This was confusing, but just know that the Buffy story takes place in an alternate universe before the Hellmouth crossover— and that clears up A LOT.

Tales of the Slayers for the current run, and it’s solid. Honestly, reading Tales recently, some of them are a bit cringe in the lack of autonomy given to the female characters. Most of the Slayers in those stories barely are given names. This just felt more fleshed out, even the short stories. Una in The Sisters of Angelus is a standout though. And hooray for the return of some decent fucking artwork to this series. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Ok, so this Hellmouth event is a WHOLE mess if you’re reading the trades. In order to truly understand what’s going on, you need to skip between Buffy Vol 3, Angel Vol 2, and this volume, in the following order:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #8 (aka the end of Buffy Vol 2)
Angel #5 (The Road to Hellmouth)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel: Hellmouth #1 (of 5)
Angel #6 (Tie-in)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer #9 (Tie-in)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel: Hellmouth #2 (of 5)
Angel #7 (Tie-in)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer #10 (Tie-in)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel: Hellmouth #3 (of 5)
Angel #8 (Tie-in)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer #11 (Tie-in)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel: Hellmouth #4 (of 5)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer #12 (Tie-in)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel: Hellmouth #5 (of 5)

I started Buffy Vol 3 coming off Buffy Vol 2 and was SOO confused, but it all made sense once I picked up this trade. (Also read the Buffy: Chosen Ones one-shot before this and just know that the Buffy in there is from another dimension.) But you need to finish Buffy Vol 3 to understand this end here. It’s ROUGH.

That said, I want to like this but the art is such a horrible mess that I can’t even enjoy the story. This volume has the best art of the event, I guess? And it’s still Not Great, Bob! Drusilla is a particular low point, especially in game face. (Honorable mention to Angel being possessed by the Hellmother. I was like, “oh the Witcher!

I love the formation of Angel’s team so early on, and even Kate is an interesting addition, but this is a weak outing anyway. The artwork is atrocious— all of the female characters look exactly the same and none of them look like their show counterparts. They all look like they belong in a 90s issue of Witchblade, and it gives me almost as much of a headache as American Horror Story: Hotel, trying to figure out who is who.

Ok, we had good art for ONE VOLUME. Bachs is an improvement from some of the other artists that have been on this title, but his characters are unrecognizable enough that the reveals don’t hit. Faith doesn’t look a thing like Eliza Dushku, so you’re just like, “oh, that’s PROBABLY Faith??” And does that demon turn into Anya at the end? I’m genuinely unsure! (He also drives me nuts by putting the characters in these weird generic outfits they wear every single episode: Buffy in red pants and crop top, Willow in athleisure with a crop top? Does everyone need a damn crop top?? Anya in jeans?)

The Wesley one-shot is great and gets this volume an extra star. I love the idea of ghost!Ethan and artist Andrés Genolet gives us a really nice young Robin Sachs. Plus I just want to know more about what’s going on with the council. But then we end up back in Sunnydale— Willow’s back, Rose is fine, and Buffy & Robin are going strong, even though none of those things seemed to be the case when we left.

This whole series has just been a wild rollercoaster in quality.

Cute, solid Willow one-shot…

If totally predictable and a bit anti-climactic. Willow’s walkabout takes her to a witch village where “not all is as it seems”. Finally some decent artwork returns to the Boom! Buffy titles. 3.5 stars rounded up.