Review: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Issues 6 – 9: “No Future for You”
By Teresa Jusino
When I first heard that Brian K. Vaughan would be writing a four-issue story arc for Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight comic, I squee’d a mighty squee, though there were some natural concerns that come with any new writer working on an already-established comic. Will he/she succeed in remaining true to the voice and tone of the original writer’s creation? Will the new writer’s contribution improve upon, or at least succeed as well as, the original writer’s work? When I read that he would be focusing on Faith, one of the most interesting and complex characters in the Buffyverse, I thought there was no one better for the task. I was not disappointed.
Issue six opens with Faith in Cleveland, where she remains the go-to Slayer for handling the Slayer Army’s darker assignments. She receives a phone call from Robin Wood, who asks her to take an assignment he doesn’t think the younger, less-experienced slayers can handle – killing a group of vampire children orphaned after the Slayer Army captured their mother. She does so and returns home to find Giles in her apartment ready to make an offer she finds difficult to refuse. Faith will receive an early retirement complete with “a generous stipend and [the permission to] live out the rest of [her] days however [she sees] fit” in exchange for completing yet another assignment most other slayers would find too difficult – killing another slayer.
The slayer in this case is an English woman named Genevieve Savidge, a Duke’s daughter who relishes her noble birth and who, upon our first encounter with her, is being trained by her tutor, Roden, to slay slayers herself. After she kills a fellow slayer in a training session, we discover that Roden is a warlock who has promised Genevieve something in exchange for something, and that he is working for Twilight.
Meanwhile, back in Cleveland, Giles is attempting to train Faith in the ways of English high society. Giles reveals that in addition to the conventional security measures given to “one of the wealthiest heiresses in the British Isles”, she is also protected by mystical means. Faith will have to infiltrate Genevieve’s world in order to get close enough to do her job. Over the course of this first training session, Faith and Giles begin to commiserate over their troubled youths and their mutual outsider status.
Back in Scotland, Xander is training for a sparring session with Renee when Buffy walks in to express concern about a recurring dream in which a “thing” is chasing her and swallows her saying “The Queen is dead. Long live the Queen.”
At the close of the issue, Faith and Giles are in England, and Faith is further along in her society training, apparently having acquired a near-perfect English accent. She expresses uncertainty about her ability to pull off the assignment. Giles reassures her, and is visibly impressed by how much she looks the part of a debutante.
“Five by five,” he says.
REVIEW (Issue #6): This issue was a tightly-crafted beginning to a new and compelling storyline. Kudos are once again in order for Jo Chen and Georges Jeanty for their amazing artwork. As for the writing, “Faith the Slayer Slayer” is an intriguing and appropriate way to examine this character. Vaughan has mastered her voice, and her caustic humor is not lost. With lines like “What brings you to my neck, Giles? Haven’t clocked you since the Sunny D went from being an outie to an innie,” it was obvious Faith was in capable hands. Vaughan’s love for all of the Buffy characters is clear, and he handles all of their dialogue just as well. A standout is a charming line of Xander dialogue as he hides behind his punching bag so that Buffy can’t see his “sweaty…shirtless…shame…” Despite Faith’s difficult assignment, and the tie to the larger fight against Twilight, the most compelling element of this issue is the relationship between Faith and Giles. Their interaction has an air of mutual understanding that not even Giles’ interaction with Buffy has, and it’s nice to see a deep relationship unfold between an older man and a younger woman that doesn’t devolve into the merely sexual…
Though, I’ll admit, after reading this issue I kind of wanted Faith and Giles to get it on. But only kind of. Because that would be wrong. Right…?
Issue seven finds Faith and Buffy duking it out under an opening monologue by Faith about friendship gone sour. Buffy ends up killing Faith. It is Faith’s worst nightmare. We are then taken to Faith’s second worst nightmare; the site of her current mission where she is dressed as a debutante and about to infiltrate a high society ball. After removing the ear piece connecting her to Giles, she deftly convinces the security detail at the door, as well as anyone else listening, that she is the daughter of the Viscount of Avalon who would not be subjected to waving “some cheap piece of parchment like a bleeding sped in line at the cinema.” Inside, Roden notices Faith on the receiving line to greet Genevieve, and is suspicious. He instructs his mystical henchmen to “turn her bones to dust” if she “so much as curtseys too shallow.”
Meanwhile, back in Scotland, Willow is trying to get Dawn to tell her the incantation used by the thricewise to enlarge her, so that she can figure out a counter-spell. The two women have a warm conversation, and Dawn is insistent that her situation isn’t Kenny’s fault just because he’s a thricewise. As she is about to confess something to Willow, they are interrupted by Renee who says that Buffy needs “laptop-geek Willow” to help her figure out their new radar systems.
In England, Faith has escaped the party and attempts to steel herself for her grisly assignment by smoking a cigarette out on a terrace. Genevieve, however, finds her and asks to bum one, catching Faith off guard. Faith introduces herself as “Hope.” As they talk, they begin to bond over a mutual love for Amy Winehouse and a mutual hatred for “the vast sea of idiots” at the party. As Faith is about to remove the dagger concealed in her hair and do her job, Roden’s henchmen – gargoyles – snatch her up and attempt to do away with her. She fights them well, and destroys them, but passes out in an exhausted, bloody heap.
As she’s coming to, we overhear Genevieve trying to convince Roden that Faith, or Hope, as she’s introduced herself, deserves to be spared. That she is a fellow blueblood who is no threat to her, and that she wants her by her side. Roden is skeptical. Faith awakes in an enormous, plush bed, and asks where she is. Genevieve “informs” Faith that she, like Genevieve, is a girl with special powers, and that Genevieve is destined to lead all the slayers to the head of society as soon as she kills “the Queen.”
Faith: “You….you want to kill Elizabeth?”
Genevieve: “No, Hope. Not Elizabeth.”
And there in her room we see a shrine to Buffy’s demise – a bulletin board covered in surveillance photos of Buffy, and a large one in the center held there by a knife, the Twilight symbol drawn across Buffy’s face.
REVIEW (Issue #7): This issue quickly and expertly moves the story arc along, revealing more about Genevieve’s motives as well as beginning to explore Faith’s feelings about being a loner in several poignant moments. Yet another fascinating relationship is born between Faith and Genevieve who, despite their differing missions, have a lot in common, including a strong anti-Buffy sentiment. It is in this issue that the reader comes to appreciate what a wonderful new character we have in Genevieve. She is vicious in her snobbery and zealous in her cause, and yet she never loses the air of being a vulnerable teenage girl who isn’t completely without a conscience. Genevieve is antagonist worthy of Faith. Vaughan’s deft handling of Faith’s voice is apparent once again, and there’s a hilarious moment as Faith is being carried away by the gargoyles and her inner monologue matches her dialogue exactly as both exclaim “What the #*%*?!” He also never forgets the gang back in Scotland, and the scene between Willow and Dawn was a touching and funny one. Willow is another beloved character he writes especially well. Georges Jeanty deserves special praise for his artwork this issue. He conveys so much of a character through nuanced facial expressions and gestures, and conveys the mood of a scene in a way that also reflects the character’s inner life. His work on Genevieve impressed me most, and her wide eyes and wicked smirks have a lot to do with my caring about this new character with whom Buffy fans don’t already have a history. All in all, this is a strong issue.
Her. It’s always about her. Giles sent me on this suicide mission ’cause he said it was about saving the world…but really it was just about saving his golden girl. And so begins issue eight, in which Faith confronts her issues with Buffy head-on.
We begin with Genevieve explaining her plan. She is going to kill Buffy so that other slayers can finally stop being “the serfs of this world, when [they] should have been lording over the masses.” Of course, the slayers should all be under her rule instead. She asks for “Hope” to stay and help.
Meanwhile, Giles is desperately trying to regain contact with Faith with the aid of a dwarf named Trafalgar, who is attempting to magically break through the barrier around Genevieve’s palace to no avail. As Giles is worrying about her safety, Faith is enjoying a bubble bath with Genevieve and bonding over indie rock bands. The conversation quickly turns serious as they resume their discussion about assassinating Buffy. Faith attempts to convince Genevieve not to go through with it, but Genevieve, mistaking this for “Hope’s” concern for her well-being, reassures her that all will go according to plan.
Back in Scotland, Willow has installed Buffy’s new radar system, and Buffy reveals that the Slayer Army has an anonymous donor with “pockets deeper than the ones in Dawnie’s giant pants,” which is how they can afford the high-tech gadgetry. As Buffy considers their situation, she disappears mid-sentence and turns up in Genevieve’s palace.
Faith is shocked that Genevieve has gone to these lengths to pull off her assassination. Genevieve attacks Buffy, and as they fight she expresses pleasure in Buffy’s ability to fight back. When it comes out that Genevieve has already killed other slayers, Buffy becomes furious and is about to slice through Genevieve with her own sword when Faith runs out from the shadows to stop her. As Buffy reveals “Hope’s” real name to Genevieve, Faith runs at Buffy and knocks her out a window, both of them falling into Genevieve’s pool below. Faith tries to explain about her mission with Giles, but Buffy’s suspicion gets the better of her, and she attacks Faith, assuming she’s lying. This is the straw that breaks the camel’s back, and Faith becomes so enraged that she strangles Buffy, holding her head underwater and finally releasing her frustration over the fact that “whenever [Buffy's] around [she's] the villain.” After a moment, though, she releases Buffy with a cry of “SHUT UP!” that could be directed at Buffy or at her own inner monologue. Faith says weakly, “I just wish you’d go away,” and with that, Buffy disappears.
Willow has managed to latch onto Buffy’s astral signature and pull her back to Scotland.
As Faith sits by the pool recovering, drained, Genevieve comes up behind her, stunned by having been lied to and betrayed…
…and wielding a double-sided ax.
REVIEW (Issue #8): Jo Chen delivers one of her best covers for this issue, which was the slowest read in the arc. It doesn’t move the main plot forward as quickly as the first two issues do. What it is though, indeed what the entire story arc has been building toward, is Faith’s opportunity to finally have her much-needed showdown with Buffy; where she can finally express her feelings about never being trusted, about never getting to be the hero, about always having to apologize for her past. The scene between Faith and Buffy, while short, makes reading through the rest of the issue worth it. The main problem I had, though, was with Buffy’s insistence on not trusting Faith, and her assumption that Giles would never work with her. After all, the last time Buffy saw Faith, they were working together, and Faith contributed a great deal to the battle against the First Evil in Sunnydale. Even now, Faith is still working within the framework of “being a slayer”, albeit on the outskirts of it. The fact that Buffy wouldn’t even skeptically listen to Faith’s explanation, but instead chose to physically attack her was bothersome. I’m not sure, though, if this has to do with Vaughan’s mishandling of the character, or with my own wishful thinking that Buffy has actually learned anything and wouldn’t be so susceptible to her own PR.
And, Good Lord, now there’s Crazy Genevieve to deal with…
Issue nine begins with a strangely touching scene. In a flashback to Faith working with Mayor Wilkins, as he warmly thanks her for her assistance in evildoing, she reveals that she looks back on her time with him and feels loved.
She’s not finding much love in the present-day, as she fights off Genevieve, who is crying betrayal and wielding an ax. Meanwhile, Trafalgar has given up on attempting penetration of Genevieve’s protective spell as Giles receives a call from Willow. He’s glad to hear from her, as he hopes for her help in getting past the palace’s defenses.
But it’s actually a call from Buffy on Willow’s phone, angry that Giles partnered with Faith without telling her. Giles, though, is unrepentant about not informing her about Faith, cuts her tirade short, and tells her he doesn’t want her having any part in what’s going on. Buffy passes the phone to Willow, and instructs her to help him however he needs, saddened by his lack of use for her.
Back in England, Faith is fighting Genevieve as she tries to convince her that Roden might be using her. Genevieve is having none of it, and continues to come on strong, and Faith kills Genevieve without intending to.
Roden then enters and makes Faith an interesting proposition: the chance to work with Twilight to rid the world of Buffy. Faith looks momentarily tempted, but then begins fighting him off. Just when it looks to be the end of Faith, Giles appears and works with Faith to kill Roden using one of the spells in the Twilight book.
The issue ends back at Faith’s apartment. Giles has come prepared to uphold his side of their bargain, bearing a new identity, a passport, and a plane ticket. Faith, however, has decided not to give up on the world of slaying just yet. She decides she might be well-suited to becoming a “social worker to the slayers” helping to “bring a few bad girls back from the brink.” Giles offers to be her partner in this endeavor.
Meanwhile, on a military base, we see a female officer flashing the Twilight sign and talking to a seeming higher-up in the Twilight food chain – the floating combat boots we saw in issue one. She tells him that their mission failed since Genevieve and Roden, his “goons”, have been killed. But the Twilight operative reveals that they were not his goons, but his target. Twilight’s plan is revealed: to pit “watcher against warlock and slayer against slayer” to “bring the age of magic to a close.”
REVIEW (Issue #9): By far, the best issue in the story arc. The story was successfully resolved, both as far as Faith’s evolution is concerned, and as far as moving the overall series in an interesting direction. There were two very inspired choices made in this issue. The first was the decision to have Faith become a force for rehabilitating wayward slayers. This seems to be the most natural way for Faith to participate in the world of the slayers while having a way to curb her darker side, helping others in the process. The second was the reveal of Twilight’s mission. Not only was it great to finally have a clearer picture of Twilight’s purpose, but it made for a great reference to Joss Whedon’s future-slayer comic, Fray. In Fray, we learned that in the twenty-first century, the Slayer (Buffy) faced “an apocalyptic army of demons.” When it was over, all “magicks” were banished from our Earthly dimension. Slayers continued to exist, but since magic was gone, there was no need for them to be called. By Fray’s time the Slayer heritage is completely forgotten. We don’t know whether Buffy survived or not, but we do know that the “age of magic” did come to a close – Twilight won. The fact that we are now reading the stories that lead to magic’s demise in this dimension make Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight infinitely more exciting.
“No Future For You” was a successful examination of one of the most intriguing characters in the Buffyverse. The story was solid, the artwork was impressive, and it took the story in some wonderful new directions. That said, I’m looking forward to having Joss Whedon back next month. I’ve missed him.
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TERESA JUSINO entered the world kicking and screaming in 1979 and hasn’t stopped screaming since. An actress, writer, and producer, Teresa’s work has been seen in several venues and mediums. As an actress, she has appeared at various venues in NYC and regional theater. As a writer, her work has appeared in Elmont Life newspaper, and on the sadly defunct website, CentralBooking.com. She is also Associate Producer for a New York theater company, Stone Soup Theater Arts, and is producing a reading series for them that runs through January. As a geek, Teresa loves Star Trek, Lost, comics, and anything Joss Whedon ever touched. Also, she has a fangirl *squee-ing* crush on Brian K. Vaughan. Yes, she knows he’s married.
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