The first issue of the new 'Buffy' arc 'Welcome to the Team' was one I enjoyed, because it was good to see Buffy back to something like her old self again, after her absence in the last couple of issues. There were some nice bits of continuity, and while the ending twist has been spoiled already, it was still effective. So all in all, I thought it ( Read more... )

The second issue of the 'Willow:Wonderland' arc sees our heroine reunited with (one of) her True Love(s), while her morality is put to the test. There's also hints at something even more disturbing going on back on Earth.

( Review of 'Willow:Wonderland part 2 )

Here's the review of the final issue of the two-part arc 'Billy the Vampire Slayer'. This one was written by Drew Z Greenberg, who is noted for being, as far as I know, the only openly gay writer on the original Buffy' TV show team; and now has another claim to fame for writing what, again as far as I remember, is the first sexual m/m kiss on the ( Read more... )

While I'm continuing to review the 'Buffy' comics themselves, you've all probably noticed I've not being keeping up with the various spin-offs. Multiple factors are to blame: while I still enjoy them, and am still buying them, I'm not as enthused by them as I was back in the Season 8 days. The fact that hardly anybody else seems to be talking about ( Read more... )

'Billy the Vampire Slayer' is a two-part stand-alone part of Season 9, written by Jane Espenson and Drew Z Greenberg. As such, it's this season's equivalent of 'The Chain' or 'The Thrill' - at least so far, Buffy herself doesn't appear in it (though she's mentioned a couple of times); Part 1 has only original characters. I idea, I take it, is to ( Read more... )

And so the 'Guarded' arc comes to an end. I think it's fair to say it's not one of the most important episodes of 'Buffy' from a plot perspective: it's a 'Him' rather than a 'Conversations With Dead People'. Still, it was interesting enough, and had some insightful character development and relationship moments, and it was good to catch up with ( Read more... )

Two posts in one day!!

Spike: A Dark Place is the first of the promised mini-series focussing on specific characters that are going to be woven in and out of the main 'Buffy' season 9 story line. Originally we were meant to get a mini-series about Drusilla written by Juliet Landau, but she'saparently too busy, so Dark Horse changed plans and gave us ( Read more... )

So I'm several weeks late with a review of Buffy 9.12 'Guarded' Part 2, but - finally! - here it is. I thought it was a fun issue, if not very deep. It feels a bit monster-of-the-weeky - but not every season arc has to be apocalyptic in nature.

I did also like the exploration of the Buffy-Kennedy relationship (that's relationship in the "two people ( Read more... )

My impression of this issue of Angel & Faith is along the lines of last time: It's fun, I'm enjoying reading it; but so far it's not giving much impression of depth or serious meaning. Having said that, there are a few things this time around worthy of more meta consideration; and Christos continues to give us a well-thought out story with lots of ( Read more... )

Some of you may already have seen a big interview that Scott Allie of Dark Horse Comics gave to Ain't It Cool News recently... but if you haven't, he gave the clearest statement I've ever seen about the copyright and licencing situation regarding 'Buffy' and Joss's other creative works. I thought it might be interesting to repeat it here:

SCOTT: ( Read more... )