New Rules, Part Five is the fifth issue of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten comic book series. Written by Christos Gage with Nicholas Brendon and illustrated by Rebekah Isaacs, it was originally published on July 23, 2014, by Dark Horse Comics.
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…
- Nicholas Brendon joins the writing team!
- The team from Angel & Faith takes over Buffy!
"Another fantastic addition to the series." — Newsarama[1]
Summary[]
Buffy, Willow, and Spike fight the creature Dracula has been transformed into, while Andrew, Dawn, and Giles escape the collapsing hotel with the Vampyr book. 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, but they have to be enlarged to work on the Old One's size. Dawn overhears and tells Willow to make her a giant again to fight Maloker.
Willow turns Dawn into a giant and 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 he starts to transform into the Old One again and begs Buffy to kill him.
Buffy wields her Scythe against Dracula, but Xander stops her and writes in the Vampyr book that Dracula is able to fend off the transformation of Maloker using his willpower, adding that everyone under Dracula's thrall is released. After Xander promises to keep in touch with him, 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 debate who shall write the new rules of magic, when D'Hoffryn appears and informs them the new Magic Council will do so. Buffy declines, but says she will accept the Council's advice. Before D'Hoffryn leaves, Xander privately asks if he knows anything about Anya's ghost, but D'Hoffryn denies.
Xander and Dawn sit down to talk about their relationship. She doesn't blame him for betraying Buffy, but explains her love for him changed because of her reset of feelings. They agree to give her time and space. Outside, Buffy and Spike watch them from atop a building and discuss their difficult road ahead. Buffy is insecure about taking responsibility of the Vampyr book, but Spike tells her she has a pretty good family that she can count on. As they leave to patrol, Spike adds that everything will work out if the masses of demons after the book don't slaughter them all.
Continuity[]
- Xander recalls being in the Deeper Well fight against Maloker, in The Core, Part Three–Five, and Giles explains the demon's size difference from this last apparition.
- Anya reappears, unseen 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 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, Part Four.
- 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).
- Spike mentions it's a wonder Buffy isn't in a straitjacket; ironically, she had been interned in a mental institution and hallucinated still being in one ("Normal Again").
Appearances[]
Individuals[]
- Anya
- Butterfield (Only mentioned)
- D'Hoffryn
- Dracula
- Rupert Giles
- Alexander Harris
- Anya Jenkins (Only mentioned)
- Maloker
- Willow Rosenberg
- Spike
- Buffy Summers
- Dawn Summers
- Hank Summers (Only mentioned)
- Joyce Summers (Only mentioned)
- Andrew Wells
- San Francisco priest
Organization and titles[]
- Key
- Scooby Gang
- Slayer
- Magic Council (Only mentioned)
- Watcher
- Watchers Council (Only mentioned)
- Witch
Species[]
Locations[]
- Deeper Well (Only mentioned)
- San Francisco
- Hotel Luxe
- Redwood Investment Group
- Xander and Dawn's apartment
- Transylvania (Only mentioned)
Objects[]
Death count[]
- Unknown number of people, eaten by Maloker.
Behind the scenes[]
Production[]
- This issue has an exclusive cover for San Diego Comic Con 2014 by the artist Andy Park.
- The Redwood Investment Group building is a reference to the Transamerica Pyramid, the tallest building in San Francisco at the time.
Distribution[]
- New Rules, Part Five was the 157th best selling comic issue in its publishing month, with 18,827 sales in July 2014 at comic specialty stores.[2]
Collections[]
Pop culture references[]
- Xander suggests Dracula to keep in touch via Skype.
- Xander offers to travel with Dracula like in the 1969 road drama film Easy Rider.
- Xander refers to the Magic Council as "the Illuminati of magic," comparing it to the conspiracy theory on the Illuminati controlling world affairs, masterminding events, and planting agents in government and corporations.
- Xander mentions Humbert Humbert, the pedophile from the novel Lolita (1955).
- Xander and Dawn have a The Great Wave off Kanagawa painting in their bedroom.
- Xander and Dawn have a miniature Dalek in their bedroom.
Gallery[]
Covers[]
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." |
References[]
- ↑ "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 10 #5 (Steve Morris cover)." Dark Horse Comics. Retrieved on September 26, 2017.
- ↑ "Top 300 Comics Actual--July 2014." ICv2, August 11, 2014.