The Core, Part Four

The Core, Part Four
Publication	August 14, 2013
Length	32 pages
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine #24
← Previous	The Core, Part Three
Next →	The Core, Part Five
Publisher	Dark Horse Comics
Writer(s)	Andrew Chambliss
Penciller(s)	Georges Jeanty
Editor(s)	Scott Allie & Sierra Hahn
Cover artist(s)	Phil Noto Variant cover: Georges Jeanty
Inker(s)	Dexter Vines
Colorist(s)	Michelle Madsen
Letterer(s)	Richard Starkings & Jimmy Betancourt

The Core, Part Four was the twenty-fourth issue of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine comic book series. Joss Whedon is the executive producer.

Synopsis

In a last-ditch effort to save Dawn, the heroic trio of Buffy, Willow, and Xander must split up and tackle their own demons, real and imagined. As the season's Big Bads – Severin and Simone – threaten to turn back time, the mystical council partner with Koh and Illyria to prevent a tragic tear in the fabric of time!

Continuity

• Simone mentions not being a Slayer by choice, as she became one due to the spell in "Chosen."
• Simone recalls Buffy's destruction of the Seed of Wonder to stop Twilight, and consequential end of magic (Last Gleaming, Part Four).
• Illyria tells Severin about Fred's ("A Hole in the World") and Wesley's death ("Not Fade Away").

Appearances

Individuals

• Buffy Summers
• Willow Rosenberg
• Xander Harris
• Simone Doffler
• Illyria
• Severin
• Eldre Koh
• Maloker
• Wesley Wyndam-Pryce (Only in flashbacks)
• Clare (Only mentioned)
• Twilight (Only mentioned)
• Fred Burkle (Only mentioned)
• Dawn Summers (Only mentioned)

Organizations and Titles

• Scooby Gang
• Magic Council
• Slayer
• Witch

Species

• Human
• Vampire
  • Slaypire
• Demon
  • Nitobe
  • Old One

Locations

• Cotswolds, England
  • Deeper Well

Weapons and Objects

• Seed of Wonder
• Scythe
• Stake (Only mentioned)

Death Count

• The majority of the Magic Council, eaten by Maloker.

Behind the Scenes

Collections

• "The Core"
• "Buffy Season Nine Library Edition, Volume 3"

Pop Culture References

• Willow mentions the Chernobyl nuclear disaster .

Gallery

Cover Artwork

Phil Noto main cover

Georges Jeanty variant

Preview

Quotes

Buffy: "Get off."

Simone: "I would have turned a lot sooner. Just took me too long to find a vampire whose blood had more kick than that weak sauce upstairs."

Xander: "You used me. You said we could undo all this."

Simone: "Did you really think I was going to save...who was it? You can't even remember who you came down here to save can you?"

Xander: "Yes. I. Can."

Simone: "You can't win."

Buffy: "I don't need to win. I just need to keep you busy while my friends do the winning for me."

Illyria: "You must live."

Willow: "Gotta say, not what I expected from someone with the last name 'The Merciless'."

Illyria: "It is not what I expected either. Now go."