Buffy

• Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine #24
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Andrew Chambliss
• Artist: Georges Jeanty

There’s action aplenty in the latest issue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine as various factions battle miles below the surface of the Earth inside The Deeper Well for Dawn‘s life, the future of magic, and the lives of everyone on Earth.

Leaving Willow to find the magic needed to save Dawn (which she discovers in the form of a new seed slowly growing near the center of the Well), Buffy heads after the now turned Simone (now twice as strong and dangerous), which leaves the rest of the group of defenders to deal with the awakened Maloker, and the most unlikely person of all to talk Severin down from his mad quest to reset all of reality by sharing her own pain and loss.

The season is certainly going out with a bang as this issue is packed with characters, actions, and even a couple of nice surprises. Aside from Willow looking decidedly Joker-like (seriously, what’s up with that?) this not much for me to complain about other than how sad I am to only have one issue left to wrap-up the season. Must-read.

[Dark Horse, $2.99]

• Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine #23
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Andrew Chambliss
• Artist: Georges Jeanty

Season Nine‘s final arc continues to heat up as Buffy and the demon council head into the depths of The Deeper Well to stop Severin from stealing enough power from the sarcophagi of the Old Ones to tear a hole in reality in order to bring his girlfriend back to life. Buffy also searches desperately for the magic which will stop Dawn from disappearing and must stop Simone‘s whose dark plans which involve an army of Slayer Zompires and the demon who created the first vampire – Maloker.

There’s quite a bit of action here balanced by some tough choices for the Slayer as she must abandon her mission to save her sister in order to once again save the world and a tender moment between Dawn and Xander who tries desperately to get the woman he loves to fight against disappearing into nothingness.

Despite some ups and downs, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine is looking as if it will end on a high note as well as the possibility that some form of magic will be returned to world helping to set up a new storyline when the characters move on to Season Ten. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $2.99]

• Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine #22
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Andrew Chambliss
• Artist: Georges Jeanty

The battle for control of The Deeper Well and the life of Dawn has begun as Buffy and her rag tag band take on the demon defenders determined not to let the Slayer anywhere near the last refuge of magical energy remaining on the planet. In the midst of the battle Buffy will learn of Xander‘s betrayal as one of Buffy’s oldest friends helps Severin and Simone sneak in the well in hopes that the Siphon can gather enough magical energy to reset the past.

As Buffy and her friends fight for Dawn, and after Xander’s betrayal the fate of the world, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine #22 also offers a back-up story involving Spike trying to slow Dawn’s dissapearance by reminding Buffy’s little sister of her life (something which becomes hard to do once Spike realizes he’s starting to forget Dawn, too). It comes a little out of the blue, but their conversation reminds fans of the pair’s odd friendship that begin even before Spike got his soul back.

Although the battle for The Deeper Well is only begun, the issue ends with all the cards on the table and the fate of Dawn growing more desperate by the minute. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $2.99]

• Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine #21
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Andrew Chambliss
• Artist: Georges Jeanty

With Willow‘s return and Xander preparing to betray his friends to save Dawn, Season Nine moves closer to the finale as “The Core” begins with Buffy, Willow, and Xander heading to the only place on Earth that might have enough magical energy to save Dawn’s life – The Deeper Well.

Angel fans should recognize the name of Ilyria‘s resting place where her sarcophagus was housed, along with those of countless other Old Ones, from “A Hole in the World” (you remember, the heart-wrenching episode where Fred dies – damn you Joss Whedon!). I like the comic bringing back the setting to kick start what looks to be the season’s final arc, and provide another instance of the characters making a bold short-term decision without really thinking out the lasting implications if something goes wrong (you know, Buffy logic).

Buffy and her friends will discover the Deeper Well has not been left unguarded as the powerful entities remaining in our dimension want to protect the power of the Old Ones from falling into the wrong hands (not that something like that will stop the Scoobies from their dangerous plan). Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $2.99]