Buffy The Vampire Slayer 16&18 + The Red Mother Issue 9 + Star Trek Hell's Mirror Reviewed 👍👍👍👍
Buffy The Vampire Slayer Issue 16
I'd actually forgotten that this title existed. Kendra has shown up and has trepidation about Buffy. Jenny Calender and her cat are in peril from Xander. He is a vampire now as well as a reviled symbol of betrayal. Xander has a victim narrative and wants to extend dominion over women, because he is Joss Whedon's self insert. Now Xander and Buffy are mutually and greviously hostile. Buffy is dumb. Where is Angel and the Hellmouth? Xander burns down Jenny's house. Buffy continues to be a moron. Xander has contemptuous mockery. Buffy's stupidity causes profound negative irreparable consequnces. Xander lashes out at perceived enemies and has darker goals. This was okay, the cat is oaky.
Best Lines:
“He'll kill them all.”
“Something much worse than a troublemaker sending tasteless messages in the night.”
“External threats that have yet to make themselves evident.”
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Buffy The Vampire Slayer Issue 18
Xander plans to wreak absolute havoc. Jenny isn't dead, yet. Kendra goes to sunnydale High. Where is Cordelia? Buffy pants over Robin Wood. People have an absurd over-reverence for Buffy. Xander has hatred and animosity. There is inattentionn. The need for love and the damage people do to themselves in its reckless pursuit. There are fraying social bonds. Xander has a throne and Buffy shags Robin Wood. Xander plots and there are terrible ongoing consequnces. Xander and Willow are deeply annoying. This was okay.
Best Lines:
“How deranged are you?”
“Happiness for everyone. Hurray.”
“You are not as alone as you make yourself out to be.”
~
The Red Mother Issue 9
There is violence and crushing despair and an intractable situation. There are horrible cirumstances and evil means. Where is Daisy's boyfriend? Who is the attacker and this was good with passionate intensity.
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Star Trek Hell's Mirror
This is a one shot about the mirror universe Khan facing down the Terran Empire. Mirror Spock serves Khan. The art looks dated. Khan goes into battle waving the UFP flag. The mirror Kirk plots. There are mentions of the mirror Daystrom and mirror K7. Mirror Rand is seen briefly. Kirk plots and blows up the Enterprise. Khan plans a UFP and wants to use Vulcan mind melds. The Terran Empire has reconditioning camps. We get an interesting origin for mirror Kirk. Spock is puzzled. Where is mirror McCoy? Kirk has pititable aspects and a frightening hatred and will. The characters are a fairly unsympathetic bunch; caring little what others say. Khan has absolute personal opposition to the empire. This was good if glaringly contrived. The outcome is preordained. Khan's weapon is revealed. The gang get deeper and deeper into trouble.
Best Lines:
“Eighty-five messiahs that could have led them to paradise.”
“Aimed for the stars.”
“Inspirational leadership.”
“This horrific epoch.”
“Galactic civilization will collapse into a dark age ---- from which it will not recover for more than two thousand years.”
“Than fall it will.”
“They will fight till their last breath.”
“And you would be...?”
“Your superior in every way.”
“The Empire's most decorated captain requesting political asylum...?”
“Learned to their regret.”
“Good and decent people.”
“The creature the Empire created has existed for longer.”
“Destroyed all objectionable reading material.”
“Long forbidden by their Terran overlords.”