Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine
| Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine | |
|---|---|
|
Promotional artwork for Season 9 featuring both core series, Buffy and Angel & Faith. Art by Jo Chen. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Dark Horse Comics |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Format | Limited series |
| Genre | |
| Publication date | August 2011 – September 2013 |
| Number of issues |
25 (each core series) 5 (each miniseries) |
| Main character(s) | Scooby Gang |
| Creative team | |
| Writer(s) |
Buffy: Joss Whedon Andrew Chambliss Scott Allie Jane Espenson Drew Z. Greenberg Angel & Faith: Christos Gage Spike: A Dark Place: Victor Gischler Willow: Wonderland: Jeff Parker Christos Gage |
| Penciller(s) |
Buffy: Georges Jeanty Karl Moline Cliff Richards Ben Dewey Angel & Faith: Rebekah Isaacs Phil Noto Chris Samnee Lee Garbett Spike: A Dark Place: Paul Lee Willow: Wonderland: Brian Ching |
| Creator(s) | Joss Whedon |
| Collected editions | |
| Freefall | ISBN 978-1-59582-922-1 |
| On Your Own | ISBN 978-1-59582-990-0 |
| Guarded | ISBN 978-1-61655-099-8 |
| Welcome to the Team | ISBN 978-1-61655-166-7 |
| The Core | ISBN 978-1-61655-254-1 |
| Live Through This | ISBN 978-1-59582-887-3 |
| Daddy Issues | ISBN 978-1-59582-960-3 |
| Family Reunion | ISBN 978-1-61655-079-0 |
| Death and Consequences | ISBN 978-1-61655-165-0 |
| What You Want, Not What You Need | ISBN 978-1-61655-253-4 |
| Spike: A Dark Place | ISBN 978-1-61655-109-4 |
| Willow: Wonderland | ISBN 978-1-61655-145-2 |
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 Slayer.[1] The Season Nine brand also incorporates a new Buffy spin-off series, Angel & Faith, and two spin-off miniseries Willow: Wonderland and Spike: A Dark Place. Each core series consisted of 25 issues and each miniseries consisted of 5 issues.
While Joss Whedon, the creator of the original television series, shares writing duties with Andrew Chambliss on the main series, Christos Gage writes Angel & Faith.
At the start of Season Nine, the series focuses on Buffy living in San Francisco in a world without magic.[2] Angel & Faith, on the other hand, is set primarily in London and pursues several plot threads from Season Eight.
The series were followed in 2014 by the start of a Season Ten line of Buffy and Angel & Faith comics.
Plot
Buffy
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine continues the plot thread from the previous series, focusing on Buffy and her core group of friends. After the Twilight crisis, in which she destroyed the 'Seed of Wonder' and consequently brought about the end of magic, Buffy is now living in San Francisco[3] and must continue her duties as the Slayer.[4] However, there is a new status quo in Buffy's personal life as well as in her Slayer career. For example, in the process of becoming a vampire, demons are no longer able to fully possess the dead, creating mindless creatures which Xander coins "zompires". Xander and Buffy's sister Dawn have settled into a quiet domestic life together, and Buffy's best friend Willow no longer possesses magical abilities. Andrew and Riley are still friends of Buffy's, but she sees them less frequently. Buffy lives with two seemingly normal roommates, Tumble and Anaheed, and the job of patrolling for vampires initially falls to Buffy and her ex-lover Spike, a vampire with a soul.
Due to his feelings for Buffy, Spike departs San Francisco in his space ship. Willow also leaves, Buffy's broken scythe in tow, on a quest to restore magic. Buffy faces a few enemies, including many ravenous zompires, the rogue Slayer Simone Doffler, and a young man named Severin—prophesied as "the Siphon"— who since the end of magic possesses the ability to drain demons and Slayers of their magic. Buffy works primarily with a few new allies, including Robert Dowling, an SFPD officer who heads up an anti-zompire task force, and Billy Lane, a gay teenager who moved to San Francisco to support Buffy's cause. Later it is revealed that Anaheed is another Slayer who has been tasked with looking out for Buffy, and she takes Billy under her wing. Buffy is also briefly allied with Eldre Koh, an ancient demon whose mystical prison was broken along with the end of magic, and for this swears a debt of loyalty to Buffy. Koh reveals however, that his vendetta against his ancient jailer trumps his loyalty to Buffy, and betrays her trust. Later, on a mission with Dowling and Billy, Buffy finds herself transported to Los Angeles where she is approached by another ancient demon, Illyria (a character from the television series Angel), who recruits Buffy to a team dedicated to defeating Severin. Eldre Koh and Buffy's old enemy D'Hoffryn are also members of Illyria's council. Buffy, Illyria and Koh strategize to disarm and take out Severin. However, their plan fails and Severin is successful in draining Illyria of her abilities leaving her alive but powerless and stuck in the physical appearance of her human host body, Winifred Burkle. Having drained Illyria of her powers, Severin acquires her ability to freely travel through time, which he needs to resurrect his dead girlfriend.
Soon after, Buffy discovers that Dawn (who was created from a mystical key in Buffy season five) is dying as a result of the end of magic. Xander—who has been struggling with his anger since Giles' death in Season Eight—blames Buffy for Dawn's predicament. Severin and Simone approach and ask him to steal Buffy's sole inheritance from Giles (the Vampyr book seen in Buffy episode one) so that they might use it to go back in time and avert the Twilight crisis which precipitated the end of magic. Willow returns from her journey with her powers and Buffy's scythe restored, but she can only buy time for Dawn, whose health is still failing. Xander appears to confess to Buffy of Severin's plan, leading the trio head to the Deeper Well in the English Cotswolds (a prison for ancient demons seen in Angel) where they hope they can acquire sufficient magical reserves for Willow to restore Dawn. Spike returns to San Francisco to provide comfort to Dawn; he watches over her as she fades rapidly from existence. As Buffy's team enters the Well, at the opposite end of the Earth so too do Simone and Severin, acting on information supplied by Xander. Buffy learns of Xander's deceit and is furious with him. Inside, Severin and Willow both charge with abundant magical energies, but it is too much for Severin to handle and he will soon explode with power. Willow's magic forms a new Seed, which will take a millennium to reach full power. However, with assistance from Illyria, she persuades Severin to transfer his power to the new Seed, thereby causing it to mature and restore magic to the world. Illyria chooses to stay with Severin to ensure the task is completed. Meanwhile, Simone awakens Maloker, the Old One responsible for siring the first vampire, and allows herself to be sired, endowing her with fantastic super strength while allowing her to retain her intelligence. As Xander attempts to help Koh and the Council subdue Maloker, Simone gets the upper hand against Buffy, but sensing her need to escape the Well, she leaves Buffy to be finished off by Maloker, who has killed all the Council save for D'Hoffryn and Koh. As her friends evacuate the Well, Buffy expresses regret for making someone like Simone into a Slayer, and dusts her with the scythe. Further below, Severin explodes with power, restoring magic to the world. The resulting explosion seemingly kills him, along with Maloker and Illyria. Buffy narrowly escapes the Well.
In the immediate aftermath of their battle, Willow returns the gang to San Francisco and uses Buffy's blood and her magic to restore Dawn. Xander expresses guilt about his betrayal, but Buffy forgives him as his actions ultimately led to the creation of a new Seed, which saved Dawn. Willow warns Buffy something feels different in the world. Elsewhere, a newly sired vampire is shown to retain her intelligence, stand in sunlight and even shapeshift into a bat. Willow and Buffy turn to the pages of the Vampyr book to research possible consequences of their recent actions, but find its pages are now blank.
Angel & Faith
In Angel & Faith, the title characters reside in the former London home of Rupert Giles, Buffy's former mentor, which passed to the Slayer Faith in his will following his death in the Season Eight finale. Faith seeks to rehabilitate Angel after his actions as Twilight in Season Eight, while he is on the hunt for the scattered pieces of Giles' soul in order to resurrect him.[5] Former allies from his tenure as Twilight—including Whistler, and the half-demons Pearl and Nash—are out for revenge from Angel for aborting their original plans, as is a British contingent of Slayers led by the Slayer Nadira who cannot forgive Angel for the many atrocities he has caused both as Twilight and earlier in his career. Whistler plans to use the residual magic contained in scattered artifacts around the world to unleash a plague which will mutate humankind into a magical species, creating a new world order, at the cost of many human lives. Angel and Faith go on several missions and acquire numerous fragments of Giles' soul using the mystical Tooth of Ammuk, and Angel's personality becomes increasingly influenced by the growing presence of Giles' soul within him. Angel and Faith are joined and supported by Giles' great aunts, Lavinia and Sophronia Fairweather, two depowered witches who used their magic to remain young and beautiful, and by Alasdair Coames, a depowered "archmage" and a collector of magical artifacts who is an old friend of Giles's.
Willow visits Angel and Faith's apartment on her mission to restore magic, and as the Scythe contains a piece of Giles' soul, is able to enlist their help. Taking the gang to Los Angeles, they reconvene with Angel's friend Gunn and his son Connor (from the Angel series). Connor was raised in the hell dimension Quor'toth, and through him Willow is able to transport them there using residual magic in the Scythe. Once there, she regains her powers and begins an inter-dimensional journey, and Angel receives the penultimate piece of Giles's soul. Later, Angel and Faith recover a mystical item which is key to restoring Giles's corpse to full health so they can reanimate it. However, they discover he is not buried in his grave. They learn that Giles's body has been possessed by the demon Eyghon (from the Buffy episode "The Dark Age"), to whom he sold his soul in his youth. Angel reveals that he has known of Eyghon's survival, as well as his partnership with Whistler, Pearl and Nash. Because vampires are immune to Eyghon's ability to possess the dead and unconscious, with which he plans to build an army of Slayers, Angel recruits Spike to assist him on a mission to kill the demon. The trio, supported by a band of Slayers, manages to slay Eyghon using an enchanted sword. Traumatized by this battle and by recent losses, the Slayers who worked alongside Nadira quit to lead normal lives. With Eyghon's death, Giles's complete soul is restored, and is later transferred from Angel's body to a mystical vessel. Spike quickly departs after learning Buffy called Faith requesting help for Dawn, but Angel and Faith have no idea who Dawn is supposed to be. The remaining group then go ahead with the plan to bring Giles back to life, using Coames's collection of artifacts to provide the required magic for the spell. The ritual is interfered with when Whistler, Pearl and Nash arrive to steal Coames' magical artifacts. The trio make off with everything after a brief and brutal skirmish.
The group is astounded when Giles is successfully returned to life, but as a 12-year-old boy with his memories intact, due to his aunts focusing on their memories of him as a child. Giles thanks them for saving him from Eyghon but is furious at the age of his body and that they have been wasting time trying to bring him back and not saving the world from Whistler's plan. The group form a battle plan including a way to shield themselves from the plague, and accept that they all might die. The group, trailed by Nadira, confront Whistler, Pearl and Nash on a rooftop in Hackney as they prepare to unleash their magical plague by releasing an orb of pure magic into the upper atmosphere. Angel and Faith are easily outgunned, and Nadira is gravely wounded by Nash. Giles is able to use ambient magic to attack Nash with a fireball, causing him drop the magical orb, albeit from a sufficient height to mutate local residents into all manner of magical creatures. Though burnt within an inch of her life, Nadira is able to help Faith kill Nash. Upon Nash's death, his power is absorbed by Pearl, who escapes the scene in tears at the loss of her brother. Angel takes on Whistler head-to-head; he damages the orb, forcing Whistler to absorb some of its magic, which clears his unbalanced mind. Whistler realizes the error of his ways, destroys the orb himself, and dies. In the season's dénouement, Pearl's hand is shown emerging ominously from a river. Even though it is medically impossible, Nadira is still alive, but is somehow mutating. Coames worries that with Whistler's death the universe will no longer have someone working towards balance; Angel says that people will have to do it for themselves. Lavinia and Sophronia take credit in front of the media for stopping the crisis. Faith and Giles decide to return to America, Faith thinking she may work with Kennedy's Slayer bodyguard corporation and Giles aiming to reunite with Buffy. Angel parts on good terms with them, deciding to stay behind in London's newly christened "Magic Town" suburb where he expects many conflicts are yet to arise. He dedicates himself once again to helping the helpless.
Miniseries
Willow: Wonderland follows on from Willow's crossover appearance in Angel & Faith. On her travels, Willow befriends a cursed warlock known as Marrak. In a magical dimension resembling "Wonderland", Willow is reunited with her former tutor and lover Aluwyn, the Saga Vasuki, whom she could not commune with after the end of magic. Aluwyn and her "supercoven" of witches restore Buffy's broken magical Scythe but inform Willow that opening a functional portal to her home world will be impossible because it does not have magic of its own. At first Willow enjoys the freedom of limitless power in a magical community, but later realizes Aluwyn has secluded her to the neglect of her friends, and the pair separate. The experience leaves Willow with a newfound understanding of her abilities and her own nature, including the oneness of her "Dark Willow" persona and her normal self. While traveling with Marrak again, his obsession with dark magic becomes apparent, and she realizes that he is in fact Rack, the dealer responsible for her earlier black magic addiction, whom she believed she had killed. In the story's final part, Willow and Rack battle until he is defeated, and she in turn is guided by a sentient universe back to Earth—this time, with her own magic restored and the message that it is for all the world to share. She walks the streets of San Francisco at peace.
Spike: A Dark Place continues from Spike's departure in Buffy, and precedes his appearance in Angel & Faith. Demons seize control of Spike's ship seeking to return to the ruins of Sunnydale, California, over the mystical Hellmouth where Buffy shattered the Seed of Wonder, bringing about the end of magic. They hope to acquire the shattered fragments of the seed, for they contain residual magic. At the site of Buffy's battle, Spike encounters a succubus named Morgan who helps him kill his captors and explains that she, like many demons, is after these fragments as well; she plans to use them to open the dormant Hellmouth on Easter Island. Morgan's powers place Spike under her thrall and using his ship, he transports her to the site of the Hellmouth before coming to his senses. Once there, Morgan's spell to open the Hellmouth fails, and instead brings the moai to life. The moai later fuse into a stone giant which attacks Spike and Morgan. During the fray, the giant strikes and destroys Spike's space ship, leading all but one of Spike's insectoid crew to evacuate. A sole bug goes down with the ship, which takes the giant out with him. Morgan departs after Spike soundly rejects the chance of being in a relationship with her. The remaining bugs decide to set up home in the caves of Easter Island, and part ways with Spike. Contemplating a return to San Francisco, Spike receives a phone call from Angel requesting his help.
Love vs Life is a three-part story written by Jane Espenson, originally serialized in Dark Horse Presents, following Billy's and Anaheed's departure from San Francisco during Buffy's last arc. Billy is summoned back to his hometown of Santa Rosita by his boyfriend Devon after it is overrun by zompires who do not need an invitation to enter people's homes. Anaheed travels along with him and says they can only evacuate the town; she advises him that a Slayer ought to know when to cut their losses. Billy remembers Buffy telling him a Slayer must put the world first, above even those they love. He breaks up with Devon despite Devon saying Buffy is wrong. When zompires attack Devon and his father in their basement, Anaheed holds Billy back, believing they cannot reach them in time. However, Billy has a vision of the First Slayer battling vampires with fire. Billy uses fire to scare off the zompires and save Devon and his father. Billy and Devon decide to stay together. When Devon expresses disbelief Billy could have made a connection to Slayer mythology, Anaheed says maybe something out there chose to hook into Billy.
Production
Conception
Whedon and Dark Horse began preparing for Season Nine before the conclusion of Season Eight, and production for the series started shortly after Season Eight ended.[1] Whedon decided to use the finale to Season Eight to establish a new paradigm for Season Nine. While Whedon had chosen to fully exploit the possibilities of a comic book medium to explore more fantastical storylines, he later reflected that Buffy was less about the scope of its storytelling and more about the emotional experience of its characters. The "end of magic" at the conclusion of Season Eight would therefore do many things: it would make Buffy an underdog once again, restore her setting to the "real world", and make its stories more personal. He also chose to kill off Rupert Giles because that character's television functions—providing narrative exposition, and acting as a paternal figure—did not translate well to the comic book format. Both the end of magic and Giles' death provide significant plot generators for the stories which followed.[6]
In 2010, Dark Horse confirmed that it had reacquired the license to Angel comics, which would move from IDW Publishing. Titles revolving around Angel and his supporting cast from the Angel television series would then appear as part of the Season Nine banner of Buffy comics.[7] Editor Scott Allie confirmed his intent for characters from the Buffy and Angel television series to interact more freely with one another, giving the series "an early Marvel Universe feel."[8] In 2011, Dark Horse had confirmed plans for its "Season Nine" brand to consist of two main titles, both of 25 issues over the course of two years.[9] Subsequent announcements followed that Dark Horse's Angel series would also focus on Faith Lehane and be titled Angel & Faith, set in London, and exclusively written by Christos Gage.[10] Whedon himself would write the first issue of Buffy before passing the responsibility over to Andrew Chambliss, with whom he would also co-write the second issue.[11]
Due to Whedon's duties directing The Avengers, a big-budget superhero film due for release in 2012, he organised a writer's summit at his house with Chambliss, Gage, Jane Espenson, Drew Greenberg, his brother Zack Whedon and others. This was to allow the series' writers to "lock down" the storylines for Buffy Season Nine and Angel & Faith before Whedon became less available. Whedon outlined that because Season Eight had drawn criticism for becoming too fantastical and "cosmic", Season Nine was to be more character-driven, and as much like the television series as possible. Due to its differing premise, Angel & Faith was not modeled directly on the Angel series, though it nevertheless revolved around its characters following episodic "cases". The series benefited greatly from plans for other unproduced Buffy television spin-offs, particularly Ripper, a series intended as a vehicle for Anthony Stewart Head portraying Rupert Giles, with flashbacks to his wayward youth. Whedon offered Gage the use of two characters created for that series, Giles' aunts Sophronia and Lavinia Fairweather—two ageless witches who in the television series would have been portrayed by Anthony Head's daughters, actresses Emily and Daisy Head. Many of the revelations about Giles' past were drawn from Ripper scripts and production notes.[12]
History
The first story published under the Season Nine banner was a mini-story by Jane Espenson featuring Spike, titled Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9: Magical Mystery Tour Featuring the Beetles, written by Jane Espenson. It was released as part of Dark Horse's Digital Retailer Exclusive program.[13] Free Comic Book Day in April 2012, Chambliss' released the mini-story "In Space No One Can Hear You Slay," depicting Buffy and Spike on a "spacecation" following her pregnancy scare in "Apart (of Me)". In the story, a member of Spike's insectoid alien crew is sired and becomes a zompire, creating a creature which closely resembles the titular aliens of the Alien movie franchise. Some news outlets reported the story as an Alien crossover story.[14][15] Over three issues, Dark Horse Presents presented "Love vs. Life," a three-part story by Jane Espenson and Karl Moline featuring new characters Billy Lane and Anaheed.
In April 2012, Dark Horse also announced Spike and Willow miniseries spinning off from the Buffy title.[16] A miniseries focusing on Drusilla after the events of Angel & Faith #9 was also planned, but was later delayed indefinitely due to scheduling issues.[17]
Publication
Core series
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine
Single issues
| Title | Issue # | Release date | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Freefall, Part I" | 1 | September 14, 2011 | |||
| Writer: Joss Whedon | Penciller: Georges Jeanty | |||||
| Season 8 ended with a bang when Buffy cut the world off from the hell dimensions and all supernatural influence. Great, right? Except Buffy has left her best friend, Willow, powerless, and ended the long line of vampire slayers, leaving her hated by the hundreds of girls who recently stood behind her. Newly relocated to San Francisco, Buffy can count on a fresh start, and focus on what she's good at—slaying. | |||||
| "Freefall, Part II" | 2 | October 12, 2011 | |||
| Writer: Joss Whedon and Andrew Chambliss | Penciller: Georges Jeanty | ||||
| Buffy continues her nightly patrols while trying to cobble together a sensible life… Willow's adopted a new look, while Dawn and Xander celebrate the comforts of a magicless world. The fun and games come to a halt when mysteriously marked bodies start appearing. As Buffy starts to investigate she captures the attention of San Francisco police detectives who have taken notice of the unnaturally gifted Slayer… | |||||
| "Freefall, Part III" | 3 | November 9, 2011 | |||
| Writer: Andrew Chambliss | Penciller: Georges Jeanty | ||||
| Spike has heard rumblings. Someone, or something, is coming for Buffy—and now, after she recklessly slipped out of police custody, the SFPD is certainly looking. When Buffy's family and friends deny her refuge from the cops, she turns to the streets and slaying, where she discovers there's a new kind of vampire slayer in town… | |||||
| "Freefall, Part IV" | 4 | December 14, 2011 | |||
| Writer: Andrew Chambliss | Penciller: Georges Jeanty | ||||
| As Xander, Dawn, and Willow retreat into their own complicated lives, Buffy finds herself drawn more closely to her new friend Severin, a mysterious crime fighter in his own right, and a snappy dresser to boot. Together they take on a new kind of vampire threat while Buffy's not-in-the-know roomies start snooping through her unslept-in bedroom. Now what could they possibly find? | |||||
| "Slayer, Interrupted" | 5 | January 11, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Andrew Chambliss | Penciller: Karl Moline | ||||
| Buffy's dreams have become all too real lately as she deals with a magicless world. She's still fighting creatures of the night, as Willow and Xander grow distant and nightmares plague the Slayer. But something is telling Buffy that there is more to her dreams than meets the eye… and that her greatest fears may yet become reality! | |||||
| "On Your Own, Part I" | 6 | February 8, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Andrew Chambliss | Penciller: Georges Jeanty | ||||
| The uptick in the zompire population has the SFPD on Buffy's trail again—but this time, they need her assistance. However, Detective Dowling must settle for a little help from the bleached-blond vampire Spike, as Buffy has become distracted by a rather personal problem that will lead her to Robin Wood. | |||||
| "On Your Own, Part II" | 7 | March 14, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Andrew Chambliss | Penciller: Georges Jeanty | ||||
| Still seeking normalcy in the midst of zompire-stricken San Francisco, Buffy contemplates a life-changing decision the likes of which few Slayers have ever faced. Meanwhile, Spike rushes to the aid of Detective Dowling, who’s in over his head with his recent investigation into the undead bloodsuckers plaguing the city. | |||||
| "Apart (of Me), Part I" | 8 | April 11, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Andrew Chambliss | Penciller: Cliff Richards | ||||
| There is something seriously wrong with Buffy! She and Spike discover that the one person who can help her is actually…Andrew? Buffy's situation becomes even more dire as she discovers that Simone, the Slayer with an enormous grudge, has been targeting her. | |||||
| "Apart (of Me), Part II" | 9 | May 9, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Andrew Chambliss and Scott Allie | Penciller: Cliff Richards | ||||
| Andrew doesn’t always make the best choices (see Season 6). And now Buffy finds herself and the very course of her life profoundly affected by one of Andrew’s over-the-top, idiotic… hair-brained… schemes. Together with Andrew and Spike, the worried Slayer will have to confront herself and her comrades, as well as a long-standing annoyance, the number-one Buffy hater of all Buffy haters: Simone, the gun-toting Slayer. | |||||
| "Apart (of Me), Part III" | 10 | June 13, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Andrew Chambliss and Scott Allie | Penciller: Cliff Richards | ||||
| While Buffy is undertaking an away mission with Spike and Andrew, the SFPD is starting to really feel the effect of the rapid zompire population growth… With Buffy out of town, as the only Scoobies in the vicinity, Xander and Dawn have been approached for guidance. Buffy needs to get herself back together and home to SF quick, but facing Slayer Simone and her unexpected ally is going to make it a rough job! | |||||
| "Guarded, Part I" | 11 | July 11, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Andrew Chambliss | Penciller: Georges Jeanty | ||||
| Buffy is trying something new—not Slaying. WHAT?! Enter Kennedy. Slayer. Ex-girlfriend of magicless Willow. Bossy. She’s joined a company that hires Slayers to act as bodyguards for high-profile clients, and Buffy is her most recent recruit. But Buffy is having a little trouble letting go of Slaying. Things that go bump in the night are kinda her forte. Luckily… her first client is having some woeful demon trouble that Buffy can’t wait to sink her stake into. | |||||
| "Guarded, Part II" | 12 | August 8, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Andrew Chambliss | Penciller: Georges Jeanty | ||||
| By working for Deepscan—the company that recruits Slayers as bodyguards—Buffy thought she would disengage herself from the world of demons and garner a more significant income, to boot. While the income may get her closer to paying off pesky student loans, the demony population is closer to her than ever, thanks to her first client. Buffy, under the tutelage of a disgruntled and heartbroken Kennedy, has her work cut out for her and is forced to call on the honorable Eldre Koh for help, culminating in a little demon-on-demon violence. | |||||
| "Guarded, Part III" | 13 | September 12, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Andrew Chambliss | Penciller: Georges Jeanty | ||||
| Acting as bodyguard for her first-ever client, Buffy has found herself entangled in some nasty demon business with ties to Angel and his time in LA. Through the social network Tincan, some demons have been able to connect to our world, and any attempts to sever that connection will lead Buffy and her client into increasingly dangerous territory. | |||||
| "Billy the Vampire Slayer, Part I" | 14 | October 10, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Jane Espenson | Penciller: Karl Moline | ||||
| Buffy television scribes Jane Espenson and Drew Z. Greenberg take readers on a special two-part adventure where a new kind of Slayer emerges in a world without magic! As the zompire epidemic threatens a small California town, Slayer and Watcher join forces to eradicate an overwhelming new evil. | |||||
| "Billy the Vampire Slayer, Part II" | 15 | November 14, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Drew Z. Greenberg | Penciller: Karl Moline, Ben Dewey | ||||
| Training has begun, bringing the newest Slayer and Watcher closer together. Will they be ready when they're needed most? The rapidly growing zompire population has overcome a local institution, and our heroes in training must take on the fight of their lives! | |||||
| "Welcome to the Team, Part I" | 16 | December 12, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Andrew Chambliss | Penciller: Georges Jeanty | ||||
| Buffy takes on the zompire epidemic in San Francisco with new allies—the SFPD and Billy the Vampire Slayer! Just as Buffy finds contentment in her life, she's torn from routine battle and forced to confront an ancient demon from her former lover's past! | |||||
| "Welcome to the Team, Part II" | 17 | January 9, 2013 | |||
| Writer: Andrew Chambliss | Penciller: Georges Jeanty | ||||
| Ripped from the middle of a zompire battle, Buffy finds herself face to face with Illyria and a mystical council in LA. She's been unwillingly recruited to take down a former enemy while her friends in San Francisco are left in a Buffy-less lurch with dire consequences... | |||||
| "Welcome to the Team, Part III" | 18 | February 13, 2013 | |||
| Writer: Andrew Chambliss | Penciller: Georges Jeanty | ||||
| The remnants of magic left on earth are in danger... The Siphon is back, and he's more charged than ever before as he takes out one magical being after another, absorbing their power. Pulled into this battle to save the world—again—Buffy is partnered with Koh and Illyria to put a stop Severin. | |||||
| "Welcome to the Team, Part IV" | 19 | March 13, 2013 | |||
| Writer: Andrew Chambliss | Penciller: Georges Jeanty | ||||
| The Siphon is loose and gathering power after a brutal brawl with Buffy, Illyria, and Koh. But there are bigger things. More important things. Real terror greets Buffy as soon as she returns to San Francisco, where friends and family await her with troubling news. | |||||
| "The Watcher" | 20 | April 10, 2013 | |||
| Writer: Andrew Chambliss | Penciller: Karl Moline | ||||
| The loss of the world’s magic has finally hit Buffy. Hard. As friends and family continue to fall, Buffy is helpless... and Xander is beyond fed up with helplessness—and Buffy! He is so finally ready to do something about it! | |||||
| "The Core, Part I" | 21 | May 8, 2013 | |||
| Writer: Andrew Chambliss | Penciller: Georges Jeanty | ||||
| The Scoobies are together again—and just in time! Buffy, Willow, and Xander begin a new mission as a team in order to protect something very dear to them all. But evildoers Simone and Severin have their own plans and are ready to undermine the happy reunion! | |||||
| "The Core, Part II" | 22 | June 12, 2013 | |||
| Writer: Andrew Chambliss | Penciller: Georges Jeanty | ||||
| Buffy, Xander, and Willow must fight against all odds to get past the mystical council and gain entry to a magical hotspot—the Deeper Well! New allies are born while old enemies bring the heat. Grave dangers await our heroes at the center of the earth! | |||||
| "The Core, Part III" | 23 | July 10, 2013 | |||
| Writer: Andrew Chambliss | Penciller: Georges Jeanty | ||||
| Dawn’s life hangs in the balance, and Buffy will stop at nothing to save her little sis. Willow, Xander, and Buffy reunite to save the girl they love and begin a journey that reveals betrayal amongst the ranks as they descend into the mysterious Deeper Well, former home of Illyria and many powerful Old Ones. | |||||
| "The Core, Part IV" | 24 | August 14, 2013 | |||
| Writer: Andrew Chambliss | Penciller: Georges Jeanty | ||||
| In a last-ditch effort to save Dawn, the heroic trio of Buffy, Willow, and Xander must split up and tackle their own demons, real and imagined. As the season’s Big Bads, Severin and Simone, threaten to turn back time, the mystical council partner with Koh and Illyria to prevent a tragic tear in the fabric of time! | |||||
| "The Core, Part V" | 25 | September 11, 2013 | |||
| Writer: Andrew Chambliss | Penciller: Georges Jeanty | ||||
| Buffy can’t ever just be a vampire Slayer, can she? Always, the world seems to want more, and as the lives of her loved ones are threatened, Buffy shows why she is the Chosen One. Whatever is thrust upon her, she can handle it! Er . . . sometimes with a little help from her friends. | |||||
Trade Paperbacks
| Volume | Title | Issues collected | Release date | ISBN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Freefall" | 1–5 | July 4, 2012[18] | ISBN 978-1-59582-922-1 | |
| 2 | "On Your Own" | 6–10 + "In Space No One Can Hear You Slay!" | December 18, 2012[19] | ISBN 978-1-59582-990-0 | |
| 3 | "Guarded" | 11–15 | May 14, 2013[20] | ISBN 978-1-61655-099-8 | |
| 4 | "Welcome to the Team" | 16–20 | October 9, 2013[21] | ISBN 978-1-61655-166-7 | |
| 5 | "The Core" | 21–25 + "Love vs. Life" | March 5, 2014[22] | ISBN 978-1-61655-254-1 | |
Library Editions
| Volume | Trade Paperbacks collected | Release date | ISBN | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Season 9, Volume 1: Freefall Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Season 9, Volume 2: On Your Own | January 14, 2015[23] | ISBN 978-1616557157 | ||
| 2 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Season 9, Volume 3: Guarded Willow: Wonderland | July 7, 2015[24] | ISBN 978-1616557164 | ||
| 3 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Season 9, Volume 4: Welcome to the Team Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Season 9, Volume 5: The Core | November 24, 2015[25] | ISBN 978-1616557171 | ||
Angel & Faith
Single issues
| Title | Issue # | Release date | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Live Through This, Part I" | 1 | August 31, 2011 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Rebekah Isaacs | ||||
| Left in a near-catatonic state following the events in Buffy Season 8, Angel will need a seriously rude awakening if he's to make amends for his ill-conceived deeds. Enter rebel Slayer with a cause—Faith Lehane. Together they'll have full access to the Watcher files and opportunities to make amends for all they've done… and will do. | |||||
| "Live Through This, Part II" | 2 | September 28, 2011 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Rebekah Isaacs | ||||
| Following some bad-many would say unforgivable-choices as Twilight, Angel needed to hide away and wallow in his guilt. But with a little TLC—courtesy of his only remaining ally, Faith, Angel is back to fighting the good fight and taking demons down one by one. With the Watcher files at their disposal, Angel comes up with the ultimate plan for redemption. | |||||
| "Live Through This, Part III" | 3 | October 26, 2011 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Rebekah Isaacs | ||||
| Giles’s personal Watcher files lead Angel and Faith to what Angel believes will be his true redemption—at least for a portion of his unforgivable sins.
In the underbelly of London, where demons are coping with the lack of magic and the resulting changes to the natural hierarchy, Angel and Faith follow the first major lead in Angel’s quest… forcing him to reflect on his earliest days in Los Angeles. | |||||
| "Live Through This, Part IV" | 4 | November 30, 2011 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Rebekah Isaacs | ||||
| As Angel continues his quest to resurrect the dead by following leads he digs out of the Watcher's Files, Faith has second thoughts about supporting his seemingly impossible venture. A new ally warns her to weigh the consequences—good and bad—of Angel's endeavor. Meanwhile, amidst clubbing, mentoring, and slaying, Faith has her own concerns counseling a damaged and vengeance-seeking Slayer! There's pressure from all sides. Can Faith handle it? | |||||
| "In Perfect Harmony" | 5 | December 28, 2011 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Phil Noto | ||||
| It's a dark and foggy night in London, and Angel and Faith are about to encounter a most unexpected visitor. Superceleb vampire Harmony Kendall returns! When a stalker threatens to expose one of Harm's misdeeds, she solicits the help of wayward heroes Angel and Faith. With her little pups, her friend Clem, and her Hollywood entourage by her side, Harmony is taking the UK by storm! | |||||
| "Daddy Issues, Part I" | 6 | January 25, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Rebekah Isaacs | ||||
| A mysterious illness is plaguing the streets of London and turning everyday humans into emotionless killers. The Watcher's Files, which may be the key to unraveling this mystery, have led Angel and Faith to seek out a demon from Giles's past for answers. Meanwhile, a peculiar friend and foe returns to London and to Angel's inner circle. | |||||
| "Daddy Issues, Part II" | 7 | February 29, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Rebekah Isaacs | ||||
| Horrors across the London landscape have led Angel and Faith to a certain hot new vampire in the underground scene… Drusilla. She is back in her homeland and feeling better than ever!
While Angel indecisively deals with Dru, Faith must sort out an unexpected guest of her own who promises to rile up her inner turmoil with stories from the past. | |||||
| "Daddy Issues, Part III" | 8 | March 28, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Rebekah Isaacs | ||||
| Faith faces off against a troubled Slayer and the Irish mob, which is no easy task with a visitor from her past clouding her thoughts! Even with support from Angel, will Faith be able to maintain her sanity and follow her new righteous path or will she take the easy route and fall back on her old, murderous tendencies? | |||||
| "Daddy Issues, Part IV" | 9 | April 25, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Rebekah Isaacs | ||||
| Still reeling from her father’s unexpected appearance, Faith goes rogue, taking on Drusilla and her pet demon. It’s time to burn off some anger. Angel is hot on her tail, but he may be too late to save her from Dru, and ultimately herself. | |||||
| "Women of a Certain Age" | 10 | May 30, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Chris Samnee | ||||
| Angel and Faith are forced into battle, less by choice and more by circumstance, when two mysterious women from Giles’s past call on the unlikely duo for help. But that’s only the beginning of Angel and Faith’s troubles as the ladies settle in for the night! | |||||
| "Family Reunion, Part I" | 11 | June 27, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Rebekah Isaacs | ||||
| When yet another unexpected visitor shows up on Faith and Angel’s doorstep, the pair are pulled into a quest that has the potential to give Angel everything he’s been looking for—you know, if they succeed and survive. | |||||
| "Family Reunion, Part II" | 12 | July 25, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Rebekah Isaacs | ||||
| Using remnants of magic, Angel, Faith, Willow, and Connor have entered the hell dimension where no one should—or really, could—dare go: Quor-Toth! Willow’s quest to restore magic to Earth was her objective in attempting the impossible; Angel’s objective was… something else. And Faith? She’s along to make sure that everyone’s feet stay on the ground, and out of anything they might regret. | |||||
| "Family Reunion, Part III" | 13 | August 29, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Rebekah Isaacs | ||||
| The expedition to Quor-Toth has taken an unplanned turn for Angel, Faith, Willow, and Connor. While they struggle to survive the horrors that surround them, they have also taken on a mission to stage a great escape—and not just for themselves! They must act fast, before the effect that this hell dimension is having on their thoughts and emotions overcomes them! | |||||
| "Family Reunion, Part IV" | 14 | September 26, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Rebekah Isaacs | ||||
| In Quor’ Toth, Angel, Faith, and Connor realize that their problems are only increasing the longer they are in this unpredictable hell dimension. As Willow fervently tapped into the dimension’s magic, she engaged a little too much darkness… Now, the crew has another danger to face: Dark Willow! | |||||
| "The Hero of His Own Story" | 15 | October 31, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Lee Garbett | ||||
| One-time friends Angel and Whistler attempt to hash things out, each giving the other a final chance to either save himself or succumb to battle. Plus, a peek into the past of villainous siblings Pearl and Nash… | |||||
| "Death and Consequences, Part I" | 16 | November 28, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Rebekah Isaacs | ||||
| Angel’s plan to resurrect Giles inches ever closer toward success. As he and Faith hack their way toward one more magical item to help in their venture, Angel reveals it is time to get the final part of Giles’s soul. But their triumphant return to London holds more than one surprise: first, the revenge-seeking Nadira and the Slayers come calling... | |||||
| "Death and Consequences, Part II" | 17 | December 19, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Rebekah Isaacs | ||||
| Longtime nemesis Ethan Rayne has set the final piece of Giles’s soul practically in Angel’s lap. To complicate things further, the loss of a Slayer has sent Nadira and her group into the fray with their sights set on Angel now more than ever! | |||||
| "Death and Consequences, Part III" | 18 | January 30, 2013 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Rebekah Isaacs | ||||
| A demon from Giles's past is turning innocent Slayers into zombies. Angel and Faith must rally the remaining Slayers if there is any chance to defeat this cunning demon! | |||||
| "Death and Consequences, Part IV" | 19 | February 27, 2013 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Rebekah Isaacs | ||||
| Angel, Faith, and the remaining Slayers prep themselves to overtake a group of living zombies—without losing any more lives. The demon Eyghon holds the last remnants of Giles's soul, but a gaggle of innocent zombies are blocking Angel's path to victory. Good thing an old friend was recruited to help with the fight... | |||||
| "Spike and Faith" | 20 | March 27, 2013 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Rebekah Isaacs | ||||
| Angel is close to his goal of resurrecting Giles—when he's suddenly sidetracked, forcing an unlikely partnership between Faith and Spike. Tensions run high as Slayer and vampire hit the mean streets of London... | |||||
| "What You Want, Not What You Need, Part I" | 21 | April 24, 2013 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Rebekah Isaacs | ||||
| The time has come for Angel to make good on his promise to resurrect Giles—but at the same time, Season 9’s Big Bads, Pearl and Nash, together with Angel’s own mentor, Whistler, gather the final pieces needed to harness the last magical powers on Earth for their own apocalyptic plan. | |||||
| "What You Want, Not What You Need, Part II" | 22 | May 29, 2013 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Rebekah Isaacs | ||||
| Giles’s resurrection has been pushed to the back burner while Angel and Faith tackle Season 9’s Big Bads—Pearl, Nash, and Whistler—who threaten to release boundless magic over the planet. Only the strong will survive! | |||||
| "What You Want, Not What You Need, Part III" | 23 | June 26, 2013 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Rebekah Isaacs | ||||
| Preventing Pearl, Nash, and Whistler from releasing their magical virus proves difficult for Angel and Faith. The duo is outmatched! Enter Nadira. Could this hate-filled Slayer lend a helpful hand or will she use this opportunity to end Angel for good?! | |||||
| "What You Want, Not What You Need, Part IV" | 24 | July 31, 2013 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Rebekah Isaacs | ||||
| Angel and Faith will need all the help they can get when it comes to stopping this season's ubervillains from unleashing a magic-fueled plague on the earth. Enter an archmage, a former Watcher, and two socialites who’ve dabbled in magic . . . Will it be enough? | |||||
| "What You Want, Not What You Need, Part V" | 25 | August 28, 2013 | |||
| Writer: Christos Gage | Penciller: Rebekah Isaacs | ||||
| Millions of lives hang in the balance, and Angel and Faith just might be on the losing end of this battle. It’s times like these that call for drastic measures - How far will they go to save the world? Lives are lost, heroes are born, and as one chapter ends, another begins... | |||||
Trade Paperbacks
| Volume | Title | Issues collected | Release date | ISBN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Live Through This" | 1–5 + Harmony one-shot | June 20, 2012[26] | ISBN 978-1-59582-887-3 | |
| 2 | "Daddy Issues" | 6–10 | December 4, 2012[27] | ISBN 978-1-59582-960-3 | |
| 3 | "Family Reunion" | 11–15 | April 30, 2013[28] | ISBN 978-1-61655-079-0 | |
| 4 | "Death and Consequences" | 16–20 | September 18, 2013[29] | ISBN 978-1-61655-165-0 | |
| 5 | "What You Want, Not What You Need" | 21–25 | February 19, 2014[30] | ISBN 978-1-61655-253-4 | |
Library Editions
| Volume | Trade Paperbacks collected | Release date | ISBN | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Angel & Faith – Volume 1: Live Through This Angel & Faith – Volume 2: Daddy Issues | March 11, 2015[31] | ISBN 978-1616557126 | ||
| 2 | Angel & Faith – Volume 3: Family Reunion Spike: A Dark Place | August 25, 2015[32] | ISBN 978-1616557133 | ||
| 3 | Angel & Faith – Volume 4: Death and Consequences Angel & Faith – Volume 5: What You Want, Not What You Need | January 26, 2016[33] | ISBN 978-1616557140 | ||
Miniseries
Spike: A Dark Place
Single issues
| Title | Issue # | Release date | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Spike: A Dark Place #1" | 1 | August 22, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Victor Gischler | Penciller: Paul Lee | ||||
| Having fought to regain his soul after falling in love with the Slayer Buffy, the once-terrifying vampire villain Spike has been a bit less fearsome (to humans, at least). On his own adventure, Spike is forced to examine the man he once was, the man he is now, and the man he still hopes to become.
As master of a steampunk ship filled with loyal, oversized alien cockroaches, Spike embarks on a journey to the dark side of the moon, setting into motion an adventure filled with demons, witches, and others who brew new evil in the world without magic! | |||||
| "Spike: A Dark Place #2" | 2 | September 19, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Victor Gischler | Penciller: Paul Lee | ||||
| Spike, traveling with a crew of cockroach-like aliens and stranded demons, is headed back from the dark side of the moon to… Sunnydale. If you’re a vampire on a walkabout who wants to gain some perspective and get over a girl (psst… it's Buffy), it might not be the best idea to return to the nostalgia-filled hometown you helped her destroy. But if you don’t have a choice, maybe the best hope is to find another way to put out the old flame… | |||||
| "Spike: A Dark Place #3" | 3 | October 24, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Victor Gischler | Penciller: Paul Lee | ||||
| Spike meets a demon in distress and a familiar, exceptionally nasty duo that are all after something buried in the rubble formerly known as Sunnydale. For a vampire with a soul and an aching heart, dabbling in a little villainy is a welcome distraction. But Spike will have to beware if the distraction becomes too much to handle… | |||||
| "Spike: A Dark Place #4" | 4 | November 21, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Victor Gischler | Penciller: Paul Lee | ||||
| Spike departs from the ruins of Sunnydale—and all those memories—with a demon who wants desperately to return to her home dimension. But with the loss of magic, her connection is lost. Spike, ever the hero, offers to help this mysterious damsel in distress in her journey to find any remnants of magic that might reconnect her to her world. | |||||
| "Spike: A Dark Place #5" | 5 | January 23, 2013 | |||
| Writer: Victor Gischler | Penciller: Paul Lee | ||||
| Spike and his new demon companion are getting along really well... On Easter Island, the duo work to activate a remnant of magic to help get Nadia home. Spike has stars in his eyes, but the bugs are wary of Spike’s newest friend and their master’s overly relaxed attitude. Something seems off. He’s come out of his self-inflicted dark place a bit too swiftly... | |||||
Trade Paperbacks
| Volume | Title | Issues collected | Release date | ISBN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Spike: A Dark Place" | 1–5 | June 5, 2013[34] | ISBN 978-1-61655-109-4 | |
Willow: Wonderland
Single issues
| Title | Issue # | Release date | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Willow: Wonderland #1" | 1 | November 7, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Jeff Parker | Penciller: Brian Ching | ||||
| With the disappearance of magic, Willow Rosenberg lost the very thing that made her tick. Armed with Buffy’s broken scythe, and fresh off an adventure with Angel and Faith, Willow is ready to find a solution on her own terms. The world can’t live without magic—and neither can she! | |||||
| "Willow: Wonderland #2" | 2 | December 5, 2012 | |||
| Writer: Jeff Parker | Penciller: Brian Ching | ||||
| In a strange new dimension, many unexpected encounters guide Willow on the quest to return magic to her world. While she's increasingly better at keeping her darkest self at bay, her mystery companion, Marrak, encourages darkness, making Willow wary of his intentions while dependent on his knowledge of this magically abundant realm. Just how far down the path of volatile magic will she go to get what she wants? And whom might she find there? | |||||
| "Willow: Wonderland #3" | 3 | January 2, 2013 | |||
| Writer: Jeff Parker and Christos Gage | Penciller: Brian Ching | ||||
| Willow has found someone she's been missing since Earth was cut off from other realms. But her ultimate quest to restore Earth's magic is flailing... Her search is pulling her one way, her companion another, and a newly encountered society of witches has a completely different idea for the future of Willow. | |||||
| "Willow: Wonderland #4" | 4 | February 6, 2013 | |||
| Writer: Jeff Parker and Christos Gage | Penciller: Brian Ching | ||||
| Willow struggles to keep her cool when she discovers that her traveling partner, Marrack, isn't who she thought he was. With magic at her full disposal, she can easily convince him to spill any and all secrets while they continue their journey to get home with magic in tow... | |||||
| "Willow: Wonderland #5" | 5 | March 6, 2013 | |||
| Writer: Jeff Parker and Christos Gage | Penciller: Brian Ching | ||||
| Willow’s search for magic has led her to some strange worlds with mysterious creatures, fantastical spells, lost love, and new friends (as well as enemies). As her journey speeds toward its end, Willow lands within a rather morbid landscape where the greatest evil she'll have to confront is herself if she's ever to make it home again. | |||||
Trade Paperbacks
| Volume | Title | Issues collected | Release date | ISBN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Willow: Wonderland" | 1–5 | August 21, 2013[35] | ISBN 978-1-61655-145-2 | |
Reception
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Reaction to the new series has generally been positive. Comic Book Resources' Kelly Thompson summed, "Joss Whedon has managed the impossible yet again, somehow reinventing and reinvigorating these beloved characters and putting them on entirely new paths and adventures."[36] Entertainment Weekly's Adam Vary gave the first issue of Season Nine a positive review, stating "Watching Buffy act like a normal twentysomething screw-up is adorable, and a refreshing reminder that, even without the weight of the world on her shoulders, our heroine’s life can still be a bit of a mess." Vary commented that this sort of storytelling alone would make an interesting contrast to Season Eight, but noted that Whedon had set up several supernatural plot threads as well, adding "I hope that as Season 9 unfolds, Whedon et. al. allow the relative simplicity of Buffy’s life to reflect more in the storytelling itself. As any Buffy fan knows, the woman is plenty captivating just on her own."[37] Grey Scherl gave the episode a 9.5/10, writing for Inside Pulse. He praised Jeanty's artwork, although added the caveat "That isn’t to say it’s perfect, and there are times when he feels a bit rusty at it; some characters look off at times, especially Dawn." His main criticism was directed to the appearance of Riley, who was his least favourite character in the television series. "It’s a really fun issue, but it’s not something that the uninitiated is going to understand. Whedon brings these characters back to the core of what works, and makes waiting a month for the next issue far more irritating than week between episodes ever was."[38]
WhatCulture's Dean Threadgold gave the first issue of Season Nine 3.5/5. Threadgold praised Whedon's trademark humor, and for delivering "a script that is both witty and fun yet, like the best episodes, full of emotional subtext", despite Season Eight's set-up. Threadgold commented that the series' first issue was "very effective, neatly setting up the new status quo and at the same time sowing the seeds for the rest of the series." However, reservations were directed towards the art: "Georges Jeanty, who is usually top notch with his pencils, displays a few too many inconsistencies with the various characters". Threadgold was also skeptical whether Whedon's decision to share writing duties with comics-novice Andrew Chambliss would bode well for the series.[39]
Some critics felt the series had improved on Season Eight's relative failures. Scherl felt Season Eight "was too big, too grand in scale and scope, and while the characters were still the ones we know and love, there was something lost in not letting them be in situations that suit who they are."[38] Threadgold wrote "A big criticism of Season 8 was that it failed to be about anything deeper, yet already Season 9 seems eager to rectify that problem,"[39] and Vary was eager for the series not to lose sight of its intimate start, commenting "If the 24-page issue was just about this party... it would have been a fascinating, human-scaled change of pace from the fast-paced phantasmagoria of Season 8."[37]
Abortion storyline
.jpg)
Media attention was raised by Buffy's apparent pregnancy and decision to get an abortion during issues #5-7. Much critical attention to Buffy's decision was mainly positive, with Comic Book Resources' Kelly Thompson saying "The people in charge of this book -- creators, editors and behind-the-scenes puppet masters (that's you, Joss Whedon) -- deserve huge credit for tackling the sensitive and controversial subject of abortion with unflinching honesty and realism."[40] Joss Whedon himself commented on the reasons and intention of the storyline in an interview with EntertainmentWeekly.com: "It’s a very difficult decision for her, but she made a decision that so many people make and it’s such a hot button issue with Planned Parenthood under constant threat and attack right now. A woman’s right to choose is under attack as much as it’s ever been, and that’s a terrible and dangerous thing for this country. I don’t usually get soap box-y with this, but the thing about Buffy is all she’s going through is what women go through, and what nobody making a speech, holding up a placard, or making a movie is willing to say."[41] Subsequent reveal that Buffy had been replaced by a robot and not in fact pregnant was met with mixed reactions, with debate focusing on what this meant for Buffy's decision.[42]
In a review of the top 100 comics of 2012, Comic Book Resources' Kelly Thompson cited the abortion storyline as her rationale for including Season Nine on the list, at number 73, saying: "While some readers were disappointed with the execution of the story and others thought the resolution was weak, for me, just the creative team’s confidence and commitment to letting this issue even exist is a testament to getting the comic, and the character, exactly right.... Though the storyline ultimately made her controversial resolution moot, it doesn’t take away from the decision to make this book in the first place, and to make it as bold and honest as possible."[43]
Angel & Faith
IGN website gave the first issue of Angel & Faith an (8 out of 10) score,[44] while ComicBookResources described the series as being "a strong book since it debuted"[45]
Rebekah Isaacs, the artist of the series, said in an interview, "[The fans have] still been really supportive, even when the criticism is negative. It’s done in a loving way, like they want to see these characters presented well and they want us to do well in telling these stories."[46]
References
- 1 2 Melrose, Kevin (September 24, 2009). "Joss Whedon confirms Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Nine". Robot6. Comic Book Resources. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
- ↑ "Behind Buffy Season Eight: Finale (Scott Allie Interview)". Comic Book Resources. January 28, 2011. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
- ↑ Joss Whedon; Jane Espenson; Scott Allie (2011). BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON EIGHT VOLUME 8: LAST GLEAMING TPB. Dark Horse Comics. p. 168. ISBN 978-1-59582-610-7.
- ↑ Joss Whedon; Andrew Chambliss (2012). BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 9 VOLUME 1: FREEFALL TPB. Dark Horse Comics. p. 136. ISBN 978-1-59582-922-1.
- ↑ Christos Cage (2012). ANGEL & FAITH VOLUME 1: LIVE THROUGH THIS TPB. Dark Horse Comics. p. 136. ISBN 978-1-59582-887-3.
- ↑ Vary, Adam B. (January 19, 2011). "Joss Whedon talks about the end of the 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Season 8 comic, and the future of Season 9 -- EXCLUSIVE". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
- ↑ "Exclusive Scott Allie interview". Buffyfest. August 20, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
- ↑ "(SPOILER) Big Buffyfest Interview with Scott Allie about Angel's return to Dark Horse.". Whedonesque.com. August 20, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ↑ "Buffy Season 9 News from ECCC". Buffyfest. March 8, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
- ↑ "WC11 EXCLUSIVE: Gage is Touched by "Angel & Faith"". Comic Book Resources. April 1, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
- ↑ "(Spoilers) Exclusive Interview with Buffy S.9 Writer Andrew Chambliss". Buffyfest. April 1, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
- ↑ "Chambliss & Gage prepare the end of "Buffy Season 9"". Comic Book Resources. August 2, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- ↑ "Dark Horse Digital Retailer Exclusive Program Kicks Off With 'B.P.R.D. Casualties'". MTV Geek. July 1, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ↑ Johnston, Rich (May 4, 2013). "Yes, It Looks Like It Is Buffy Vs Aliens, Folks". Bleeding Cool News. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- ↑ Langshaw, Mark (April 30, 2012). "'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' gets Free Comic Book Day teaser". Digital Spy. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- ↑ "C2E2: Major Announcements Hit Diamond Summit". Comic Book Resources. April 13, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- ↑ "Dark Horse delays "Buffy" spinoff "Drusilla" indefinitely". Comic Book Resources. April 4, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ↑ "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 Volume 1: Freefall TPB". Amazon.com. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
- ↑ "Buffy Season 9 Volume 2 on Amazon.com". Amazon.com. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
- ↑ "Buffy Season 9 Volume 3 on Amazon.ca". Amazon.ca. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
- ↑ "Buffy Season 9 Volume 4: Weclome to the Team TPB". Dark Horse Comics. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
- ↑ "Buffy Season 9 Volume 5: The Core TPB". Dark Horse Comics. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
- ↑ http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/26-492/Buffy-the-Vampire-Slayer-Season-9-Library-Edition-Volume-1-HC
- ↑ http://www.amazon.com/dp/1616557168/
- ↑ http://www.amazon.com/dp/1616557176/
- ↑ "Angel & Faith Volume 1: Live Through This TPB". Dark Horse Comics. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
- ↑ "Angel & Faith Volume 2: Daddy Issues TPB". Dark Horse Comics. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
- ↑ "Angel & Faith Volume 3: Family Reuinion TPB". Dark Horse Comics. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
- ↑ "Angel & Faith Volume 4: Death and Consequences TPB". Dark Horse Comics. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- ↑ "Angel & Faith Volume 5: What You Want, Not What You Need TPB". Dark Horse Comics. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
- ↑ http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/26-495/Angel-Faith-Season-9-Library-Edition-Volume-1-HC
- ↑ http://www.amazon.com/dp/1616557133/
- ↑ http://edelweiss.abovethetreeline.com/ProductDetailPage.aspx?sequence=87&group=catalog&mailingID=0&mailingGroupID=0&catalogID=2156670&org=&sku=1616557141
- ↑ "TPB". Amazon.com. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
- ↑ "TPB". Amazon.com. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
- ↑ Thompson, Kelly (September 14, 2011). "BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: SEASON 9 #1". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
- 1 2 Vary, Adam B. (September 14, 2011). "'Buffy Season 9' #1 review: A world without magic, but not without problems. Or parties!". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
- 1 2 Scherl, Grey (September 18, 2011). "Review: Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season Nine #1 By Joss Whedon". Inside Pulse. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
- 1 2 Threadgold, Dean (September 15, 2011). "Comics Review: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Season Nine) # 1". WhatCulture. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
- ↑ Thompson, Kelly. "BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 9 #6". Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ↑ "'Buffy Season 9': Joss Whedon on why Buffy is getting [SPOILER] -- EXCLUSIVE". EntertainmentWeekly.com. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ↑ "The 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Abortion Controversy". Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ↑ "CBR'S TOP 100 COMICS OF 2012, #74 - 50". Comic Book Resources. December 27, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
- ↑ "IGN.com".
- ↑ "comicbookresources.com".
- ↑ Moccio, Michael. "Interview with Dark Horse's Angel and Faith Artist Rebekah Isaacs". Emertainment Monthly. Retrieved October 31, 2013.