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Buffyverse Wiki

One Year Later is the first issue of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Twelve comic book miniseries. It was written by Christos Gage with Joss Whedon and illustrated by Georges Jeanty. It was originally published on June 20, 2018, by Dark Horse Comics.

Synopsis[]

It's one year later, and the lives of Buffy and the Scoobies haven't been too eventful for a while — at least as far as fighting demons and the forces of darkness are concerned. But that's all about to change when Dawn and Xander's housewarming party is interrupted by some familiar faces bringing news of familiar foes from the future. Can you say Harth… and Fray?

  • The return of Fray!
  • The Reckoning will be the culmination of all the Buffy seasons![1]

Summary[]

In the 23rd century, a sorcerer uses magic to cause pain on Harth Fray while telling him about the legend of the Reckoning; two centuries before, the last Slayer and her allies faced an apocalyptic army of demons, but both demons and the Slayer were gone at the end. The sorcerer knows Harth has the Slayer memories of his twin sister, Melaka, and questions him about what really happened in the event. Harth explains there were many Slayers, but they all lost their powers except Buffy, who recently visited their era. The sorcerer has identified the trail Buffy left when she returned to her time, and he intends to follow her with the Scepter of the Veils and use his knowledge of the future to make himself all-powerful. Suddenly, the sorcerer's followers reveal themselves as lurks Harth had sired. As they attack the sorcerer, Harth takes the scepter and boasts his plan of ending two Slayers.

In the present, Buffy cradles Dawn and Xander's baby daughter, Joyce, having arrived early for their housewarming party. Xander asks if she is okay seeing Spike, and she assures they aren't mad at each other after their mutual breakup. Later, during the party, Giles explains the spell that restored his true age is permanent. Willow talks about her empowerment center for Slayers; she worries the government will see them as a threat, but Riley has assured her he won't let that happen.

Even later, Angel and Illyria surprise the Scoobies at the door. He announces they have a crisis; Wolfram & Hart is coordinating an attack on Willow's center, involving demons and powerful humans who see her movement as a threat. Angel adds that they are getting intel from a vampire from the future, who Buffy recognizes as Harth. The group decides to act quickly. While Dawn begrudgingly stays behind with Joyce, Buffy goes to the weapons cabinet.

In the Wolfram & Hart Silicon Valley branch, various demons gather around Harth while he plans the attack on Willow's center based on his recollections. Armed and prepared, Buffy, Spike, Angel, Giles, Illyria, Xander, and Willow attack at full force. A demon tries to call for reinforcements, but Faith has taken care of the security. In the battle, Buffy argues Harth made it possible to change history by coming to their era. Harth declares he remembers it all from her perspective; his presence was already part of history and he was ready.

At that moment, Richard Wilkins breaks into the building in Olvikan form, having pulled himself together due to his Old One constitution. Angry at him for making her a murderer, Faith charges at the Mayor, but he easily throws her to the side with his tail. As more demons come in, the Scoobies realize the intel they got on Harth's attack was planted. Surrounded, they get together, and Willow, Giles, and Illyria magically protect the group while they run away. Angel directs them to a reinforced room, where Xander sends a text message on his cell phone. The Mayor breaks into the room, and Dawn opens a portal for them to escape back home in time. At the demons' frustration of not defeating the Scoobies, Harth insists it is all according to his memories, and this is when it starts to get fun.

Back in Dawn and Xander's, the Scoobies are frustrated at their apparent inability to act without following what already happened in Harth's memories. Buffy mentions the library she saw in the future with knowledge from the Watchers, which Giles might decipher. After Illyria describes the risks of her unpredictable time travel, Willow says she can help guide them to the right era, and Dawn points out she can join them with her Key powers to open the portal to the future. They promptly use their magic, and the Scoobies cross the portal to Haddyn. On the other side, Melaka and Erin threaten Buffy with their ray guns for trying to wipe out their world.

Continuity[]

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Death count[]

  • Unidentified sorcerer, speared then bitten by several lurks.
  • Unidentified lurk, staked by Angel.
  • Unidentified demon, beheaded by Faith.
  • Unidentified lurk, beheaded by Spike.
  • Unknown number of demons and lurks, killed in battle by the Scooby Gang.

Behind the scenes[]

Distribution[]

  • One Year Later was the 160th best selling comic issue in its publishing month, with 12,225 sales in June 2018 at comic specialty stores.[2]

Collections[]

Pop culture references[]

  • Xander and Dawn's home has a poster of the fictional character Hellboy on the wall.
  • Richard Wilkins mimics a scene from the horror film The Shinning (1980).
  • A billboard in Haddyn advertises for Coca-Cola in Japanese.

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