Warning: spoilers for Buffy the Last Vampire Slayer Special #1!As Buffy the Vampire Slayer trains the latest warrior in the Slayer line, her protégé is developing powers that no Slayer before her has possessed. Thessaly Maclay Rosenberg is the daughter of witches Willow and Tara, and the last Slayer left after Buffy sacrificed her powers in a last blaze of heroism. The Last Vampire Slayer takes place in a world where the Scooby Gang lost - vampires not only rose up and stopped hiding their true nature, but managed to block out the sun. After Willow and Tara were killed by vampire agents, Thessaly ed an older Buffy to bring back the sun, commanding both classic Slayer powers and her mothers' magic.
Thessaly's power continues to grow in Buffy the Last Vampire Slayer Special #1 by Casey Gilly, Joe Jaro, Maria Keane, and Lea Caballero. Five years since the conclusion of the original miniseries, Thessaly continues to showcase abilities that marry the Slayer's physical might and her mothers' dark arts. Unlike most Slayers, she regularly uses magic, and she is particularly attuned given the unique power combination of having been raised and trained by Willow and Tara. Thessaly possesses explosive telekinetic powers as well as the ability to manifest purple fire, and can combine these with the strength, agility, and speed of the Slayer. These abilities seem to be only the tip of her new powers, which tap into the same darkness that originally corrupted Willow.
Thessaly Combines Slayer Powers & Magic
The only other time that a Slayer has been seen fully combining magic and their Slater powers was Thessaly's mother, Willow, in the parallel reality of The Vampire Slayer. In that story - after taking Buffy's place as the Slayer - Willow finds herself overwhelmed by the intensity of her dual roles, once again becoming Dark Willow. Judging from that history, one might think that mixing magic with Slaying is always going to be a bad idea, but for Thessaly, it's just the opposite.
In fact, by the issue's end, Thessaly explains to Buffy that combining her powers was the only thing that seemed natural. While Buffy's experiences lead her to fear anything that even hints at darkness, Thessaly has Willow's power and Tara's sense of balance, and the story suggests that in this new world, she's the Slayer that humanity needs.
Thessaly Taps into the Darkness Buffy Fears
Thessaly is the Slayer of a world where vampires are a fact of life, and she was raised studying magic with two of the most powerful witches around. While Buffy was a normal girl whose life was interrupted by magic, for Thessaly it's a birthright, so it makes sense that she has embraced it like no Slayer ever before. Indeed - in a world where vampires have had years to consolidate their power and resources, it's good to have a Slayer who can't just punch vampires in the face, but can also throw them across the room with her mind. While Buffy may fear the corrupting potential of dark magic, as Willow and Tara's daughter, Thessaly is a new kind of Slayer - with new powers to match!
Buffy the Last Vampire Slayer Special #1 is in stores now.
