While it has to be said that Whedon’s first Buffy arc had its moments of greatness, the pacing did seem to struggle a little bit with the one comic, one episode format – something highlighted by Brian Vaughan’s second, superior arc.

That said, Whedon’s Issue #5 showed that he’s still the master of his own series, with it’s done-in-one story that managed to be the best thing to come out of Season 8 despite not even featuring the regular cast. Issue #10, another “breather” issue between arcs, is again penned by Whedon, and takes a similar format. The only difference is that this time, it DOES feature the regular cast. The art comes from Dark Horse Buffy Alumni, Cliff Richards, whose pencils are as good as, if not superior to Jeanty.

In traditional style, Willow and Buffy go looking for information on their latest foe, Twilight, from a demonic sage, while Xander finally gets to the bottom of Dawn’s ‘giant’ problem. It’s easily the best issue of the series so far, as well as being the sexiest. I try not to be lecherous but when the story involves Willow and Buffy trading sexual fantasies, it’s… difficult. Still, there’s much more to the plot than pseudoporn. We get a good bit of information on what Twilight is – the end of the age of magic. That’s definitely something bigger than we’ve seen before. Buffy’s fought Vampires, Demons, Gods, Men, the original Evil, and for season 8 Whedon’s come up with a fight that eclipses them all. Something that could shut down Buffy’s world forever.

In fact, one can’t help but stop and wonder if it’s even a foe at all. Willow seems to think so, given the pointed shot of her at the suggestion of the “death of magic,” but as a fan, I’m thinking back to Whedon’s Fray series and the implication that a Slayer, perhaps Buffy, finally banished all demonic activity from the planet. That certainly sounds like Twilight to me. The meeting with the demon predictably doesn’t go well, and Buffy and Willow face some uncomfortable truths about behaviour that both of them have been keeping from the other, establishing a rift that could lead them into a difficult situation.

As much as I dislike the character, it’s good to finally see Kennedy get a look in, and her absence is explained in a way that accomplishes the best of both worlds – it’s a good reason for her to have been gone, and a good reason to keep her gone as well! I know I’m happy.