Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Issue #2 begins with Giles’ narration as he watches Buffy attempt to train her fellow slayers. Meanwhile, we see that Andrew has been incorporated into the organization, as he gives a pep talk to the slayers he’s watching in Italy later that evening.

The next day, Xander has a heart-to-heart with Dawn, and in his insightful way brings up the fact that she may have made herself a giant on purpose to get attention from Buffy. He is rewarded for his insight with a giant sploosh of water…

General Voll discusses their plan with an underling. Their op, Amy, has been “inserted.” When he is alone, he undresses for bed and reveals that the mysterious symbol on the body Buffy found is carved into his chest as well.

What the reader thinks is a long-overdue smooch for Buffy becomes a nightmare, and we see that Amy has Buffy tied down. She has inflicted her with nightmares and is about to stab her in the chest when Xander and some of the other slayers burst into the room with a crossbow and take her down. However, while Buffy was protected from Amy’s blade through mystical protection, Amy reveals that the nightmares that she’s inflicted on Buffy can only be stopped by the “kiss of true love.”

There’s an ATTACK ON THE CASTLE. The slayers are distracted from the Buffy situation by legions of demons. Amy laughs at their predicament, saying that in a room full of slayers “there’s not one person here who can take [her] on.”

Right on cue, Willow appears at the window, ready to take her on.

REVIEW (Issue #2): All I have to say is WILLOW!! Arguably every Buffy fan’s favorite character, the reappearance of Willow in this issue is definitely its highlight. There is much, though, that is wonderful about this issue. Seeing Giles and Andrew again also brought a smile to my face. General Voll being tied to the symbol Buffy discovered sets the stage for the next two issues. But again, the best moments are the intimate ones - Xander and Dawn talking as she bathes in a lake, Renee being forced to deny her crush on “Mr. Harris”, and the device of Buffy’s fears and insecurities being explored through her nightmares…all effective ways of revealing these characters fully, and in ways that are true to the Buffyverse. And Willow looks fabulous in that dress.