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PLOT

What has happend before: Selke, the vampire we were introduced to in issue 2, had been badly beaten and looked terrible.  She meets with 'Doc', a plastic surgeon who Selke goes to for help.  After trying for so long to get Selke to look beautiful, the two are about to give up when they conjure up the spell that will make Selke beautiful and strong again.

Scott Allie, editor of the BUFFY line, promised us a change of direction - no more short stories and 9-part story arcs instead.  Well, after last month's refreshing hiatus on the BAD BLOOD storyline, we come back to it with issue 13, which now has a new regular penciller, Cliff Richards.

The comic starts with Selke meeting with the vamps who insulted her back in issue 10, she shows them a thing or two by killing their leaders and making them her slaves.  There's also the regular Scooby Gang storyline.  This issue, we see Willow and Cordelia go on a game show representing Sunnydale High.  Cordy, under pressure, borrows Giles' magical "Brooch of the Ottobeuren Bavarian Shamen", which helps people remember every little detail after every little thing.

WRITING

Okay, so Andi's done good so far, and with this issue there is no exception.  Again he gets the characters down to a point, although sometimes you think that he makes Willow seem a bit like a schoolgirl - innocent, nervous, "ooh, maybe I shouldn't, look at me I'm so cute."  Does the comic version remind anyone of Barney the purple dinosaur?  I'm expecting her to burst into a rendition of "I love you, You love me!"

It's nice to see someone other than Buffy and Angel take centre stage.  This time Xander, Willow and Cordy all get equal amounts of time to shine.  It is Cordy's issue though, and she's funny in it.  I liked the scene when she's memorising the breakfast cereals.  That page (#21) was really well done.  It was built up - the shot outside, then of the bedroom, books scattered onto the floor, down the stairs and then into the kitchen where we see Cordy.  I liked that.

The BAD BLOOD storyline is starting to get a tad boring.  It's time to speed things up.  The Scooby Gang are unaware of Selke.  This is something that needs dealing with.  Selke needs to come out of hiding and just go after Buffy, she's strong enough now isn't she?  But the bad thing is, this might not happen for another five issues, as we're only on part four at the moment.  I can see this getting even more boring.

What I didn't like about this issue was when Angel came into the Bronze (page 9, panel 5).  His only line was "Hey, what's happening?"  Did we really need Angel there at all?  At least put him in the fight scene on page 12 or something.  But it was in one panel, gone in the next.  It's pointless having a character appear if you're not going to use them.  Also what Giles said on page 5 - "If I were utterly irresponsible I'd allow you to..." basically gives away the meaning of the brooch and what it does.  This is what the gang need to actually win the contest, and it just so happens that Giles has it.  Does he really expect no-one to use it - not even Cordy and Xander?  Come on - does he not remember the BEWITCHED, BOTHERED AND BEWILDERED incident?

ART

This is Cliff Richards' first issue as ongoing penciller - I like!  There's nothing flawed about this guy; every page you end up liking.  Richards obviously cares about the book, unlike a certain penciller whose name is Joe Bennett, and it shows.  Look at the pictures, it looks like he worked hard on every page.  Really good artwork - detailed, hardly ever skipping corners.  Now try to picture Bennett doing this issue or even Hector bloody Gomez.  I'm glad that Dark Horse have decided to stick with Richards.

There's still only one complaint I have and that's what the gang is wearing.  Xander is still wearing the same old blue/green jumper with collar.  Can we please have him in an Hawaiian shirt or something?  It's really annoying to see him wearing non-bright shirts with jumpers (!)

Joe Pimentel does a grand job with the inking - he and Richards make an excellent team.  I really liked their rendition of Selke.  The last time we saw Selke in her 'sexy' form was in issue 11 with Bennett's artwork that looked as if it had been done in three minutes tops.  Plus the two of them make Selke actually sexy.  I'm actually regretting saying that now :-)

COVER

Not the greatest of Matsuda covers.  This is his eighth cover for the BUFFY line.  Cordy looks like Cordy, although Buffy in dungarees looked like a 12-year-old.  Strange types of monsters behind the two of them.  Not a personal favourite.

OTHER NITPICKS

New letterer - DH Digital.  The age of digital lettering has finally caught up with Dark Horse and it's about time too.  The word bubbles are much smaller and the words look a lot neater.  My only complaint is that the SFX sounds need to be larger.

Also the book is really highlighted again - bright blue and purple.  Can we maybe tone it down a bit?  Also a disappointing letter column this month - one page to make way for more ads.  I don't like that.  Have to agree with Dleehi's comments on the letters page when (s)he said, "While good art doesn't change my view on a comic, awful art with get on my nerves and I'll get bored with the script, even if it would be a good story.  While good art doesn't help the book, bad art does hurt it."  Exactly.  The Gomez and Bennett year is over, we now have the Richards/Ryan Sook/Christian Zanier years to come.  It's about time the book got the art it deserves.

RATING

Writing - all the characters were well done, with the exception of Big Bird, uhh, I mean Willow.  It still felt like a single story though with the Cordy/Willow game show thing.  Selke's ready to make her strike - I just hope she does it quickly, my arse is getting numb.

Art - Richards is up to his normal excellent standards and makes a great art double with Pimentel.  Good direction.  The work looks smooth and clean.  I'm loving it.

Cover - it's alright.  It's not dire and it's not great.  Note to Matsuda: get an ongoing job and stop pencilling covers!  We need you doing the interiors.

Next month: Spike and Dru. 'Nuff said. BACK TO THE TOP

LOVE SICK BLUES, PART 1

Writer: ANDI WATSON

Pencils: CLIFF RICHARDS

Inks: JOE PIMENTEL

Letters: DH DIGITAL

Colours: GUY MAJOR

Cover: JEFF MATSUDA
and JOHN SIBAL

Cover variations: art, photo


Reviewer: MARC


WRITING RATING: 10/10
ART RATING: 6/10
COVER RATING: 6/10

OVERALL RATING: 8/10


NEXT ISSUE:
BAD BLOOD, CHAPTER 4: LOVE SICK BLUES, PART 2

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A NICE GIRL LIKE YOU