There are a lot of comics out there, but some just stand out head and shoulders above the pack. With “Don’t Miss This” we want to spotlight those series we think need to be on your pull list. This week, we’re taking a look at BOOM! Studios epic relaunch of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” If you’ve never taken a trip into the new but familiar rendition of Sunnydale, we’ve got a couple of reasons why you probably shouldn’t miss the new Sunnydale High adventures of Buffy Summers!
Who Is This By?
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is published by BOOM! Studios who acquired the rights to the license after Dark Horse Comics. The title is written by comics colorist-turned-writer, Jordie Bellaire. Bellaire has colored titles from numerous publishers and gained a lot of momentum in her career for being a key part of the creative team contributing to Marvel Comics beloved “Moon Knight” series. Bellaire is joined by artist David Lopez who has been working at Marvel for a very long time and is arguably best known for his work on “Captain Marvel.”
What’s It All About?
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is about a young woman named Buffy who slays vampires. The title just so happens to share a name with a certain television series that first premiered in 1997. The comic book published monthly from BOOM! Studios is based on the television series license and follows protagonist Buffy Summers. Summers attempts to keep Sunnydale High School safe from the creatures of the night. Sunnydale sits on top of a Hellmouth that Buffy has a duty to protect as the chosen one. Anyone familiar with the acclaimed late ’90s television series will feel right at home here. The magic of Buffy from BOOM! is how different yet similar the comic book is with the original series. Key elements of continuity from the original series are remixed. Characters are introduced out of order, there are new supporting cast members and situations. Bellaire keeps the spirit of the original series intact but she brings a lot of new elements into the comic. If the long-rumored Buffy reboot television series can’t be willed into existence, I’m more than happy to enjoy the immense quality of this new comic book series.
What Makes It So Great?
The true genius of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” from BOOM! Studios is the quicker pacing of the title and grounded feel of the story. There are numerous changes in this new comic book series; Buffy becomes more acquainted with Cordelia earlier on in this new series. Zander has a more bleak background than what was represented in the original television run. Willow has a girlfriend named Rose and Anya is in the very first issue! The relationships and continuity are brand new in the BOOM! Studios series. A lot of the melodrama that clashes with modern viewers have also been toned down. It is much easier to sympathize with this version of Cordelia who is more accepting of others akin to what she was like at the end of “Angel.” Plus, that weird ‘Teacher’s Pet’ episode of the original series is completely gone here, the less said about that the better.
One of the most striking issues of the series highlights some of the differences Willow is going through early on in. Issue #7 allows the cast members of the series to reflect on the pacing of the book and does an excellent job foreshadowing what could be coming next for the title. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” does a great job giving new readers of the property all of the information they need to know while teasing future developments. The new directions for Willow and Zander are two of the most well-realized aspects of this continuity. Bringing Willow closer to the end of her saga on the original Buffy television series this into the comic book run makes for a tense reinterpretation of the original events. Zander has a wholly unique and incredibly bleak new outlook on Sunnydale that will always affect his character even if the situation is reversed for him.
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With the exception of just a handful of issues, David Lopez has taken over the interior art for “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Lopez draws incredibly dynamic figures that are always bursting with expression. Artist Dan Mora kicked off the series and drew a solid first batch of issues. Lopez has grown into an essential Buffy artist thanks to big expressions and strong energy. Lopez’s art is incredibly energetic and captures the more youthful feel of Buffy incredibly well. I’m always excited to turn the page and see what kind of scenario the series will take up next. Lopez adds a visually dynamic element to every page.
While Lopez has a more subdued tone, he’s also an artist that can depict a lot of action on the page. This week’s issue is a great example as Willow taps into the dark arts for a huge second half of the book oozing with foreboding interior art. This art also appears to be hinting at what is next for the series. There are times when Lopez’s figures can come off as a little derivative. Characters can have the same facial expressions in certain pages. However, moments like the opening pages in issue #12 show just how much body language Lopez has awarded to Anya. Anya appears to be losing it in front of a vast array of others. Lopez is able to communicate subtly in the huge facial expressions populating the artwork. More importantly than anything else in the issue, Lopez is able to keep the more grounded tone of Buffy in the new series.
How Can You Read It?
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is published monthly by BOOM! Studios. The first collection is now available in stores making for a convenient binge. Once you are caught up with the first collection of the series, make your way to a local comic book store and get caught up on “Angel” so you can give the ‘Hellmouth’ crossover a proper readthrough.
