''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' comics refer to comic books based on the television series ''
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' is an American supernatural fiction, supernatural drama television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon. It is based on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film), 1992 film of the same name, also written by W ...
''. While many of these comics were published when the television show was on air they are not all considered
canonical
The adjective canonical is applied in many contexts to mean "according to the canon" the standard, rule or primary source that is accepted as authoritative for the body of knowledge or literature in that context. In mathematics, "canonical example ...
and often deal with characters who do not appear in the television series, most notably in the ''
Tales of the Slayers
''Tales of the Slayers'' is a Dark Horse Comics ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' graphic novel that consists of multiple stories written by Joss Whedon, Amber Benson, and others which tell of different members of the Slayer line.
The stories are ...
'' and ''
Tales of the Vampires
''Tales of the Vampires'' is a five issue American comic book limited series (later collected in a single trade paperback), published by Dark Horse Comics and set in the Buffyverse. It comprises an anthology of short stories written by Joss Wh ...
'' mini-series.
The first series of books were published by
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is an American comic book, graphic novel, and manga publisher founded in Milwaukie, Oregon by Mike Richardson in 1986. The company was created using funds earned from Richardson's chain of Portland, Oregon comic book shops known ...
between 1998 and 2004, originally in comic format but then gathered into volumes of
trade paperback Trade paperback may refer to:
* Trade paperback, a higher-quality softcover version of a book
* Trade paperback (comics)
In comics in the United States, a trade paperback (shortened: TPB or trade) is a collection of stories originally published ...
s. A small number of Buffy comics have not been included in trade paperbacks, such as the books entitled "Giles", "Jonathan", and "Reunion".
Following the television series finale, Dark Horse began releasing new books titled Season Eight, Nine, and Ten, and various spin-offs, which are written and/or supervised by creator Joss Whedon and officially recognized as canon to the show. In 2007, Dark Horse allowed the rights to produce the comics for Buffy's companion show ''Angel'' to lapse, and they were picked up for a short time by
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing is an American publisher of comic books, graphic novels, art books, and comic strip collections. It was founded in 1999 as the publishing division of Idea and Design Works, LLC (IDW), itself formed in 1999, and is regularly recog ...
, which released the canon series ''Angel: After the Fall'' among other non-canon titles. Dark Horse reacquired the rights in 2010 and went on to release the official ''Angel: Season Six'' and the spin-off series ''Angel & Faith''.
In 2018 it was announced after 20 years at Dark Horse Comics, the license for Buffy and all related material will transfer to
BOOM! Studios
Boom! Studios (styled BOOM! Studios) is an American comic book and graphic novel publisher, headquartered in Los Angeles, California, United States.
History
Origins
In the early 2000s, Ross Richie and Andrew Cosby had been working in Holly ...
. The first issue of
the reboot series was released in January 2019.
Relation to the TV series
Series creator
Joss Whedon
Joseph Hill Whedon (; born June 23, 1964) is an American filmmaker, composer, and comic book writer. He is the founder of Mutant Enemy Productions, co-founder of Bellwether Pictures, and is best known as the creator of several television series: ...
and a number of writers involved with the television series authored many of the comic books. Overviews summarizing the comic books' storylines were written early in the writing process and were 'approved' by both Fox and Joss Whedon (or his office), and the books were therefore later published as official Buffy merchandise.
The stories in the Buffy comics take place in between episodes of the ''
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' is an American supernatural fiction, supernatural drama television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon. It is based on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film), 1992 film of the same name, also written by W ...
'' TV series, and continue after the series ended. Issues 1 to 63 take place during the period that the series was still on air, and none are written by Joss Whedon himself. The earlier issues are not very easy to place in the series other than the season they are set in. The stories get more specific later on, however; for example, the ''
Oz'' Buffy comics fill in the story line of Oz's character after he leaves the TV series, and the ''
Death of Buffy
"The Death of Buffy" is a story arc that ran through ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' #43–45 based on the ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' television series. The arc was later collected in a trade paperback edition.
Lost & Found
Story description
Fo ...
'' comics clearly take place between Seasons 5 and 6 of the series.
Starting in 2007, a new series of Buffy comics has been produced, also published by
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is an American comic book, graphic novel, and manga publisher founded in Milwaukie, Oregon by Mike Richardson in 1986. The company was created using funds earned from Richardson's chain of Portland, Oregon comic book shops known ...
. These are a canonical continuation of the television series and as such are considered ''
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight
''Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight'' is a comic book series published by Dark Horse Comics from 2007 to 2011. The series serves as a canonical continuation of the television series ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'', and follows the events of that ...
''. One of the other comics considered canon is the 8-part series ''
Fray'', since the main character, Melaka Fray, appears in ''Season 8''.
''Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight'' takes place after the series ended, and the issues are written by Joss Whedon to continue the storyline. A subsequent "Season Nine" series followed, accompanied by a companion or sister-series "Angel & Faith" which is set during the same time period and interchanges plots and characters. "Season Ten" debuted in March 2014, followed by the continuation of its companion series the following month.
Dark Horse Comics (1998-2018)
Pre-Season Eight Stories
These stories are first published by
Dark Horse comics
Dark Horse Comics is an American comic book, graphic novel, and manga publisher founded in Milwaukie, Oregon by Mike Richardson in 1986. The company was created using funds earned from Richardson's chain of Portland, Oregon comic book shops known ...
, later most of Buffy stories are collected in Buffy comic books.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Classics (1998-2003)
Buffy specials (1998-2003)
Buffy mini-series (1999-2001)
Buffy tales (2002-2009)
Dark Horse Presents
Dark Horse Extra
TV Guide
Trade Paperbacks
1. Compilations of most of the material listed above:
* ''
The Remaining Sunlight
''Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Remaining Sunlight'' is a trade paperback collecting comic stories based on the ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' television series.
Story description
''Buffy the Vampire Slayer #1''
:Comic title: ''Wu-tang Fang ''
Bu ...
''
* ''
Uninvited Guests
"Uninvited Guests" is the twelfth episode of the fourth series of the British comedy TV series ''Dad's Army''. It was originally transmitted on Friday, 11 December 1970.
Synopsis
Following the bombing of ARP HQ, Hodges moves his wardens into t ...
''
* ''
Bad Blood''
* ''
Crash Test Demons
Crash or CRASH may refer to:
Common meanings
* Collision, an impact between two or more objects
* Crash (computing), a condition where a program ceases to respond
* Cardiac arrest, a medical condition in which the heart stops beating
* Couch s ...
''
* ''
Pale Reflections''
* ''
The Blood of Carthage
"The Blood of Carthage" is a story arc, based on the ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' television series, originally published in ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' #21–25 (May–September 2000) by Dark Horse Comics. The arc was later collected into a trad ...
''
* ''
Food Chain
A food chain is a linear network of links in a food web starting from producer organisms (such as grass or algae which produce their own food via photosynthesis) and ending at an apex predator species (like grizzly bears or killer whales), det ...
''
* ''
Past Lives
Reincarnation, also known as rebirth or transmigration, is the Philosophy, philosophical or Religion, religious concept that the non-physical essence of a living being begins a new life in a different physical form or physical body, body after ...
''
* ''
Autumnal''
* ''
Out of the Woodwork
''Out of the Woodwork'' is a collaboration album by American guitarist Tony Rice, his brother, mandolinist Larry Rice, guitar and banjo player Herb Pedersen and guitar/bass player Chris Hillman.
Critical reception
''Entertainment Weekly'' wrot ...
''
* ''
False Memories
In psychology, a false memory is a phenomenon where someone recalls something that did not happen or recalls it differently from the way it actually happened. Suggestibility, activation of associated information, the incorporation of misinformat ...
''
* ''
Ugly Little Monsters''
* ''
Haunted
Haunted or The Haunted may refer to:
Books
* ''Haunted'' (Armstrong novel), by Kelley Armstrong, 2005
* ''Haunted'' (Cabot novel), by Meg Cabot, 2004
* ''Haunted'' (Palahniuk novel), by Chuck Palahniuk, 2005
* ''Haunted'' (Angel novel), a 200 ...
''
* ''
The Death of Buffy
"The Death of Buffy" is a story arc that ran through '' Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' #43–45 based on the ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' television series. The arc was later collected in a trade paperback edition.
Lost & Found
Story description
F ...
''
* ''
Note from the Underground''
* ''
Viva Las Buffy!
''Viva Las Buffy!'' is a comic book storyline based on the ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series), Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' television series that was published in ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics, Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' #51–54 by Dark H ...
''
* ''
Slayer, Interrupted
"Slayer, Interrupted" is a comic book storyline based on the ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series), Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' television series that was published in ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics, Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' #57–59 by Dark H ...
''
* ''
A Stake to the Heart''
*
Spike and Dru
*
Willow and Tara
*
Oz
*
Tales of the Slayers
''Tales of the Slayers'' is a Dark Horse Comics ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' graphic novel that consists of multiple stories written by Joss Whedon, Amber Benson, and others which tell of different members of the Slayer line.
The stories are ...
*
Tales of the Vampires
''Tales of the Vampires'' is a five issue American comic book limited series (later collected in a single trade paperback), published by Dark Horse Comics and set in the Buffyverse. It comprises an anthology of short stories written by Joss Wh ...
2. Compilations of all of the material listed above:
* Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 1
* Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 2
* Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 3
* Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 4
* Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 5
* Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 6
* Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 7
* Tales
Season Eight (2007–2011)
The series serves as a
canonical
The adjective canonical is applied in many contexts to mean "according to the canon" the standard, rule or primary source that is accepted as authoritative for the body of knowledge or literature in that context. In mathematics, "canonical example ...
continuation of the television series ''
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' is an American supernatural fiction, supernatural drama television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon. It is based on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film), 1992 film of the same name, also written by W ...
'', and follows the events of that show's
final televised season.
It is produced by
Joss Whedon
Joseph Hill Whedon (; born June 23, 1964) is an American filmmaker, composer, and comic book writer. He is the founder of Mutant Enemy Productions, co-founder of Bellwether Pictures, and is best known as the creator of several television series: ...
, who wrote or co-wrote three of the series arcs and several one-shot stories. The series was followed by ''
Season Nine
A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperate and pol ...
'' in 2011.
Specials
Trade Paperbacks
* The Long Way Home
* No Future for You
* Wolves at the Gate
* Time of Your Life
* Predators and Prey
* Retreat
* Twilight
* Last Gleaming
Season Nine (2011–2013)
When
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight
''Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight'' is a comic book series published by Dark Horse Comics from 2007 to 2011. The series serves as a canonical continuation of the television series ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'', and follows the events of that ...
was finished,
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is an American comic book, graphic novel, and manga publisher founded in Milwaukie, Oregon by Mike Richardson in 1986. The company was created using funds earned from Richardson's chain of Portland, Oregon comic book shops known ...
decided to publish a new comic season of Buffy. They also decided to follow up the series
Angel: After the Fall with the publication of
Angel & Faith as a part of
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine
''Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine'' is a comic book series published by Dark Horse Comics from 2011 to 2013. It is the sequel to the '' Season Eight'' comic book series, a canonical continuation of the television series ''Buffy the Vampire Sl ...
.
Buffy
= Trade Paperbacks
=
* Freefall
* On Your Own
* Guarded
* Welcome to the Team
* The Core
Angel & Faith
= Trade Paperbacks
=
* Live Through This
* Daddy Issues
* Family Reunion
* Death and Consequences
* What You Want, Not What You Need
Spike: A Dark Place
= Trade Paperback
=
* Spike: A Dark Place
Willow: Wonderland
= Trade Paperback
=
* Willow: Wonderland
Season Ten (2014–2016)
Season Ten is a Buffy comic series published after
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine
''Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine'' is a comic book series published by Dark Horse Comics from 2011 to 2013. It is the sequel to the '' Season Eight'' comic book series, a canonical continuation of the television series ''Buffy the Vampire Sl ...
.
Buffy
= Trade Paperbacks
=
* New Rules
* I Wish
* Love Dares You
* Old Demons
* Pieces on the Ground
* Own It
Angel & Faith
= Trade Paperbacks
=
* Where the River Meets the Sea
* Lost and Found
* United
* A Little More Than Kin
* A Tale Of Two Families
Season Eleven (2016–2018)
Dark Horse began publishing Season Eleven in November 2016. This season consists of a 12-issue ''Buffy'' series, a 12-issue ''Angel'' series, and a 4-issue ''Giles'' miniseries.
Buffy Season Eleven
= Trade Paperbacks
=
*''The Spread of Their Evil...''
*''One Girl in All the World''
Angel Season Eleven
=Trade Paperbacks
=
*''Out of the Past''
*''Time and Tide''
*''Dark Reflections''
Giles Season Eleven
=Trade Paperbacks
=
*''Girl Blue''
Season Twelve (2018)
Trade Paperbacks
*''The Reckoning''
Fray (2001–2003)
''Fray'' is an eight-issue
comic book
A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...
limited series Limited series may refer to:
*Limited series, individual storylines within an anthology series
*Limited series, a particular run of collectables, usually individually numbered
*Limited series (comics), a comics series with a predetermined number of ...
, a futuristic spin-off of the television series ''
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' is an American supernatural fiction, supernatural drama television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon. It is based on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film), 1992 film of the same name, also written by W ...
''. Written by ''Buffy'' creator
Joss Whedon
Joseph Hill Whedon (; born June 23, 1964) is an American filmmaker, composer, and comic book writer. He is the founder of Mutant Enemy Productions, co-founder of Bellwether Pictures, and is best known as the creator of several television series: ...
, the series follows a
Slayer
Slayer was an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California. The band was formed in 1981 by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, drummer Dave Lombardo and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya. Slayer's fast and aggressive musical style ...
named
Melaka Fray
Melaka Fray is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon and Karl Moline for the 2003 comic book limited series '' Fray'', a spin-off set in a futuristic setting of the shared fictional universe in which the TV series '' Buffy the Vampire Slay ...
, a chosen one in a time where
vampires
A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead creatures that often visited loved ones and caused mischief or deaths ...
(called "lurks") are returning to the slums of New York City, and the rich-poor divide is even greater. Volume one is drawn by
Karl Moline
Karl Moline is a comic book artist and the co-creator (along with Joss Whedon) of Fray. He provided the artwork for Fray, as well as the associated Fray-centric story in Tales of the Slayers. In 2001 he signed an exclusive contract with CrossGe ...
(
pencils
A pencil () is a writing or drawing implement with a solid pigment core in a protective casing that reduces the risk of core breakage, and keeps it from marking the user's hand.
Pencils create marks by physical abrasion, leaving a trail ...
) and
Andy Owens
Andrew James Owens (born 15 October 1989) is an English footballer who plays as a forward for Macclesfield.
Career
Born in Liverpool, Owens began his career with his home town club Liverpool but later moved to Stoke City. After being released ...
(
inks
Ink is a gel, sol, or solution that contains at least one colorant, such as a dye or pigment, and is used to color a surface to produce an image, text, or design. Ink is used for drawing or writing with a pen, brush, reed pen, or quill. Thicker ...
).
Trade Paperbacks
*
Fray: Future Slayer
BOOM! Studios (2019-)
In 2019, a new ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' comic book series was released by
Boom! Studios
Boom! Studios (styled BOOM! Studios) is an American comic book and graphic novel publisher, headquartered in Los Angeles, California, United States.
History
Origins
In the early 2000s, Ross Richie and Andrew Cosby had been working in Holly ...
; this version of the series is a
reboot
In computing, rebooting is the process by which a running computer system is restarted, either intentionally or unintentionally. Reboots can be either a cold reboot (alternatively known as a hard reboot) in which the power to the system is physi ...
with no continuity to the television series or previous comics. Despite being set in an alternate modern-day continuity, the likenesses of the series’ actors are still used to represent their respective characters.
Main Series (2019-)
Trade Paperbacks
* High School is Hell
* Once Bitten
* From Beneath You
* Frenemies
* The Biggest Bad
* Secrets of the Slayer
* The World Without Shrimp
* A Rainbow upon Her Head
* Forget Me Not
* We Are the Slayer
One Shots (2019-)
Willow (2020)
Trade Paperbacks
*''Willow''
Hellmouth (2019-2020)
Trade Paperbacks
*''Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Hellmouth''
Buffy the Last Vampire Slayer (2021)
Trade Paperbacks
*''Buffy the Last Vampire Slayer''
Comics by writer
:''See
Buffyverse comics#Comics by writer''
See also
*
List of feminist comic books
This is a list of feminist comic books and graphic novels.
A
*''A-Force'' by G. Willow Wilson, Marguerite Bennet, and Jorge Molina. A Marvel Comics series about an all-female team of Avengers.
*'' Anya's Ghost'' by Vera Brosgol. Graphic ...
*
Portrayal of women in comics
The portrayal of women in American comic books has often been the subject of controversy since the medium's beginning. Critics have noted the roles of women as both supporting characters and lead characters are substantially more subjected to gen ...
References
External links
Official BOOM! Comics ''Buffy the Vampire Slayers'' Comics HomeOfficial Dark Horse ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' Comics HomeThe Unofficial Comic Book Guide to ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buffy The Vampire Slayer Comics
1998 comics debuts
Comics about women
Comics by Brad Meltzer
Fantasy comics
Feminist comics
Horror comics
Comics about magic
Werewolf comics
Zombies in comics
Vampires in comics
Comic lists by franchise