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The Vampire Slayer #9-12
The Vampire Slayer, Vol. 3
Willow’s takeover as the Slayer concludes here!
While Xander gets ready for a monstrous confrontation, he finds a new one in his relationship as well… a fight that could mean the end in more ways than one. But Willow and Faith are one step ahead of Xander. Needing supernatural aid, will Willow push herself to a place she may not be able to return from? Despite Giles' efforts, they may have to live with an irreversible spell. And as Buffy recuperates from the previous battle that’s left her worse for wear, she’ll team up with someone just as reluctant to do so. Can Buffy remember who she was and save Willow from herself… as well as Sunnydale from total destruction? Writer Sarah Gailey (Eat the Rich, Magic For Liars) and artist Hannah Templer (Flung Out of Space) conclude the first year of the WILLOWVERSE storyline! Collects The Vampire Slayer #9-12.
While Xander gets ready for a monstrous confrontation, he finds a new one in his relationship as well… a fight that could mean the end in more ways than one. But Willow and Faith are one step ahead of Xander. Needing supernatural aid, will Willow push herself to a place she may not be able to return from? Despite Giles' efforts, they may have to live with an irreversible spell. And as Buffy recuperates from the previous battle that’s left her worse for wear, she’ll team up with someone just as reluctant to do so. Can Buffy remember who she was and save Willow from herself… as well as Sunnydale from total destruction? Writer Sarah Gailey (Eat the Rich, Magic For Liars) and artist Hannah Templer (Flung Out of Space) conclude the first year of the WILLOWVERSE storyline! Collects The Vampire Slayer #9-12.
128 pages, Paperback
First published August 22, 2023
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128 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 8, 2024
3.5
An interesting sideways take on the characters..
Things are mostly resolved..
Can't wait for Spike and Xander to share a kiss.
An interesting sideways take on the characters..
Things are mostly resolved..
Can't wait for Spike and Xander to share a kiss.
February 24, 2024
#1 the vampire slayer, vol. 1 ★★★☆☆
#2 the vampire slayer, vol. 2 ★★★☆☆
#3 the vampire slayer, vol. 3 ★★☆☆☆
#4 the vampire slayer, vol. 4 ★★☆☆☆
willow being overcome by dark magic and needing to be rehabilitated...now, where have i seen that before?
content/trigger warnings; physical violence, trauma, ableism, gaslighting, blood, injury,
rep; willow (mc) is a lesbian. xander (mc) is queer. spike (mc) is queer. tara (sc) is a lesbian. faith (mc) is queer. buffy (mc) is queer.
#2 the vampire slayer, vol. 2 ★★★☆☆
#3 the vampire slayer, vol. 3 ★★☆☆☆
#4 the vampire slayer, vol. 4 ★★☆☆☆
willow being overcome by dark magic and needing to be rehabilitated...now, where have i seen that before?
content/trigger warnings; physical violence, trauma, ableism, gaslighting, blood, injury,
rep; willow (mc) is a lesbian. xander (mc) is queer. spike (mc) is queer. tara (sc) is a lesbian. faith (mc) is queer. buffy (mc) is queer.
September 7, 2023
Really enjoying this run, the characters are really coming through in the dialogue. The art is very creative in both overall style and things like perspective or angles of the shot.
This volume focuses on the slayer powers overwhelming willow and eventually going back to buffy.
Looking forward to the next volume.
This volume focuses on the slayer powers overwhelming willow and eventually going back to buffy.
Looking forward to the next volume.
April 2, 2025
4.5* rounded
May 5, 2023
To be completely honest:
1) this is actually for volumes 1-3
2) read as digital floppies
If any writer is going to take one another's IP, especially when it's original medium was film or television, I think they should try to hit the tone of the original medium. Otherwise, tweak things around, and do it as a creator owned work of your own.
Gailey deserves a lot of applause for hitting the tone, and IMO making this version of the characters hew own.
Xander is more of an independent character then in any version I've come across.
Faith and Spike get a little depth
As do Giles, Buffy, and Willow
Depth varies depending on your perception of events.
The key event is that Giles and Willow found a way to remove Buffy's powers and her memories of being the Slayer. They do this because Buffy is becoming damn near clinically depressed. This leaves Buffy feeling like Xander in the television show-aimless and useless in the nightly monster hunter patrols.
Willow is the new Slayer and with her magic powers, well it creates the power corrupts problem. I'm going to guess some will disagree and say its about putting down Willow and lesbian women, this part of the storyline. I disagree, as I see it as Willow, and any character regardless of sexual identity, would struggle with dealing with near absolute power.
Towards the end we get a version of Buffy that makes me want to read 1) read more of Buffy's continuing development and search out more of Gailey's work.
1) this is actually for volumes 1-3
2) read as digital floppies
If any writer is going to take one another's IP, especially when it's original medium was film or television, I think they should try to hit the tone of the original medium. Otherwise, tweak things around, and do it as a creator owned work of your own.
Gailey deserves a lot of applause for hitting the tone, and IMO making this version of the characters hew own.
Xander is more of an independent character then in any version I've come across.
Faith and Spike get a little depth
As do Giles, Buffy, and Willow
Depth varies depending on your perception of events.
The key event is that Giles and Willow found a way to remove Buffy's powers and her memories of being the Slayer. They do this because Buffy is becoming damn near clinically depressed. This leaves Buffy feeling like Xander in the television show-aimless and useless in the nightly monster hunter patrols.
Willow is the new Slayer and with her magic powers, well it creates the power corrupts problem. I'm going to guess some will disagree and say its about putting down Willow and lesbian women, this part of the storyline. I disagree, as I see it as Willow, and any character regardless of sexual identity, would struggle with dealing with near absolute power.
Towards the end we get a version of Buffy that makes me want to read 1) read more of Buffy's continuing development and search out more of Gailey's work.
October 22, 2025
Finally someone tells Buffy the truth! FINALLY! It’s a little nuts that it’s Faith that is finally honest with her, but maybe she’s the most fitting, since she understands what it means to be the Slayer. Of course, it took Willow almost destroying the universe in order to remove all the suffering to bring things to a head, but at least we finally have our Buffy back.
And while Willlow was at the magic takeover, I really enjoyed the glimpses she gave us into most everyone’s heads. I’ve never liked Xander in the original Buffyverse, always looking to center himself in the story, but this Xander is different, and I appreciate that we get to see inside his gooey soft center, and understand why he tries so hard to be liked. And of course, Spike is a huge part of Xander’s transformation. I love original Spike, but I also love the ways he has changed in this story, with Xander being his catalyst towards goodness. Pretty much the only insight I didn’t love was Buffy’s, because Willow seemed to think she’d made the right decision to isolate her. But I suppose that was the magic talking.
I’m excited to see where the next volume goes, with real Buffy back, Tara making a surprise appearance, and Baby Crab growing!
And while Willlow was at the magic takeover, I really enjoyed the glimpses she gave us into most everyone’s heads. I’ve never liked Xander in the original Buffyverse, always looking to center himself in the story, but this Xander is different, and I appreciate that we get to see inside his gooey soft center, and understand why he tries so hard to be liked. And of course, Spike is a huge part of Xander’s transformation. I love original Spike, but I also love the ways he has changed in this story, with Xander being his catalyst towards goodness. Pretty much the only insight I didn’t love was Buffy’s, because Willow seemed to think she’d made the right decision to isolate her. But I suppose that was the magic talking.
I’m excited to see where the next volume goes, with real Buffy back, Tara making a surprise appearance, and Baby Crab growing!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2023
Speed-running season 6 of Buffy in twelve episodes is impressive, but this volume sees Buffy, Faith, and friends battling a magically OTT Willow for the fate of Buffy's Slayer powers.
I've been impressed with this take on the Buffyverse, even if it does seem a little quick. There's some more characters introduced here that you'll be familiar with, and it's running the risk of becoming over-stuffed. But unlike the last run of Buffy books that fell into the same trap of introducing too many characters too quick, at least everyone here has a purpose and a necessary reason for being part of the story rather than just being around to go 'hey I'm here'.
It's nice to bring this arc to an end, and it feels like a natural conclusion for both Buffy and Willow - I know there's only four issues left, but I'm curious to see where those two especially go for the last arc of the book.
I've been impressed with this take on the Buffyverse, even if it does seem a little quick. There's some more characters introduced here that you'll be familiar with, and it's running the risk of becoming over-stuffed. But unlike the last run of Buffy books that fell into the same trap of introducing too many characters too quick, at least everyone here has a purpose and a necessary reason for being part of the story rather than just being around to go 'hey I'm here'.
It's nice to bring this arc to an end, and it feels like a natural conclusion for both Buffy and Willow - I know there's only four issues left, but I'm curious to see where those two especially go for the last arc of the book.
March 11, 2024
well, good thing xander hatched that crab god, lol. it's a classic buffy situation where any issue with the main characters is solved with emotional discussion, which can feel glib.
the thing I loved about this, though, is that it's dark willow again, but with a difference. there's some exploration of what makes a decision a good decision, rights, power, to be or not to be on a cosmic scale...it's too bad the next volume is the last in the series because I like where this alternate universe is going. and I do like the concept of explicitly introducing alternate universes in the boom studios reboot, which allows for endless remixing which keeps things fresh.
the thing I loved about this, though, is that it's dark willow again, but with a difference. there's some exploration of what makes a decision a good decision, rights, power, to be or not to be on a cosmic scale...it's too bad the next volume is the last in the series because I like where this alternate universe is going. and I do like the concept of explicitly introducing alternate universes in the boom studios reboot, which allows for endless remixing which keeps things fresh.
March 8, 2024
Willow's time as the Slayer comes to a head as we have another go at Season 6 of the TV show, just with Buffy without powers as Willow has them but doesn't really do much with them. It's still all about the magic. It's not bad at all. I'd guessing the last 4 issues will be about Xander's crab god. Hannah Templar's art isn't bad, although there are times when characters look cross-eyed and any decent editor would have had that fixed.
September 28, 2023
This volume of "The Vampire Slayer" series is a must-read for fans of the iconic character. The storyline takes Buffy to new heights as she faces increasingly complex challenges, all beautifully illustrated in a way that captures the essence of the beloved TV show.
March 31, 2025
I think they rushed last issue, the resolution didn't feel right and it's odd but I feel as if the art went back a step in these issues?
I already know it's a different artist in the next volume so maybe they'll recover my confidence? Guess I'll find out...
I already know it's a different artist in the next volume so maybe they'll recover my confidence? Guess I'll find out...
July 29, 2023
Dark Willow
November 18, 2024
This is the best of the series so far in my opinion but the whole crab thing and Spike and Xander thing is just off for me.
Still like the drawings and artwork though.
Still like the drawings and artwork though.
April 29, 2025
And so what we've been building to is basically a worse version of "Grave." It's still enjoyable, though.
August 2, 2025
No no NO you can't have vampire slaying action, we need to explore Gay Xander's dating adventures.
August 6, 2025
More like a 2.5. The Willow arc resolved far too quickly and simply, would have liked higher stakes there. Spike was again a highlight, and I kinda love baby crab
August 28, 2025
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews