Willow: Goddesses and Monsters

↳ Note: This article is about the 2009 comic book one-shot from Dark Horse Comics. For other uses, see Willow.

Willow: Goddesses and Monsters
Publication	December 23, 2009
Length	22 pages
one-shot
Publisher	Dark Horse Comics
Writer(s)	Joss Whedon
Penciller(s)	Karl Moline
Editor(s)	Scott Allie
Cover artist(s)	Jo Chen Georges Jeanty
Inker(s)	Andy Owens
Colorist(s)	Michelle Madsen
Letterer(s)	Richard Starkings & ComiCraft's Jimmy Betancourt

"Goddesses and Monsters" was a comic book one-shot, which was part of the Season Eight and Willow meta-series.

Synopsis

A few months after having activating all potentials, Willow Rosenberg had decided to take a mystical journey which was traditional for witches. The first level of the trip appeared as a train station, where she was greeted by one of her guides, a girl in a wheelchair named Muffitt. The second level was a field full of flowers, which Muffitt explained meant that Willow was gay, as straight witches saw a pine forest instead; this also revealed that Willow's subconscious gave shape to the world around her. The next level had Muffitt and Willow sinking through the ground. Underground they met another guide; Aluwyn.

For a moment Willow thought back to San Francisco where she had left Kennedy behind training other Slayers and their talk about fidelity. Aluwyn urged her not to think about Kennedy, as they had to go down ever deeper. Aluwyn hinted at a wound that Willow had, but suddenly they were stopped by a giant man in a dark armour. He claimed that Willow should not follow this path, as it would corrupt her; he also believed that Aluwyn, the trickster, was not a suitable guide. He attacked Willow, but Willow defeated him without killing him, saying that was against her nature.

When Aluwyn brought Willow to a shore where a boat lay, Willow realised that she wasn't helping her on her journey and that the world around her was an illusion. Then the illusion disappeared and gargantuan goddesses appeared in the void. They revealed Willow that she could choose her own guide, and pointed out that Willow already had Tara in mind. They showed her an image of Tara, who appeared in an idyllic setting. Willow figured it was either an illusion or Tara was indeed in heaven, in either case, she did not want her as a guide.

Elsewhere in a mystical forest near a lake, Aluwyn and the other guides were discussing how they had failed in keeping Willow with them, when suddenly Willow appeared emerged naked the lake. She told Aluwyn that she had chosen her as her guide, much to the surprise of the others and they walked off together.

Continuity

The events took place after "Chosen", but before "A Long Way Home, Part One".

• The view or illusion of Tara in heaven as offered by the goddesses is remarkably similar to the illusion of Fred in heaven as created by Wolfram & Hart for Welsey on the first night of the Fall of Los Angeles.

Appearances

Individuals

• Willow Rosenberg Template:FBA
• Kennedy (Only in flashbacks)
• Muffitt
• Aluwyn
• Gnog
• Unidentified green goddess
• Unidentified dark goddess
• Unidentified woods goddess
• Unidentified two-faced goddess
• Unidentified beast goddess
• Unidentified math goddess
• Unidentified fire goddess
• Unidentified ice goddess
• Unidentified justice goddess
• Unidentified four-armed goddess
• Unidentified cubist goddess
• Unidentified lightning goddess
• Tara Maclay (either real or illusion thereof)
• Ganderfleb
• The Great Ronok (Only mentioned)

Organizations and Titles

• Slayer Organization

Species

• Human
• Slayer
• Elemental Goddess
• Unidentified demon
• Demigod

Locations

• Unidentified dimension
• Heaven (either real or illusion thereof)
• San Francisco, California, U.S.

Weapons and Objects

• Scythe

Death Count

• none

Behind the Scenes

Collections

• Retreat
• Season 8 Library Edition, Volume 2

Pop Culture References

• The first level of the mystical trip looked like a scene from Harry Potter.

Quotes

“	Muffitt: "Wow, are you ever a dyke." Willow Rosenberg: "That term is offensive. Or maybe it's empowering -- I can't always keep up."
- Willow: Goddesses and Monsters		”

“	Kennedy: "Man, I just mastered monogamy, now I have to practice not-getting-any-at-allgamy."
- Willow: Goddesses and Monsters		”

“	Willow Rosenberg: "She was my light. She was my order. She was my journey. Completed."
- Willow: Goddesses and Monsters		”

“	Willow Rosenberg: "I'll know if you lie." Aluwyn: "I always lie." Willow Rosenberg: "That's how I'll know."
- Willow: Goddesses and Monsters		”