Ms. Smarty Pants Know It All

Wolves at the Gate, Volume 3 of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8, is my favorite story of the three I’ve read so far.

The first volume was a nice introduction and re-entry into the Buffyverse, but it didn’t have a meaty story into which I could sink my reading teeth.

The second Faith volume is very good, but it veered away from the main Scooby gang. Also, the darker tone and an annoying villain didn’t make for pleasant reading.

This third volume is one that balances the lighter moments with the very, very dark. It’s the first set of issues that I could actually see as being episodes from the original TV show.

I feel bad for saying it, but it was nice to have Xander be the comic relief again. No, it’s not the funny syphilis, but he does return to his dealings with Dracula. He may not have the appreciated it, but I did.

I won’t give too much away but Dracula helped me feel better about the heroes again. After the troubling ideas brought up in Book 2 regarding the activation of so many Slayers, I liked this reminder that they are doing the best they can with what they know. Even Dracula gets that.

I also liked that everyone played a part in the fight against the Big Bad.

There are two significant new love interests in this book. Again, I won’t ruin the reveals, but I’m surprised that I wasn’t spoiled about this going in. It seems like one of the developments in particular is culturally significant enough for word to have gotten to me at the release of the comic book issues.

I, however, didn’t know, and the result was eye-opening shock for me. The overall handling of the romance though—I feel it is very well done.

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