Buffy The Vampire Slayer

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER 8.3 FAQ

BEWARE SPOILERS!!

What’s it called?

“The Long Way Home, Part III.”

Who’s responsible?

Script is credited to “Buffy” mastermind Joss Whedon.

What does TV Guide say?

TV Guide is curiously silent on the matter.

The big news?

Renee, the slayer most likely to bone Xander, didn’t quite die last month.

The bigger news?

Dark Willow resurfaces as well.

The biggest news?

As did the first two issues, this one ends with the reveal-y return of a character we’ve not seen since “Buffy” departed the United Paramount Network.

Who is depicted on the final page?

Amy’s boyfriend.

Anyone else reintroduced this week?

Loads of familiar faces. There’s a big one on page two, and two more on page three. (Joss Whedon himself turns up on page eight.)

Does one of those familiar faces belong to Spike?

That would be telling.

Does someone who’s in love with Buffy kiss her this week?

Yes.

Is Xander Harris in love with Buffy Summers?

Again, telling.

Do we learn what Willow’s been up to?

We gets hints. Willow has apparently not been in touch with her fellow Scoobies for some time. We don’t get specifics, but it sounds like she’s been a busy witch.

Is Willow still boning Kennedy?

Kennedy’s disposition is discussed.

Is Willow still playing for the gay team?

This too we learn.

Does Dawn remain economy-size?

At least until next issue.

Do we find out where Giles is?

Not this week, though Giles does put in an appearance.

Is it true we’ll soon be seeing an “Angel Season Six” in the funnybooks?

We will, but Whedon has indicated that the new “Angel” series will not receive the same level of commitment he’s lending the new “Buffy” adventures. He has designated comic-book vet Brian Lynch to serves as the “Angel Season Six” “showrunner.” (I note with some amusement that the “Buffy Season Eight” comics are selling so well that IDW Comics is now billing its new Kirk-Spock “Star Trek” line, launching in July, as “season four” of the original series. No word yet on how Lt. M’Ress feels about this.)

What’s great?

Buffy’s panicky reaction to the scene on page three. The witchy combat generally and Goerges Jeanty’s beautiful depictions of the beautiful Alyson Hannigan in particular. Dawn, finally in receipt of a bona fide superpower. The handling of Bufy’s Big Kiss. The doings in Italy. Xander with Renee. The Willow quip that ends page 17. “Hey! Who kissed me?”

What’s not so great?

Andrew’s visage, surprisingly, continues to prove Jeanty’s Achilles’ heel.

Herc’s rating for “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” 8.3?

*****

As long as you’re shlepping down to the comic-book store, note that two other Whedon-scripted comics - Astonishing X-Men #21 and Runaways #26 - also hit shelves today!