A Dark Place, Part Three is the third issue of the Spike: A Dark Place comic book series. Written by Victor Gischler and illustrated by Paul Lee, it was originally published on October 24, 2012, by Dark Horse Comics.
Synopsis[]
Spike meets a demon in distress and a familiar, exceptionally nasty duo that are all after something buried in the rubble formerly known as Sunnydale. For a vampire with a soul and an aching heart, dabbling in a little villainy is a welcome distraction. But Spike will have to beware if the distraction becomes too much to handle...[1]
Summary[]
In 1953, an eighteen-years-old Pearl was sent to Rome by her mother to become impregnated after sleeping with a black widower demon. However, he tries to eat her soon after. Pearl calls out for Nash and he runs into the room, but the demon is stronger than them. Suddenly, Spike jumps through a window. Apparently, the black widower owes Spike a gambling debt and the vampire came to collect. Spike beheads it, and Drusilla points out that he might have become Pearl's hero and heroes deserve rewards.
Now, Spike asks what Pearl and Nash are doing in the ruins of Sunnydale. Pearl accuses Spike of not being a hero, and Spike lets her talk, meanwhile backing away to the exit. Pearl and Nash tell him he is not free to go because they believe he might have a shard of the Seed of Wonder. A fight breaks out, and Spike tricks Pearl and Nash into flying into a wall, causing the structure to collapse.
Spike, Morgan, and the bugs escape in his ship. Spike offers Morgan to fly her anywhere in the world, and she asks to go to a different Hellmouth. When she leaves, Sebastian warns Spike that, since Morgan is a succubus, she might be manipulating him into getting her to a Hellmouth so she can use a shard of the Seed to open it.
While Morgan is having a shower, Spike sneaks into the bathroom to look through her clothes, which she notices. She says it is okay for him to go through her stuff, but that she wants a serious talk afterwards. Later, Morgan and Spike have some whiskey, and Spike confronts her about being a succubus. Meanwhile, the bugs hold close watch through CCTV because they do not trust Morgan.
Morgan explains that she's a type of succubus known as courtesan demon, who used to be summoned by great men who had difficulty trusting women. Spike accepts her story, but is wary of the fact that she neglects to divulge about her abilities. Morgan asks Spike's story, particularly with Pearl. Spike reminisces about his past and whether his change had been one for the better. He reveals that Buffy asked him long ago to destroy the shard of the Seed by shooting them into the sun. Regardless of this revelation, Morgan still wants to go to the Hellmouth to see what could be done there; the bugs think this most suspicious.
Continuity[]
- The story is set between Spike's appearances in Apart (of Me), Part Two and Death and Consequences, Part Three.
- In the flashback, Pearl has been sleeping with demons to become pregnant and fulfill her mother's vision of evolution. This was elaborated on further in the issue The Hero of His Own Story.
- In 1953, Spike apparently gambled with the black widower demon, who had a debt to pay from him. Spike would continue his habit of gambling, as seen in the episodes "Life Serial" and "Tabula Rasa."
- Spike's time in Rome with Drusilla in the 50s was previously touched on in "The Girl in Question."
Appearances[]
Individuals[]
- Drusilla (Only in flashbacks)
- Susan Finney (Only mentioned)
- Frisky
- Morgan
- Nash
- Pearl
- Sebastian
- Spike
- Buffy Summers (Only mentioned)
Species[]
- Bug crew
- Demon
- Black widower demon (Only in flashbacks)
- Sturgeon demon (Only mentioned)
- Succubus
- Half-demon
- Human (Only in flashbacks)
- Vampire
Events[]
Locations[]
- Easter Island (Only mentioned)
- Hellmouth (Only mentioned)
- Rome (Only in flashbacks)
- Sunnydale
Objects[]
- Seed of Wonder (Only mentioned)
- Spike's ship
Death count[]
- The black widower demon, beheaded by Spike (in flashbacks).
Behind the scenes[]
Distribution[]
- A Dark Place, Part Three was the 158th best selling comic issue in its publishing month, with 14,996 sales in October 2012 at comic specialty stores.[2]
Collections[]
Pop culture references[]
- Spike comments that Hellmouths are not as common to find as Starbucks coffee shops.
Gallery[]
Covers[]
_3A.jpg "Spike (dark horse) 3A.jpg (457 KB)")
_3B.jpg "Spike (dark horse) 3B.jpg (2.74 MB)")
Cover artwork[]
Quotes[]
| Pearl: "At eighteen, I thought you were my hero. Such a naive little girl. You're no hero." |
| Spike: "Have to give back the decoder ring, I s'pose." |
| Spike: "Neither of us are the same. So much bloody water under the bridge. Pearl's become crazier, harder. And me? What have I become? Not the same villain. Nobody's idea of a hero. Drifting somewhere in no man's land." |
| Pearl: "Not so fast, Spike. My brother and I are on a little scavenger hunt." |
| Spike: "Are cigarettes or bug armor on your scavenger list?" |
| Morgan: "I've always found a serious talk goes better with a stiff drink." |
| Spike: "You came to the right place." |
| Spike: "She once was dumb enough to think I was heroic. Now she's smarter. But I am different than I was then. There was something very direct about the person I used to be. At least I knew what I wanted most of the time. Seeing Peal and Nash reminded me. Like seeing yourself in an old photograph wearing an outfit you thought was stylish. 'Who's that git in the bell-bottoms and giant pointed collar?' And yet... also realizing you are the baddest badass of all time and if anyone can make that outfit look good, it's you." |
References[]
- ↑ "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Spike #3 (Jenny Frison cover)." Dark Horse Comics. Retrieved on April 1, 2022.
- ↑ "Top 300 Comics Actual--October 2012." ICv2, November 12, 2012.