible Angel decides to enter a hellmouth hut and have a chat with an oracle. Unbelievable! Angel takes a side quest, this is video game logic characterization. Augie the cooking oracle is awesome, an adorable mascot demon with a comically large ladle and the scene itself is decent but is it really the best time for exposition? Especially since we don't actually learn anything? Can every person who writes Buffy just print Giles' line from The Harvest and internalize it? Alright. The Slayer hunts vampires, Buffy is a Slayer, don't tell anyone. That's how you deal with lore in this franchise, please, nobody cares. The chat ends when Augie's hut is raided by demons and vampires. Angel goes full bumpy face and easily tears through them, just as Buffy arrives to discover his secret. The art in the entire issue is fantastic, colors, lines and letters and yet the final page still stands out, focusing on Buffy's betrayed expression from Angel's point of view. Just stunning!

Buffilla sounds like a fancy Italian soup. I think it's Druffy.

[buffylikescoke]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #10

Whatever! ~ Cordelia Chase

This is a pointless, glacial issue that doesn't even feel like Buffy.

There is no Buffy. Giles has officially lost his mind and Willow and Xander are featured in four pages. Why is this comic even called Buffy the Vampire Slayer? In terms of event-level overarching plot there's no new material. The issue delivers a completely irrelevant B plot and focuses on introducing Kendra and developing Robin and Rose. Kendra is the highlight - she's serious, dedicated, sharp - best qualities of the classic Kendra without the accent, looking forward to see her work with Buffy. Robin is a mixed bag. Although there is some merit to what he tells Willow, Xander and especially Giles, his painfully on the nose dialog and hideous facial expressions make him come off as mostly obnoxious. I want to love Rose. The way she handles the B plot is impressive but since her internal monologue is surface level noncommittal blandness she remains, shears action aside, a mostly uninteresting, ordinary teen.

What about the B plot? Cordelia is kidnapped by an incel of the week. She's saved by Rose, Kendra and Robin. It's pointless, also, pathetically toothless. Somebody as seemingly evil as Luke surely would've done more than just tie Cordy up in his basement, no? Like, Angelus-style more? Also, it is likely that Luke was under the corrupting influence of the Hellmouth so killing him feels unjust and ultimately against the franchise's spirit. If he was actually killed, that is, I can't tell because the art is so inadequate.

If you think Robin and Kendra can carry a Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic you are out of your minds BOOM!

[buffylikescoke]

Hellmouth #2

Thanks Gandalf. ~ Buffy Summers

This is a thoroughly entertaining, action-packed issue. The dialog is on point and the art is a mouth-watering!

The issue opens with more ominous monologuing from the yet unnamed evil over images of violence in thought or action. The evil entity, represented by a statue of a human with a head of a jackal feeds on emotions, similarly to the siphon, the coily crone who took half of Willow's soul. Interesting - are they somehow connected? Meanwhile, inside the caverns of the Hellmouth Buffy and Angel are busy KO'ing beasties because Buffy is not letting any ‘ol demon or vampire run free and stealth is not an option. Rawr. Angel points out that they came for Drusilla and explains that the real monsters don't announce themselves or present opportunities. Buffy's frustrated by Angel's I-know-everything attitude. This is what I do, she repeats. She doesn't need Angel to take her under his wing and will this absolute dork ever not jump on the opportunity to make a pun? I sure hope not! As on cue a squid-like creature appears and, of course, introduces itself as Ulfreth. Sarcasm ensues. The discount Medusa grabs Angel with its tentacles and disappears inside a hole. Buffy yeets herself into the void and follows them. Ulfreth pushes deeper and deeper into hell holding Angel in its limbs, delivering some clearly foreshadow-y exposition. Angel quickly manages to set himself free but the creature is still inside his head, posing as emanations of his regret, the people he failed to save - Helen, Francis, Julia and Brewster. It's really neat. Angel hears Buffy's scream and runs past them, heading towards the source.

Following the tentacle demon Buffy suddenly finds herself on the streets of Sunnydale's downtown. She meets Joyce, Willow and Xander. It's also a hallucination, one exploiting Buffy's fears and feelings of guilt. It's not effective. When the demon masquerading as Joyce attacks her, Buffy body slams it into concrete, killing instantly. Angel touches her the illusion vanishes. Buffy's back in the caverns again, standing over the body of Joyce's doppelganger. She's quite shaken by the experience and irked that Angel keeps telling her nothing. I might be reading too much into it but Buffy's I opened up because we need to work together line is very interesting. It paints her as shrewd and intelligent, her attitude fitting the businesslike so-not-turbo-drama-star-crossed-lovers dynamic between herself and Angel. How refreshing.

Anyway, Buffy and Angel make it to a large cave overlooking what appears to be an infernal copy of Sunnydale. Inside, they're swarmed by a horde of feral Turok-Han-ish vampires. It's just like thermometer, as Buffy puts it, but the moment Angel starts bleeding from an injury the demons scamper away. Suspicious. Buffy and Angel make it through the caves and finally find Drusilla. She's encircled by fire, chained and completely out of her mind. It's clear that she's a pawn of something far more powerful. One more thing - the presentation. It's amazing! Carlini's pencils are crisp, dynamic and stylish but it's Cris Peter, the colorist, who steals the show. It would've been be so easy to make the Hellmouth look like some generic red brown volcano garbage - instead it's fantastically colorful, bathed in blues, greens, purples and yellows. Awesome stuff!

Buffy trashing demons in fishnets and a tank top inside literal hell is peak Buffy the Vampire Slayer aesthetic!

[buffylikescoke]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #9

Sunnydale has really gone off the rails. ~ Alexander Harris

Number nine is a decent, Summers-less issue that focuses on the personal as opposed to the occult.

In terms of plot not a lot happens in this issue - Kendra arrives in Sunnydale and promptly heads to Robin's place and a fresh, Tucker-ish incel-esque villain is introduced. That's it. Instead, the comic is about Scoobies dealing with the fallout of the Hellmouth's activation and not by actually hunting down the demons, that would be too fun. Turns out, the moment Buffy leaped into the portal the evil spawn simply vanished. It's so anti-climatic. There's a blank page with some nondescript evil gloating near the end of Hellmouth #1 - why not use that space to show us the beasties being sucked back to whence they came? Anyway, what we get here is a handful of very personal scenes taking place several days after the near-Armageddon.  

Joyce delivers a sober monologue over yet another issue-opening exposition spread. Xander weighs over his in-between nature after a vampire calls him a traitor. Giles, who's either losing his mind or already under the corrupting influence of the Hellmouth, barges into Jenny's house and has a heated argument with her. I hope it is the hellmouth because Giles is an unhinged asshole in this issue, even Calendar's cat is sick of his crap. Go Cat! Willow's scene with Rose is the one I find the most interesting because it's the least clear-cut. Rose is frustrated by the change in Willow's personality, she might even be jealous about Buffy. Willow is tired of people expecting her to be the old Willow, one with the intact soul. Nobody's right here. Anyway, all of those scenes, while largely disjointed, are pretty good, however it's the adult characters that get the most page space and the meatier, weightier material. On the one hand I like that the adults are much more nuanced in this iteration of the franchise, but on the other hand, at the end of the day this isn't really their story. In my opinion the focus should be primarily on the teens. Visually, compared to Hellmouth and Angel, the issue looks subpar. While Lopez's style lends itself very well to humor and horror this is all drama and the art just does not support it.

Willow playing Cuphead is basically everything I wanted from this reboot!