Buffy the Vampire Slayer is back --- in comic book form, written by Joss Whedon and drawn by Georges Jeanty!!! When I first heard about the movie with Kristi Swanson, I thought it was a joke. When it became a TV show with Sarah Michelle Gellar, I politely declined. Then, a co-worker lent me the first three seasons and I was hooked. I followed Buffy Summers and the rest of the Scooby Gang to the very end. I didn't know who or what could fill that void when the show ended.
But, the comic book definitely delivers. I read each issue as if I'm watching the show -- beginning to end. No peeking. All of the beats are still there. You know the cliffhangers, the Buffy lingo and the commercial breaks. Season 8 picks up realistically where it left off. Buffy has moved to Europe. There's three of her. First, there's Buffy Summers - the Chosen One. Second, there's the one that has literally gone underground and is fighting her own battle. And, the third is in Rome very publicly partying with The Immortal (which was witnessed in an episode of Angel, Buffy's ex's show, a vampire with a soul, and Spike [a vampire - without a soul - whom Buffy also dated.) I'm so glad Joss cleared up that Immortal/Party-Buffy deal. Willow is still doing magic. Xander has gone all Nick Fury with one eye. And, Buffy is still saving the world. A lot.
Sunnydale is still a hole in the ground.
Cleveland has its own Hellmouth which is being patrolled by Faith and Robin Wood (who was played by the extremely hot and sexy D.B. Woodside). Faith is running "dirty" missions for Giles. And, she still has a slight hate-on for Buffy. Hate may be too strong of a word because their relationship --- let's just face it: it's just very complicated.
What used to be "from every generation, a chosen one is born" ... is now eighteen hundred slayers. Five hundred are working in ten separate squads for Buffy. The military claims, making them a threat to the world, "Terrorists call them cells."
Dawn (who used to be a mystical key hunted by a Goddess named Glory because it unlocked a doorway to her world where she ruled, but was stolen by a group of monks, given human form and disguised as the Slayer's sister --- with memories and all --- because they knew she would be protected) is 50 feet tall from having slept with a Thricewise.
Dawn is
really 50 feet tall.
Willow is doing magic like it's nobody's business. It's a confidence she lost in the series after going all evil and trying to destroy the world when her lover, Tara was murdered by the very human, Warren (who does make an appearance --- still skinless --- along with Amy the Rat.) Willow is very much in control of herself, her spells and has obviously done some things that will develop in future story lines. She's still lesbo, but can also fly.
Andrew, formerly of The Trio (Boy, Joss can
really write some redeemable characters!) has his own team which has to listen to his nerderific stories like Billy Dee Wiliams' outfit as Lando Calrissian and how it -not the Ewoks - triggered the downfall of the Star Wars movies. (I guess he's still gay.) Xander tells him at one point to gather together his "ten best," and "not ten best dressed."
Dracula is even back with Xander as his "man servant." But, there's a new twist to their relationship.
It's really nice to see Joss Whedon writing Buffy again. He's got it down. Buffy's still a little sad (which she has been after dying and being ripped out of Heaven by Willow), but it's so good to see her at the top of her game even though everybody keeps calling her "Ma'am." She's the Slayer for a reason.
And, coming up soon --- SPOILER ALERT!!! Fray!!! She's the futuristic Buffy in a future where vampires aren't known as vampires.
But, the comic book definitely delivers. I read each issue as if I'm watching the show -- beginning to end. No peeking. All of the beats are still there. You know the cliffhangers, the Buffy lingo and the commercial breaks. Season 8 picks up realistically where it left off. Buffy has moved to Europe. There's three of her. First, there's Buffy Summers - the Chosen One. Second, there's the one that has literally gone underground and is fighting her own battle. And, the third is in Rome very publicly partying with The Immortal (which was witnessed in an episode of Angel, Buffy's ex's show, a vampire with a soul, and Spike [a vampire - without a soul - whom Buffy also dated.) I'm so glad Joss cleared up that Immortal/Party-Buffy deal. Willow is still doing magic. Xander has gone all Nick Fury with one eye. And, Buffy is still saving the world. A lot.
Sunnydale is still a hole in the ground.
Cleveland has its own Hellmouth which is being patrolled by Faith and Robin Wood (who was played by the extremely hot and sexy D.B. Woodside). Faith is running "dirty" missions for Giles. And, she still has a slight hate-on for Buffy. Hate may be too strong of a word because their relationship --- let's just face it: it's just very complicated.
What used to be "from every generation, a chosen one is born" ... is now eighteen hundred slayers. Five hundred are working in ten separate squads for Buffy. The military claims, making them a threat to the world, "Terrorists call them cells."
Dawn (who used to be a mystical key hunted by a Goddess named Glory because it unlocked a doorway to her world where she ruled, but was stolen by a group of monks, given human form and disguised as the Slayer's sister --- with memories and all --- because they knew she would be protected) is 50 feet tall from having slept with a Thricewise.
Dawn is really 50 feet tall.
Willow is doing magic like it's nobody's business. It's a confidence she lost in the series after going all evil and trying to destroy the world when her lover, Tara was murdered by the very human, Warren (who does make an appearance --- still skinless --- along with Amy the Rat.) Willow is very much in control of herself, her spells and has obviously done some things that will develop in future story lines. She's still lesbo, but can also fly.
Andrew, formerly of The Trio (Boy, Joss can really write some redeemable characters!) has his own team which has to listen to his nerderific stories like Billy Dee Wiliams' outfit as Lando Calrissian and how it -not the Ewoks - triggered the downfall of the Star Wars movies. (I guess he's still gay.) Xander tells him at one point to gather together his "ten best," and "not ten best dressed."
Dracula is even back with Xander as his "man servant." But, there's a new twist to their relationship.
It's really nice to see Joss Whedon writing Buffy again. He's got it down. Buffy's still a little sad (which she has been after dying and being ripped out of Heaven by Willow), but it's so good to see her at the top of her game even though everybody keeps calling her "Ma'am." She's the Slayer for a reason.
And, coming up soon --- SPOILER ALERT!!! Fray!!! She's the futuristic Buffy in a future where vampires aren't known as vampires.
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