First published in 2001, Past Lives is the first big comic-book crossover between Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, two inextricably linked television series that were constrained to some degree by being on two different TV networks. (Ironically, in the time since this book came out, the Angel comic-book series has likewise migrated to another publisher, once again setting the star-crossed vampire and vampire slayer at odds.) The concept is that Angel, in Los Angeles, faces a crisis so great that it draws Buffy and her team of Sunnydale scoobies to L.A. to lend a hand.

Problem here is, the storyline in Past Lives just isn't thrilling enough to justify the big guns. A free agent of the Watchers Council is running amuck on Angel's turf, stirring up trouble against him and leaping into his life every now and again to try and kill him. Angel's closest allies, Wesley and Cordelia, are taken out of the fray pretty quickly, so Buffy and Giles -- followed quickly by Willow, Xander, Tara and Anya, leaving Buffy's disenchanted beau Riley to hold down the fort at home -- drive on down to help quell the disturbance.

But, come on. Buffy and Angel alone take out bads bigger than this every day. A single rogue killer? Xander could probably have handled the job.

The art's pretty good and the story's not bad. But if they're going to promise us something big, they need to deliver.