Comic Review – “Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight #11”

And with this, reviews of this series are completely up to date.

General Information

Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight #11: A Beautiful Sunset

Author: Joss Whedon

Illustrator(s): Georges Jeanty (pencils), Andy Owens (inks) and Michelle Madsen (colours)

Cover Date: February 2008

Cover Price: $2.99 US

Premise

Buffy and Satsu head out to take care of a nest of vampires. While doing so, their heart-to-heart talk is interrupted by Twilight, the latest Big Bad.

High Point

“Sorry. Itchy neck. Where was I?” That line is classic Whedon.

Low Point

Once more, showing us the little slayer with the baseball bat, and not letting us see her belt it out of the park. Grr! Argh!

The Scores

This feels like what J. Michael Straczynski refers to as a “moving furniture” story. Buffy meets Twilight, discusses events of an earlier issue with Satsu, etc. People learn things, but the big status quo doesn’t change. It’s enjoyable, but the ground being broken is subtle and easy to miss. I give it 4 out of 6.

The artwork is good. I’ve gotten used to the not-SMG-but-still-Buffy lead character’s look, so I can just look at how the action moves from scene to scene. I give it 5 out of 6.

The story works fairly well. As I said, new ground is being broken, but it’s very subtle. I give it 4 out of 6.

The characterization is pretty solid. Xander’s acceptance of the “Thomas Crown” deal seems a bit too easy. Otherwise, it works very well. I give it 4 out of 6.

The emotional response is good. These characters are still fun, and the confrontation with Twilight is great. I give it 5 out of 6.

The flow is solid. Scene changes are few and announced, and the action is well choreographed. Everything flows from page to page and panel to panel quite nicely. I give it 6 out of 6.

Overall, it’s a good issue, and it is a piece of the puzzle that would be noticed if it were missing, but it can be summarized a little too briefly. I give it 4 out of 6.

In total, Buffy Season Eight #11 receives 32 out of 42.

One reply

  1. Itchy neck…
    For some reason that line makes me think that Twilight is someone we’ve already seen…. anyone else have a theory?

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