Previously on The Vampire Slayer: Well, Buffy finally learned the truth: that she was the Slayer until her powers and purpose were siphoned into Willow in an ill-advised bid to help her. While Buffy is still pissed (and powerless), she’s determined to save Willow from herself, and in the process, well, the world, too.

Set five years into the future we last saw in Buffy the Last Vampire Slayer, Thessaly (Willow and Tara’s daughter) has now assumed the mantle of the Slayer. Buffy and Spike (irony of ironies) are her Watchers and guardians. Without giving too much away, the central plot has to do with the possible reemergence of a fan-favorite character, and it involves skipping across the pond back to the United States.

Man, I did not see this issue coming at all, and that’s okay because it goes in a direction that I didn’t expect. Not to get too in the weeds here, but Specs #4 closes out a compact and, at times, trippy tale in a great way. The relationship between Kenny and Ted remains the focus of the issue, and they each learn the truth about themselves and what they wish most for.

After an introspective issue that delved into Willow’s ever-spiraling psyche, this issue seems to pick up the pace again, setting the scene for what will probably be an epic showdown between the Scoobies and Willow. With Willow draining the magic of a limitless pool of Slayer trauma, things seem pretty bad. Bad enough that Buffy has finally stepped back up to the plate to lead the gang. Because if there was ever a Slayer known for her unconventional thinking, it’s Buffy.

This is a dark, dark issue. Willow’s magic use has been hinted at trending towards darkness a few times now; her increasing confidence in herself that trends towards cocky coupled with the black eyes and veiny visage are the hallmarks of her Dark Willow persona that fans will recognize. This issue take us deep into her mindscape, having finally given into the magic instead of resisting it. Dark Willow meets Dark Phoenix is probably pretty on the nose, but *shrug* it’s apt.

Issue #3 explores the fallout of Kenny’s wish in an attempt to help Ted. Of course, in a warped version of wish fulfillment, the wish resulted in Ted being arrested as a suspect for the disappearance of Skunk.

With Jordan reanimated and the law closing in, things are getting pretty hot for the brothers and their associates. With the “mongrels” running amok, too, a lot is set to go wrong and gory.

Previously, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Scoobies assembled to take on Hungrus and save Buffy. Willow’s increasing magic use was becoming an issue of concern and contention.

It’s all come down to the Big Damn Finale! What is this finale? The best denouement for this series in which we see the crew move forward and wrap up our Jayne-centric story in a poignant way. With loose ends to wrap up with delicate diplomacy between the different factions on Requiem and farewells to say, things are tenuous in a much quieter way.

Picking right up where it left off, Specs #2 examines the aftermath of a monkey’s paw wish that, obviously, went very wrong. With a mere wish, Kenny and Ted wished the school bully out of existence, which is pretty horrific if you think about the people who might actually care for Skunk, bully or not. The horror is not lost on the two best friends as they struggle to move forward, all the while feeling like Damocles’ sword might be hanging over their heads. In a fateful wish to help his friend, and probably to help himself, too, Kenny makes a wish that will change their lives forever.