Product Description: Vampires that, at will, can transform into wolves, panthers, insects, or fog invade the Slayer base of operations in northern Scotland, and not only walk away unscathed, but in possession of Buffy's scythe, the symbol of Slayer power worldwide. Buffy and the Slayer-legion travel to Tokyo in order to learn more about their dangerous new foes, as Xander journeys to Transylvania to solicit the only person they've ever known to possess such power - Dracula!
We're all a little queer There are enough reviews describing the narrative and art work. I want to address the backlash against Buffy's experimental phase.
There are enough raunchy scenes out there to titilate the mainstream breeders of America.
Give us this bone and let Buffy enjoy some really out of character T&A. Lesbians and celibate geek boys unite!
The Peak of Buffy Goodness I thought this series took some time to get started, much like a TV show. But this volume is just great! It starts with a very good story by Joss Wheadon and passed the scythe to Drew Goddard for the rest of the books. Mr. Goddard really knows Buffy and he certainly know how to tell a good story. Most TV comics seem to just tread water, afraid to shake up the status quo. Without any spoilers here, big stuff happens BIG. The art is very nice and the story exciting, sweet, funny and scary. Buffy is really back!
Returns and Revelations Volume 3 of season eight "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" follows the general pattern of the television show. We see old characters return, new challenges arise, and our main characters are forced to confront these in personal and powerful ways. I don't want to go into detail to spoil it, but let's say there are highs and lows in this set of episodes. So far, I've been very pleased by the comic book season though I must confess that I would have preferred it on screen.
How Buffy got her groove back While the previous two volumes of Season Eight have been good, it's with Wolves at the Gate that the series finally hits its stride. No longer full of exposition about what's been going on between the end of the show and the beginning of the comic book continuation, we're finally in a phase of full-on showing the new stuff.
The new arc features the return of Dracula (it's not much of a spoiler: he's on the cover), and nicely follows up on his previous appearance on the show, and presents a new threat directly spinning out of Buffy's final decisions during season seven. In other words, this is Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Vampires Strike Back.
There's a somewhat odd bit of character development for Buffy. It's well-handled, but seems a bit implausible, but Buffy was always a bit reckless with her heart (and associated body parts).
The supporting cast also were very true to form, including several laugh out loud moments featuring Andrew, the villain-turned-hostage-turned-nerdy-sidekick. And Xander's luck in love continues as it always has.
Even if you were lukewarm about the previous volumes in this series, Wolves at the Gate is worth picking up for every Buffy fan and makes me optimistic about what's to come.
Nice Product This third installation in Joss Whedon's Season 8 of his highly influential [cult] classic, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has more silly humor, shocking character development, and painful tragedy than the first two volumes. Before [writer] Drew Goddard's main story--which sees Buffy's Scotland squad in Tokyo--begins, Joss Whedon pens an important stand alone issue in which Buffy finally comes face to face with her new nemesis. Georges Jeanty's art is as compelling as always, and though [series cover artist] Jo Chen took a brief sabbatical for these issues, her paints were masterfully taken up by Jon Foster.
The book itself is of the fine quality that I've come to expect from [publisher] Dark Horse. If you've never given Buffy a shot before, this may not be the best volume to start with. Chances are though that if you're purchasing this, you've already come to appreciate BtVS for its carefully plotted plots, its authentically developed characters, its whip-smart nerdy humor, and its positive feminist message of service against the forces of evil.