Discussion of 8.22 "Swell" - Released 02/04/09 (Dark Horse)

Vampires are the hottest thing around -- forget hipsters; being a bloodsucking fiend is where's it's at! Slayers must take the good fight underground if they're to avoid any bad press from the general public.

When Kennedy is sent to Japan to evaluate Satsu's efforts as team leader, they are taken by surprise by some fierce furry creatures who want to do nothing more than destroy Buffy (surprise!), while Twilight remains the captain of the anti-Slayer ship.

Steven S. DeKnight (Angel, Smallville, Dollhouse) teams with series artist Georges Jeanty in "Swell."

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Source: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight #22 at TFAW.com

Even though General Voll claims that Twilight and the Twilight organization is not strictly opposed to the slayers because they are women, the vampy cats sure seem misogynistic. First the infected Satsu talks about kissing boys, making babies and disliking lesbians, and later the vampy cats want to eat the slayers' "#%&@ing ovaries". I was a bit surprised by that sudden dose of woman-hating, and it makes me wonder if General Voll was just talking from his perspective or it is just the vampy cats that are misogynistic. Or, as a third option, Twilight is becoming more frustrated and is having a change of heart. Overall, I thought this was a good issue, with nice evolution of Satsu's personality and cool action sequences--especially the destruction of the Swell.

I really liked this issue.

It's funny cuz I don't think I liked it the first time round, the stuffed teddy is the bad guy kinda threw me, but thinking back on it on the show we had Eggs in a parenting class that turned out to be demon eggs, it's a story in the same vein.

What I liked though was seeing the Slayer operation outside of Buffys circle.

I liked Kennedy and Satsu teamaing up, I think they go together. Satsu is similar to Kennedy and Kennedy has to fit into Buffy's role in season 7 a bit more.

Would anyone else read a comic based on another group of slayers set within the organisation that Buffy is just mentioned in, I think it's be an interesting angle to see the series from.

I liked this issue because it focused on Satsu, my favorite new character from season 8.

But I disliked it because it pretty much put the lid on her and Buffy, which I wanted to see explored further.

Yes, I would like to see a "Tales of the Slayers" type spinoff series that tells the stories of some of the other Slayers. They could do episodes for Satsu, Leah and Rowena (preferably as a team), Vi, Nadira and the British Slayers... and Chao-Ahn. I want to see a story about Chao-Ahn in which she's turned into a total butt-kicker.

I decided I really like Satsu in this issue. Also I really want a vampy kitty 😀 And I'm sorry, but Kennedy is not as bad ass as they made her out to be in this issue.

I was the opposite. I couldn't stand Satsu in this issue (to be fair she got better as things progressed). Her sense of entitlement because she slept with Buffy is a little annoying. Now, Buffy's not exactly what I'd call a success as a ruler or a commander, but she's made an absolute mess of things with Satsu.