Relationship Status: Complicated, Part One is the fourteenth issue of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten comic book series. Written by Christos Gage and illustrated by Rebekah Isaacs, it was originally published on April 22, 2015, by Dark Horse Comics.
Synopsis[]
While traveling into Spike's mind and seeing his past and present, Buffy looks for clues about the newest threat in San Francisco: someone or something with a deep connection to Spike![1]
Summary[]
- This article needs a plot summary.
Continuity[]
- Giles's bookcase features a statue also seen in Buffy's dream in "Welcome to the Hellmouth" and his library office in "Prophecy Girl."
- Buffy and Spike discuss about her knowing what he did before his soul similarly to their discussion in "Never Leave Me."
- Willow recalls being single; she broke up with Aluwyn in Love Dares You, Part Three.
- Buffy refers to the events of Love Dares You, Part Two as "last night," therefore this issue happens in the same day as Love Dares You, Part Three.
- It is revealed that Archaeus is responsible for Angel and Spike's recurring murderous visions (Old Habits, Love Dares You, Part One).
- While traveling into Spike's mind, Buffy visits recognizable moments of his and the Whirlwind's past:
- Spike and Buffy having sex in Love Dares You, Part Two;
- Spike rescuing his cats in Love Dares You, Part One;
- Spike at a bar with Robert Dowling and consulting the Vampyr book in Day Off (or Harmony in My Head);
- Spike talking with Xander in I Wish, Part Two;
- Spike and Buffy talking about their past in Return to Sunnydale, Part Two;
- Spike and Buffy fighting zompires in Santa Rosita in New Rules, Part One;
- Spike having sex with Harmony in Spike and Faith;
- Spike obtaining his soul in "Grave";
- Spike killing Nikki Wood (seen in "Fool for Love");
- Spike being sired by Drusilla (seen in "Fool for Love");
- Drusilla as the "Mother Superior" in Daddy Issues, Part Three;
- Drusilla being sired by Angel (seen in "Dear Boy");
- Angel being sired by Darla (seen in "Becoming, Part One");
- and Darla being sired by the Master (seen in "Darla").
Appearances[]
Individuals[]
- Angel (Only in visions)
- Archaeus
- Darla (Only in visions)
- Drusilla (Only in visions)
- Robert Dowling (Only in visions)
- Rupert Giles
- Alexander Harris
- Harmony Kendall (Only in visions)
- Master (Only in visions)
- Willow Rosenberg
- Spike
- Buffy Summers
- Dawn Summers
- Nikki Wood (Only in visions)
Organization and titles[]
- Key
- Scooby Gang
- Slayer
- Watcher
- Whirlwind (Only in visions)
- Witch
- Xander and Spike's cats (Only in visions)
Species[]
- Demon
- Human
- New vampire
- Vampire
- Zompire (Only in visions)
Locations[]
- Africa (Only in visions)
- Archaeus's dimension (Only in visions)
- Galway (Only in visions)
- London (Only in visions)
- Giles residence (Only in visions)
- New York City (Only in visions)
- San Francisco
- Santa Rosita (Only in visions)
- Sunnydale (Only in visions)
- Virginia Colony (Only in visions)
Objects[]
- Blood
- mʔ
- Soul (Only mentioned)
- Spike's duster (Only in visions)
- Stake (Only mentioned)
- Vampyr (Only in visions)
Rituals and spells[]
- Sleep spell
Death count[]
- Unidentified woman, blood drained by Archaeus (in visions).
- Two unidentified people, killed by Spike (in visions).
- Nikki Wood, neck snapped by Spike (in visions).
- Spike, sired by Drusilla (in visions).
- Drusilla, sired by Angel (in visions).
- Angel, sired by Darla (in visions).
- Darla, sired by the Master (in visions).
Behind the scenes[]
Production[]
- The title is a reference to relationship status option "it's complicated" on social media.
- Christos Gage clarified the exposition on Archaeus: "When Giles said Archaeus 'sired' the Master, it didn't mean like a vampire sires. It means Archaeus' essence entered the Master.[2] Also I meant to say that when certain powerful demons intentionally enter a newly created vampire their 'bloodline' continues.[3] A demon might do this to create an army of loyal servants or whatever. This is the exception, not the rule, in vampire creation."[4]
- The confusion was rectified in the publishing of the trade paperback Love Dares You, in which the original quote "Archaeus sired him, directly." was replaced by "He'd determined it was Archaeus' essence that animated him."
Distribution[]
- Relationship Status: Complicated, Part One was the 187th best selling graphic novel in its publishing month, with 15,286 sales in April 2015 at comic specialty stores.[5]
Collections[]
Pop culture references[]
- Giles has a Nataraja statue in his apartment.
- Xander mentions a scene from the Star Wars 1977 film.
- Spike's bedroom features a poster of the concert The Clash at Bonds International Casino poster.
Gallery[]
Covers[]
Main cover
Variant cover
Cover artwork[]
Steve Morris
Rebekah Isaacs
Preview[]
References[]
- ↑ "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 10 #14." Dark Horse Comics. Retrieved on September 14, 2017.
- ↑ Christos Gage, "BTVS #14: When Giles said Archaeus 'sired' the Master, it didn't mean like a vampire sires. It means Archaeus' essence entered the Master." Twitter, May 1, 2015.
- ↑ Christos Gage, "Also I meant to say that when certain powerful demons intentionally enter a newly created vampire their "bloodline" continues." Twitter, May 1, 2015.
- ↑ Christos Gage, A demon might do this to create an army of loyal servants or whatever. This is the exception, not the rule, in vampire creation. Twitter, May 1, 2015.
- ↑ "Top 300 Graphic Novels Actual--April 2015." ICv2, May 18, 2015