“Twilight” (part 1)

Buffy tests her powers. Willow discovers the source of these powers, and Faith, Giles and Andrew come face to face with Twilight, still masked.

This issue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a toss up between three or four bullets. I went with four because Georges Jeanty, Andy Owens, and Michelle Madsen exceed their high standards.

The artists energize the pages with demonstrations of Buffy's Kryptonian level abilities and Xander's geeky reactions to these displays. Their illustrations of Willow convey the more dramatic moments in the book,and Faith basks in the glow of a perfectly timed two panel slapstick. Madsen's colors embellish the idyllic setting where Buffy tests her powers and the hues also emphasize the dark atmospheres Willow experiences.

This is the first issue by Brad Meltzer, and I'm tentatively going to call it a success. A lot of the dialogue consists of comic book and science fiction box checking. It's therefore difficult to decide whether or not Meltzer characterizes the cast well. They sound and feel correct, but I wonder if Jeanty and Owens do not deserve the credit more than Meltzer or Whedon. The players do not actually say anything of import to give the reader insight. It's not a deep issue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

That said. I expected far, far worse. I do not like Brad Meltzer's work. With Identity Crisis Meltzer ushered in the grimmest, grimiest age of comic books. He helped make DC's signature be one of sexism if not outright misogyny. It's not all his fault. While Meltzer was the harbinger, DC's hacks readily danced in the bloodshed and relished the indignities. They still do.

Slayers die this issue, but they die as warriors. Death is their tradition. The battles occurred off panel while the previous story arc unfolded. So, there's thankfully a lack of ghoulish violence. You therefore cannot accuse Meltzer of singling out Slayers just to kill them and I would mostly characterize this issue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as upbeat and chirpy. Despite Meltzer's reputation, it's also surprisingly pro-woman. No matter who writes the adventures of Buffy Summers, that's how it should be.

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