Welcome back to another comic book review round-up. The first week of September brought the heat with a lot of big releases. We already have individual reviews on Batman #137, Birds Of Prey #1, Hunt For The Skinwalker #1, Kill Your Darlings #1, and X-Men #26 live on the site. To highlight more of this week’s releases our latest review round-up will be spotlighting Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer #2, Purr Evil #2, and Scarlet Witch #8. Find out how these comic books turned out below.
BUFFY: THE LAST VAMPIRE SLAYER #2
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Casey Gilly
Artist: Oriol Roig and Nicola Izzo
Colorist: Gloria Martinelli
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
REVIEW
This second volume for Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer moves us away from the Old Man Logan concept back to a more traditional set-up for the Buffy franchise. Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer #2 goes hard in establishing all the elements for what made Sunnydale the center of the universe for the supernatural with the new setting of Santa Carmen. Which does no favors for the development of Thessaly Maclay Rosenberg as a lead character.
This direction would possibly work for a modernization of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, as was the case with the previous BOOM! Studios volume. But for a series titled The Last Vampire Slayer this direction does not work. It absolutely does no favors for Thessaly establish her own identity as a lead that can carry the series. We can only hope with how Thessaly breaks away from Anya at end of this issue it will make room to develop an unique identity for her as a character and Santa Carmen as a setting.
What saves The Last Vampire Slayer #2 is the side adventure of Buffy and Spike going on a date to further their reconnection. Spike genuinely trying to be in a relationship makes the spotlight on how Buffy appears to find yet another way to derail things an interesting character study. Even if she doesn’t want to admit it out loud not being a Slayer anymore is clearly bothering her. That is how Buffy has identified herself for most of her life that she has a major hero identity crisis.
Oriol Roig and Nicola Izzo is fine for what the issue called for. The artwork works best during the darker outdoor scenes. When we have scenes happening indoors the artwork is generally flat with a lack of depth in the style. This may simply come down to a lighting direction as darker colored scenes just standout more with their style.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer #2 falters in trying to recreate Sunnydale with its new setting. That led to Thessaly journey as a Slayer tough to connect with as her story relies to much on the old rather than new that the concept of this series provides. Buffy’s identity crisis as a former Slayer is an interesting one but can only carry half of this story. Improvements certainly need to be made in the next issue to recover from this.
Story Rating: 4 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 5 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 4.5 Night Girls out of 10
PURR EVIL #2
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Mirka Andolfo
Artist: Laura Braga
REVIEW
Well things certainly went south very quickly for our leads in Rita and Deb with Purr Evil #2. Deb is the focus of this issue as she went on her first date with her neighbor. Things certainly escalated very quickly with this second issue for the better and worse.
This escalation with the story is something that you can appreciate how Mirka Andolfo is not trying to create this big mystery. Andolfo is fully upfront with the demonic origins of Deb through her parents, specifically with her dad. Using that origin, we see how relentless the demon world is and the horrors that brings to Deb’s life.
That said, the story does a lot of rushing to focus on the horror elements of the series. Its tough to feel the true horror of what is going on since all the characters beyond Deb and her mother, Rita, are just nameless faces. Even Joseph, Deb’s date, turns so quickly that since we didn’t know much about him his ultimate end is hard to care about. There is work to be done when it comes to making the world of Purr Evil something to care about.
While the story lacks depth Laura Braga once again knocks it out of the park with her artwork. Braga’s art style contrasting art style to the tone of the story is what helps makes a lot of the scenes as exciting as they are. The chaos is even crazier because of the bright, animated detail in the artwork. It makes all of the action pop, so you do at least care for what Deb is put through in this issue.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Purr Evil #2 escalates the story for better or worse. A lot of what works with the way the story escalates is thanks to the great artwork. The writing does need to improve its world building to compliment what the series lead are put through by the evil demonic force behind everything.
Story Rating: 4 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10
SCARLET WITCH #8
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Steve Orlando
Artist: Lorenzo Tammetta and Sara Pichelli
Colorist: Frank William
Letterer: Cory Petit
REVIEW
Scarlet Witch #8 is certainly a comic book that is all about paying off what is promised on the cover. That is, a story that is all about selling to fans that wanted a comic book to hold up as to why Wanda Maximoff and Loki would make a great couple. If that is what you are looking for Scarlet Witch #8 is certainly for you. But when it comes to the greater story playing out in this series the Wanda and Loki scenes is the side adventure that distracts from the main story involving the return of Joseph, Magneto’s clone.
This is not to say that the scenes involving Wanda and Loki aren’t well written. Steve Orlando once again shows his strong understanding of Wanda Maximoff. That understanding also extends to Loki as a character as well. But even in understanding these two characters Orlando does not escape how forced the whole love angle is between them. While they don’t suddenly end up together the argument for teasing it is written in a way that screams filler content.
The filler nature of this part of the issue may be due to Joseph’s story not that intriguing when he is the focus. Because of that lack of confidence in what Joseph’s return means it leads to both it and Loki’s portion have a filler content feel.
What saves both is that they at least continue to show Wanda’s own growth as a character that’s been a theme of this series. It’s been done better in previous issues. At least we maintain that consistency in Wanda’s ability to solve every situations she has to deal with in different ways. Whether it’s through her magic, words, or combination of both Wanda’s flexibility in how she solves things is put over well.
The ending with the reveal of the big bad of this story lifts up the overall story. Finally seeing who is possibly causing Wanda to deal with all the problems she has dealt with is a great payoff. Orlando has had eight one-shot style stories to build up to the first big story arc of this series. It’s a different approach that actually made the reveal at the end of Scarlet Witch #8 hit better.
On the art side of things Lorenzo Tammetta and Sara Pichelli do make sure to adjust their respective styles to match one another. That allows there to be consistency in the artwork so you don’t notice when the artist switch happens. This helps keep the flow of the story moving forward to ensure the immersion is had from beginning to end.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Even with Scarlet Witch #8 being the weakest issue of Steve Orlando’s run there is still a lot of solid character work with Wanda Maximoff’s character. For fans that wanted to be sold on a possible romance between Scarlet Witch and Loki that is certainly here for you. The ending further lifts the overall story with the promise it has for the immediate future of this series.
Story Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 6.5 Night Girls out of 10