This issue moves from the first second, but unlike many last chapters, it manages to satisfy during it's non-stop action. The murder of Renee is a huge shock, but not nearly as much as Dracula's Bad Motha #*$@er moment later in the issue. Willow and Buffy's conversation about "experimenting" is beautiful and funny, and even Xander gets a tough-guy moment within. George Jeanty once again rocks the art, giving us some way cool battle sequences and a mecha-Dawn who looks hysterically like Michelle Trachtenberg. Drew Goddard nails the Buffy-isms, gives Xander steel without negating his humor, and ends the Buffy/Satsu love affair with style and evena bit of dignity. The best part of this issue is the feeling that it's both a pretty damn great comic and a well-done episode of Buffy at the same time. I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars, with the only disappointment coming in the fact that the promising Renee/Xander relationship died when she did... Still, and all, if that's my worst Read Full Review

Other than that, the issue really fires on all cylinders. The army of slayers' final battle with the sleek Japanese version of the uber-vamp was rewarding even if a bit customary. As I've already said, part of me considers Wolves at the Gate my favorite arc of the Buffy comic yet, which is somewhat confounding considering its fairly overt problems- but ultimately its charm more than makes up for its shortcomings, resulting in a memorable story at the very least. Read Full Review

Overall, Wolves at the Gate had an epic scope which I enjoyed. It felt like a two-part TV episode. Laughs were had, lives were lost, and Buffy experienced something that will forever change her. Thats a lot for a comic adaptation of a show. Normally stories like that are taboo, left for the official canon of the TV show to explore. In this case, its obvious that Joss Whedon is a guiding hand behind the comics. Hes leading his characters down ever-changing new paths, and I hope he continues to make bold moves. Read Full Review