PLANET SF HOME | BUFFY HOME | BUFFY COMICS | BUFFY FEATURES/FICTION | BUFFY NOVELS

I've said it before, but being a Doctor Who fan means that I'm used not a lot happening in the third part of a four-part story.

Of course, even single episode series have to give us dramatic moments leading into ad breaks, so it's not as though splitting up a story is a new experience for a Buffy writer. Even so, Jane Espenson does a good job of maintaining the story and giving us a strong cliffhanger into the final issue.

Although the Buffy/Faith/Mayor storyline is the main one, the other Scoobies who are still in Sunnydale (Angel had already departed before the story started and Cordy left back in part one) all get to put in an appearance.

As before, these largely fill in the gap between seasons three and four. Oz and Willow's search for a new lock-up grows more urgent as the full moon approaches, and they cut it very fine. Only the intervention of Xander, on the brink of departing Sunnydale for his roadtrip, prevents a disaster.

The search for a lock-up might well turn out to be a plot strand that has nothing much to do with the main story (apart from giving Willow a reason to be out alone late at night), but I thought the same about the soldiers last time out, and this month they move centre-stage as the Mayor gets a major shock.

Before that, he gets to try out his new body, but Willow escapes his clutches while Buffy patrols a cemetary. In fact, apart from more visions of Faith, the Buffster doesn't do that much in this part. However, the Initiative side of things really kicks in, which makes up for it, although given the title, I expect some resolution of the Buffy/Faith storyline next time.

Artwise, it's pretty decent, and overall this is a solid penultimate issue in the Haunted mini-series. back to the top

HAUNTED, PART THREE

Written by JANE ESPENSON

Pencils: CLIFF RICHARDS

Inks: JULIO FERREIRA

Colours: JEROMY COX

Letters: CLEM ROBINS

DARK HORSE COMICS


RATING: 7/10


NEXT ISSUE:
PART FOUR

PREVIOUS ISSUE:
PART TWO