Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine #20

Friendship is at the crux of the latest issue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine as one of the Scoobies returns and another will make a choice that may leave his relationship with the Slayer forever damaged. Willow returns with a little newfound magic power (which I'm guessing she got in that recent mini-series I couldn't be bothered enough to read).

Willow's return and the return of her bestie's magic mojo gives Buffy hope that they might be able to save Dawn from the magic (or lack of) which is killing her. Still blaming Buffy for Dawn's condition, Xander is offered a second alternative to help his girlfriend. Despite dismissing the the offer, he eventually caves and agrees to help Severin and Simone get what they need to stop Twilight from ever happening (which, when you think of how monumentally Season Eight went of the rails, may not be that much of a betrayal).

I'm not sure I like Xander as Judas, especially betraying Buffy to a coldblooded killer like Simone, but I'm willing to wait and let this play out. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $2.99]