Buffy

• Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten #13
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Christos Gage
• Artist: Megan Levens

The afterglow of Buffy and Spike‘s romantic night together is short-lived as the vampire seeks out the help of Xander, and eventually Giles and Willow, when his nightmare about killing appears to be true. With the magic users seeking for any control of the vampire Xander keeps Buffy away by inviting her along for a long overdue conversation with Andrew.

Buffy artists come and go over the course of a season but I have to admit I absolutely adore Megan Levens work in this issue capturing a cool look and feel for each character, particularly Buffy. Here’s hoping we see much, much more of her work on Season Ten and beyond.

As to the story, Spike’s pro-active nature in investigating the mystery bodes well for his future with Buffy (and produces a humorous reaction from his roommate). As to the cause of Spike’s bad dreams I wonder if we may look back to a First Season episode of Angel for a possible explanation as new trouble from William the Bloody’s past may have recently arrived in town. The Andrew subplot, while really not much more than filler, is a well-handled look at someone finally coming to terms with their sexuality with the support of their friends. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]

• Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten #12
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Christos Gage
• Artist: Megan Levens

Romance is in the air as relationships are at the center of the latest issue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten as Super-Andrew‘s new found powers allows him to help Buffy, Spike, and the Scoobies fight a sorcerer known as the Sculptor who creates armies out of dead flesh. As promised the magic potion Andrew took allows him to finally become his best self, which actually doesn’t have anything to do with his new powers which leave him as quickly as they appeared once the young man admits a not-so-well-kept secret to himself and his friends.

Spike has much soul searching to do as he rebuffs Buffy’s attempts to rekindle their romance in earnest for the first time since his soul was returned. Although he thinks he’s doing what’s best he quickly regrets his decision attempting to rectify the mistake. As expected the pair finally do find their way back to each other but not without some foreshadowing about about a murderous cost that could come into play in the coming months.

Romance doesn’t flow for Giles who continues to be stymied in his adolescent form or for Xander and Dawn who seem to finally be more at ease with themselves after months of awkwardness. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]

• Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten #11
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Christos Gage
• Artist: Megan Levens

Love is in the air in the latest issue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten leading to several characters falling flat on their face. Against her better judgement Buffy tries speed dating (where she discovers her fetish for vampires has become common knowledge among the undead). Willow has a transdimensional ecounter. Xander and Dawn continue to fail to make things work. And Giles gets shot down by an old flame who can’t quite come to terms with his current situation.

Although the main crux of the story focuses on just how hopeless the characters collectively are about love the issue does make a couple of big breakthroughs. First, Andrew makes a discovery everyone else was clear about many, many season ago. He also gets a power boost which could lead for an entirely different path for the character going forward. Oh, and remember kitten poker? Yeah, it’s back.

Andrew’s transformation will certainly have consequences, but the big news is the final panel which finally puts Spike and Buffy together again romantically. It will be interesting to see how the comic explores their relationship going forward. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]

• Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten #10
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Christos Gage
• Artist: Rebekah Isaacs

The latest issue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten begins Buffy realizing the duties and politics she’s been forced to take on since accepting ownership of the Vampyr tome. Meeting with everyone from new vampires to leprechauns, the Slayer’s sanity is tested. And, if that wasn’t enough, two old friends come to call.

Albeit for different reasons both Harmony and Clem have been fan favorites for quite a long time but haven’t been given that much to do since the end of both Angel and Buffy‘s TV runs. Issue #10 changes that with Harmony’s new master plan to change the book and rewrite magic in the world to her liking. Thankfully Clem, now in the role of her toadie, still has a conscience. Although he does grant one of Harmony’s bizarre wishes (no, not the crazy fanfic one) in deciding to make unicorns real.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten #10 proves to be an awful lot of fun capturing Harmony’s craziness. I hope to see more of each of them. And Buffy’s new position offers up all kinds of odd meetings that I’m sure the Season Ten writers will enjoy exploiting. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]