Changes: A Dark Place, Part Four

Latest revision as of 01:05, 21 October 2023

A Dark Place, Part Four

Publication

November 21, 2010

Length

22 pages

Spike: A Dark Place #4

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A Dark Place, Part Three	A Dark Place, Part Five

A Dark Place, Part Four is the fourth issue of the Spike: A Dark Place comic book series. Written by Victor Gischler and illustrated by Paul Lee, it was originally published on November 21, 2010, by Dark Horse Comics.

Synopsis

Spike departs from the ruins of Sunnydale — and all those memories — with a demon who wants desperately to return to her home dimension. But with the loss of magic, her connection is lost. Spike, ever the hero, offers to help this mysterious damsel in distress in her journey to find any remnants of magic that might reconnect her to her world.

Sparks (and punches) fly!^[1]

Summary

While on their way to Morgan's destination, an unknown Hellmouth, the bugs are making contingency plans because they fear Spike is falling under the succubus's spell. Spike wanders into the solarium and finds Morgan. She questions him about Buffy, having put the pieces together herself. She is about to offer him comfort for his sorrow when the bugs announce over the intercom that they are descending. In the cockpit, Sebastian and Frisky are further discussing the Morgan situation when Spike and Morgan enter, so they quickly change the topic to the location they had reached: Easter Island. Morgan explains that natives of the Easter Island erected the statues to warn people away from the island that housed a Hellmouth.

Meanwhile, Frisky tells Sebastian that he is willing to take action against Morgan with or without his help, upon which Sebastian has Frisky arrested. Morgan comes on to Spike, revealing that she wants to leave because she has no purpose, but she can stay for him. Spike rejects her, suddenly realizing Buffy turned him down for the same reason. They are not a “empty vessel that you can just pour expectations into.” One must not exist just to give another an achievement or purpose. When Morgan continues to come onto him, Spike caves in and they kiss. Spike pulls away and once again rejects her because it is not real. He then states he’s grateful for everything he’s experienced with Buffy - even when he was miserable. Morgan, claiming this was the first time a powerful man has rejected her, slaps him and says she wants to leave.

Spike realizes that she had a shard of the Seed of Wonder all along. Morgan turns into her true succubus self, and a fight breaks out. The bugs intervene by taking off to get away from the Hellmouth and capturing Morgan in an electrified net. Sebastian releases Frisky. Morgan breaks out of the net and jumps through the necrotempered window. Spike has his ship turn around to pursue her. Morgan lands near the statues and throws up to retrieve the shard of the Seed she swallowed.

Continuity

The story is set between Spike's appearances in Apart (of Me), Part Two and Death and Consequences, Part Three.
Spike rejects Morgan's pass at him because it is not real. However, he will flirt with Faith and sleep with Harmony in Spike and Faith.

Appearances

Individuals

Organizations and titles

Slayer (Only mentioned)

Species

Bug crew
Demon
- Sturgeon demon (Only mentioned)
- Succubus
  - Courtesan demon
Human (Only mentioned)
Moai
Vampire

Events

End of magic

Locations

Easter Island

Objects

Necrotempered glass
Seed of Wonder (Only shard)
Soul (Only mentioned)
Spike's ship

Death count

None.

Behind the scenes

Distribution

A Dark Place, Part Four was the 152nd best selling comic issue in its publishing month, with 14,422 sales in November 2012 at comic specialty stores.^[2]

Collections

Pop culture references

Spike compares the necrotempered glass for vampires to the "boy in the bloody bubble," an allusion to the character in the 2001 film Bubble Boy.

Gallery

Covers

Cover artwork

Quotes

Morgan: "I can offer a shoulder to cry on right here."

Spike: "Look, as shoulders go, yours look softer than average, so don't think I don't appreciate it. But my style is more stiff upper lip, stiffer drink, and soldier on."

Morgan: "You don't have to be alone, Spike."

Spike: "Who's alone? The bugs and I have a very fulfilling life. Every Wednesday night's Canasta."

Morgan: "The more devil-may-care you act on the surface, the more I can sense the pieces of you scraped raw underneath."

Morgan: "I suppose that's what Buffy must've thought. All the pressures of being a slayer on top of the everyday pressures of life. Family, friends, a job. And in the middle of all that, you just wanted to love her. Maybe that's a lot for a girl to take... Buffy made a mistake turning you away. Don't make the same mistake with me."

Spike: "Every perfect second of every perfect day would just be a reminder that it wasn't ... real. With Buffy, it was up and down and frustrating and confusing. But real. I know it's sick in the head ... but part of me cherishes every moment I've spent miserable over her."

Sebastian: "I did not know she could do that. Did you know she could do that?"

Bug: "I did not."

References

↑ "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Spike #4 (Jenny Frison cover)." Dark Horse Comics. Retrieved on April 1, 2022.
↑ "Top 300 Comics Actual--November 2012." ICv2, December 10, 2012.

[1] "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Spike #4 (Jenny Frison cover)." Dark Horse Comics. Retrieved on April 1, 2022.

[2] "Top 300 Comics Actual--November 2012." ICv2, December 10, 2012.

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Upcoming}}
 {{ComicIssue
-| coverA    = sadp4a.jpg
+|coverA    = Sadp4a.jpg
-| released  = November 21, 2010
+|released  = November 21, [[2010]]
-| pages     = 32
+|pages     = 22
-| series    = [[Spike: A Dark Place]]
+|series    = ''[[Spike: A Dark Place]]''
-| number    = 4
+|number    = 4
-| previous  = [[A Dark Place, Part Three]]
+|previous  = ''[[A Dark Place, Part Three]]''
-| next      = [[A Dark Place, Part Five]]
+|next      = ''[[A Dark Place, Part Five]]''
-| publisher = [[Dark Horse Comics]]
+|publisher = [[Dark Horse Comics]]
-| writer    = [[Victor Gischler]]
+|writer    = [[Victor Gischler]]
-| penciller = [[Paul Lee]]
+|penciller = [[Paul Lee]]
-| editor    = [[Scott Allie]]
+|editor    = [[Scott Allie]]<br>[[Sierra Hahn]]
-| coverart  = [[Jenny Frison]]<br/>[[Steve Morris]]
+|coverart  = [[Jenny Frison]]<br>[[Steve Morris]]
-| inker     = [[Andy Owens]]
+|inker     = [[Andy Owens]]
-| colorist  = [[Cris Peters]]
+|colorist  = [[Cris Peter]]
-| letterer  = [[Richard Starkings]] & [[ComiCraft]]'s [[Jimmy Betancourt]]
+|letterer  = [[Richard Starkings]]<br>[[ComiCraft]]'s [[Jimmy Betancourt]]
-| coverB    = sadp4b.jpg
 }}
-"'''A Dark Place, Part Four'''" was the fourth issue of the ''[[Spike: A Dark Place]]'' comic book series.
+'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is the fourth issue of the ''[[Spike: A Dark Place]]'' comic book series. Written by [[Victor Gischler]] and illustrated by [[Paul Lee]], it was originally published on November 21, [[2010]], by [[Dark Horse Comics]].
 ==Synopsis==
+[[Spike]] departs from the ruins of [[Sunnydale]] — and all those memories — with a [[demon]] who wants desperately to return to her home [[dimension]]. But with the [[end of magic|loss of magic]], her connection is lost. Spike, ever the hero, offers to help this mysterious damsel in distress in her journey to find any remnants of [[magic]] that might reconnect her to her world.
-While on their way to Morgan's destination, an unknwown Hellmouth, the bugs were making contigency plans because they feared Spike was falling under the spell of the Succubus. At the same time Spike wandered into the solarium where Morgan also was, she questioned him about Buffy, having put the pieces together herself. Just as she was about to offer him comfort for the sorrow he was feeling the bugs announced over the intercom that they were descending. In the cockpit Sebastian and Frisky were further discussing the Morgan situation when Spike and Morgan entered so they quickly changed the topic to the location they had reached; Easter Island. Morgan explained that the Easter Island Statues had been erected by natives to warn people away from the island which housed a Hellmouth.
+*Sparks (and punches) fly!<ref>[https://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/18-171/ "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Spike #4 (Jenny Frison cover).]" ''[[Dark Horse Comics]]''. Retrieved on April 1, 2022.</ref>
-Meanwhile Frisky told Sebastian that if would not act, Frisky would, upon which Sebastian had Frisky arrested. At the same time Morgan was indeed coming on to Spike, revealing that she wanted to leave because she had no purpose, but that she could stay for him instead. Spike rejected her though, but in doing so he realised why Buffy had turned him down. When Morgan continued to come onto him, Spike caved in and they kissed. But only briefly, because Spike pulled away and once again rejected her because it was not real. Morgan slapped him for this then she said she wanted to leave.
+==Summary==
-Spike then realised that she had had a shard of the Seed all along. Morgan turned into her true Succubus self and a fight broke out. The bugs intervened quickly by taking off so as to get far away from the Hellmouth and capturing Morgan in an electrified net. Also Sebastian released Frisky. Morgan broke out of the net however and jumped through the necrotempered window. Spike had his ship turned around to pursue her. Morgan landed near some statues and threw up to retrieve the shard of the Seed she had swallowed.
+While on their way to [[Morgan (demon)|Morgan]]'s destination, an unknown [[Hellmouth]], the bugs are making contingency plans because they fear Spike is falling under the [[succubus]]'s [[spell]]. Spike wanders into the solarium and finds Morgan. She questions him about [[Buffy Summers|Buffy]], having put the pieces together herself. She is about to offer him comfort for his sorrow when the bugs announce over the intercom that they are descending. In the cockpit, [[Sebastian (bug)|Sebastian]] and [[Frisky]] are further discussing the Morgan situation when Spike and Morgan enter, so they quickly change the topic to the location they had reached: [[Easter Island]]. Morgan explains that natives of the Easter Island erected [[Moai|the statues]] to warn people away from the island that housed a Hellmouth.
+Meanwhile, Frisky tells Sebastian that he is willing to take action against Morgan with or without his help, upon which Sebastian has Frisky arrested. Morgan comes on to Spike, revealing that she wants to leave because she has no purpose, but she can stay for him. Spike rejects her, suddenly realizing Buffy turned him down for the same reason. They are not a “empty vessel that you can just pour expectations into.” One must not exist just to give another an achievement or purpose. When Morgan continues to come onto him, Spike caves in and they kiss. Spike pulls away and once again rejects her because it is not real. He then states he’s grateful for everything he’s experienced with Buffy - even when he was miserable. Morgan, claiming this was the first time a powerful man has rejected her, slaps him and says she wants to leave.
+Spike realizes that she had a shard of the [[Seed of Wonder]] all along. Morgan turns into her true succubus self, and a fight breaks out. The bugs intervene by taking off to get away from the Hellmouth and capturing Morgan in an electrified net. Sebastian releases Frisky. Morgan breaks out of the net and jumps through the [[necrotempered glass|necrotempered]] window. Spike has his ship turn around to pursue her. Morgan lands near the statues and throws up to retrieve the shard of the Seed she swallowed.
 ==Continuity==
-The story was set after "[[A Dark Place, Part Three]]", but before "[[A Dark Place, Part Five]]".
+*The story is set between Spike's appearances in ''[[Apart (of Me), Part Two]]'' and ''[[Death and Consequences, Part Three]]''.
+*Spike rejects Morgan's pass at him because it is not real. However, he will flirt with [[Faith Lehane|Faith]] and sleep with [[Harmony Kendall|Harmony]] in ''[[Spike and Faith]]''.
 ==Appearances==
 ===Individuals===
-*[[Spike]]
-*[[Morgan]]
-*[[Sebastian (bug)]]
 *[[Frisky]]
+*[[Morgan (demon)|Morgan]]
+*[[Sebastian (bug)|Sebastian]]
+*[[Spike]]
 *[[Buffy Summers]] {{Om}}
-===Organizations and Titles===
+===Organizations and titles===
+*[[Slayer]] {{Om}}
 ===Species===
+*[[Bug crew]]
+*[[Demon]]
+**[[Sturgeon demon]] {{Om}}
+**[[Succubus]]
+***[[Courtesan demon]]
+*[[Human]] {{Om}}
+*[[Moai]]
 *[[Vampire]]
-*[[Bug Demon]]
-*[[Succubus]]
 ===Events===
+*[[End of magic]]
 ===Locations===
 *[[Easter Island]]
-===Weapons and Objects===
+===Objects===
+*[[Necrotempered glass]]
+*[[Seed of Wonder]] <small>(Only shard)</small>
+*[[Soul]] {{Om}}
 *[[Spike's ship]]
-==Death Count==
+==Death count==
+*None.
+==Behind the scenes==
+===Distribution===
+*''{{PAGENAME}}'' was the 152nd best selling comic issue in its publishing month, with 14,422 sales in November 2012 at comic specialty stores.<ref>[https://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/24568/ "Top 300 Comics Actual--November 2012."] ''ICv2'', December 10, 2012.</ref>
-==Behind the Scenes==
 ===Collections===
-*''[[Spike: A Dark Place]]''
+*''[[A Dark Place]]''
+*''[[Angel & Faith Season Nine Library Edition, Volume 2]]''
-===Pop Culture References===
+===Pop culture references===
+*Spike compares the necrotempered glass for vampires to the "boy in the bloody bubble," an allusion to the character in the 2001 film ''[[Wikipedia:Bubble Boy|Bubble Boy]]''.
+==Gallery==
+===Covers===
+<gallery captionalign="center">
+Sadp4a.jpg|Main cover
+Sadp4b.jpg|Variant cover
+</gallery>
+===Cover artwork===
+<gallery captionalign="center">
+ADarkPlace-04-00b.jpg|Jenny Frison
+ADarkPlace-04-01b.jpg|Steve Morris
+</gallery>
 ==Quotes==
 {{QuoteBlock
+|Morgan|"I can offer a shoulder to cry on right here."
-|Spike|""
+|Spike|"Look, as shoulders go, yours look softer than average, so don't think I don't appreciate it. But my style is more stiff upper lip, stiffer drink, and soldier on."
+}}
+{{QuoteBlock
+|Morgan|"You don't have to be alone, Spike."
+|Spike|"Who's alone? The bugs and I have a very fulfilling life. Every Wednesday night's Canasta."
+|Morgan|"The more devil-may-care you act on the surface, the more I can sense the pieces of you scraped raw underneath."
+}}
+{{QuoteBlock
+|Morgan|"I suppose that's what Buffy must've thought. All the pressures of being a slayer on top of the everyday pressures of life. Family, friends, a job. And in the middle of all that, you just wanted to ''love'' her. Maybe that's a lot for a girl to take... Buffy made a mistake turning you away. Don't make the same mistake with me."
+}}
+{{QuoteBlock
+|Spike|"Every perfect second of every perfect day would just be a reminder that it wasn't ... real. With Buffy, it was up and down and frustrating and confusing. But real. I know it's sick in the head ... but part of me cherishes every moment I've spent miserable over her."
+}}
+{{QuoteBlock
+|Sebastian|"I did not know she could do that. Did you know she could do that?"
+|Bug|"I did not."
 }}
-== Gallery ==
+==References==
+{{References}}
-=== Previews ===
-<gallery captionalign="left" widths="120">
+{{DISPLAYTITLE:''{{PAGENAME}}''}}
-</gallery>
+[[nl:A Dark Place, Deel Vier]]
-{{DEFAULTSORT:A Dark Place 4}}
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Dark Place Part 4}}
 [[Category:Spike comics]]
 [[Category:Season Nine]]