There were actually only 5 or maybe 6 seasons of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, or at least there should have been. The final televised season 7 was so poorly written and sloppily executed I just wanted to skip it all together. If it wasn’t for the threats of not getting Season 8 comic books I would have read through the first graphic novel months ago.
Now as a reward for sitting through, with rolling eyes, season 7 I have been given the first graphic novel “Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, Volume 1: The Long Way Home” (Buffy 8V1) which is a compilation of issues #1-5.
It is never about the Buffy series, it is always about Joss Whedon. I am a fan of his work in both comics, movies and his television series. Buffy 8V1 is completely written by Joss Whedon, and that is the way I like it. The vision and story telling is not lost in the comic series. There is a voice and vision, which was missed in Buffy season 6 and 7.
Buffy 8V1 starts post Hellmouth destruction in the now Sunnydale crater. The Slayers gotten organized and are kicking some serious undead ass. We see meet enemies, old skinless, bad witches and the snappy dialog of Zander is not lost, although completely surrounded by slayers.
It is a mix of technology, research, magic, strong women and yes slaying. Without a professionally formed council and the dark forces pissed off that ‘one slayer at a time’ is now ‘all slayers all the time’ the newly formed slayer legion have got to pull their act together. The enemies are growing . . . dark, political and evil slayers. The original three (Buffy, Willow and Zander) are key to building and stabilizing their organization.
It is worth a buy, especially if you have the Buffy series on DVD, the graphics are strong on their own and compliment the Whedon style.
5 out of 5 Wasabi Peas
