Today’s release of the second installment (episode!) of the new Buffy comic sees the return of even more characters and answers to a few lingering questions. Most exciting of all, Giles is back. He’s off in what looks like some eastern European capital, reflecting on his old way of life, training new slayers and drinking tea. Silly, predictable, British man.
The Long Way Home, Part II ups the ante with some significant violence and our heroine’s first major obstacle in unearthing the new conspiracy against her new legion of slayers. Xander remains the easiest transition to 2D (with his whimsical dialogue no longer being overshadowed by Nicholas Brendan’s rapid aging) and is thus far the hero of comic book Buffy. Though the most major development in the issue flirts a little too heavily with the cheesy, and opens the gate for a premature cameo, Joss’s story remains appropriately indulgent. He’s taking full advantage of his niche audience by treating fans to more geek culture references than ever before. But with so few precious frames in every issue, must we really devote two whole pages to Andrew’s ramblings on the introduction of new characters in Star Wars Episode VI?
In the end, I am led to one immaculate conclusion: in lieu of further questioning the medium or over-analyzing each issue, I’m resigning myself to blissful appreciation for what I’ve been given. Considering the obstacles of money and casting, Buffy on a grander scale is nearly impossible, and as TV Squad pointed out after issue one, this is could be the best way for the show to return. Issue #1 was fantastic. Issue #2 is crazy-awesome. And as we progress, I’m confident the quality will get, well, exponentially prefixy.