Writer- Joss Whedon
Artists- Karl Moline, Andy Owens (i), Michelle Madsen (colors), Jo Chen (covers)
Publisher- Dark Horse Comics

I’ve made no bones about my love for Buffy Season Eight, but it is genuinely one of my favorite series. A somewhat rocky start has given way to a masterful continuation of one of the best TV shows of the last 25 years, if not in the entire history of the medium. After finishing up the stellar “Wolves at the Gate” arc, Joss decided to spice things up a bit and plan a crossover with his first and, to me, still best major comics gig, Fray. So let’s get ourselves caught up with the last three issues, shall we?

**issue #16 spoilers and more after the break**

Buffy Season 8 #16: Time Of Your Life Part I

After successfully retrieving the Slayer Scythe from the Japanese super-vamps, Buffy and co. settle in for a bit of post-battle relief back in Scotland, only to get a strange message. One of Willow’s contacts says that the Scythe, which is in Buffy’s possession, is currently in New York. Some sort of foul play is afoot, and Buffy and Willow head off to the Big Apple to investigate. Meanwhile, Xander is left to watch Dawn, who has now morphed from a giant into a centaur. Ooooookay.

As Buffy and Willow touch down in New York, Twilight executes an attack on the Scottish castle with the help of some of Buff’s old foes. To make matters worse, Willow accidentally performs a spell that swaps the Slayer of Slayers with some beast from the future. Suddenly Buffy is face to face with an angry Melaka Fray.

Buffy Season 8 #17: Time Of Your Life Part 2

Issue #16 was a bit too talky, but it ended with not one but two huge action cliffhangers, and #17 has all the fists and fury that #16 so sorely lacked. Xander and Dawn’s escape from the devastating attack on the castle is both awesome and hilarious. As for the dialogue, the language barrier between Buffy and Fray (though they both technically speak English) is played up for a constant set of laughs. But, as good as the last issue’s cliffhangers were, the one that closes this issue is better than both of them combined.

Buffy Season 8 #18: Time Of Your Life Part 3

After the shocking revelation at the end of issue #17, Buffy is still trying to figure out the future and why all the Slayers were eradicated while, back in the present, Willow and Kennedy try desperately to bring her back. Like #16, this one’s too talky, but this one has an excuse; much of the talking comes from the character revealed at the end of the last issue getting into Fray’s head. It calls to mind the Mayor’s corruption of Faith all the way back in Season Three and, while it’s not as fleshed out as that arc for obvious reasons, it does cram a lot of the sinister destruction of a hero into a short number of pages. It’s not as exciting as the last issue, but once again an issue of this arc ends with an excruciating cliffhanger that leaves me salivating for the end of this arc.

Overall, this arc isn’t as strong as the last, but the Fray crossover has made it more exciting, and at the very least it should that last group of stragglers who haven’t read Joss’ awesome miniseries off their butts. I don’t usually criticize heavy dialogue in a Whedon comic, since that’s what makes them great, but these issues are all brimming with action with only #17 actually addressing it. It’s still the best comic around for my money, but it is a slight step down from the all-out perfection of the last arc.

#16: B / #17: A / #18: B+