The Buffy Comic Project: "A Stake to the Heart, Act 2" [COMICS]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer # 61
(Dark Horse, Volume 1, 1998-2003)


Creators:  Fabian Nicieza (story); Cliff Richards (pencils); Brian Horton (paints); Will Conrad (inks); Michelle Madsen (colors); Clem Robins (letters)

Setting:  Between Movie & Season 1

T.V./Movie Character Appearances:  Buffy, Angel, Whistler, Joyce, Dawn, Hank Summers, Lilah Morgan, Giles, Principal Flutie, Cordelia, Harmony, Jesse,

Major Original Characters:  Nil.

Summary:  In the aftermath of her parents' split, Dawn tries to cope with feeling that she's blame.  Angel tells Whistler they have to do something to contain the rest of the "malignancy demons", and Whistler says he'll figure something out: which turns out to be making a deal with Lilah Morgan from Wolfram & Hart!  Meanwhile, Giles pulls some strings to land the librarian position at Sunnydale High, Cordelia and Harmony make fun of Jesse for shoplifting (he can't afford a birthday present for his mother), and Buffy overcomes feelings of guilt for not being able to save everyone which leads to the malignancy demon of guilt dissolving into a pool of goo.

Review

The summary doesn't do this issue justice.  It packs a punch--to the gut.  Anyone who's been through a divorce will sympathise with the emotional turbulence in this issue.  I think this is one of the best of the series, and this story arc as a whole is a great way to end the run.  The issue is also chock full of small but effective moments with supporting characters.  It's really good stuff.

Notes

* There's a female vampire who uses Darla's shtick from the opening moments of the very first Buffy episode.  I'm tempted to think it is her, but it's just not clear.

*  I like the clever tie-in with Whistler being the one to set Wolfram & Hart on the path to noticing Angelus.

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