This is the conclusion to the first crossover event in the new Buffyverse, and fittingly deals with the opening of the Hellmouth. It’s handled pretty differently than in the show, as it should be, so join me as we jump into the details of this issue. THIS IS A SPOILER POST, so if you have yet to read the issue, be warned.

If it’s been a while since you watched season 1 of the show, you may dimly remember that the first season revolves around the Master re-opening the Hellmouth below Sunnydale, which will also free him in the process. This set the tone and style of the show, and of course the Hellmouth was central to the plot of the entire show (although there was another one in Cleveland, apparently…) In much the same way, this crossover cements the relationship between all the main characters, as well as creating a chance for the secondary characters in both the Buffy and Angel books to get to know each other.

Last Time, On Buffy…

At the start of this issue, the Hellmother has taken over Angel’s body, which is step one to her ascension. Step two is the blood of the Slayer, which she intends to extract at the beginning of the issue. Buffy has other ideas, though, as do Auginteegharekk and Drusilla, who have both been revealed as pawns of the Hellmother through this ordeal. They prove fairly ineffectual, but the real cavalry arrives shortly thereafter, consisting of Kendra, Anya, Cordelia, Willow, Rose and of course everyone’s favorite Slayer bat ally, Camazotz.

So that battle all goes pretty well, except for Xander’s disappearance at the end. After that we get into the meat and potatoes of any Buffy story: the personal drama. While Giles blames himself for Xander being missing, Willow tells Buffy that she’s leaving Sunnydale, at least for a little while. The really great thing about this scene is seeing Giles cry, and Buffy comfort him. While this may seem like a simple thing, it’s a side of Giles that you don’t really ever see in the show, and it makes their relationship more three-dimensional. The book ends with Anya revealing the vast breadth of other Hellmouths that exist, and leaves the door open for many other stories.

This has been a really exciting crossover, both because of the references to the original show, and the new storylines and relationships that it creates. Bellaire is as good a writer as an artist, which is certainly a rarity in the modern age. The overall arc of this story has been about loneliness, and isolation, which could be seen as both the source of the Slayer’s strength, as well as her greatest weakness.

Two Styles, No Waiting

The art is what drew me to write a post about this issue. The team of Renna and Iacono is a powerful one, and their combined style fits the book and the themes like a glove. In a lot of modern books, I’ve noticed this style emerging that’s a cross between anime style and classic western comic style. This may have existed before, and I just didn’t notice, that’s certainly possible. Either way, I love it, and this is a great example. There’s a dynamism to anime art that comics lost a bit of, but it’s definitely restored in this hybrid style.

What I’ve liked the most about the Buffy relaunch has been the really skillful, and sometimes subtle, mix of lore from the TV show and new lore. The two main series’ and this crossover have reminded me a lot of the Ultimates line from Marvel, kind of creating a platonic ideal of the origins and backstory of all the characters. I’m here for it! My only minor complaint is that they didn’t give Bryan Edward Hill any writing time on the crossover, but it’s possible they offered and he turned it down. Either way, if you’re a Buffy fan, I can definitely recommend this mini, even if you haven’t for some reason following the main titles. Happy reading!