Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 12: The Reckoning # 3
C. A. Wylie
Recap
Buffy, her friends, and the other slayers are preparing to fight the reckoning. Andrew returns with equipment for the team to use. He has a van where Giles will be able to control communication between the team. Giles and Buffy also ask Andrew to leave and to start putting the Watcher’s Council back together. Andrew is very touched that they gave him such an important job.
While they are getting ready, the gang has several heart to hearts. Buffy and Spike affirm that even though they aren’t together right now that they will always be there for each other. Fred and Angel have a chat about Illyria. Xander and Dawn argue over who is going to the battle and decide that his mom can watch baby Joyce. Faith and Willow talk about the future. Willow is sad that she goes dark again in the future and of course is worried about Buffy. While they are talking, something sets off Willow’s mystic perimeter. The demons are here.
It is a bloody fight, where they lose many slayers. Fray and Erin fight Harth. Faith tells Willow to change the plan and send Faith to hell instead of Buffy. Willow tells her that it won’t work because the power up spell is specific to Buffy and the scythe. Willow’s plan is to give Buffy the power of all the slayers, so she can survive hell. Faith then fights the mayor. Things continue to go badly. Buffy says that it is time to do the plan. Willow uses the scythe to call the power of all the slayers. Unfortunately, Harth grabs the scythe and steals all the power of the slayers for himself.
Review
This issue was very well done. It does seem a bit rushed, but that is not the writers’ faults. I suspect it has more to do with the fact that Fox removed the Buffy license from Dark Horse. This possibly has to do with Disney buying Fox. Anyway, Whedon and Gage only had four issues to finish up the Slayer’s tale. There are a lot of great character moments in this issue. It was great to see Andrew again and seeing how far he has come. He is a trusted member of the gang now.
I was glad they gave Spike and Buffy a moment to talk about their relationship since it seemed very unresolved. The scene between Xander and Dawn was sweet and shows how loyal and devoted to each other they are. There is also a sweet moment between Buffy and Giles where he tells her how proud he is of her. Perhaps, the best character moments in this issue were for Faith. Faith has shown that she has redeemed herself when she offers to sacrifice herself in Buffy’s place. She also fights the mayor which brings the story from season 3 full circle. She has grown over the years and this issue highlights that.
I thought the art in this issue was somewhat improved. While Jeanty is not a favorite of mine, the facial expressions in this issue were well done and his art did not seem quite as rushed. The monsters looked nice and Harth looked appropriately evil. The lines are a bit heavy on Willow this issue and it made her seem older, but he was probably trying to convey her worry.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I thought this issue was very well done. The writing and character moments were awesome. The art has improved a bit and we were left with a good climax. Really, the only reason I deduct points for this series is because I am not wowed by the art.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 12: The Reckoning # 3: They Didn’t See That Coming
- Writing - 10/1010/10
- Storyline - 10/1010/10
- Art - 8/108/10
- Color - 9/109/10
- Cover Art - 10/1010/10
