Review: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #5

Slayer Interrupted

Words: Andrew Chambliss

Pencils: Karl Moline

Covers: Steve Morris/Georges Jeanty with Dexter Vines and Michelle Madsen

Published by: Dark Horse Comics

Buffy finds herself troubled by intense dreams featuring the First Slayer in this first part of a new story arc. Perplexed by the dreams’ cryptic messages she turns to best friend Willow to try and work out what the First Slayer is trying to tell her.

The first thing that the long-time Buffy reader will notice about this issue is the change in the art. Personally, I was thrilled to crack the first page and find myself gazing upon the work of Karl Moline, one of my all-time favourite artists. Buffy fans will remember Moline for his work on the Fray spin-off series released between 2001 and 2003 as well as Buffy Season 8 and it’s great to see him make a return to the series.  Moline’s work here is a treat and he brings all the energy to this issue that he brought to Fray and Season 8.

Andrew Chambliss continues to take on the scripting duties and, while this issue starts off with a fairly stock standard Buffy mystery, it ends on a very different note altogether. Goodness knows where this new plot twist will take the series. I can think of a number of possibilities, all of which present interesting ramifications for the characters.

I get the feeling that things are about to get very interesting for young Buffy and it’s nice to see the series pushing the envelope and continuing to try and let the characters grow. Only time will tell where all this will lead but I for one will be following events with great interest!  8/10

Bernice Watson