The Blood of Carthage, Part One

The subject of this article is non-canonical. While created as part of licensed material, it has not been confirmed as part of the "real" Buffyverse.

The Blood of Carthage, Part One is the twenty-first issue of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Classic comic book series. It was written by Christopher Golden and illustrated by Cliff Richards and Chynna Clugston.

Synopsis

Buffy #21 kicks off the five-part Blood of Carthage story arc. In a town like Sunnydale, you can bet the local "boogeyman" legend ain't just hot air. But killing it is a LOT more trouble than it's worth.^[1]

Continuity

• Buffy and Willow are already attending UC Sunnydale, which they began in "The Freshman".
• Buffy reunites with Felicia, and asks if she still works at the Popsicle Parlor (White Christmas).
• Willow recalls Joe Burgess wanting to kill Xander (Stinger).
• The flashbacks take place in the year 1989.
• Buffy reunites with Tergazzi, who she met in the novel "Immortal".
• Buffy recalls the last time she saw Brad, in The Food Chain.

Appearances

Individuals

• Scipio Armilianus
• Joe Burgess
• Mrs. Caulfield (Only mentioned)
• Brad Caulfield
• Felicia
• Rupert Giles
• Xander Harris
• Sheila Rosenberg (Only in flashbacks)
• Willow Rosenberg
• Buffy Summers
• Tergazzi
• Vraka (Only mentioned)
• Willy
• Xerxes the Blind

Organizations and titles

• Blood of Carthage
• Dingoes Ate My Baby (Only mentioned)
• Scooby Gang
• Slayer
• Witch

Species

• Demon
• Human
• Vampire

Locations

• Sunnydale
  • Popsicle Parlor (Only mentioned)
  • Rosenberg residence (Only in flashbacks)
  • Quarry
  • Quarryhouse
  • University of California, Sunnydale
    • Stevenson Hall
  • Willy's Place

Weapons and objects

• Bad Boy
• Sunnydale Press
• Sunnydale Gazette

Death count

• Unknown number of vampires and demons, killed by Xerxes the Blind (only mentioned).
• Scipio, beheaded by Buffy Summers.
• Brad Caulfield, killed by Xerxes (only mentioned).

Behind the scenes

Production

• The photo cover features a promotional picture taken for Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 4.
• Two covers exclusive for Dynamic Forces were released, with artwork by Chrisian Zanier, in red or gold foil.

Distribution

• The Blood of Carthage, Part One was the 99th best selling comic issue in its publishing month, with 25,475 sales in May 2000 at comic specialty stores.^[2]

Collections

• "The Blood of Carthage"
• "Omnibus: Volume 5"
• "Classic 31: The Blood of Carthage"

Pop culture references

• Buffy mentions the Jellystone Park from The Yogi Bear Show (1961).
• Xander played as a child that he was like the fictional character Indiana Jones, and quotes the tagline for the film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984).
• Sheila mentions fictional characters Tarzan and Jane Porter.
• Buffy jokes about Brad playing the game Twister with the forces of darkness.
• Xander wore as a child a shirt of the Transformers franchise (1984).
• Xander and Willow played as a child with Barbie, Skipper, and Strawberry Shortcake dolls and G.I. Joe action figures.
• Xander compared he and Willow as children to fictional superhero duo Batman and Robin.

Gallery

Additional covers

Christian Zanier red foil exclusive

Christian Zanier golden foil exclusive

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Cover artwork

Jeff Matsuda main cover

Original picture for photo cover

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References