Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Haunted # 2 [COMICS]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Haunted (Dark Horse) (Limited Series, 2001)

Creators: Jane Espenson (story), Cliff Richards (pencils), Julio Ferreira (inks), Jeromy Cox (colors), Clem Robins (letters)

Setting:  After Season Three

T.V./Movie Character Appearances:  Giles, Xander, Buffy, The Mayor (ghost), Faith, Willow, Oz, Forrest Gates

Major Original Characters: None
 

Summary

Giles and Xander are with Buffy on patrol in the cemetery when a vampire, possessed by the ghost of the Mayor, attacks.  Giles is knocked unconscious in the struggle (drink!) before Buffy stakes the vampire.  At the hospital, as Giles is being treated, Buffy tells Xander about her recent dreams and that she blames herself for Giles' injury.  Meanwhile, the Mayor has taken over the body of a crow and keeps Faith's comatose body company as he ruminates about the possibility of eternal unlife and his ability to terrorize Buffy over and over again.  Later, the Scoobies start to suspect that the vampire who attacked earlier was no regular vampire--and that something strange is going on.  That night, Buffy has another nightmare of fighting Faith--and this time, in the dream, Angel is there and attacks her as well.

Review

From one point of view, the plot doesn't advance much in this issue--the Mayor continues exploring his newfound ghostly powers, Buffy continues to have nightmares, etc.  But the subplots and small moments make this issue great: we see why Xander decided to go on a big "Kerouac road trip" over the summer, heavy foreshadowing of the Initiative (including a cameo by Forrest), and lots of other bits and pieces that help the transition from Season Three to Season Four.