Buffy: The Vampire Slayer #13 (Season 8) – Review

By Drew Goddard (script), Georges Jeanty (pencils), Andy Owens (inks) & Michelle Madsen (colors)

With the big shocking news from last issue finally out of the way, I can say I’m a little more relaxed going into this month. I guess Goddard could have gone the Willow-Tara way or just let it die; there simply is no room for letting it linger on. So, I like how things are being handled.

This issue’s story takes Xander to meet Dracula. Through a weird lecture, Andrew tells the story of how Xander previously went to visit Dracula after Anya died, and spent a couple of months living with him. Buffy gets notification that the vampire who stole the scythe is in Tokyo. She orders all the slayers to prepare for the trip (which seems like a bad idea), leaving the fort unattended. This doesn’t seem like a move that Buffy would do, unless she knows she’s got a really good reason (Goddard better come up with something good).

Dracula, cheated by the Japanese vampires in a poker game, realizes that he’s lost his “secret powers”, so he decides to help Buffy. And the cliffhanger we get is just dreadful. Looks like there’s going to be a slayer massacre. Not good, but at least it’ll be a hell of a challenge for Buffy and company. I’ll be there to read it. (Grade: B+)

-Daniel Yanez

Buffy: The Vampire Slayer #12 (Season 8) – Review

By: Drew Goddard (script), Georges Jeanty (pencils), Andy Owens (inks) & Michelle Madsen (colors)

Just like I read in issue #12, I have to say “that was wow”. Anyone remotely interested in Buffy should know by now what happened to her on this issue. I read an interview with Joss Whedon and he said this issue’s not a huge event in his mind. Damn Joss Whedon’s mind! I really do think what happened came completely out of nowhere.

The story involves a pack of wolves, which turns out are Japanese vampires who can also vanish into fog. These people enter the castle, avoiding detection and defense systems, and steal the scythe from under everyone’s noses. After debating who might have done this, Xander is sent to visit an old nemesis for answers.

Drew Goddard wrote five great episodes for the Buffy’s final TV season. I’m happy to say he hasn’t lost his touch. The characters and sense of humor have all been transferred to comic book form, faithfully. I love the awkward moments Buffy and Satsu face with the men – I couldn’t stop laughing! I just really hope Whedon doesn’t keep writing about Buffy’s “experimentations”. They seem so out of character to me. (Grade: B)

-Daniel Yanez