Spike: Old Times (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Peter David (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2005

Spike returns to the comic book world in this special one-shot written by fan-favorite writer Peter David! On a dark night in 1880's London, a young poet named William was humiliated by an elegant woman named Cecily and fled into the night ... not realizing it would be the first night of the rest of her life. But Cecily had a few secrets of her own. Now it's over a century later, elegant Cecily is a vengeance demon named Halfrek endeavoring to destroy another young poet, and William the Bloody -- the renowned Spike - squaring off against her to try and even the scales. Photo cover, full-color illustrated interiors.

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Idea and Design Works (2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933239603
• ISBN-13: 978-1933239606
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,853,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent solo Spike adventure from IDW, September 12, 2005

By 

R. David Francis "SFF and comics fan" (Columbus OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spike: Old Times (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) (Paperback)

The hook in this story is an exploration of the moment during Buffy season 6 (6.14, "Older and Far Away") where Halfrek (vengeance demon friend of Anya) and Spike see each other and appear to know each other.

The story takes place after Spike has regained his soul, and is in Los Angeles annoying Angel (possibly during Angel season 5, possibly after).

Ad the main article says little about the story at present, I'll give you a little set-up: Spike encounters someone who is the target of Halfrek's vengeance demon powers, and decides to try to protect them. Note: Be prepared for a *very* blackly comic ending.

Without revealing any more of the story than I already have, Spike seemed perfectly in character to me. He chose to play the hero, not so much because of his deep and abiding sense of honor, but more as revenge against someone who had played him dirty in the past. Halfrek didn't get quite enough play in the show for us to say whether or not she's in character; however, her behavior does not seem unreasonable given her background (and given what the show revealed about Anya/Anyanka).

There are a few spots that prevent this from getting five stars. In works where the artwork needs to both match the appearance of real people, and (presumably) has to meet with their approval, the art often seems a bit stilted; this is no exception. Also, the writer went a little overboard with the mispronunciations of Halfrek's name.

(Note: I believe that the original reference that started this was actually a bit of an in-joke from the production team, based onthe fact that the actress playing Halfrek also played Cecily, Spike's pre-vampire crush, whose rejection crushed him (and sent him out into the night, straight into the arms (and fangs) of Drusilla.)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars IDW Publishing Does it Again, May 8, 2007

By 

Pat Shand "Pat Shand" (Freeport, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Spike: Old Times (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) (Paperback)

IDW's "SPIKE" comics (also Brian Lynch's "Spike: Asylum") are the closest I've come to feeling as if I'm actually watching an episode of Angel, or even a Spike spin-off.

This comic elaborates on Spike's back story first dished out in the Buffy episode "Fool for Love" Through photo-realistic art and snappy dialogue, this Spike solo adventure shows the not-yet-ensouled vampire doing good deeds for the sake of revenge against Halfrek the Vengence Demon, or--as he knows her--Cecily. The numerous call backs to events from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel" make this feel like a real episode.

Like IDW's other one-shot Spike story "Old Wounds", the art and the writing is nearly flawless. The story is tight and well done, delving into a place where the show hadn't touched. The most interesting part of this one-shot comic is Spike's psychology. The reader knows that he is doing what he does to spite Halfrek, but his dialouge with the man he saves and his proclamation of "I'm a justice demon" show that Spike is really trying to do good.

READER'S NOTE: A common complaint about this comic is this: "It's supposed to be set in Season Fiveof Angel, and Halfrek was dead at this point." Good point. Except for the fact that IDW confirmed it was set in Season Six of Buffy the Vampire Slayer/ Season Three of Angel. They explain Spike being in LA by saying he needed a break from the Scoobies and went to LA to bother Angel. Very true to his character.

9/10