Let's start with who else has come back: Giles, Jonathan Andrew and, in the last scene, Willow. Each character keeps in ine with how we've come to know them for many seasons. For that matter, all of the characters finally are fitting into their molds. As you read the dialog, it's very easy to hear their voices.

One problem I have is how Andrew looks. In some frames he's barely noticeable. If it weren't for the overly geeky dialog, one might not know who this is. And I have to say I'm getting increasingly impatient with this guy. I mean, he's apparently straight, yet in being surrounded by a legion of hot women he seems to make nary a move for them.

I'm guessing that in one of the frames of Buffy's dream, the hand reaching out to her is Angel. Something that caught me totally by surprise was Buffy making an advance toward Xander, even if it was in a dream. It seemed as though it's something she's now considering, now that he's all "grrrr" and patchy-eyed. I've said all along that I thought Joss's plan was for them two to wind up together at some point, so maybe this is it.

It seems maybe the semi-big bad of this season isn't the government afterall, and is instead a large corporation. Or at least they're working together, but why do they want Buffy out of their way?

If this was the plan all along for an eighth season of Buffy, I'm damn glad they decided to go with a comic book. Already you can see the budget for such an undertaking for television (and even a movie) would be through the roof. The locales, the number of slayers/baddies and the special effects are astounding to consider had they been played out with live actors.

Quote of the issue:

Andrew: "I mean it's great that George Lucas wanted to have an African-Bespinian character in the mix, but then he shows up with the cape and the little bellbottoms and I'm thinking, 'Oh, he's gonna help Han and Chewie just as soon as he finishes the magic show for the kids' birthday party!' I mean, knock knock, common sense trying to get in, door's locked, I'll buy a race of teddy bears with unstoppable tree-trunk technology any day over that outfit on a LEADER.

"THAT outfit gets you beat up, is what. Especially at a... pep rally in Junior High where you were supposed to be dressed like a cougar.

"From a friend I heard that."