Horror

• Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten #8
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Christos Gage
• Artists: Richard Corben, Rebekah Isaacs

You know what they say about the best laid plans. Despite the effort the team spent in recovering the Vampyr tome from Dracula and locking it up safe in Xander and Spike‘s new apartment, the roomies discover the book has been taken by Andrew back to the giant gaping hole which was once Sunnydale (the site of a Burning Man-style celebration on Halloween) in order to fix a mistake.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten #8 works by obscuring the true motives of Andrew for multiple pages while allowing the Scoobies to fear the worst. Andrew’s guilt to bring back Jonathan makes sense, but it’s that final panel which suggests an unexpected return of a fan favorite that will likely get fans in a frenzy and have huge ramification for everyone involved.

The B-story involving a de-powered Old One with a very personal grudge against Slayers hunting Buffy isn’t as interesting, but I’m willing to see where it leads (especially as long as the main story continues to deliver). Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]

• Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten #7
• Comic Vine: link
• Writers: Christos Gage, Nicholas Brendon
• Artist: Rebekah Isaacs

After taking a month off, Nicholas Brendon returns to co-write the latest issue of Buffy Season Ten which continues the fresh start for the comic’s core characters and new living accommodations for roomies Spike and Xander. Continuing the theme of temptation, the latest issue sets Spike and Xander at the mercy of Sirens who nearly devour the pair if not for the timely intervention of ghost Anya screaming some sense into her ex-fiance.

With new digs the Scoobies are back together. Across from hall from Spike and Xander there’s Buffy, Willow, and Dawn leading to a Friends-style set-up so obvious one character even comments on it. The Siren escapade is a mix of bizarre and humorous (pillow fights? do Sirens really enjoy seeing half-naked men having pillow fights?) tempered by the loneliness of both Spike and Xander.

Xander’s situation with Dawn is far from settled and the ongoing temptation to use the new Vampyr tome continues to affect all those who hold onto it foreshadowing an error in judgement looming just beyond the horizon. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]