|
The subject of this article is of alternative canonicity. While created as part of licensed material, it is not part of the original Buffyverse, but its own developed story. |
 |
Buffy the Vampire Slayer #7 is the seventh issue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2019) comic book series. Written by Jordie Bellaire and illustrated by David López and Sas Milledge, it was originally published on August 7, 2019 by Boom! Studios.
Synopsis[]
The Scoobies are in disarray, and after the huge sacrifices she made last issue, Willow is still grappling with the consequences of losing such a monumental piece of her life. Was the sacrifice worth it? Or does this spell the end for the Scooby Gang as Buffy's friends and family deal with the fallout from recent events and attempt to put the pieces of their lives back together?[1]
Summary[]
Nothing has been the same since Willow gave up a part of her soul to save Xander. Willow feels disconnected from her life, and while Xander seems back to his regular personality, he is still part-vampire. She confides in Giles that she fears she will never go back to normal, and he tells her that while both experienced was traumatic and unfair, no two journeys are the same.
That night, Willow loses her sleep at once again at 3 A.M., the witching hour, but this time it's a nightmare. A dark version of herself visits Willow in her bedroom, urging her to come where she belongs. Willow cries out for Buffy, but the Dark Willow, in Buffy's form, taunts her: "You think just because she's your friend, you don't need me?"
Dark Willow claims to be the "better" Willow, the part that is "competitive, quick, and astute." Appearing as Rose and then Xander, Dark Willow explains that each soul has a moral side and a dark side entwined together, but now Willow is missing one part. Showing Willow Xander's tomb, Dark Willow tells her she did not do enough.
Willow remembers a time when she and Xander were eight, playing a made-up board game on Xander's bed since he is home sick. Willow had told her mother that then she wanted to be home sick too, and her mother let her to keep Xander company. As Willow remembers how that moment felt, a fiery demon appears to her, asking why she let it die. It claims all will suffer, showing Willow an army of demons surrounded by fire.
Dark Willow warns her that a sacrifice will come, stabbing Willow in the stomach with a golden Egyptian dagger. Dark Willow accuses Willow of giving up the part of herself she will really need and vows to correct Willow's "gruesome error." Willow fights back, but as she stabs Dark Willow, she sees only herself lying beneath her before she falls into the fire.
In a park, Willow tells Xander about this recurring dream, and he comforts her. Willow asks if he is really happy now, and Xander says that while he doesn't know if he's ever been or ever will be truly happy, he knows he is lucky to be alive, and to have his friends. Playing and joking with each other, they leave. A pamphlet announcing an Egyptian exhibit with the dagger from the dream lays on the grass.
Continuity[]
- As Willow talks about her friends and life, she sees the first time she and Xander met Buffy and when the Slayer revealed the existence of the supernatural to them, in Welcome Back to the Hellmouth, Part One.
- Willow reflects on the time she told her mom "If he's home sick, then I want to be home sick" when she was eight (ca. 2013), the same words she used ten years later when Xander had been sired, in issue #5. Xander will say the same when returning his soul to her in issue #12.
- Willow dreams about the dagger Drusilla was researching in issue #5, when Joyce organized the upcoming Egyptian exhibit at her gallery that contains the dagger.
- Like announced in Willow's dream, the dagger will be used to make the sacrifices to activate the Hellmouth in issue #8 then open it in Hellmouth, Part One.
- Dark Willow tells Willow that she" surrendered the only part that could protect us," having given half of her soul in issue #6. Having it back will allow her to save Sunnydale in issue #12.
Appearances[]
Individuals[]
- Drusilla (Only in visions)
- Rupert Giles
- Alexander Harris
- Jessica Harris (Only mentioned)
- Rose
- Siphon (Only mentioned)
- Sheila Rosenberg (Only mentioned)
- Willow Rosenberg
- Buffy Summers
Organizations and titles[]
- Scooby Gang
- Slayer (Only in visions)
- Watcher
Species[]
Locations[]
- Dreamspace
- Egypt (Only mentioned)
- Sunnydale, USA
- Cemetery
- Harris residence (Only in visions)
- Rosenberg residence
- Sunnydale High School
- Tunaverse (Only in visions)
Objects[]
- Anima Colligationem (Only in flashbacks)
- Dagger of Sekhmet (Only in visions)
- Soul (Only mentioned)
- Stake
Behind the scenes[]
Production[]
- Sonia Liao's "Chosen One" variant cover introduces an unidentified Slayer, active in Japan in the 16th century.
- Becca Carey's variant cover pays homage to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "The Body."
- The "Daily School Bulletin" subsection of the Sunnydale High Sentinel mentions Harmony Kendall.
- The back of the issue features a quote by Buffy Summers in the episode "Checkpoint."
Distribution[]
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer #7 was the 116th best selling comic issue in its publishing month, with 18,387 sales in August 2019 at comic specialty stores.[2]
Collections[]
Pop culture references[]
- Willow recognizes 3 A.M. as the witching hour, a time of night associated with supernatural events in folklore. In the Western Christian tradition, the hour was considered as such due to the absence of prayers in the canonical hours during this period. Women caught outside without sufficient reason at this time were sometimes executed on suspicion of witchcraft.
Gallery[]
Covers[]
Cover artwork[]
Preview[]
References[]
- ↑ "Willow Deals with Sacrifice in BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #7". Boom! Studios, May 21, 2019.
- ↑ "Top 500 Comics--August 2019". ICv2, September 16, 2019.