New Rules, Part Five is the fifth issue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten comic book series. Joss Whedon is the executive producer.
Synopsis[]
When Buffy and crew try to wrest Xander from Dracula’s control, they begin a battle supreme with the terrifying demon that Dracula has become…[1]
Summary[]
Buffy, Willow, and Spike are in the middle of battling the creature Dracula has been transformed into, while Andrew, Dawn and Giles escape the collapsing hotel with the Slayer Handbook. Anya reappears to Xander because of Dracula's persona being overwritten by that of Maloker, and she stresses to Xander that only he knows how to save everyone as Maloker continues to grow to an immense size.
Buffy notes that Spike, Willow and herself are not affecting Maloker at all, and Willow summons Giles via a magic conference to get ideas on how to defeat Maloker. Giles tells them that, being the progenitor of vampires, Maloker shares the conventional weaknesses of a regular vampire: stakes, fire, and holy objects. However, in order to work they have to be enlarged to match the Old One's size. Dawn overhears and tells Willow to make her a giant again to battle Maloker.
Willow turns Dawn into a giant, but Willow nevertheless warns her to keep her distance from Maloker, who is currently devouring people. Willow flies off and gets a priest to bless a skyscraper as Buffy suggested. Dawn lures Maloker away from crowds of people and successfully stakes Maloker with the needle on the skyscraper, and Maloker instantly turns to dust. Dracula is able to reform, but immediately starts to transform into the Old One again, and begs Buffy to kill him.
Before Buffy is about to kill Dracula, she is stopped by Xander who suddenly writes in the Vampyr book that Dracula is able to fend off the transformation of Maloker using his willpower, and adding that everyone under Dracula's thrall is released. Dracula departs, but leaves the Scoobies with a warning that they shouldn't mess around with the Slayer Handbook. Back at Xander and Dawn's apartment, the Scoobies are debating who shall write the new rules of magic, when D'Hoffryn appears and informs them the new Mystic Council will do so. Buffy declines, but says she will accept the Council's advice.
Continuity[]
- Xander recalls being in the Deeper Well fight against Maloker, in "The Core," and Giles explains the demon's size difference from this last apparition.
- Anya reappears, not seen since Xander was reunited with Dracula (New Rules, Part Two).
- Spike expresses knowledge about Dawn previously being a giant, and she recalls hating it (The Long Way Home, Part One until Time of Your Life, Part One).
- The Redwood Investment Group had appeared as a sponsor on a music festival poster in New Rules, Part Four.
- Dracula complains about Xander only contacting him to ask for favors, in reference to Wolves at the Gate, Part One and New Rules, Part Two.
- Xander mentions riding motorcycles with Dracula, as a recall he'd taught the vampire how to ride them (Antique).
- Willow refers to herself as a recovering magic addict, as seen in "Lessons."
- Anya recalls D'Hoffryn not being her boss anymore, as seen in "Selfless."
- D'Hoffryn informs about a forming a new Magic Council, after the death of most of its members in "The Core."
- Dawn and Xander come to terms about his betrayal in The Watcher.
- Dawn mentions having a crush on Xander as a schoolgirl, as seen in "Real Me."
- Spike mentions Buffy losing her mother ("The Body"), having an absent father ("Helpless"), and dealing with demons and vampires since she was young ("The Origin").
- Ironically, Spike mentions it's a wonder Buffy isn't in a straitjacket, as she had been previously interned, and hallucinated still being in a mental institution ("Normal Again").
Appearances[]
Individuals[]
- Buffy Summers
- Willow Rosenberg
- Rupert Giles
- Xander Harris
- Andrew Wells
- Dawn Summers
- Spike
- Anya
- Dracula
- Maloker
- D'Hoffryn
- San Francisco priest
- Anya Jenkins (Only mentioned)
- Butterfield (Only mentioned)
- Joyce Summers (Only mentioned)
- Hank Summers (Only mentioned)
Organization and Titles[]
- Scooby Gang
- Slayer
- Witch
- Watcher's Council (Only mentioned)
- Magic Council (Only mentioned)
Species[]
Locations[]
- San Francisco
- Deeper Well (Only mentioned)
- Transylvania (Only mentioned)
Weapons and Objects[]
Death Count[]
- Unknown number of people, eaten by Maloker.
Behind the Scenes[]
Trivia[]
- This issue has an exclusive cover for San Diego Comic Con 2014, by artist Andy Park.
- The Redwood Investment Group building is a reference to the Transamerica Pyramid, the tallest building in San Francisco at the time.
Collections[]
Pop Culture References[]
- Xander suggests Dracula to keep in touch via Skype.
- Xander mentions Humbert Humbert, the pedophile from the novel Lolita (1955).
- Xander and Dawn have a miniature Dalek in their bedroom.
- Xander and Dawn have a The Great Wave off Kanagawa painting in their bedroom.
Gallery[]
Cover Artwork[]
Preview[]
Quotes[]
Willow: “Go to it, Father.” |
Priest: “There’s normally a bit of ceremony…” |
Willow: “No offense, but I’m a Jewish Wiccan and we’re all about to die.” |
Dracula: “You say that, but I only hear from you when you want something.” |
Xander: “I’m not saying I’m perfect. But, Dude…get a smartphone. Have Butterfield teach you how to Skype. I’ll keep in touch…I promise.” |
D’Hoffryn: “We have the requisite power, experience, and wisdom to shape the laws of the new era. We shall gladly relieve you of your burden.” |
Buffy: “Y’know what? No. I don’t think I want a vengeance demon making the rules. Or any of the whack jobs you hang out with.” |
D’Hoffryn: “You have just admitted you do not trust yourself with the responsibility.” |
Buffy: “I don’t. But y’know who I do trust? Us. All of us together. I want the best people I know doing this.” |