Review: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight #14

The strength of this issue, and to be honest all of Drew Goddard’s issues, lies in the ways that it feels like a natural extension of the show.

The issue opens with the death of a slayer, a really horrific display and we are reminded that while many share the power, Buffy is still the first and thus the leader. While Buffy generally irritates me, I totally sympathize with her as she is shocked and yet she can’t be consumed with it because she has to deal with it. She has to cut her down and take her back to headquarters and figure out a way to keep more girls from dying. And of course she broods and thinks that she has to do everything herself and then here comes Willow to smack her and say, “Hey remember me? You’re friend with powers? Let me make you a blanket.”

I love the inclusion of Dracula in this storyline. This is such a great thread to pick up from previous seasons. At the time when he appeared in the show, it was really a great device to drive more of a wedge between Buffy and Capt. Cardboard but Goddard is totally exploiting the awesomeness of his power over Xander. Oh funny Xander. How I love you.

For the record, Billy thinks that Xander’s girlfriend looks like a guy and the more I look at the picture, the more I disagree. I think I tend to agree with Billy in person because it’s easier than dissent. However, I dissent here, on the intarwebs. She looks like a girl.

So the Big Bad wants to take back the power of the slayers…HA! And yet, I wonder…because obviously, eventually, they go away? Or they all die off? Or they don’t create more slayers? Or another slayer isn’t called? Because, I mean, Fray lives in a world with no slayers or something right? OOOH CONTINUITY AND FUTURENESS. I don’t even know.

Possibly my favorite aspect of this issue was the conversation between Buffy and Satsu. As I’ve said, Buffy annoys the hell out of me. She’s whiny and self-righteous and as far as Buffy-verse characters go, I don’t think she grew as much across seven seasons as other characters. That being said, Goddard is nailing the intricacies of her emotional retardedness. The girl is an emotional terrorist. She’s incapable of participating in a romantic relationship that isn’t a function of or a reaction against her power. (This all goes into my argument about why Buffy isn’t actually a new action hero but rather just the same old action hero played by a girl this time.) While it annoys me, I have truly appreciated the development of this “relationship” and Goddard’s faithfulness to Buffy’s dysfunction.

And now to contrast, some Xander sweetness. This too has been a nice reminder of things past. The “let’s get this out of the way” kiss was sweet. Oh Xander…will you ever learn to not be a spaz when you’re dealing with girls? No? Oh good. I wouldn’t know what to do with suave manly Xander. (Unfortunately, sweetness and light are not often rewarded in the Buffyverse so I think we know where this is headed.)

Alright, so Billy was complaining about Goddard ripping off himself in this issue and warned me that there was some Cloverfield action and so fine, maybe there is, but you know what? I’m okay with Giant Dawnie tramping through the streets of Tokyo. You know why? Because I’m tired of seeing her sitting in a barn like Alice in Wonderland after she ate that stupid cupcake and popped out the window with her black Mary-Jane’s. And I mean, Dawn hardly ever gets to help. And here she is helping…awkwardly. “Hi…or, I mean. Roar.” Ha. I just remember how completely awkward she was in that last season episode when she thought she might be a potential.

The final image is a sad one and I have to wonder if Xander will ever catch a break. At the same time, it rings true. This is just the sort of thing that would happen to him…and just the motivation that Buffy needs. While she’s nearly incapable of surrendering herself to a romantic relationship, she’s nothing if not fiercely loyal and protective of her friends. Things are not going to end well for our shapeshifting vampire friends.

And I’m excited to be truly excited about Season Eight again.

Tags: Buffy, Darkhorse Comics, Drew Goddard, Joss Whedon