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Buffy vs. the Bugs part three, and finally things are starting to get a bit interesting.

Unsurprisingly, Buffy and Spike manage not to survive the bug attack, even though the Buffster gets covered in gunk along the way.

The bug infestation continues to spread throughout Sunnydale, with Cole now almost totally transformed and entomologist Dr Whitcomb is abducted.

Meanwhile, the Scooby Gang are on the case, albeit with their own troubles. Spike knows more than he's letting on, but they don't want his help, while both Buffy and Giles have got other things on their minds, namely Riley and Rebecca.

Fortunately, Tara - who's still feeling a little left out of things - comes up with a solution, and with Willow's help, the Scooby Gang have the tools to go to war.

The hive mentality of the bug creatures is pretty unoriginal, so hopefully other aspects of the plot will be played up since there could be a tendency to give us something that we've all seen before.

In any case, Spike's comment about Rio and the revelation at the end of the book (where we don't actually get to see who it is, but it's presumably either Rebecca or Dr Whitcomb since they're just about the only original characters in the story) provide something for Fassbender and Pascoe to build on for next month instead of rehashing a the concept of a group mind.

Nice to see Tara getting to do something, other than simply feeling the odd one out amongst the Scoobies, while there's also an early appearance from a certain magical emporium.

I'm not overly impressed artwise, especially when things are in the backgrounds and start to become pretty sketchy.

Overall, quite enjoyable with a fair amount going on. BACK TO THE TOP

HIVE MENTALITY

Writers: TOM FASSBENDER
and JIM PASCOE

Pencils: CLIFF RICHARDS

Inks: JOE PIMENTEL

Cover: CLIFF RICHARDS


RATING: 7/10


NEXT RELEASE:
OUT OF THE FIRE, INTO THE HIVE

PREVIOUS RELEASE:
INVASION