Warning: contains spoilers for The Vampire Slayer #12!During the original incarnation of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Willow and Faith weren't exactly the best of friends. Things got particularly awkward halfway into the third season after Faith slept with Xander, triggering Willow's fear of being replaced in the group. When Faith switched bodies with Buffy one season later, she treated Willow's girlfriend Tara harshly, putting an even bigger emphasis on their growing grudge. They were able to reconcile by their reunion in the Angel crossover episode 'Orpheus' - leading to Faith joining the cast of Buffy's seventh season - but were never as close as the other members of the Scooby Gang.
BOOM! Studios' The Vampire Slayer series presents a reversal of this relationship. When Faith meets Willow in this universe, Willow has already taken the Slayer role from Buffy. With Willow being the Slayer now and Buffy just a bystander, this allows Willow and Faith to bond instead, while Buffy is the odd woman out. However, when Willow's mix of Slayer powers and dark magic prove a deadly combination, fans see that the three are now closer than ever before.
Faith & Willow Have Grown Incredibly Close
The Vampire Slayer #12 by Hannah Templer and Sarah Gailey gives Buffy, Faith and Willow a new bond. After helping Dark Willow come to her senses before she had a chance to end the universe, Faith and Buffy are able to get the latter her Slayer powers back. From there, Willow, Buffy, and Faith end the issue embracing one another, most notably with Faith hugging Willow, telling her she loves her. Not only are all three able to bond as rekindled friends, but as a trinity of Slayers with a newfound respect and understanding for each other's experiences.
Few People Understand the Slayer's Burden
One recurring theme of The Vampire Slayer is the grief that's unique to Buffy and other Slayers, resulting from the intense trauma and guilt that comes with their role. Buffy's grief that comes with being the Slayer alienates her from the rest of her friends, since even Willow couldn't understand the depth of despair she sometimes feels, and was nearly eaten alive by it when she took it for her own. It's rare that multiple Slayers exist within each other's lifetimes, but thanks to the unique circumstance of Faith's rebellion and Willow attempting to take over the role, there now exists a trinity of heroes who can share the weight.
As this alternate reality debuts new adventures, it will be fascinating to see how Willow, Buffy and Faith work as a trio who sincerely love and respect each other. While their differences always created space between them in the show - with Willow disliking Faith and unable to understand Buffy's full suffering as a Slayer - now they're far more equal in their understanding of each other, and each is assured of how much the others care. Buffy suffered immensely having her identity stolen in The Vampire Slayer, but it's led to a far stronger connection with the only two women who have felt the unimaginable weight of being the Slayer.
The Vampire Slayer #12 is available now from BOOM! Studios