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moth_dance's review against another edition
2.0
I've stood by the Dark Horse Buffy seasons up until this point. I watched as my beloved characters faced new and, often, improved big bads. Everything felt reasonably changed and altered from the TV series. Old scoobies and baddies returned, and new friends were introduced. The Angel & Faith cross-overs and side-issues with Willow and Giles were all so well done.
But Season 12 doesn't pay off in the end. It feels rushed, fan-serviced, and too chaotic. I hate admitting this, but this extended Buffy team probably should have ended the comic continuation with season 10.
If anything, the end of Season 12 leaves me extremely excited to put these canonical seasons behind, once and for all, and start a new journey with the BOOM! Buffy series which drops later this month.
But Season 12 doesn't pay off in the end. It feels rushed, fan-serviced, and too chaotic. I hate admitting this, but this extended Buffy team probably should have ended the comic continuation with season 10.
If anything, the end of Season 12 leaves me extremely excited to put these canonical seasons behind, once and for all, and start a new journey with the BOOM! Buffy series which drops later this month.
h_rose_k's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
hell_books's review against another edition
2.0
This series deserved a better sendoff and probably would have gotten it had Christos Gage been left in charge of the story instead of Joss Whedon; had it been given more than four issues to wrap up; and had they kept Rebekah Isaacs in place as the artist instead of bringing back Georges Jeanty, who draws every character’s face like it’s been surgically reconstructed after being run over by a bus.
archipeligo's review
4.0
Spoiler
After San Francisco is attacked by a massively powerful Shenlong Dragon, the Scoobies are left scrambling trying to figure out who would have sent it and why. However, humans are not taking this latest assault lying down and have started turning against their magical fellow citizens. Consequently, the president appoints Ophelia Reyes as the new Secretary of the Supernatural. As attacks against magicals increase, Reyes finally declares a Safety Zone for magicals - essentially, as Buffy says, "bringing internment camps back to America."
Giles manages to obtains forged papers, designating him as full human. Xander and Dawn pass more official channels, although they believe Dawn passed only because the magic that created her was meant to hide her. Andrew decides to flee the county, like Harmony, but promises to find an Underground Railroad option to get everyone out, if necessary.
At one point, Willow flies to save some baby Wiccans, but gets so upset over the attack that she comes across as the attacker, instead of the defender through an online video. A Slayer, Jordan, approaches Buffy to become part of the official guards against these anti-magic attacks. Buffy turns them down hard.
Soon, Jordan shows up to escort Willow and Spike to the Safety Zone. Buffy is infuriated and insulted when Jordan tries to say she's weak. After Spike surrenders to keep Buffy and Jordan from killing each other, Buffy declares that she too will go to the Safety Zone.
Unsurprisingly, the Safety Zone is not. Vampires are given weekly rations of blood, but it's not nearly enough. Buffy demands that Spike drink from here to keep himself fed. Willow continues training young Wiccas inside the camps. We see a vamp try to make a break for it, only to be zapped by a force field around the camp. An Ogre tries repeatedly to cause trouble for everyone. Some of the magicals see Buffy as a traitor, encouraged by the Ogre. We hear rumors of water-based magicals dying off. After a fight with the Ogre and his goons, Spike bites into a demon, frightening Buffy. She negotiates to be a Trustee - a guard within the camp's force field to keep order - in exchange for extra blood rations for Spike.
Willow confesses that she could start draining the baby Wiccas, leaving the unable to use magic, but able to leave the camp. Buffy hears of an uprising that the Ogre is planning - he intends to attack the gates when they open to let in water. She moves to stop it, eventually fighting off the Ogre and most of his goons. Jordan and the other camp guards move to help, but Buffy tells them to stay away. She defeats them all and Jordan points out that she might be"the least popular girl on campus" encouraging her to work outside the force field for a few days.
She investigates the work happening outside and discovers demons making magical runes and coding, as well as a blocked off restricted area. A magical comes forward to tell Jordan that water magicals are dying more often and Jordan dismisses him. When the magical makes a break to escape, it's gunned down from a guard tower, shocking Buffy.
Later, the Ogre and some of his compadres attack Buffy in an ambush. She defeats them all and breaks the Ogre's wrists. He confesses to working with the other guards. He confesses that he helps them find magicals for the work crew "no one too smart".
With Spike's help, Willow casts a portal spell to get outside the force field and follows Buffy around. Soon, she figures out that they are building a magical draining and storage device, which could not only drain many of their powers (e.g. witches) but, for many magicals, end up killing them, because they are inherently magical: "The fliers ... humanoid bodies aren't structured for flight. ... Some body types would be completely immobile. ... And those who are only alive because of magic ... they'd definitely die."
They recognize that destroying the device won't help - it would just be rebuilt somewhere else - nor will outing its existence - "They'd deny it ... a fair chunk o' the world might think it's a brilliant idea" - they decide to break out, find who's behind it, and wreck everything.
batkat21's review
5.0
Hesitant to jump back into the comics as I never made it past twilight but I liked this. The casual aspect of buffy and spike feels off because they've never had so little tension but it's nice I guess and I'm happy for them? The way I'm happy for Alanis Morrisette but her music was better when she was pissed. I like the vibe of the scoobies in this though and willow is still a Powerhouse so I'm happy. Ready for the next one.
marobbins's review
5.0
This is the season where it really starts to get good, in my opinion! I have so much more to say, but I'm going to submit a proposal for The 2019 Comics and Popular Arts Conference at DragonCon, so hopefully I'll get to say it then. For now, I'll say that I think Season 11 is amazing, and so very timely!
waveycowpar's review
5.0
So a fricken magic dragon thing is summoned and shows up and destroys San Fran.
In response the government need to come up with measures to protect American citizens. They decide to “temporarily” round up all magical people and creatures and bring them to a safe camp.
Here they ration blood and it’s pretty disastrous. The Slayers are guards and the government are even paying people to start revolts inside.
Buffy becomes an inside guard to get Spike more blood. She gets to see the work projects in this role too and sees something more sinister is coming.
They need to be on the outside to stop the evil plans of members of the US government.
In response the government need to come up with measures to protect American citizens. They decide to “temporarily” round up all magical people and creatures and bring them to a safe camp.
Here they ration blood and it’s pretty disastrous. The Slayers are guards and the government are even paying people to start revolts inside.
Buffy becomes an inside guard to get Spike more blood. She gets to see the work projects in this role too and sees something more sinister is coming.
They need to be on the outside to stop the evil plans of members of the US government.
waveycowpar's review against another edition
5.0
What a great way to end the Buffy canon series. Rewriting Fray’s “history” and changing Willow’s future and the future of the Slayer line from what we saw in season 8. So sad it was only four issues. But so happy they were some of the most action packed and happy ending of four issues.