The Core, Part Two is the twenty-second issue of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine comic book series. Written by Andrew Chambliss and illustrated by Georges Jeanty, it was originally published on June 12, 2013, by Dark Horse Comics.
Synopsis[]
Buffy, Xander, and Willow must fight against all odds to get past the mystical council and gain entry to a magical hotspot — the Deeper Well! New allies are born while old enemies bring the heat. Grave dangers await our heroes at the center of the earth![1]
Summary[]
At the entrance to the Deeper Well, Buffy fights through the crowd of demons with her Scythe, reflecting on how she last used it when she destroyed the Seed. Willow also fights with her, using her magic against the demons. Xander is back at the entrance, texting information to Severin and Simone over their plans.
On their side of the Deeper Well, Severin and Simone threats the last guard of the Deeper Well, a little girl with a balloon. The balloon pops when Simone shots it, revealing a tentacled monster lunging for them. Severin defeats it by draining the girl of her powers. Severin orders Xander to buy them more time to get in, only for Xander to be attacked by another demon.
Buffy fights against D'Hoffryn and a flying gargoyle suddenly snatches her up. She struggles against it until Illyria and Koh appear to behead it. They argue they are with her on this, but Buffy rejects them. Koh reveals he was accused of killing his family and imprisoned for it; he came to terms he can not change the past, but he can still help her save her sister.
In San Francisco, Billy and Anaheed are in a video call with Devon, who asks Billy to return home and fight against the increasing zompire crowd. Dawn has freaked out and locked herself in the bathroom, unable to cope with what was happening to her. Spike comforts her from outside the door, promising her he was there to help her. He tells her stories about herself until Dawn comes out of the bathroom, still not remembering, but feeling right about when they discovered she was the Key. She lamented that she couldn't remember any of it, but what he said felt right to her.
Spike continues to comfort Dawn and tell her stories about herself, but he suddenly stops when he realizes he's starting to forget about her like the others. Spike then takes a tape recorder from Andrew and records a message to himself about his memories of Dawn so he won’t forget them. Billy and Anaheed prepare to leave, asking Spike to tell Buffy something about Simone if he sees her since she isn't answering her phone.
In the fight at the Deeper Well, Willow saves Xander from the demon attacking him. Buffy, Illyria, and Koh joins them and talk more strategy over their next move, while Xander subtly calls up Simone, who says they still need more time. Buffy and Willow finalize their plan and prepare to continue fighting, but Xander tells them they will die if they go through with it. Buffy does not change her resolve, saying she'll die if it means saving Dawn. Xander says he already saved her, confessing he accepted Simone and Severin's offer and told them the location of the other entrance.
Buffy says he did it because he didn't believe in any of them, but he is the one she shouldn't have believed in. Illyria states the Siphon's plan will tear the universe apart. Buffy does not want to hear Xander, and declares they don't have the one mission to save Dawn anymore: they had to save the world. Again.
Continuity[]
- Buffy recalls not using her Scythe since she destroyed the Seed of Wonder in Last Gleaming, Part Four.
- Buffy mentions the Slayer Organization army, disbanded in Last Gleaming, Part Five.
- Koh's reason of years of imprisonment is revealed in this issue, first mentioned in Guarded, Part Three.
- Spike tells Dawn about the time they invaded the Magic Box and found out she was the Key ("Blood Ties").
- Xander reveals to Buffy and Willow about his betrayal from The Watcher.
- Buffy declares, "We have to save the world. Again," which mirrors her phrase in "Becoming, Part Two."
Appearances[]
Individuals[]
- Anaheed
- Brahma
- D'Hoffryn
- Devon
- Simone Doffler
- Rupert Giles (Only mentioned)
- Alexander Harris
- Illyria
- Katie
- Eldre Koh
- Billy Lane
- Willow Rosenberg
- Severin
- Spike
- Buffy Summers
- Dawn Summers
- Andrew Wells
- Balloon demon
- Leaf blower demon
- Magic Council wizard
Organizations and titles[]
- Key
- Magic Council
- Order of Dagon (Only mentioned)
- Scooby Gang
- Slayer
- Slayer Organization (Only mentioned)
- Watcher (Only mentioned)
- Witch
- Wizard
Species[]
- Demon
- Gargoyle
- Lower being
- Nitobe
- Zen demon
- Higher being (Only mentioned)
- Human
- Old One
- Vampire
Events[]
Locations[]
- Cotswolds, England
- Deeper Well
- United States
- San Francisco
- Santa Rosita
- Sunnydale (Only mentioned)
- 1630 Revello Drive (Only mentioned)
- Magic Box (Only mentioned)
Objects[]
- Blood
- mʔ
- Seed of Wonder (Only mentioned)
- Vampy Cat
- Watchers Diaries (Only mentioned)
Death count[]
- Balloon demon, absorbed by Severin.
- Unidentified Magic Council member, beheaded by Koh.
- Leaf blower demon, disintegrated by Willow.
Behind the scenes[]
Distribution[]
- The Core, Part Two was the 105th best selling comic issue in its publishing month, with 21,194 sales in June 2013 at comic specialty stores.[2]
Collections[]
Pop culture references[]
- Buffy describes Koh's story as being "Shawshanked" in reference to the film The Shawshank Redemption.
- Billy wears a Gap hoodie.
- Xander describes Koh as a look-alike to the character Worf from Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Gallery[]
Covers[]
Cover artwork[]
Preview[]
Quotes[]
| D'Hoffryn: "Retreat, Slayer!" |
| Buffy: "I'll die first." |
| Buffy: "Sorry you got Shawshanked, but it doesn't change anything." |
| Xander: "If you let go, I promise I won't swing it at you." |
| Xander: "When I told you I turned down Severin and Simone… I lied. I told them where the other entrance to the Well was." |
| Buffy: "You what?" |
| Xander: "I did it to save your sister." |
| Buffy: "You did it because you didn't believe in me. In any of us." |
| Buffy: "We had one mission Xander — save Dawn. But thanks to you... we have to save the world. Again." |
References[]
- ↑ "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #22 (Phil Noto cover)." Dark Horse Comics. Retrieved on October 2, 2017.
- ↑ "Top 300 Comics Actual--June 2013." ICv2, July 8, 2013.