Writer: Joss Whedon
Artist: Paul Lee
Publisher: Dark Horse
Price: $2.99
In this guy’s opinion, TV maestro Joss Whedon has really taken to comics like a duck to water. Yet, in the past, I couldn’t help but think that he’s been neglecting his most famous creation. What with his concentrating on the Adventures of Marvel’s merry mutants over the past few years. From series 4 onwards (what can I say, I was late) Buffy was without doubt my favourite TV show. So, it will come as little surprise for anyone to hear that I was pretty damn pleased to hear he was going to be masterminding a new Buffy comic book series. In fact, lets not beat about the bush, this is more than that. Here we have what is effectively Season 8 of Buffy in comic book form!!!
I’ve seen a number of writers who also work in other media site their preference for comics due to the lack of budget restrictions. Well, so far Joss certainly seems to be making the most of this. He has set up a status quo which I can’t imagine could have realistically been carried out within a WB TV shows budget. Now, after gradually escalating the action over the first 4 issue story arc, comes a more introspective tale centering on one of Buffy’s decoys.
When the conceit of Buffy having a few look-alikes scattered around the world was mentioned at the start of the series I took it as something of a throw away comment. So, it came as a pleasant surprise to find they were actually going to explore this concept in a little more detail. In fact, the slayer herself doesn’t actually appear in this issue as the entire issue focuses on one of her decoys. We get an absorbing depiction of the past, present and inevitable fate of a slayer that gets picked for one of the toughest jobs, pretending to be Buffy. A role with little reward, as any good you do is going to be attributed to the mistress of the slayers herself. All in all, a bit of a heartbreaker as far as Buffy stories go, but I will refrain from spoiling any further. Also, I must add that Paul (not Pat) Lee does an admirable job of filling in for regular penciller Georges Jeanty. No doubt he is helped along the way by the usual ink & colour team of Andy Owens & Dave Stewart; making for a smoother temporary change over.
As a big time Buffy fan, it’s great to be able to devour a brand new, in continuity, saga from the mind of the man who birthed her. So far, in my eyes at least, he has delivered. However, next comes an arc from a pen other than the mighty Whedon. Good job he’s picked a top notch script jockey to fill his shoes, none other than the Eisner award winning Brian K Vaughan. I reckon we’re in safe hands and will continue to receive a new season of Buffy in comic book form that is up there with the TV show itself in terms of quality entertainment. You know, the only thing missing is the little zombie mutant enemy man and his cry of “grrrrrrrr arrrrrrrr” at the end!
Stephen (aka wesman) is the driving force behind the infamous orange knitted Mr T vest*, worn by many a comicbook pro and Millarworlders. Since the T was introduced to the world, he has taken it upon himself to assume the mantle of Millarworld’s “Propmeister General”. If you see a fellow geek in a MW pic wearing a Fez/ Tin Helmet/ Superman chain/Magneto helmet/ greek hat/ cowboy hat/ viking hat/ Indiana Jones hat/ Yoda mask and so on, then he’s the one to blame. A lifelong comicbook geek who’s been devouring the funnybooks since the days when he couldn’t pronouce the s in (S)pider-man, Stephen sneers at all those who assumed that someday he’d grow out of this habit. He is proud to have turned his house into the kind of geek castle that only Carlos Fraile could dream to rival. He is married to Sandra, who is considering setting up a self-help support group for Millarworld widows where they behave like footballers’ wives when dragged to comic-cons and drink-ups.