In Review: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #6

The covers: The regular cover is by new regular cover artist Phil Noto. It’s from a dying vampire’s point of view (its final remains are the traditional dissapating ashes, that are green) as Buffy looks over her shoulder to see that Spike, as always, has her back. This scene isn’t in the actual comic, but symbolically, this is where the story may be heading. The image has very good likenesses of Sarah Michelle Gellar and James Marsters. It’s a beautiful cover and it’s a cool cover. This captures the personality of the book well. Now regular interrior artist Georges Jeanty (with Dexter Vines and Michelle Madsen) do the alternative cover and it’s outstanding! The cover looks like a classic 1970′s Marvel Tomb of Dracula comic; Buffy is even one of those full character body shots by the logo that all Marvel books had back in the day. Even better, the cover features the 1970′s slayer, Nikki, who was famously featured in the episode “Fool For Love.” The cover screams kitchy cool in every way; even the dialogue balloon and its font rock! Overall grades: Regular A and Alternative A+

The story: The script is by Andrew Chambliss, under Executive Producer Joss Whedon. There’s a very welcome summary on the inside front cover for those new to the Buffyverse, but it’s simple: Buffy, the Slayer–chosen vampire hunter, has destroyed magic on Earth, though zompires–mindless vampires–now exist, as do a few “normal” vampires, such as Spike, Buffy’s on again, off again, vampire lover. Got all that? Forget it, as we begin in New York, 1973, and current Slayer Nikki is fighting a vamp. She’s losing the fight until the undead realizes she’s pregnant and threatens the baby. She kills the creature as her Watcher arrives. Nikki reveals she has no idea what to do about the child, which smoothly ends the flashback and we’re brought to the present as Buffy and her sister Dawn are discussing Buffy’s similar situation: She’s pregnant! That’s right, she’s preggers and she doesn’t know who the daddy is since she blacked out at a party. The rest of the issue splits into three separate narratives: Spike and Detective Dowling trolling for zompires–though actually discussing the Buffster, Buffy deciding what to do about her situation, and Nikki’s actual handling of her pregnancy. There’s action aplenty, but, and this is why I liked the Buffy series, I enjoy the characters so much that I could just listen to them have a conversation and not save the world every issue. They’re just that interesting. I thought there was no way to top last issue’s pregnancy reveal, but Chambliss does it on Page 21, panel five. I dare you to find a comic book with an iconic character that will address this head on! Overall grade: A+

The art: I am a Georges Jeanty minion. If he leaves this book, I’ll follow him. When I met him at the San Diego Comic Con in 2009 I begged, “Please don’t ever leave this book.” And he responded, “I don’t want to!” I hope he still feels that way because his art is the perfect balance of coolness: Characters from the series resemble the actors, new characters fit seemlessly in, page layout and backgrounds are outstanding–And the ultimate show of a superior artist: emotions are conveyed without looking like a cartoon. Spike and Buffy are tearing out my heart on every other page. Jeanty is a modern comics master. Overall grade: A+

The inks: I’ve been familar with Karl Story‘s work since Legion of the Super-Heroes (I even own several pages inked by him). He, too, is a master of his craft and I love the detailed lines he employs. Overall grade: A+

The colors: Rooftops, bedrooms, city streets, Fisherman’s Wharf, coffee shops, hospitals, and apartment pools at night provide Michelle Madsen several opportunities to display her skills and she never falters. Overall grade: A+

The letters: Richard Starkings and Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt also do a bang up job! Look at Page 1 alone: The setting, the story’s title (Hooray! Too few books have these!), vampire font, and a cool sound effect. Brilliant! Overall grade: A+

The final line: I didn’t get into Buffy until it had long gone off the air. I bought a complete series collection and ate up each DVD. I am so glad that the series continues in comic format under its original creator’s reigns. You should find out if all the hype on Buffy is true and try this book, because it is! Overall grade: A+