Review: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #10

Apart (Of Me) Part Three

Script: Andrew Chambliss & Scott Allie

Pencils: Cliff Richards

Covers: Phil Noto/Georges Jeanty with Dexter Vines and Michelle Madsen

This is the final issue in the Apart (Of Me) story arc. Having discovered that Andrew placed her consciousness in a robot version of herself and sent her body off to live in suburbia, Buffy now has to rescue her body from the clutches of renegade slayer Simone. Meanwhile, Spike is still struggling with his feelings for Buffy and his growing understanding that she’s not likely to feel the same way any time soon. In a side story, Xander has been helping Detective Dowling combat the zompire threat in San Francisco.

Frankly this story arc hasn’t been particularly interesting. Nothing has really happened. Buffy and Spike continue to chew over the sort-of-relationship that just won’t die in a narrative element that has been plaguing the series since the television show. Honestly, this whole tortured love thing may have been romantic a couple of years ago but it’s long since gotten old. I find myself hoping that Spike will just go away if all he’s going to do is complain that Buffy doesn’t love him the way he loves her.

As far as the rest of the story goes I found it equally dull. Simone kidnaps Buffy’s real body and convinces her that Buffy is the bad guy. Then robot Buffy and real Buffy engage in some fisticuffs followed by a little chat (which we, the reader, aren’t privy to) after which they are fast friends. We have no idea what Simone told human Buffy nor what robot Buffy said to her to change her mind. Frankly the whole thing was completely lacking any sort of emotional resonance at all.

Upon returning to San Francisco it seems like Buffy is ready to make some changes in her life, first among them giving up her fledgling career as a waitress. Beyond that the reader is left to wonder what life decisions have left her suddenly feeling empowered and positive. No doubt we’ll find out in the next story arc, Guarded.

Verdict: This series is acutely feeling that lack of Joss Whedon’s hand in the scripting. It just doesn’t seem to be going anywhere nor to have any heart. 4/10

Bernice Watson