Comic Review – “Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Season Eight) #3”

The first story arc continues. Also, on either Monday or Tuesday, we’ll have the first “World War Hulk” review, with the prologue that came out last week (and should be read after “Incredible Hulk #106.”)

General Information

Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight #3

Author: Joss Whedon

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

Original Publication Date: This issue first published May 2, 2007.

Cover Price: $2.99 US

Past comic reviews can be found here.

Premise

Picking up where issue 2 left off, we’ve got an undead army storming Buffy’s stronghold while Buffy is still in her mystical coma. In this issue, some threats are dealt with, and others are exposed, including one who Buffy viewers will recognize, even though they probably shouldn’t.

High Point

“You’d be bored stiff.” (Incidentally, don’t forget to look at the other character in that panel and check out what she’s reading.)

Low Point

Would that character really use the word “bone” in that context? That line just feels wrong.
Maybe it’s just because she wasn’t drawn with her dimples showing, eyebrows raised, neck stretched, and head slightly swaying left and right, but it just felt like the delivery didn’t work.

The Scores

Again with the original twists. Joss is serving up characters we know in unexpected places and combinations, which serves to satisfy fans by giving us what we love while simultaneously giving us something new. Very nicely done. I give it 5 out of 6.

The artwork is consistent with the first two issues. If you’re looking for a story told in pictures, you’ll find one that’s very well done. If you’re looking for perfect representations of the faces we’re all familiar with, some individuals will seem to be lacking (probably due to the likeness rights issues discussed in the comments on previous reviews.) I give it 5 out of 6.

I’d say the story marches on, but marches tend to move a lot slower than this. Some questions are answered, but more are raised. This is the way a new Joss Whedon season should kick off. I give it 5 out of 6.

Yes, the low point I chose is about characterization, but as a whole, that’s still well done. If I’m questioning the use of one word in one line because it doesn’t seem to fit that character, it also says that the characters are well defined, and treated as we’d expect right from the outset.
I give it 5 out of 6.

The emotional response through the first half wasn’t quite as strong as it was in the first two issues, but I think that’s more to do with the “new Buffy” euphoria wearing off than the actual quality of the product. This one read as a series of fun points, instead of continuous fun from cover to cover. (The high point was hard to pick, and has actually been changed twice in the course of this draft. Other options include the final reveal, “Fe Fi Fo…”, “I always tell that wrong,” “You think I’m fighting you” and a few others.) I give it 5 out of 6.

The flow had only one brief glitch, due to the similarity between the faces of Andrew and another character from the series reintroduced in this issue that I won’t name for fear of spoiling the surprise. I give it 5 out of 6.

Overall, as you’ve probably guessed from the incredibly consistent scores above, this is another strong chapter in a good series that’s bound to satisfy fans of the series. I give it 5 out of 6.

In total, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight #3 receives 35 out of 42.

Additional Notes and Comments

I’m really starting to feel like the Buffy reviews are getting repetitive. There’s a very consistent quality with these issues, so I plan to switch to complete story arc reviews after the current story arc ends (with issue four, due June 6.)

One reply

  1. Buffy
    When I saw this series was out, I went out and bought it. Now, I’m stopping at the local Comic Shop, Duncan Comics, at least biweekly, usually more, and I’ve had a total relapse in my addiction to comics. Free Comic Book day didn’t help.

    This series is great so far. I love the fact that most of the characters look like the characters, and manage not to look like the actors who played them, Buffy being the best example of it. I like the huge reveal on the last page of each issue, just like you’d expect to see in the last minute or two of each episode. They’re going to need something a bit more definitive on the characters, though. Like it was said, Andrew doesn’t really look distinct enough to figure out who he is at first.

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