Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 10 #13 Review

Has love turned Spike into a psychotic killer? Or is his nightmares nothing more than an inner sense of guilt? Read on to find out.

The official description from Dark Horse:

Some suspiciously supernatural murders have Spike, Xander, Willow, and Giles in a conundrum. They have to talk to Buffy, but there’s something about the killer they’re pretty sure she’s not going to like . . . Meanwhile, Andrew gets some relationship advice from Buffy!

Love Dares You has quite possibly been one of the best Buffy arcs to come from the comic book continuation, with this issue in particular being the best that the current season has produced so far. Finally allowing Buffy and Spike to make a go of it romantically, this story has had plenty of emotional twists, with the mixture of drama, tension and humour allowing the developments to truly shine. These elements are however stretched to the max in this issue, with Spike’s concerns and the groups response to them allowing for a thoroughly entertaining read.

Captivating from start to finish, Christos Gage and Nicholas Brendon do a wonderful job of grabbing the readers attention, as between the intense and vivid events from Spike’s dream, and the resulting worry within, there’s a lot to excite. The duo also manage to entice with the dialogue, as though there’s usually the odd interaction that proves less than interesting, this issue manages to intrigue at every turn. Despite this, it’s the way the writers handle Spike and Buffy’s newly formed relationship that continues to impress the most, as though there’s not a huge lot of personal development, the limited character exchange was full of passion.

The artwork that Megan Levens has created over this arc has really grown on me, as with each passing issue it becomes more and more enthralling. The main thing that impressed in this issue was the surreal, and dramatic way in which she captures Spike’s fears, with the impactful layouts helping to convey these dark emotions. The fun, energetic style throughout the rest of the comic also entices, with the facial expressions also complimenting this. The colours of Dan Jackson also help to give a familiar tone to this series, with his bold, vibrant palette certainly catching the eye.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 10 #13 is easily the best the series has produced so far, with the arc being one of the best Dark Horse has created. Playing with deep, dark emotions, the creative team generate a thrilling sense of suspense, with the dramatic flow keeping this reader hooked to every page.