Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Issue #4, the final issue in this story arc, throws us right into the middle of Willow’s plight as Warren explains how he got to this point. Apparently, as he was being flayed, Amy was watching and had a four second window to save him before he died of shock - “Her magic is [his] skin.” He then reveals that he and Amy were responsible for Kennedy’s “death”, and he revels in having Willow in such a vulnerable position.

In an illuminating moment, Dawn reveals her frustration about not being able to do anything to save Willow, despite her size. She says “Will is like a mom to me” as we catch a glimpse of Buffy’s hurt face in shadow.

Later, Xander, Buffy and the other slayers are working on reopening the portal through which Amy dragged Willow. Xander reminds her that they will “…play it smart. And [they should] remember that [Willow] is stronger than all of [them].”

Back at the military installation, Warren explains that the mystical bonds that hold Willow feed off her own power. The stronger she becomes, the tighter she is held, and he menacingly brings a scalpel to her head.

Buffy chooses one of the younger slayers, Satsu, to accompany her through the portal. Amy prepares General Voll and Co, telling them to point their weapons at the portal, because she’s sure Buffy will come after Willow, and that will be their chance to apprehend her. But she warns them to leave Willow to Warren, because they have “history.”

Willow uses her powers to take her non-corporeal self into a spiritual plane of existence, where she speaks with other spirits/demons she seems to know. They say that her “heart” can stay there with them until she is free, but that this “refuge” is temporary and they can’t stop what Warren is doing to her.

Buffy and Co. open the portal, but when the military tries to shoot into it with a massive super-weapon, the beam is deflected by a concave mirror the slayers have set up on their side of the portal, sending it shooting right back at them. Buffy and Satsu spring into action, go through the portal, and begin taking out military types using good old fashioned hand-to-hand combat. After defeating them, Buffy finds a general and says “We tried to be nice here, but some of your men are dying. There’s one person in this complex powerful enough to heal them. You can tell me where she is, or…” Xander, communicating with her to tell her where they are and where they need to go to find Amy, interrupts her. The military installation is two miles outside of Sunnydale. Says Buffy as she approaches Amy: “I’m the one who wanted to go home.”

Willow, however, has a plan. She gives Buffy some of her power - or perhaps they really are a part of each other, as Willow puts it - but in any case, Buffy is able to use some of Willow’s power to show Amy her own nightmares that she shared with Buffy when invading her dreamspace. This distracts Amy long enough for Satsu to throw a grenade at her. But the blast doesn’t prevent Amy and Warren from getting away through another portal. Willow, however, is saved, and the slayers rejoice.

On the way out, Buffy notices a door labeled “30″ - Triple X. She opens it and finds Ethan Rayne’s dead body, and General Voll’s live one. He tries to shoot her the way he shot Ethan, but Buffy flings him across the cell, knocking the gun out of his hand. His shirt has come loose, and she notices the mysterious symbol on his chest (a sun setting and a star rising) - Twilight. She puts together Ethan’s warnings. Then, General Voll reveals Buffy’s newest enemy: Twilight is coming….You’re not human. You’ve been to war with the demons, with The First, but believe me you picked the wrong side. ‘Cause God help us if you win then you’ll decide the world still isn’t the way you want it and the demon in you will say just one thing. “Slay.” We’re not waiting for that to happen. We will wipe you out. Not just monsters anymore. It’s you against the world. You’re at war with the human race. O…..kay.

REVIEW (Issue #4): Upon first reading, I was a bit disappointed with this issue. The resolution with Willow, Warren and Amy seemed too pat. The story seemed jumbled and confusing. However, on my second reading for this review, I was better equipped to get more out of it. I absolutely adore the new direction the series is taking - Buffy against the world. While I could have done without a preachy line about the world being afraid of women having power - we could have figured that out without it being spelled out for us - this new direction makes sense, as Buffy’s always been an outsider among “regular” humans. Now, though, she has an army backing her up, and so she’s ready for this fight that’s been a long time coming. That really is the best thing about this issue - the introduction of this “new war.”

What made this issue less successful than the first three had less to do with story, and more to do with story telling. As we know, this series is based on a television show, where quick cuts and certain visuals are effective. However, many of those same techniques employed on a comic page can sometimes be too much for the eye to handle, causing a reader to lose track of what is actually happening. The transitions were clearer in the first three issues. This issue was a bit visually unwieldy and may require a second reading to get everything one can out of it.

However, “The Long Way Home” as a whole is an extremely strong start to what is sure to be a successful series for Dark Horse. Thank you, Joss Whedon, for bringing back the beloved Buffyverse in a medium at which you excel.