Comic Review – “Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Season Eight) #2”

The Buffy crew is getting back together, and I’m definitely coming along for the ride.

General Information

Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight #2

Author: Joss Whedon

Illustrator(s): Georges Jeanty (pencils), Andy Owens (inks), Dave Stewart (colours)

Original Publication Date: April 2007

Cover Price: $2.99 US

Past comic reviews can be found here.

Premise

The eighth season continues, and reintroduces some old friends.

High Point

“As a friend of mine once said, I’d like to test that theory.” This even edges out the HUGE differences between the two outfits Xander wears.

Low Point

The likenesses of most characters aren’t nearly as good as last month. It feels like a drop in quality, though I know it wouldn’t if I didn’t have such clear mental pictures of these characters to begin with.

The Scores

This is as original as it can be; it’s still a continuation of an existing project, but it’s continuing that project without retreading that project. I give it 5 out of 6.

The artwork, as mentioned above, is starting to include work that seems less like the real people the characters are based on. It’s still dynamic, and the visual storytelling is everything it needs to be. I give it 4 out of 6.

The story is here, and it’s packed. A whole heck of a lot happens in this issue, and it’s all good. I give it 5 out of 6.

The characterization is what we’ve come to expect from Whedon. Each character has his or her own motivations, goals, and interests, although they do all share the same sense of humour. I give it 5 out of 6.

The emotional response is great. It’s great to see these characters in action again, and I do mean “in action.” It helps immensely that this feels like the next natural foray into the Buffyverse, rather than some sort of cash grab. (This feeling was borne out by editor Scott Allie’s recent Newsarama interview, which revealed that Joss sent in a script for the first issue before the publisher knew it was a possibility. This same interview reveals that Joss has planned at least 50 issues of the title.) It’s just fun Buffy stuff again. I give it 6 out of 6.

The flow is excellent, with not only colour cues but dialogue, panel shape and arrangement cues to bridge transitions from one scene to another scene in two different locations. I give it 5 out of 6.

Overall, those who have enjoyed watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer on television are bound to enjoy this. I give it 5 out of 6.

In total, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight #2 receives 35 out of 42.