Buffy the Vampire Slayer No. 3 review: The core group unites
By Aedan Juvet
In the third issue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the scoobies begin to come together as a powerful yet entertaining force to be reckoned with.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer No. 3
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Written By: Jordie Bellaire
Art: Dan Mora
Release Date: March 13, 2019
The previous issue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer brought out a few more familiar faces (Cordelia & Spike) and during the third issue we begin to see each character showing off different traits of their personalities that are close to the source material but find plenty of deviations to keep things new. Now as we begin to pass the almost introductory aspects of the series, we are seeing where everyone belongs and there are still a few who we can’t quite put our finger on. Even characters who seem to be taken at face value have a little more under the surface that could leave room for new developments and there are plenty of hints suggesting just that.
The third issue gives Buffy a better chance to actually come up against a threatening enemy and in the form of a beastly bat-demon creature that towers over people and could be extremely dangerous when let loose by Drusilla. Speaking of Drusilla, the “Mistress” continues to give Anya a difficult time and lets it slip that she’s in Sunnydale searching for a power so great that Spike tells her it is actually nothing more than a myth. However, Drusilla states in a rage that she believes this power she’s seeking out is prophesized and one thing we know from Buffy is that even though vague, a prophecy is something that should be taken very seriously and has seen the death of several important figures over the course of the BTVS and Angel series run.
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Because of Drusilla’s villainous role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, we knew that Spike had to have a connection but it seems less romantic and more subordinate-esque when Spike answers to Drusilla like she’s his leader. He does continue to share moments with Cordelia (who has a very humorous panel at the end of the issue) and her lack of reluctance to jump in and fight makes one wonder if perhaps Cordelia has more supernatural connections than we’re aware of at this moment in time. For now, we do know that Cordelia has a bizarre connection with Spike, she might be the nicest person in Sunnydale and so far she has a feeling that Buffy and her slayer-ness could bring more death to the odd town with supernatural occurrences.
Image Source: BOOM! Studios
In this issue for our protagonist, Buffy is brought face to face with Drusilla and Spike, as well as the vampire bat that she ends up determining is her “Pegasus” in an effort to defeat vampires alongside the slayer. Buffy doesn’t have a ton of solo time to get to know the new hero as well yet, but she struggles with Giles to form the bond we knew and loved with some of the final pages reassuring Buffy and readers that she isn’t alone and that he knows how remarkable she is. Even the revelation of the scoobies jumping in to her aid is a new feeling for the slayer which she vocalizes and ultimately begins to form the group as an unlikely crew to save the world (a lot.) Buffy’s foe-turned-ally bat creature is only in the issue very briefly, but does provide a fun new addition even if it’s only a brief inclusion for now.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Buffy without giving us something in the cliffhanger wheelhouse and knowing Drusilla has direct contact to Buffy’s friends (via her phone) means that we need to be on the lookout for any unexpected tragedies. It has even been said by Boom! Studios higher-ups for weeks now that something major is coming in the next issue, so with several possibilities for danger we’ll have to wait and see exactly what this pivotal scene does to alter the direction of BTVS. Whatever the fourth issue could hold, Buffy and the scoobies are certainly the best option to fend off any evildoers so it’ll be exciting to see what Boom! has in store for readers.
Next. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Issue No. 2 review. dark
Overall, the third issue continues the wonderful art by Mora and story by Bellaire, marking another near perfect installment of the new BTVS that has us dying to see what happens next month when Buffy the Vampire Slayer continues.