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Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 9
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 9, Vol. 5: The Core
When Dawn falls ill, it’s up to best friends Buffy, Xander, and Willow to join forces and find a supernatural cure in a world sorely lacking magic. The trio must fight their way into the Deeper Well, the former home of Illyria and other ancient gods known as the Old Ones, where they hope to jump-start magic back into existence.
Collects Buffy Season 9 #21–#25 and “Love vs. Life” from Dark Horse Presents #25–#27.
Collects Buffy Season 9 #21–#25 and “Love vs. Life” from Dark Horse Presents #25–#27.
160 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2014
5 people are currently reading
667 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Chambliss
51 books22 followersAndrew Chambliss is an American television writer and producer. He is well known for working on series such as Dollhouse, The Vampire Diaries, and Once Upon a Time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
January 27, 2019
Wow, this season had SUCH a better ending than season 8 did. That was rough and it did set up this season and the ending. I thought this was a good issue and a decent season overall after they ripped their world to shreds. Spike is back and his friendship with Dawn is just the best. I love it.
Xander is the asshole of the series and always has been. I've never really been much of a fan. He rips his friends to pieces and in this one he betrays his friends. I'm not a Xander fan. Although, he and dawn together is actually interesting.
Willow is back and she is going to heal the world. Willow rocks. The little sub-story with the male slayer at the end was really great too. In comics and superhero stuff, they use lesbians here and there, but to see two men together is unusual. It's refreshing. Plus, they are a very cute couple.
Buffy has to save Dawn. In the last issue, Dawn began fading without magic. This has been one of the brilliant pieces that came out of the mess they created. So Buffy has to haul butt down to the sacred grove of magic that we saw way back in the TV episode. Angel had more with this ancient magic place. I have to say, it's really well done. I enjoyed the ending and it was such a great story idea. Now, I hope Willow and Kennedy can get back together. Please, please.
Xander is the asshole of the series and always has been. I've never really been much of a fan. He rips his friends to pieces and in this one he betrays his friends. I'm not a Xander fan. Although, he and dawn together is actually interesting.
Willow is back and she is going to heal the world. Willow rocks. The little sub-story with the male slayer at the end was really great too. In comics and superhero stuff, they use lesbians here and there, but to see two men together is unusual. It's refreshing. Plus, they are a very cute couple.
Buffy has to save Dawn. In the last issue, Dawn began fading without magic. This has been one of the brilliant pieces that came out of the mess they created. So Buffy has to haul butt down to the sacred grove of magic that we saw way back in the TV episode. Angel had more with this ancient magic place. I have to say, it's really well done. I enjoyed the ending and it was such a great story idea. Now, I hope Willow and Kennedy can get back together. Please, please.
January 30, 2019
Tell me it's not the last we've seen of Illiria🙏 I was kinda attached to the old Smurfette. Other than that this was a kick-ass conclusion to the season. Any time D'Hoffryn makes an appearance it brings in all the nostalgia.
I'm still weirded out by the whole Xan and Dawn romance. Just saying.
Over and out
I'm still weirded out by the whole Xan and Dawn romance. Just saying.
Over and out
August 15, 2022
Buffy, Willow, and Xander head to the Deeper Well where the Old Ones are imprisoned to find enough magic to keep Dawn from fading out of existence. All the rest of the plot threads come to a head as we reach the season's end. Xander is such a whiny, little baby this season. I'd like to smack him upside the head. He seems to have reached the end of his usefulness (if he ever had any usefulness other than comic relief in the first place). This was a real barn burner compared to the last couple of volumes. There's also an aside where Billy the Vampire Slayer heads home to stop the zompire infestation in his hometown. I quite liked it. Karl Moline's art is a lot better than Georges Jeanty's as well.
March 11, 2020
3.5, but I'll give it the 4 because the writing was more purposeful and cohesive than usual.
I'm not a huge fan of Xander's character direction, though Illyria's arc ended in a very satisfying and poignant way. That flashback of her with Wesley? Oof.
Also, Spike's scenes with Dawn were top notch. I'm glad the writers didn't conveniently forget how much he loves her.
I'm not a huge fan of Xander's character direction, though Illyria's arc ended in a very satisfying and poignant way. That flashback of her with Wesley? Oof.
Also, Spike's scenes with Dawn were top notch. I'm glad the writers didn't conveniently forget how much he loves her.
March 10, 2014
I feel like this franchise has hit saturation point. The quality I still there but I'm not engaging with it in such a profound way, perhaps because it's lacking Whedon's enthusiasm and humour . The trouble is, this final volume of Season 9 reads like every other season finale; there's the emotional beat, the ripping apart of friendships, the putting friendships back together, the potential end of the world and etc. The Season 8 finale did something really bombastic, really clever, really ridiculous, really Whedon ... whereas Chambliss has written something so damn solid you simply can't get lost in it. It works, but it doesn't quite inspire me - this is good Buffy, but it's not quite great Buffy.
April 23, 2017
I'm still not sure how I feel about this whole thing, but I guess it was pretty good!
May 17, 2016
3.5
*Book source ~ Library
From Goodreads:
When Dawn falls ill, it’s up to best friends Buffy, Xander, and Willow to join forces and find a supernatural cure in a world sorely lacking magic. The trio must fight their way into the Deeper Well, the former home of Illyria and other ancient gods known as the Old Ones, where they hope to jump-start magic back into existence.
Collects Buffy Season 9 #21–#25 and “Love vs. Life” from Dark Horse Presents #25–#27
Because the Seed was destroyed and Dawn was made from magic, it’s not good for her. She’s fading and fast. Spike shows up to sit with Dawn in her time of need and Buffy, Willow and Xander go to the Deeper Well to see if they can muster up some magic mojo for Willow to cure Dawn and they get a little bit of a surprise. Ok, that’s a lie. It’s a massive surprise. It’s a surprise with a twist and one of those cute umbrellas. There may also be a cherry and an orange slice on a plastic sword. The end of that fight? Not happy. No, I’m not. Because someone dies. Or, I’m pretty sure someone dies. With the Buffyverse who can tell?
There’s a lot of fighty going on in this one and a laugh out loud moment when I realized Spike’s cell phone caller id says Wanker for Xander. Hehehehe Besides the fact it’s so Spike, I’ve never really been a fan of Xander. So, yeah, I LOL’d. Otherwise I was underwhelmed with this installment. The last story with Billy and Devon is just ok. As always, I love the artwork.
*Book source ~ Library
From Goodreads:
When Dawn falls ill, it’s up to best friends Buffy, Xander, and Willow to join forces and find a supernatural cure in a world sorely lacking magic. The trio must fight their way into the Deeper Well, the former home of Illyria and other ancient gods known as the Old Ones, where they hope to jump-start magic back into existence.
Collects Buffy Season 9 #21–#25 and “Love vs. Life” from Dark Horse Presents #25–#27
Because the Seed was destroyed and Dawn was made from magic, it’s not good for her. She’s fading and fast. Spike shows up to sit with Dawn in her time of need and Buffy, Willow and Xander go to the Deeper Well to see if they can muster up some magic mojo for Willow to cure Dawn and they get a little bit of a surprise. Ok, that’s a lie. It’s a massive surprise. It’s a surprise with a twist and one of those cute umbrellas. There may also be a cherry and an orange slice on a plastic sword. The end of that fight? Not happy. No, I’m not. Because someone dies. Or, I’m pretty sure someone dies. With the Buffyverse who can tell?
There’s a lot of fighty going on in this one and a laugh out loud moment when I realized Spike’s cell phone caller id says Wanker for Xander. Hehehehe Besides the fact it’s so Spike, I’ve never really been a fan of Xander. So, yeah, I LOL’d. Otherwise I was underwhelmed with this installment. The last story with Billy and Devon is just ok. As always, I love the artwork.
August 13, 2014
This collection closes out Season nine with a big action piece. Dawn is disappearing, Xander may or may not have betrayed the Scoobies, and Buffy and Willow are on a quest to return magic to the world. The story is pretty light, as most of the book focuses on the battle sequence. The art is okay, but there are characters that aren't clearly who they represent. There was a sequence with Illyria that it took me forever to realize it was her. With the huge number of characters, that was a major problem.
The finale sets up another season pretty well, with sacrifices and twists on the results that lead much to be explored. There's also a followup story with Billy the Vampire Slayer that doesn't add much to anything.
Was it a fitting conclusion to the season? I think so, though I should probably reread the earlier collections. It's not up to the standards of the show, but it's better than Twilight...
The finale sets up another season pretty well, with sacrifices and twists on the results that lead much to be explored. There's also a followup story with Billy the Vampire Slayer that doesn't add much to anything.
Was it a fitting conclusion to the season? I think so, though I should probably reread the earlier collections. It's not up to the standards of the show, but it's better than Twilight...
January 27, 2019
The end of season 9! And it ends...pretty good!
So buffy and willow are backstabbed pretty bad by their bestie, Xander. In doing so it all comes down to trying to restore the magic to the world so that way Dawn doesn't disappear. In doing so Buffy comes head to head with a slayer who becomes more than she could handle, Willow might be giving birth to magic once more, and Xander tries his best to get redemption. How will it all end?
Good: The art still stays pretty good. I think the pacing was well done. Felt like a rush of a season final with huge stakes. With Buffy, never know if a main hero might die so it's there. The big moments count and we do lose and gain new plotlines.
Bad: The rush of the season final ends it with new status quo that feels a bit safe. Also, last issue feels out of place and more of a middle of the season episodes.
Overall, good but not great, just like all of season 9. Least not terrible, that's always a plus. A 3 out of 5.
So buffy and willow are backstabbed pretty bad by their bestie, Xander. In doing so it all comes down to trying to restore the magic to the world so that way Dawn doesn't disappear. In doing so Buffy comes head to head with a slayer who becomes more than she could handle, Willow might be giving birth to magic once more, and Xander tries his best to get redemption. How will it all end?
Good: The art still stays pretty good. I think the pacing was well done. Felt like a rush of a season final with huge stakes. With Buffy, never know if a main hero might die so it's there. The big moments count and we do lose and gain new plotlines.
Bad: The rush of the season final ends it with new status quo that feels a bit safe. Also, last issue feels out of place and more of a middle of the season episodes.
Overall, good but not great, just like all of season 9. Least not terrible, that's always a plus. A 3 out of 5.
December 6, 2015
En-can-tou-me. Volveume pór en alerta e enganchar case coma a serie de TV.
December 28, 2016
3/5 stars.
That was a...weird ending. I'm confused.
That was a...weird ending. I'm confused.
February 2, 2018
3.5? The gang is all together again, including Spike and Dawn, which I am happy about! I really couldn't care less about this Billy kid though.
November 5, 2015
As wrap ups for a season go, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Core wrapped up season nine very nicely. Leaving us, as the readers, mostly content and only with just enough questions to leave us curious as to what is going to happen in season ten.
Buffy and the Scooby gang are always fighting the good fight and trying to do this with as little damage emotionally and physically to themselves as possible. What was interesting about this volume was that this time, that wasn't exactly possible. There was a lot of damage done and now they had to try to fix it as best as they can.
What I have loved the most about this season is how much these characters that I have loved for years and years have really grown up and become the adults in the Buffyverse. No one is really holding them by the hand anymore and telling them what needs to be done, they have to figure this out for themselves.
Overall, I am completely excited for season ten of Buffy and cannot wait to get my hands on the first volume of it when it comes out!
Buffy and the Scooby gang are always fighting the good fight and trying to do this with as little damage emotionally and physically to themselves as possible. What was interesting about this volume was that this time, that wasn't exactly possible. There was a lot of damage done and now they had to try to fix it as best as they can.
What I have loved the most about this season is how much these characters that I have loved for years and years have really grown up and become the adults in the Buffyverse. No one is really holding them by the hand anymore and telling them what needs to be done, they have to figure this out for themselves.
Overall, I am completely excited for season ten of Buffy and cannot wait to get my hands on the first volume of it when it comes out!
July 17, 2023
#1 buffy the vampire slayer: freefall ★★★★☆
#2 buffy the vampire slayer: on your own ★★★☆☆
#3 buffy the vampire slayer: guarded ★★☆☆☆
#4 buffy the vampire slayer: welcome to the team ★★★☆☆
#5 buffy the vampire slayer: the core ★★★☆☆
fucking xander, man. but yay spike/dawn friendship!
#2 buffy the vampire slayer: on your own ★★★☆☆
#3 buffy the vampire slayer: guarded ★★☆☆☆
#4 buffy the vampire slayer: welcome to the team ★★★☆☆
#5 buffy the vampire slayer: the core ★★★☆☆
fucking xander, man. but yay spike/dawn friendship!
March 18, 2014
Season 9 comes to a conclusion with an explosive climax that is equal parts personal and all-encompassing. Gone is all the Twilight rubbish from last season, and even though its effects are still being felt, Season 8 is but a distant memory as Season 9 takes all its best bits and goes back to basics to give us a well-formed finale that will shape everything that is to come, whilst keeping all your favourites front and centre. And the little Billy story at the end is quite sweet too.
March 23, 2014
Improved a bit on the rest of season 9, which was generally interesting but not quite up to its potential. I loved the idea that all the characters were finally moving on and the (tiresome) army of Slayers was gone, but it seemed like they spent a lot of time on sidebars. Anyway, in this storyline Dawn's magical nature is finally remembered and becomes important again, and the gang gets together again to save her. Pretty satisfying wrap up.
March 16, 2017
Despite all the hassle and a nice wrap up, I still felt like there was something missing. A bland ending and not enough development for my taste. My favourite part was the appearance of a certain character, you probably know who. Overall pretty decent though, and maybe now my expectations won't be so high for season 10.
April 7, 2014
A good ending to Season 9, though I'm going to have to go back and reread it to remember who all these characters were. Too much of this arc was spent in a long fight, but there were also terrific character moments throughout and some terrific resolutions, so the fighting gets a pass.
June 29, 2017
Much better season ending than with nine. Good artwork and plot. And I think this is the best portrayal of Spike I've seen in the Buffy comics. (It was kind of sad when he was being better used over in the Faith series.)
March 11, 2014
The season 9 finale lives up to all the television finales: the big showdown, the unexpected twists, the fate of worlds on the line. I was satisfied with the conclusion.
May 18, 2014
3.5 stars. Pretty good plot this time around, and I'm glad .
September 23, 2015
Definitely an interesting piece to the whole season. These revelations about Xander are surprising and I can't wait to read the fallout.
Full review here: http://tinyurl.com/oqqhxjp
Full review here: http://tinyurl.com/oqqhxjp
September 27, 2017
Whew! Lots to digest - on to Season 10!
February 26, 2023
Well, another Season complete! I enjoyed how this one wrapped up (and that cliffhanger?! WHAT?!) and kept with a somewhat smaller scale than Season 8. As fans we finally get the zompire AND slaypire scenarios we had always wondered about. Xander's gonna Xander... but it all worked out like it always does! I have to say that I am more excited going into Season 10 than I was coming INTO this season because they turned a lot of things around this time. It still does not FEEL like the TV show with the emotions, humor, etc, but it works for what it is. And the Illyria storyline + arc and Wesley flashback kind of took me out... it was heartbreaking and satisfying all over again.
But I absolutely abhor the illustrations and coloring in this volume... if I did not have other characters in the same frame for reference I would have no clue who some of these people were supposed to be... it was THAT atrocious and I cannot believe it made it to the final printing looking like this. I really hope they get replaced in the next Season(s) with people who actually know what and who they should be drawing. Like I just had to assume the one person with red hair was Willow because who else could it have been? It was that bad.
But I absolutely abhor the illustrations and coloring in this volume... if I did not have other characters in the same frame for reference I would have no clue who some of these people were supposed to be... it was THAT atrocious and I cannot believe it made it to the final printing looking like this. I really hope they get replaced in the next Season(s) with people who actually know what and who they should be drawing. Like I just had to assume the one person with red hair was Willow because who else could it have been? It was that bad.
February 17, 2021
I'm really not a Dawn fan. It was okay.
April 14, 2024
3.5 but I’m rounding up for the Spike & Dawn emotions
September 2, 2022
Another simple story that had a bunch of underwhelming stakes and fighting.
Dawn hasn’t been doing so well with the loss of magic, her having been created by magic.
All Buffy wanted to do was save her little sister (before she forgot about her). But Xander, lacking the faith he’s held onto for years, decided to betray his best friends.
Severin wanted to reverse time, to save his girlfriend.
Simone wanted to become stronger than Buffy, to kill her…
I need to talk about Simone Doffler. Simone was introduced in Season Eight. Was dragged all the way through Season Nine with so many threats about ‘taking down’ (murdering) Buffy.
Then when she successfully becomes ‘the most powerful being’ (her words), she doesn’t go for the kill??
And then, talk about a dissatisfying conclusion… I am very glad I no longer have to read about Simone any more but… her defeat was just too easy.
Anyway, Illyria, who had her powers taken, decided to help Severin. I found it an interesting decision to make this very old being sentimental.
Although, that could be a hint for things to come (yes, I have spoiled future plots yet again).
In the end, Buffy got what she wanted. They were able to save Dawn!
Willow also got what she wanted; magic back on Earth!
While I wasn’t super impressed with this season, I do have some interest in the next. The moral and emotion turmoil of Xander, what consequences this new magic will bring.
Plus whoever that girl was who turned into a giant bat...
The ”Love vs. Life” story was… fine. I did like that it tells a different point of view for this world.
Also, how Billy was able to see a glimpse of the First Slayer could be an exciting plot.
Dawn hasn’t been doing so well with the loss of magic, her having been created by magic.
All Buffy wanted to do was save her little sister (before she forgot about her). But Xander, lacking the faith he’s held onto for years, decided to betray his best friends.
Severin wanted to reverse time, to save his girlfriend.
Simone wanted to become stronger than Buffy, to kill her…
I need to talk about Simone Doffler. Simone was introduced in Season Eight. Was dragged all the way through Season Nine with so many threats about ‘taking down’ (murdering) Buffy.
Then when she successfully becomes ‘the most powerful being’ (her words), she doesn’t go for the kill??
And then, talk about a dissatisfying conclusion… I am very glad I no longer have to read about Simone any more but… her defeat was just too easy.
Anyway, Illyria, who had her powers taken, decided to help Severin. I found it an interesting decision to make this very old being sentimental.
Although, that could be a hint for things to come (yes, I have spoiled future plots yet again).
In the end, Buffy got what she wanted. They were able to save Dawn!
Willow also got what she wanted; magic back on Earth!
While I wasn’t super impressed with this season, I do have some interest in the next. The moral and emotion turmoil of Xander, what consequences this new magic will bring.
Plus whoever that girl was who turned into a giant bat...
The ”Love vs. Life” story was… fine. I did like that it tells a different point of view for this world.
Also, how Billy was able to see a glimpse of the First Slayer could be an exciting plot.
March 12, 2017
First off, can I point out how awesome Xander looks on the cover of this trade?
I don't think Xander has ever, or will ever, look as cool as he does on this cover. The look just screams "I am ready for the final battle". Well, it is time to judge a book by its cover, because this entire trade is one final battle, between the scooby gang and the Big Bad's of this "Season". It was an enjoyable ride. All is well that ends well. They stick the landing.
I don't think Xander has ever, or will ever, look as cool as he does on this cover. The look just screams "I am ready for the final battle". Well, it is time to judge a book by its cover, because this entire trade is one final battle, between the scooby gang and the Big Bad's of this "Season". It was an enjoyable ride. All is well that ends well. They stick the landing.
November 17, 2017
A very important story arc!
Dawn is disappearing physically and from everyone's memory because there is no more magic in the world. Buffy and the gang go to find another source of magic, they get there and another seed of magic is planted and Dawn is brought back to life. Xander has to lie to his friends and help the enemy so he can save Dawn, everyone forgives him in the end. Dawn seems a little changed to him.
Dawn is disappearing physically and from everyone's memory because there is no more magic in the world. Buffy and the gang go to find another source of magic, they get there and another seed of magic is planted and Dawn is brought back to life. Xander has to lie to his friends and help the enemy so he can save Dawn, everyone forgives him in the end. Dawn seems a little changed to him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2018
This season took a while to take off and had a weir mid-season lag, but a stellar ending. I particularly appreciated ***** the slayer’s arc, and notably how they intentionally legitimized it in the end of the season. It was hard to visit a certain location again, especially considering who visited it, but the payoff was beautiful. This is Buffy at its best.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews