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.

Having found Hungrus’ lair, the Scoobies are racing against the clock to make sure that Buffy is merely just ripe and not drained of life. The rescue mission doesn’t go as planned, and there are more casualties than we started with. Meanwhile, Willow’s magic tapped into a dark well, and she’s more than happy to use it to dole out some pain and punishment of her own.

Leading up to the climax, Sarah Gailey turns up the suspense and personal pain, with several key characters making momentous decisions. Things go from hopeful to grim pretty quickly, and maybe not necessarily for the reasons we might guess. It’s a fast-paced issue full of quips and some allusions to why Willow has been feeling so off since she took on the Slayer mantle. In a way, it also expands the Slayer mythos in an interesting way.

Hannah Templer takes over art duties for the issue, and the artwork is suitably dark; there are some really interesting pages and panels. My favorite is a page showcasing how vast the subterranean lair is. Valentina Pinto is back on colors with assist by Riccardo Giardina. The palette is decidedly muted given the underground setting which is offset dramatically by the scenes with Willow’s magic. It’s incredibly effective as the acid green tendrils really stand out against all the gray. Ed Dukeshire’s lettering really informs the tone and “sound” of the characters’ voices.

Overall, rescuing Buffy seemed to have been successful, but she may not be the only Slayer who’s in peril…

Creative Team: Sarah Gailey (writer), Hannah Templer (artist), Valentina Pinto, Riccardo Giardina (colorists), Ed Dukeshire (letterer)
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
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