As we head toward the final stretch of Season 9, tensions are high. Buffy will stop at nothing to save her sister. How does this issue measure up to the rest of the series? Read on to find out.

Here’s the official description from Dark Horse:

Dawn’s life hangs in the balance, and Buffy will stop at nothing to save her little sis. Willow, Xander, and Buffy reunite to save the girl they love and begin a journey that reveals betrayal amongst the ranks as they descend into the mysterious Deeper Well, former home of Illyria and many powerful Old Ones.

In this issue, the Zen Monsters seek the aid of Buffy to defeat the Siphon who plans to destroy the world due to the actions of Xander (from a few issues back), but Buffy is more concerned with finding her sister. The pacing seems a little off and there’s a sequence where Spike calls Xander on his cellphone which felt forced and uninspired.  Is there really phone reception at the center of the earth?

The writer, Andrew Chambliss, is more successful showing Buffy’s determination to find her sister as she navigates the Deeper Well. There’s also a strong cliffhanger which makes you wish you had the next issue in front of you right now.

Georges Jeanty is better at drawing cool monsters and chasms than people. As I mentioned last month, Jeanty’s people tend to look alike, which is especially noticeable when there are a lot of characters in close proximity. Michelle Madsen’s colors help to add to the dark foreboding atmosphere of this issue, especially in the Deeper Well sequences. Overall, the art is serviceable, but doesn’t enhance the story much.

With only a few issues left, Buffy 23 offers action, suspense, and a great cliffhanger. This might not be the most ambitious comic on the rack but it manages to enrich the mythology of the beloved tv series. If you’re fan you probably already know that.

3/5