Return to Sunnydale, Part One is the eighth issue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten comic book series. Joss Whedon is the executive producer.
Synopsis
A Halloween issue spectacular takes Buffy and crew back to Sunnydale as they follow the stolen Vampyr book, finding a massive magical party at the Hellmouth—and a demon devouring revelers![1]
Continuity
- This issue is a Halloween event; this had been previously commemorated only in episodes "Halloween", "Fear, Itself", "All the Way", and "Life of the Party". As Buffy recalls, this is the first celebration under the new Seed of Wonder (The Core, Part Five).
- Xander mentions his betrayal from The Watcher., and Dawn recalls he was already forgiven (The Core, Part Five).
- Dawn reveals that since the supernatural became public (Harmonic Divergence), people go to Sunnydale on Halloween in "celebration of the occult at the town that proved its existence".
- Spike is recognized as William the Bloody, a murderer and bad poet.
- Andrew tells holo-Jonathan about his assassination in "Conversations with Dead People".
- Buffy refers to the Vampyr as the book Giles gave her when she was "a rookie Slayer" ("Welcome to the Hellmouth").
- Tara's death ("Seeing Red") is revisited, with Buffy and Willow recalling her murder, and Andrew trying to resurrect her.
- Jonathan's hologram appears for the first time.
- The Scooby Gang returns to Sunnydale for the first time after the events from Last Gleaming, Part Four.
- Buffy and Spike recalls never having a conclusion about Warren after arriving in Sunnydale during the Twilight crisis (Last Gleaming, Part One), but correctly suspect he died with the end of magic (Last Gleaming, Part Five).
- Willow exhibits her "Dark Willow" side and recalls not being repressed anymore, as seen in "Willow: Wonderland".
- Willow reveals that Warren's family made him a funeral with his skin, after she seemingly killed him in "Villains".
- Bufy and Spike discuss about their relationship before his soul ("Grave"), after she was resurrected by by Willow ("Bargaining, Part One"); he also tries to mention the attempt rape in "Seeing Red".
Appearances
Individuals
- Buffy Summers
- Willow Rosenberg
- Xander Harris
- Rupert Giles
- Spike
- Dawn Summers
- Andrew Wells
- Jonathan Levinson
- Soul Glutton
- Aztec Slayer (Only in flashbacks)
- Soul Glutton's partner (Only in flashbacks)
- Soul Glutton's child (Only in flashbacks)
- Angel (Only mentioned)
- Warren Mears (Only mentioned)
- Tara Maclay (Only mentioned)
Organizations and Titles
- Scooby Gang
- Slayer
- Witch
- The Trio (Only mentioned)
Species
Locations
- San Francisco, USA
- Sunnydale, USA
- The Trio secret hideout #69
- Spike's Crypt
Weapons and Objects
Death Count
- Several humans, killed by the Soul Glutton.
Behind the Scenes
Trivia
- This issue was announced as a “starting point,” highlighted by Dark Horse Comics as "the perfect place for new readers to jump on to continuity arcs."
- Steve Morris main cover is a wrap-around; the back reveals The Soul Glutton and three gravestones: Buffy's, Giles's, and Warren's.
- Rebekah Isaacs's variant cover mistakenly features Harmony and Clem, who would only appear in issue Day Off (or Harmony in My Head); a subscript was then included: "This scene is not accurate depiction of the events in this issue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. There is no prom, and there may or may not be a battle for the prom queen’s crown…"
- Artist Richard Corben and colorist Beth Corben Reed guests for The Soul Glutton tale's pages.
- Willow refers to the Scooby Gang adventures with "as we call it, 'Wednesday," in reference to the weekday comics are published. This is similar to Buffy's quote "Dawn's in trouble, must be Tuesday" from "Once More with Feeling".
Collections
- "I Wish"
Pop Culture References
- Buffy mentions reality show series The Real Housewives.
- Dawn mentions the Burning Man annual gathering.
- An unknown Sunnydale attendee mentions the Godzilla monster.
- Jonathan mentions science fiction franchise The Matrix.
- Andrew mentions Loki making Silver Surfer fight Thor, from comic issue Silver Surver #4 (1969).
- Willow compares The Soul Glutton to the character Cthulhu.
Gallery
Cover Artwork
Preview
