Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight - Issue 2
The Long Way Home story arc continues into issue 2, and things are just heating up for The Scoobies. Right off the bat you’re treated to a peek at the three distinct training styles of the Slayers under the command of Giles, Buffy, and Andrew. Giles opts for ninjas, Buffy takes a more hands-on approach, and Andrew gives his take on Lando Calrissian’s outfit followed by the do’s and don’ts of headbutting. This is something I really loved seeing, and definitely want them to expand on in the future. The three completely different environments and workout regimens these Slayers are put through are going to make three different types of Slayer, and I want to see the outcome.
After the training sessions are done, you get a little bit of side story with Xander and Dawn discussing her current super-sized situation, and a little bit of insight into Buffy and Dawn’s relationship. Nothing new here, really. Just more of the sisterly squabble we’ve seen before, just on a bigger scale. Still, it is nice to see something different happening to the Dawn character, and it’d be cool to see her in the middle of a fray, flanked by Slayers…let’s just hope she stays the way she is for a little longer and they have a chance to do so.
The action heats up halfway through the comic when the Army’s secret-weapon launches a surprise attack on Command Central, unleashing a horde of Scottish zombies on the Slayers and leaving Buffy in an eternal nightmare that can only be broken by a kiss of true love. Just as Buffy’s struggle in her nightmare world is at its worst and the battle between kilt-wearing living dead and Slayer looks un-winnable, a familiar face reappears without a moment to spare.
It was great to see the first Big Bad of the series show up and make a definite impression. The appearance of an old friend at the end of the issue also guarantees a big battle is about to unfold, and this issue was a great setup for said battle. Overall the issue was pretty solid, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Rating: 4 out of 5
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:15 am
Nice review! Just finished the first disk of Season 5, where Dawn shows up. I’m a little disappointed that the sister squabbling is still going on, because it was pretty much my least favorite part of the entire series. Probably a realistic take on how a super-heroes normal little-sister would act, but it’s still annoying. At least in the comic you don’t have to *hear* her whine.
January 22nd, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Yeah, it didn’t really bother me when she was first introduced in the television series, but it definitely started to get on my nerves after awhile. I’m just hoping they can have some sort of closure on the bickering and she can give something back in the comic series. Or get killed. That’d be good too.