This issue is sans Buffy, since she’s missing in action. But her friends are determined to rescue her, wherever she may be. Whether they will have a successful mission is yet to be seen.
Note: This recap may contain spoilers!
As we kick off this issue, the gang have all gathered at Xander’s place to check out the crab god he hatched. Well, the entire gang except Buffy. Xander and Spike are becoming closer friends, despite Faith’s suspicion over the relationship, and Willow’s been working on her Slayer-Witch powers. While everyone else has been doing well, Buffy has been on her own and put into danger. Too bad her friends didn’t notice this beforehand.
Xander hasn’t seen Buffy since Monday and Willow hasn’t touched base with her since Wednesday. Giles has been avoiding her altogether, still distraught over what he’s done to strip Buffy of her destiny. The absence from Buffy’s life has done no good since no one knows where she is. And she hasn’t shown up to her last two shifts at work. Looks like there may be trouble afoot.
Willow does a spell with Xander and Giles to try and locate Buffy. They admit all the ways they’ve been avoiding her, letting her down. They haven’t been good friends, and it’s up to them to get her back and set things right again. Thankfully, the spell does give them a clue as to Buffy’s whereabouts. They get a glimpse of Sunnydale Park, where Buffy usually runs, so off they go to track her down.
When they arrive at the park, Faith notices the insane number of spiders and webs. But it’s not just an overgrowth of wildlife. Spike recognizes the clues as Hungrus. The vampire explains the lore of the Slayer-Eater, how she robs the Slayers of their powers and toys with them for a while before devouring them. She and Spike used to be a thing last time she was out, but Spike wants no part of the situation now. He suggests they just cut their losses, since Buffy’s been missing five days.
But of course that’s not what they’re going to do. Instead, Willow wants to take on Hungrus and save her friend. And that’s where we leave the issue. Buffy’s fate is in her friends’ hands. Hopefully they will be a better support system in the future and the truth will finally come to light.
Rating: 4 / 5 Stars
