"Buffy The Vampire Slayer" No. 1

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"Buffy The Vampire Slayer" No. 1

Sunday, March 04, 2007

Joss Whedon is considered by many comic fans to be a god. Not only did he write a classic run of "X-Men," but he's responsible for "Buffy The Vampire Slayer," the fanboy's ultimate dreamgirl. Buffy fans get a chance to rejoice this week as the once-popular, now-canceled TV show returns in comic book form for what creator Whedon is officially calling its eighth season.

When we last left Buffy, she and the ever-present Scooby gang had just saved the world from the unbelievable horror of the Sunnydale Hellmouth by creating an army of Slayers. The series ended with the gang riding a bus out of town -- now reduced to a giant crater -- and wondering what happens next. What happens next is a new Buffy series from Whedon and the folks at Dark Horse.

The new Buffy book will pick up right where the series left off. The first four issues, an arc titled "Giant," will bring fans up to speed on the current whereabouts and activities of all the essential players in the "Buffyverse."

Whedon has said he expects the eighth season to last between 20 and 30 issues. He will write at least the first and last arcs, and possibly some issues in between. Handling the rest of the storytelling chores will be a number of writers from the show's original run and a few comics authors, all under Whedon's direction. Handling the art chores is veteran comics illustrator Georges Jeanty.

"Buffy The Vampire Slayer" No. 1 is 32 pages for $2.99. Recommended for ages 12 and up, it hits comic shops Wednesday.

-- Drew Sheneman

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