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A Dark Place, Part One is the first issue of the Spike: A Dark Place comic book series. Written by Victor Gischler and illustrated by Paul Lee, it was originally published on August 22, 2012, by Dark Horse Comics.

Synopsis[]

Having fought to regain his soul after falling in love with the Slayer Buffy, the once-terrifying vampire villain Spike has been a bit less fearsome (to humans, at least). On his own adventure, Spike is forced to examine the man he once was, the man he is now, and the man he still hopes to become.

As master of a steampunk ship filled with loyal, oversized alien cockroaches, Spike embarks on a journey to the dark side of the moon, setting into motion an adventure filled with demons, witches, and others who brew new evil in the world without magic!

  • Spike visits the dark side![1]

Summary[]

Feeling depressed, Spike orders his bug crew to take him to the dark side of the moon without revealing his objective for the journey. While there, Spike laments his relationship with Buffy, including his true feelings about her pregnancy scare. He had hoped to take care of Buffy and the baby, making an attempt at a normal life together. After the bugs catch him binge drinking and moping about, they determinate it is time for an intervention. They catch him and forcibly bring him to the solarium (which Spike had made for Buffy as a “place of light” so she could enjoy the sun while aboard the ship). Although Spike fears that they will let him burn in the sunlight, the bugs redressed the room to look like a beach and replaced the windows with necrotempered glass.

Meanwhile, a group of demons gather around the ship. Although appreciative of the new solarium (a way to enjoy the sunlight in a non-fatal way), Spike subsequently rejects it. Suddenly a huge frog demon jumps onto the solarium’s window. Spike orders a bug squad to attack it in protection of the ship. However, when they open the hatch, the creature crawls in and attacks them. The bugs flee, believing their prophesied Night of the Long Tongues is upon them. Spike attacks it and leads it to the solarium, where other demons ambush Spike.

Having captured Spike, the demons force the bugs to lift off, making plans to jettison Spike in space.

Continuity[]

Appearances[]

Individuals[]

Organizations and titles[]

Species[]

Events[]

Locations[]

  • Moon
  • San Francisco (Only in flashbacks)

Objects[]

Death count[]

  • None.

Behind the scenes[]

Distribution[]

  • A Dark Place, Part One was the 131st best selling comic issue in its publishing month, with 19,372 sales in August 2012 at comic specialty stores.[2]

Collections[]

Pop culture references[]

  • Spike mentions the band Pink Floyd and its member Roger Waters, alluding to their song "Brain Damage" (1973) and its lyrics "I'll see you on the dark side of the moon."
  • When the bugs lift Spike in the air, he likens it to having scored for Manchester United.
  • Spike calls the frog demon "Kermit" in reference to the character Kermit the Frog.

Gallery[]

Covers[]

Cover artwork[]

Preview[]

Quotes[]

Sebastian: "Never would I question one of your majesty's brilliant plans, but what purpose is served by our being here?"
Spike: "Get bent."
Sebastian: "Thank you, sire."
Spike: "It will always be darkness for me, luv. My sort can't take the light, can they?"
Sebastian: "We used this as a guide, from a periodical Miss Buffy left behind. It appears sunny and restful."
Spike: "Madison Avenue Tripe, designed to dupe the slack-jawed masses into thinking a six-pack of cold suds can numb them from their dreary lives. Everyone knows that."
Sebastian: "What is that hideous thing?!"
Spike: "Dunno. Moon frog?"
Spike: "Fact is, I quite liked the fake beach. But nobody likes feeling suckered. There was a time when I thought Buffy was pregnant and I could take care of her and we'd maybe have a play at a normal life. Talk about fooling yourself. Is there any clearer sign you've become a boring git than being pitied by the bugs?"

References[]

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