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Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Riley
Writer: Jane Espenson
Penciller: Karl Moline
Inker: Andy Owens
Color: Michelle Madsen
Letter: Richard Starkings & Jimmy Betancourt (ComiCraft)
Cover: (Cover A) Jo Chen & (Cover B) Karl Moline with Andy Owens and Michelle Madsen
Issue: One-shot
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Pages: 40 pgs
Price: $3.50
Release Date: August 18, 2010

Acclaimed Buffy television writer Jane Espenson is back with answers to one of the surprising twists she and executive producer Joss Whedon introduced in the hit story arc “Retreat”!

In the midst of the battle, Buffy’s former flame, the demon fighting soldier Riley Finn, seemingly in league with Twilight, was revealed as a double agent working for the Slayer army.  Now Espenson and artist Karl Moline (Fray, Willow) uncover the secrets of Riley’s recruitment by Buffy, his infiltration of Twilight’s inner circle, and what’s become of him and his superspy wife, Sam.

This essential one-shot delivers thrilling spy adventure and is filled with major revelations for the story of Buffy Season Eight!

*Buffy TV writer Jane Espenson returns!

*Features key revelations for Buffy Season Eight!

-Dark Horse Comics synopsis

Cover A, drawn by Jo Chen, looked great!  Jo captured Riley and Sam’s likeness, but the illustration wasn’t enough to pull me into the story.  Karl Moline’s Cover B looked action packed and reminded me of a spy movie advertisement.  Even though Cover B was more exciting than Cover A, it also didn’t catch my attention.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Riley wasn’t what I expected.  It read similarly to a screenplay where its main plot and subplot were parallel to one another.  My important questions were answered without spoiling events from season 8, much like Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Willow.  I’m always confused with what’s happening in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, season 7 being the most notorious, until the big reveal at the end.  I assume that season 8 will continue that habit of its predecessors out of tradition.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Riley can distance new readers, but it’s worth collecting for fans of the comic book series.

Side Notes: Riley Finn was Buffy’s boyfriend in college who lead a double life as a teacher’s assistant by day and an Initiative solider by night.  He became a regular member the Scooby Gang and was relieved of his military standing once the Initiative was destroyed.  Riley joined the military after his relationship with Buffy started to deteriorate, and married a demon hunter named Sam sometime later.  He reappeared as one of Twilight’s followers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8 working as double agent for Buffy to help bring Twilight down.  Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Riley explains what became of Finn before the events of Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8.

Princess Powerful
princesspowerful@comicattack.net