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Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2019) #13-16
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Vol. 4: Frenemies
After the shocking conclusion to the Hellmouth event, The Slayer must defend Sunnydale... AND IT'S KENDRA? Welcome to the next era of the Buffy-verse... the Ring of Fire! That's right, there's a New Slayer in Sunnydale, who must confront an all-new threat to the ENTIRE WORLD and she'll need to pull the Scooby gang together once more after what happened to Buffy... WAIT...WHAT HAPPENED TO BUFFY? Eisner Award-nominated writer Jordie Bellaire (Redlands) and artist Julian López (X-Men: Blue) kick off a new era for Slayers and Scoobies by revealing a secret that will change everything you think you know about Buffy! Collects Buffy the Vampire Slayer #13-16.
111 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 14, 2020
19 people are currently reading
309 people want to read
About the author
Jordie Bellaire
1,161 books171 followersJordie Bellaire is an American comic book colorist and writter who lives in Ireland and works for DC, Marvel, Valiant, and Image comic book publishers. She has colored Pretty Deadly, The Manhattan Projects, Moon Knight, The Vision, Magneto, Nowhere Men, Hawkeye, Batman, among other titles. As a writer, her most famous works are Redlands and the reboot of Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
Bellaire is credited with starting the "Comics are for everybody" initiative to make the comic book community more inclusive and compassionate.
Bellaire is credited with starting the "Comics are for everybody" initiative to make the comic book community more inclusive and compassionate.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
November 29, 2020
After a great start, this series has tanked very quickly. The dialogue which was a strength of the early issues is no longer snappy or quippy, probably because the supporting cast has mostly been removed. Buffy's all mopey and what story there is meanders.
David Lopez's art was fugly but at least you could tell who the characters were. The three different artists on these 4 issues had a sameness to their art, none of it very good. At one point, Bellaire relies on Ramon Bachs for a big reveal which failed miserably because I couldn't tell who they were. If Boom is going to go with the likenesses of the actors from the TV shows, they need to hire artists that can pull that off.
David Lopez's art was fugly but at least you could tell who the characters were. The three different artists on these 4 issues had a sameness to their art, none of it very good. At one point, Bellaire relies on Ramon Bachs for a big reveal which failed miserably because I couldn't tell who they were. If Boom is going to go with the likenesses of the actors from the TV shows, they need to hire artists that can pull that off.
December 1, 2020
3.29/10
-All issues felt useless but the first one.
-No consistency with the art style.
- Writing inconsistencies = Jenny being referred to as Giles' wife in one issue only to be his girlfriend the next.
-Coloring inconsistency = The Master has blond hair in a page and dark hair the next.
Overall, disappointing, pointless and careless. I'd like to know where this series is going please.
-All issues felt useless but the first one.
-No consistency with the art style.
- Writing inconsistencies = Jenny being referred to as Giles' wife in one issue only to be his girlfriend the next.
-Coloring inconsistency = The Master has blond hair in a page and dark hair the next.
Overall, disappointing, pointless and careless. I'd like to know where this series is going please.
December 24, 2022
Well, the road down multiversal Buffyville isn't quite as interesting as I thought it could be.
The big-name players are mostly missing except for Buffy and Kendra and apart from one cross-character changeup that I'm still not sure I like, at all, (poor Xander), nothing much happens.
I kinda wanted to see some long-term story-building or a solid one-off but this just continues down the path of... huh? I know this isn't anything like the original except for all the names and personality quirks and the cherry-picking of traits they have later, only thrown in sooner... but yeah.
This is not as good as the Seasonal Buffy comics. Alas.
The big-name players are mostly missing except for Buffy and Kendra and apart from one cross-character changeup that I'm still not sure I like, at all, (poor Xander), nothing much happens.
I kinda wanted to see some long-term story-building or a solid one-off but this just continues down the path of... huh? I know this isn't anything like the original except for all the names and personality quirks and the cherry-picking of traits they have later, only thrown in sooner... but yeah.
This is not as good as the Seasonal Buffy comics. Alas.
May 11, 2021
Yet more changes to classic characters and a continual push to but new ones front and center in the franchise proves once again the new creative team loves themselves more than the material they've been entrusted with.
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January 12, 2023i don’t know where this is going but i’m sure i’m not feeling it anymore. i loved the first novel and was excited to continue but everything just seems out of place.
and Buffy is starting to act NOT like Buffy …? and i’m not having fun.
and Buffy is starting to act NOT like Buffy …? and i’m not having fun.
November 28, 2020
4/5
Much better than the last volume — thankfully!
Much better than the last volume — thankfully!
June 23, 2021
Dopo qualche volume un po' calante, questa quarta puntata mi è piaciuta molto.
La bocca dell'inferno è stata chiusa, ma Buffy non se la passa bene... Le conseguenze di ciò che è avvenuto le gravano sulle spalle e come se non bastasse nuove - ma non troppo - minacce si stagliano all'orizzonte.
Ho trovato il fumetto un buon mix di drama adolescenziale e problematiche della Cacciatrice; la Buffy che mi sono trovata di fronte è quella delle prime stagioni, ancora molto giovane, temeraria, determinata a vivere la vita e pronta a difendere e combattere per i suoi amici.
Ha qualche tratto immaturo, ma le si perdona tutto.
Mi piacciono tantissimo i nuovi personaggi che hanno inserito e il focus (sempre paranormale) sulla Giamaica fatto a inizio del volume l'ho amato, secondo me i disegni hanno dato perfettamente vita ai colori e alle atmosfere di quella splendida terra.
La bocca dell'inferno è stata chiusa, ma Buffy non se la passa bene... Le conseguenze di ciò che è avvenuto le gravano sulle spalle e come se non bastasse nuove - ma non troppo - minacce si stagliano all'orizzonte.
Ho trovato il fumetto un buon mix di drama adolescenziale e problematiche della Cacciatrice; la Buffy che mi sono trovata di fronte è quella delle prime stagioni, ancora molto giovane, temeraria, determinata a vivere la vita e pronta a difendere e combattere per i suoi amici.
Ha qualche tratto immaturo, ma le si perdona tutto.
Mi piacciono tantissimo i nuovi personaggi che hanno inserito e il focus (sempre paranormale) sulla Giamaica fatto a inizio del volume l'ho amato, secondo me i disegni hanno dato perfettamente vita ai colori e alle atmosfere di quella splendida terra.
March 30, 2024
MEH.... this whole thing with Xander is incredibly confusing to me. These issues don't feel like they flow together. 😒 I'm constantly feeling like I'm missing some large chunk of context.
Also the art style is very odd to me. There were some panels that I just stared at it disbelief (NOT in a good way). I don't understand why it looks like they hired a new artist every 10 pages or so...
There's so many things I don't understand like how Jenny and Giles were totally split up last issue but now they are together. It wasn't elaborated on whatsoever what happened to Xander from the last issue to this one so when the reveal happens it's just very confusing. Also I thought buffy and Robin liked eachother and were slowly starting to maybe date or something 🤔 since like issue one. But then in this issue it's like they are just strictly friends and then there's a reveal they like eachother like we didn't already know that? Also I need more elaborated on from the Hellmouth event issue to now....so like where did Angel, Dru, and Spike just disappear off to? nothing is explained very well or fleshed out so I'm just always in a state of confusion. Also the whole thing with the Army of men like is Sunnydale recovered from all that then? It hasn't really been acknowledged again? And like Robin was part of that too...now we hear he's suspended by the council till who knows how long but why exactly did he get suspended though? Because Giles even succumbed to the call of the hellmother or whatever. I AM CONFUSION.
Also the art style is very odd to me. There were some panels that I just stared at it disbelief (NOT in a good way). I don't understand why it looks like they hired a new artist every 10 pages or so...
There's so many things I don't understand like how Jenny and Giles were totally split up last issue but now they are together. It wasn't elaborated on whatsoever what happened to Xander from the last issue to this one so when the reveal happens it's just very confusing. Also I thought buffy and Robin liked eachother and were slowly starting to maybe date or something 🤔 since like issue one. But then in this issue it's like they are just strictly friends and then there's a reveal they like eachother like we didn't already know that? Also I need more elaborated on from the Hellmouth event issue to now....so like where did Angel, Dru, and Spike just disappear off to? nothing is explained very well or fleshed out so I'm just always in a state of confusion. Also the whole thing with the Army of men like is Sunnydale recovered from all that then? It hasn't really been acknowledged again? And like Robin was part of that too...now we hear he's suspended by the council till who knows how long but why exactly did he get suspended though? Because Giles even succumbed to the call of the hellmother or whatever. I AM CONFUSION.
November 27, 2022
Non riesco a capire dove la storia voglia andare a parare. Peccato, perché il primo volume era iniziato con il botto ed ora la qualità sta calando sempre più.
Lo stile di disegno non è sempre coerente tra un capitolo e l'altro, spesso si fa fatica a riconoscere i personaggi. In più, alcuni personaggi sembrano non avere uno scopo, ma sono inseriti in maniera incoerente unicamente come chicche per i fan della serie (Jenny e The Zeppo, parlo proprio di voi!). Per quanto riguarda la svolta degli ultimi capitoli , non mi ha coinvolta più di tanto e mi ha ricordato la trasformazione di Angel in Angelus nella serie, ma fatta peggio . Spero che i prossimi volumi mi deludano meno di questi ultimi e soprattutto che si cominci a delineare una trama vera e propria e non si richiamino continuamente solo cose a caso provenienti dalla serie originale giusto perché sì.
Lo stile di disegno non è sempre coerente tra un capitolo e l'altro, spesso si fa fatica a riconoscere i personaggi. In più, alcuni personaggi sembrano non avere uno scopo, ma sono inseriti in maniera incoerente unicamente come chicche per i fan della serie (Jenny e The Zeppo, parlo proprio di voi!). Per quanto riguarda la svolta degli ultimi capitoli , non mi ha coinvolta più di tanto e mi ha ricordato la trasformazione di Angel in Angelus nella serie, ma fatta peggio . Spero che i prossimi volumi mi deludano meno di questi ultimi e soprattutto che si cominci a delineare una trama vera e propria e non si richiamino continuamente solo cose a caso provenienti dalla serie originale giusto perché sì.
December 12, 2021
The longer this series go on, the more off it feels.
September 4, 2021
Much better than the last couple, liked the mix of art styles and much more cohesive storyline. But of a confusing jump from the end of Vol. 3, but the dynamic between Buffy and Kendra, among other things, still strongly reflects the series. Glad they saved the cat.
October 9, 2020
Buffy enters the Ring Of Fire in the aftermath of Hellmouth, which means more problems for everyone, and that's even before the demons turn up.
We actually open with a Kendra origin issue, which does more for the character than the original series ever did, as well as setting her up as a great foil for Buffy when the normal timeline resumes in the subsequent issues. The remaining three issues feel a little more disjointed as bad stuff happens in a very freak-of-the-week type manner, but Bellaire's character interactions carry through nicely. Buffy's doubts are well founded after Hellmouth, and the focus on Willow and Robin (as well as Kendra) helps the final cliffhanger reveal really hit home nicely.
I'd complained about David Lopez's art on this title before, and he's nowhere to be seen, instead replaced by Julian Lopez for one issue, while Ramon Bachs handles the latter two, and Rosemary Valero-O'Connell tackles the Kendra issue. It's a shame Buffy hasn't managed to get a solid rotating team after Dan Mora set the bar so high with the first arc, but we're getting somewhere close at least in terms of style if not actual artists.
As an aftermath arc, Ring Of Fire does well. The character relationships are what continue to carry the series, but the ending here sets up the next big confrontation, which will no doubt throw everyone for a loop. Let's just hope the art can settle itself down sooner rather than later.
We actually open with a Kendra origin issue, which does more for the character than the original series ever did, as well as setting her up as a great foil for Buffy when the normal timeline resumes in the subsequent issues. The remaining three issues feel a little more disjointed as bad stuff happens in a very freak-of-the-week type manner, but Bellaire's character interactions carry through nicely. Buffy's doubts are well founded after Hellmouth, and the focus on Willow and Robin (as well as Kendra) helps the final cliffhanger reveal really hit home nicely.
I'd complained about David Lopez's art on this title before, and he's nowhere to be seen, instead replaced by Julian Lopez for one issue, while Ramon Bachs handles the latter two, and Rosemary Valero-O'Connell tackles the Kendra issue. It's a shame Buffy hasn't managed to get a solid rotating team after Dan Mora set the bar so high with the first arc, but we're getting somewhere close at least in terms of style if not actual artists.
As an aftermath arc, Ring Of Fire does well. The character relationships are what continue to carry the series, but the ending here sets up the next big confrontation, which will no doubt throw everyone for a loop. Let's just hope the art can settle itself down sooner rather than later.
November 23, 2020
I'm still pretty let down by this series after it was so strong out of the gate. Certain things feel super rushed (e.g. Xander's trajectory) while at times it feels like the plot isn't moving forward at all (i.e. almost nothing happens in issue #14). The scale of the preceding Hellmouth crossover "event" wasn't earned because the groundwork hadn't been laid with these newly imagined versions of well-known characters. I'm still feeling that lack of foundation with this batch of issues — a case of trying to do too much too fast, I think.
I'm glad to see a switch in illustrators, though three over the course of four issues is a lot of turnover. I'd been quite put off my David López's work after such a strong start by Dan Mora. Of the new artists, Julian Lopez's work on issue #14 stands out for how well he captures Sarah Michelle Gellar's many facial expressions in his illustrations of Buffy.
I'm glad to see a switch in illustrators, though three over the course of four issues is a lot of turnover. I'd been quite put off my David López's work after such a strong start by Dan Mora. Of the new artists, Julian Lopez's work on issue #14 stands out for how well he captures Sarah Michelle Gellar's many facial expressions in his illustrations of Buffy.
November 13, 2020
This felt nothing like the others. I feel like I missed the conclusion of Hellmouth too, because there's a giant gap there...
February 2, 2021
Finally!!! A plot! And decent enough illustrations that you can differentiate the characters!
I’m hoping that the series will continue on this path and get back to how great the first volume was.
I’m hoping that the series will continue on this path and get back to how great the first volume was.
May 13, 2022
Can't even finish...this series has fallen so hard. It's a SNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOZEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
August 24, 2023
Mejora en relación con el anterior volumen pero sigue siendo un “quiero y no puedo”. Y esto ya lo dije en su día pero qué pena que un reboot que empezó tan bien se haya desinflado así.
Dicho esto, por lo menos la historia de este volumen tiene bastante más cohesión, algo que se agradece, pero tengo la sensación de que a veces no ocurre nada y otras, ocurren demasiadas cosas de forma acelerada. La trama de Xander es el ejemplo perfecto, además de que me resuena demasiado a una de la serie de televisión pero con diferente personaje. Por otro lado, a mí me está encantando el protagonismo que se le está dando a Kendra y el reinicio que se le ha hecho a Robin. Muy fan.
Y tengo que mencionar el espectacular trabajo de Julián López en el número 14. Qué forma de capturar las expresiones de Sarah Michelle Gellar. Después de Dan Mora, es, sin lugar a dudas, el dibujante que mejor ha calcado a todos los actores de la serie. La pena es que sólo se le haya dado un número. Ojalá un volumen entero para él.
Dicho esto, por lo menos la historia de este volumen tiene bastante más cohesión, algo que se agradece, pero tengo la sensación de que a veces no ocurre nada y otras, ocurren demasiadas cosas de forma acelerada. La trama de Xander es el ejemplo perfecto, además de que me resuena demasiado a una de la serie de televisión pero con diferente personaje. Por otro lado, a mí me está encantando el protagonismo que se le está dando a Kendra y el reinicio que se le ha hecho a Robin. Muy fan.
Y tengo que mencionar el espectacular trabajo de Julián López en el número 14. Qué forma de capturar las expresiones de Sarah Michelle Gellar. Después de Dan Mora, es, sin lugar a dudas, el dibujante que mejor ha calcado a todos los actores de la serie. La pena es que sólo se le haya dado un número. Ojalá un volumen entero para él.
April 1, 2023
Poor Buffy, Evil Xander
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April 3, 2021there are some really cool moments (like Buffy talking about why she doesn't like Kendra!), but i always feel like im missing big things! what happened to angel? spike! Drusilla!
July 8, 2022
SO GOOD! So classic but modern. Well done this volume
August 17, 2020
Although I found Hellmouth to be a drag, I'm glad I came back for this volume. A fun time.
November 9, 2020
Liking this new perspective so far. I was worried since a pivotal character had disappeared but boom! nice twist!! Buffy has been lot of insecure of late so it's so good to see Kendra in a more prominent role. This new big bad is really a surprise. Also noticed a return to SMG more accurate likeness and a more coherent art. This is getting pretty.. good. Love it.
December 5, 2020
First: This series is involved in a crossover event with the Angel reboot, also published by Boom. Apparently, we all need to read Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel: Hellmouth in order to make sense of the storyline, so - unlike me when I went into this - consider yourself prepared.
Alrighty, let's get into it.
I have been a Buffy fan since it first aired in 1997 (in fact, its my longest relationship to date - don't tell my husband). I was so excited to find out that the series had been rebooted in comic form and updated, bringing it to a whole new audience. After reading Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Vol. 1: High School Is Hell, I was head over heels for the series and eagerly picked up the ensuing volumes. What I've found so far is that the storyline is patchy, due to the link with the crossover event (see above); but even discounting that issue, I'm starting to get bored with the lack of any satisfying explanation as to what is actually going on in these comics. Even when focussing solely on the aspects of the story featured in these comics, there is a major lack of context and supporting information that I think is needed in terms of the storytelling.
The first few pages of this volume had me worried that the art style (which has changed, yet again) was going to be very cartoony (not my jam), but this wasn't the case once you move on from Kendra's backstory in Jamaica. Its a weird choice to continually change up the illustrators in what is (so far) a short series, and its a bit jarring at times.
These gripes aside, I still enjoyed it. But I'm questioning whether my long-held love for all things Buffy is actually what's keeping me invested, rather than the comics themselves. I like the direction the story is going (from what I can tell - who actually knows?!) and it does feel true to the Buffy-verse, but there are problems that need to be ironed out, and fast.
So far I'm still waiting on the series to deliver on the promises it made in Vol. 1. Fingers crossed for Vol. 5!
Alrighty, let's get into it.
I have been a Buffy fan since it first aired in 1997 (in fact, its my longest relationship to date - don't tell my husband). I was so excited to find out that the series had been rebooted in comic form and updated, bringing it to a whole new audience. After reading Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Vol. 1: High School Is Hell, I was head over heels for the series and eagerly picked up the ensuing volumes. What I've found so far is that the storyline is patchy, due to the link with the crossover event (see above); but even discounting that issue, I'm starting to get bored with the lack of any satisfying explanation as to what is actually going on in these comics. Even when focussing solely on the aspects of the story featured in these comics, there is a major lack of context and supporting information that I think is needed in terms of the storytelling.
The first few pages of this volume had me worried that the art style (which has changed, yet again) was going to be very cartoony (not my jam), but this wasn't the case once you move on from Kendra's backstory in Jamaica. Its a weird choice to continually change up the illustrators in what is (so far) a short series, and its a bit jarring at times.
These gripes aside, I still enjoyed it. But I'm questioning whether my long-held love for all things Buffy is actually what's keeping me invested, rather than the comics themselves. I like the direction the story is going (from what I can tell - who actually knows?!) and it does feel true to the Buffy-verse, but there are problems that need to be ironed out, and fast.
So far I'm still waiting on the series to deliver on the promises it made in Vol. 1. Fingers crossed for Vol. 5!
October 15, 2020
what happened to the writing??? and the art??? Why were the first 2 volumes so good and the last 2 so bad??? Don't even get me started on the Hellmouth crossover...ugh. At least there was a good Kendra backstory.
February 13, 2021
This is basically gonna be my review of the series as a whole, even though it's not done, I don't plan on reading the final book.
This series started off amazing, I loved it and I ordered all the books on the same day. Volumes 1 & 2 were by far the best in the series. 3 and 4 on the other hand were just really confusing. The amount of story jumps that happened were ridiculous, not to mention so much stuff was left unexplained.
Why did the art style keep changing? I loved the art style in the first two books it was gorgeous, but the constant changing of styles in the 3rd and 4th book were just annoying.
I'm just mainly disappointed that the series didn't have a smooth ending because I had such high expectations for it.
This series started off amazing, I loved it and I ordered all the books on the same day. Volumes 1 & 2 were by far the best in the series. 3 and 4 on the other hand were just really confusing. The amount of story jumps that happened were ridiculous, not to mention so much stuff was left unexplained.
Why did the art style keep changing? I loved the art style in the first two books it was gorgeous, but the constant changing of styles in the 3rd and 4th book were just annoying.
I'm just mainly disappointed that the series didn't have a smooth ending because I had such high expectations for it.
January 14, 2023
I have nothing to complain about, I've been a Buffy fan for a long time, but it's true, if you look back at the series and some of the old comics, a few things were cringe and less progressive or a lot of opportunities were missed.
And this new Buffy series has varied art, the old characters are a bit more profound and completely new approaches in plot directions, nobody wants to read the same storylines with the same motifs for twenty years. I think the idea of expanding on characters you've already met is really great!!
And this new Buffy series has varied art, the old characters are a bit more profound and completely new approaches in plot directions, nobody wants to read the same storylines with the same motifs for twenty years. I think the idea of expanding on characters you've already met is really great!!
May 2, 2023
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Vol. 4: Frenemies by Jordie Bellaire and Julian Lopez. The artwork is a step up from the last couple of volumes. I feel like you can recognize the characters again.
We are following Buffy and Kendra as they navigate life in Sunnydale. I love that we get some backstory on Kendra in this volume.
There are some inconsistencies with the writing throughout the volumes and I would like to see some long-term stories or themes throughout the volumes but overall I really enjoyed it.
We are following Buffy and Kendra as they navigate life in Sunnydale. I love that we get some backstory on Kendra in this volume.
There are some inconsistencies with the writing throughout the volumes and I would like to see some long-term stories or themes throughout the volumes but overall I really enjoyed it.
February 28, 2023
Oops. Apparently I was supposed to read the first Angel reboot volume, then Hellmouth, then this one. This specific volume started off with a backstory about Kendra, so I didn't immediately realize I jumped into the wrong book to read next, chronologically. Eh, whatever.
The Kendra part was interesting enough. Back to main story was momentarily interesting also, but then it just continued being an angst-fest without any of the redeeming parts prior works, and the tv series, included.
Right. So. No idea what happened to the plot line I was reading, since that got sucked into the Hellmouth volume. Probably explained a few things. Or not. Don't know.
Let's see, in this volume were, from the main characters from the tv series: Buffy, Giles, Kendra, Jenny (cameo-ish), Xander (slightly larger than cameo), and Willow (1 second cameo). Oh, and Buffy's mom popped up.
While picking up this volume, I saw another Vampire series with a different authors name on it. So, apparently the reboot gets rebooted again in 2022? Well, "alt universe" version. eh.
Rating: 2.5
Feb 28 2023
The Kendra part was interesting enough. Back to main story was momentarily interesting also, but then it just continued being an angst-fest without any of the redeeming parts prior works, and the tv series, included.
Right. So. No idea what happened to the plot line I was reading, since that got sucked into the Hellmouth volume. Probably explained a few things. Or not. Don't know.
Let's see, in this volume were, from the main characters from the tv series: Buffy, Giles, Kendra, Jenny (cameo-ish), Xander (slightly larger than cameo), and Willow (1 second cameo). Oh, and Buffy's mom popped up.
While picking up this volume, I saw another Vampire series with a different authors name on it. So, apparently the reboot gets rebooted again in 2022? Well, "alt universe" version. eh.
Rating: 2.5
Feb 28 2023
March 18, 2022
I have no idea what is happening. The last issue finished off all of a sudden and this one started elsewhere… The art was so inconsistent throughout the whole thing and that made following this, whatever this is, so much harder. The dialogue was poor and the storyline… well never mind that. I’ll keep reading because I like finishing up my series, but this one left me in a daze and not in a good way. I hope it picks up somehow.
July 28, 2021
This feels like a major step back for this new reimagining of the series. More than ever it shows how when you remove key characters and Buffy-speak, the series becomes interchangeable with every other supernatural teen drama. The artwork and Kendra's backstory is the only saving grace here.
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