''Haunted'' is a trade paperback collecting comic stories based on 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 ...

'' television series. The story features the first appearance of Faith in Buffy comics (she later appears in '' Note from the Underground'' and '' No Future for You''.)

Story description

General synopsis

Faith tells Angel a story that takes place immediately after she was put into a coma. It seems the ghost of Sunnydale's former Mayor, Richard Wilkins, wants revenge against Buffy. Buffy must now cope with guilt over stabbing Faith ''and'' a poltergeist following her every movement.

''Haunted #1''

Takes place a few days after "

Graduation Day, Part Two "Graduation Day" is the season finale of the WB Television Network The WB Television Network (for Warner Bros., or the "Frog Network", for its former mascot, Michigan J. Frog) was an American television network launched on broadcast televi ...

" and '' Double Cross''. Angel has already left, and now two more of the gang are preparing to leave. Cordelia is going to become an actress while Xander intends to travel far and wide.

''Haunted #2''

Despite her comatose status, Faith once again becomes involved in Buffy's life. Meanwhile, vampires are surprising Buffy. One such incident leaves

Rupert Giles Rupert Giles is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''. The character is portrayed by Anthony Stewart Head. He serves as Buffy Summers' mentor and surrogate father figure. The characte ...

out of action with a bad head injury.

''Haunted #3''

The recently killed Mayor of Sunnydale plans his strike against Buffy. Wilkins formalizes his plans to hit back at Buffy while tormenting her with dreams. There is also something weird happening beneath the University campus in Sunnydale, something Wilkins will not like.

''Haunted #4''

Wilkins takes possession of a powerful body and tries to destroy Buffy. He discovers this body in the Initiative basement. Xander leaves while Willow thinks about college life. Buffy must face Wilkins without knowing what or who he is, and must try to figure out Faith's message: "You're already dead."

Continuity

*This comic takes place in the summer of 1999 (between ''Buffy'' seasons 3 and 4). The prologue, which appeared on the internet and in the TPB collection but not in the pages of the comics themselves, is supposed to be set concurrent with early ''Angel'' season 2. *It also shows the origins of season four's villain Adam and how he came to be.

Canonical issues

Buffy comics ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' comics refer to comic books based on the television series ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series), Buffy the Vampire Slayer''. While many of these comics were published when the television show was on air they ar ...

such as this one are not usually considered by fans as

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 ...

. Some fans consider them stories from the imaginations of authors and artists, while other fans consider them as taking place in an alternative fictional reality. However unlike

fan fiction Fan fiction or fanfiction (also abbreviated to fan fic, fanfic, fic or FF) is fictional writing written in an amateur capacity by fans, unauthorized by, but based on an existing work of fiction. The author uses copyrighted characters, settin ...

, overviews summarising their story, written early in the writing process, were 'approved' by both Fox and

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: ...

(or his office), and the books were therefore later published as officially Buffy merchandise. Some fans would argue that this comic is canon, because it was written by

Jane Espenson Jane Espenson (born July 14, 1964) is an American television writer and producer. Espenson has worked on both situation comedies and serial dramas. She had a five-year stint as a writer and producer on '' Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' and shared ...

, one of the main writers of the ''Buffy'' television series for five of its seven seasons (including the ones covered by this story), as well as a run on the canonical ''Buffy "Season 8"'' comic.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Haunted (Buffy Comic) Comics based on Buffy the Vampire Slayer Ghosts in written fiction Prequel comics