Back to normal!
Buffy season 10 starts with the Scooby Gang back together as
they adjust to the new status quo (mostly the old one) with new revelations
around every corner.
This is an excellent jumping-on point for readers fresh off
the tv series. All they need to know is – an all-out war erupted for the ‘seed’
which originated magic in the universe. In the process, a berserk mode Angel
killed Giles. He and Faith then went to London
and managed to resurrect Giles, but at the cost of making him 10-years old.
On the order hand, Buffy destroyed the seed and after a long
battle against demons and rogue slayers, managed to bring magic back to the
universe. The loss of magic had gave rise to zompires – feral vampires created
by actual vampires biting humans.
That’s all you need to know to get started on issue #1.
The group dynamic is refreshing as after spending much of
last season as a loner, Buffy manages to become the team player again.
Gage perfectly captures a reborn Buffy Summers as she
attempts to re-establish herself as a slayer with the help of a few friends.
Issacs’ pencils have worked wonders on Angel and Faith and
now, she’s turned around the artwork on Buffy. I wasn’t exactly a fan of the
more cartoony style adopted in Buffy during the last two ‘seasons’, so the
change is very welcome.
SPOILERS FOLLOW………………
Buffy and the Scooby Gang set about destroying the zompires
in California
alongside….vampires? Yes, the ‘enemy of my enemy’ play is enacted until things
get too hot and Spike steps in to offset the tension.
Andrew and Dawn arrive for extraction while Willow collects the last of the survivors. Willow is still getting
the hang of the raw magic and unable to stop the zompires. Spike and Buffy stay
on rear control as they arrive at the hide-out, where Xander is beset by his
own problems.
With Dawn giving him the cold shoulder (yeah, they were
living together and stuff) and him apparently hallucinating his ex, the demon
Anya, things are going exactly right for old Xan the man.
The last of the zompires are routed with help from a few
more newbie slayers and the vampires. But as soon as the sun comes up, things
go horribly wrong.
The vampires decide to take out the tired out slayer gang,
as they show a new found resistance to sunlight and the ability to shape-shift
(like Dracula). Poor Spike is locked inside as he is still vulnerable to
sunlight. Dawn, Andrew and Xander remain inside while Willow and Buffy continue to fight against
the vampire hordes.
Help arrives in the form of Faith and Giles, alongwith a few
of Kennedy’s slayers. A tearful reunion later, Buffy gets ready to dish out
some serious hurt.
Gage gets into Buffy’s head and bares the slayer’s role in
this new world and her hopes and fears for the rest of the Gang. It’s good to
see Spike and Buffy currently in a good space as last season had some erratic
moments for both.
Andrew is always great as the comic relief while Willow and Xander
continue their soul-searching – one adapting to a new world while the other is
in denial mode.
SPOILERS END……………
With some amazing artwork by Issacs’ and some excellent
dialogue play by Gage, Buffy season 10 gets off to a great start.
It feels a little crowded, but remains a very new reader
friendly read. For those coming off season 7 or 9, the old team-ups will feel
familiar or nostalgic.
So, I give it 9.5 out of 10
+Some excellent in-the-head moments for Gage
+Issacs’ artwork is a welcome change from before
+Very new reader friendly
+Great character studies using visuals
+Anya’s back (kinda)
-Feels too crowded sometimes
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