the Vampire Slayer Buffy Books

The most useful part of this book is the multitude of quotes supplied for every character, theme, and episode. The book is also peppered with interesting sidebars containing trivia, the show's famously funny stage directions, and Buffyverse info only noticeable through multiple watchings. Yet the character descriptions, intro to Buffy mythology, bios, and other text-heavy parts of the book are deadened by a juvenile style of writing that lacks color yet overdoses on complimentary language. If you are considering buying this book, you probably already know how great "Buffy" is and how clever Whedon is, and don't need to be convinced. The general gushiness, which is tempered and balanced by serious character and plot review in other books, is dull when supported only by lengthy, boring recaps. My suggestion: buy it used, because it's not worth the list price or Amazon's price.

Very informative, and a lot of fun.

Along with brief episode descriptions and information there is a whole lot more fun stuff to be found in this look at the first couple of seasons of the tv show.

Informations on the various quips and references made by the characters, and also some quotable quotes will come in handy for fans, no doubt about it.

Plenty of other bits and pieces following the characters and their relationships.

Good stuff.

The watcher guides are great. But The Big Book Of Buffy Bites 2008 contains things even they missed. For Buffy collectors the Watchers Guides are must have and great reads. But for the avid fanatical BtVS fan who wants it all I highly recommend The Big Book Of Buffy Bites 2008. This book is up to date (2008 and season 8 info), and contains everything you could possibly want to know about Buffy the Vampire Slayer...and more. One feature I have not seen in any other book, is a detailed time line of all the slayers...from the First Slayer...all the way to Buffy. This was a pleasant surprise.

This isnt the best book if you're looking for a behind the scenes one. But it is great when it comes to quotes. Behind the Scenes is more in the 2nd volume.

This has an excellent array of quotes from seasons 1 and 2(which is what this book covers). It also has pretty good episode reviews, with some deleted scenes usually showing up along with some unknown facts.

But it also has some information that I found boring, which included a tour of Sunnydale.

But on the whole, not to bad of a book.

I like the books by Kenneth Topping a lot more than the official guides. They are more fun, more informative, and because they aren't "official" can be fans more than authors maintaining an official relationship with the show. But having said that, this and its companion volume are both really informative. And although I knew all the quotes anyway, it was a lot of fun reading them all. The best part of the book is the interviews with people you normally don't hear as much about, like set designers and associate producers and such.

CHILD OF THE HUNT

Christopher Golden & Nancy Holder (1998)

RATING: 5/5 Stakes

SETTING: Season Three

TV CHARACTER APPEARANCES: Buffy, Joyce, Giles, Xander, Willow, Oz, Cordelia, Angel, Sheila Rosenberg, Xander's Dad, Xander's Mom, Ira Rosenberg, Cordelia's Dad

MAJOR ORIGINAL CHARACTERS: Connie DeMarco, Brian Anderson (runaways); Liz DeMarco, Jamie Anderson (runaways' parents); Erl King (villain); Lucy Hanover (ghostly Slayer); Roland (Erl King's son); "Robin Hood", "King Richard" (sorcerers)

BACK-OF-THE-BOOK SUMMARY: "Jousting contests, human chess matches, lords and ladies and beggars . . . a traveling Renaissance fair has come to Sunnydale. The fair may seem terminally uncool, but Buffy and her friends are charmed anyway. Especially by a sad-eyed boy named Roland, who serves as the court jester. Unfortunately, the people from the fair are not the only visitors in Sunnydale. Roaming the countryside are nasty little creatures with a taste for flesh: the dark faerie. They are minions of the Wild Hunt, servants of the evil Erl King. Buffy's challenge is to annihilate the king and his murderous horde. But the path to his destruction leads straight to Roland, who is not quite human . . . and destined to become the Slayer's mortal adversary."

REVIEW

Child of the Hunt was the first Pocket Books adult Buffy novel, following the early Archway series of "young adult" novels. The change in tone and length serves the novel well, as Child of the Hunt is able, like many early Buffy episodes, to discuss a real problem facing youth (in this case, runaway teens) through the context of a supernatural crisis.

The main villain of the story is the Erl King (also known as Hern the Hunter), a mythological entity who leads the Wild Hunt, a murderous pack of demons which kills some humans but sweeps up the lonely, the depressed, the suicidal, and others in the throes of misery to join the cause before moving on.

The theme of the novel is parents and their children, and we get to see, at least, briefly, scenes with each of the Scooby's parents--some of whom have never been portrayed on screen, like Willow's and Cordelia's fathers. Written and set near the beginning of Season Three, the story benefits and integrates Buffy's decision to run away from Sunnydale at the end of Season Two.

The authors (Golden & Holder) deliver their usual excellent characterization of the Buffy cast, but what makes this novel really stand-out is the portrayal of the supporting characters: the runaway teens and their parents. Unlike the supporting characters in most Buffy novels, these aren't generic victims or bystanders--they each have a real personality and a role to play in the story. In addition, the Erl King has some real weight as a villain with the incorporation of real-worth myth.

Not much more needs to be said. Child of the Hunt combines a real-world problem, an interesting fictional menace, and great writing. The result is an excellent novel, worth picking up at any used bookstore.

(c) 2008 Jeremy Patrick (jhaeman@hotmail.com)

Jhaeman's Buffy Reviews: [...]

I was skeptical about reading any book based on a TV show, but this one was very well-thought out. The characters stayed true to their television depictions in a whole new and very interesting story. I recommend this for any Buffy fan.

does anybody else get why this book gets two diffrent covers? the one shown here (brown with xander, buffy and angel) and the one with buffy and a demon? their both about the fair.... so someone please explain.... AND is there any other buffy the vampire slayer books with altertive covers?
if you like "little things" the buffy book with spike of the cover, you must be a dark faerie fan so you'll love this book
p.s chistopher golded and nancy holder rock, buy anything with there names on
love ya D

This was my first Buffy the Vampire Slayer Book. I read it before I even watched the show, the plot just seemed good to me so I bought it, and little did I know I was about to become a Buffy Fanatic. It starts off with Buffy and this hunt that goes through the town and they take people capture. All the rest I can say is "WOW" I'd give this book 10 stars if I could. Even if you are not a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Book you should pick this one up.

P.S. Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder are the best Buffy writers in the series.

Not a bad novel, but far from being a great one. Mr Golden and Ms. Holder have a decent grasp on the Buffyverse (though, given their expertise, far too many errors still creep in). My biggest gripe here is with the writing style. Many things in the book are simply described. We are told about what happened rather than seeing them played out in a scene. This should virtually never happen in any novel.

Perhaps I have standards that are set too high, but I never see the fact that a novel is a media tie-in as an excuse for lazy writing.

The book is AWESOME.It's a must have 4 all BtVS fans.It is from Xander's point of view and has his thoughts and feelings about what's going on. It's divided into chapters/sections-here is how it goes starting after the Acknowledgments: Tonight,Part1;Teacher's Pet(6 chapters); Tonight,Part2;Inca Mummy Girl(7 chapters); Tonight,Part3;Bewitched,Bothered,And Bewildered (7 chapters);Tonight,Part4.There are also great pictures in the center of the book.I hope I haved helped you out!

Just like on the TV show Xander delivers scarcasm and humor that only he can do. He tells 3 tales of his strange supernatural romance (Teachers Pet, Inca Mummy Girl, and Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered)and proves that Buffy isn't the only one with a twisted life. I liked reading about Xander becasue he's pretty much the typical male, except a whole lot wittier, and the occasional vampire slaying. I reccomend this to any Buffy the Vampire Slayer and/or Xander fan!

Only recently have I become a buffy fan (but boy, when I fall I fall hard) This was the first buffy book I read, but it was definately worth it! Especially the last story Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered made me laugh so much I have the stiches to prove it. This book made me stop thinking Xander was boring. Definately a must to read for any buffy fan!

In order to understand the entire buffy novels,one needs to understand Xander.This book details probably the most intimate things anyone will be able to get with the character.From his feelings for his best friend Willow to chrush unfulfilled Buffy,dating and romance in Sunnydale is truly humerous.....for Xander it's the most harzardous thing to do. Full of laughs and deep thought,to understand buffy,you need to understand why she does'nt just crumple from the pressure of slaying. Because Xander will always be there...laughing at the world.

This book is a novelization of three episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The first Teacher's Pet is a homage to the big bug movies of the late fifties. Inca Mummy Girl revives the curse of the mummy and Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered explores the magic of love. In each story Xander falls in love with dire consequences. His heart is pure and his intentions good but the results are both frightening and humorous. I recommend this to all Xander fans. It could be a dating manual for the new century.

This is a wonderful Buffy the Vampire Slayer resource guide. It really is a shame that it is so hard to find now, because it really does answer a lot of questions.
Unlike the Watcher Guide books it gives great detail about episodes and characters There are also interesting side notes about meanings for some episodes and what the entitle idea for them were.
Characters like Xander, Willow, Giles , and etc... Are also mentioned a lot, and there is no doubt that you will learn something new about the series in this.
Even though this is a very heavy novel I totally recommend it. As a Buffy fan and reader I really think it is worth hunting for.
If you want some other good Buffy references. Then check out the Monster Book by Christopher Golden. This is another really good book about Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
However, if you can handle all of the reading in this book. Then you will defiantly enjoy this.

This really is a very good book and it's a shame that it's so hard to find. There is so much covered in this book about Buffy. Ever since Buffy has ended a few years ago. It seems like more people are interested in it then ever.
There are a few resources books out there that really can explain the series well.
This is one of them.
One of the things I found hard about this one though was that it was rather long and ongoing.
However, if you can get past that I think you'll enjoy it.

Don't bother with any other unauthorised Buffy reference guides as Keith Topping's 'Slayer' books are the only ones you'll ever need. This guide is packed with all sorts of information and Keith doesn't shy away from giving his informed and personal opinions about the series. He also briefly covers the spin-off comics, books and websites.

Keith Topping is a talented writer (check out his Doctor Who novels from BBC Books and Telos) and his episode guides are the best ones on the market. He has also written a companion book that covers Angel called 'Hollywood Vampire' which is well worth purchasing.

Each episode, up to and including season 5, gets 3-to-6 pages of coverage, organized under various thematic headings: Plot summary, music, memorable quotes, comments on the women's clothing, continuity errors, logic flaws, pop culture references, etc. Books of this nature are enjoyable because it's fun to compare one's reaction with the author's reaction, and Topping notices every tiny detail.

There are also separate essays: (1) History of the vampire myth, (2) 'The Outsiders' as a series theme, (3) BtVS and real-life school violence, (4) BtVS and the internet, and (5) disputes with the TV networks. As well, each BtVS novel gets about a page of coverage.

This differs from other BtVS books because of Topping's perspective as a Brit. He's a bit thin-skinned about the anti-British jibes, especially Principal Flutie's snide remark about the royal family in the second episode (Flutie was right!). On the other hand, Topping sees connections between BtVS and US culture with an objectivity that US viewers lack. Apart from the vampires, Sunnydale is a bit too perfect to be realistic, and it's certainly bizarre that a southern California town would be so lily-white. It is only in the 7th season (beyond the scope of this book) that we see a recurring black character (Principal Wood) and a recurring hispanic character (Iyari Limon as 'Kennedy'). Topping notes that (white) Americans often see themselves as decent people, perhaps overly trusting, fighting off non-white underclass intruders who seek to ruin their caucasian paradise. See the connection? Does the shoe fit?

There are a number of Buffy episode guides on the market, but Keith Topping's are my favorite by a considerable margin. Both volumes of THE WATCHER'S GUIDE are very fine, but I find they are more useful for the large number of interviews with cast and crewmembers. Although Topping ends his volume with some interesting essays and reviews of various Buffy-related publications and websites, the vast bulk of his guides are devoted to the episodes themselves. Currently this guide to episodes 1-5 is out of print in the United States (though available from Britain, I believe), and only the guide to Episode 6 in print here. Hopefully, they will bring out a new one-volume edition of seasons 1-7.

Each episode is covered in around 4-6 pages, offering a very brief synopsis of the plot, some of the better quotes, some ravings about the highpoints, a fun section about illogical elements, a general comment section at the end, and a host of other fun things. Oh yeah, those wanting to know about the music in each show can find a list here. I don't agree with his evaluation of each episode (e.g., he hates "Anne," which starts off Season 3, along with many others, but I think it is one of the best episodes ever, with a great deal of super clever writing that many people seem to miss), but he is always fun to argue with, and he is never merely sloppy. Most of all, Topping is clearly a fan of great TV, and there is the spirit of a fellow-fan informing the book as a whole. I also like the fact that each episode is introduced with the publication of the original date in the U.S. and in Great Britain, and also gives the titles in their French and German releases.

Now, I don't want to be misunderstood here, but this is also one of the great bathroom books of all time. It rates right up there with Dave Marsh's THE BOOK OF ROCK LISTS,THE NORTON ANTHOLOGY OF POETRY, and THE ESSENTIAL BIFF. Never underestimate the value of a good bathroom book.

This book is one of the ultimate companions to the blockbuster show of the same title.

In a day and age when show creators and producers have gotten into the habit of talking down to their ausiences, Whedon again breaks the mold by sharing the direct scripts with us, the loyal fans.

I remember how happy I was when I heard that BTVS was going to be a television series and this book brought back the early euhphoria that I experienced with the revival. Thank you again Joss for everything.

Of course it's not all in the dialogue. You've got great acting, directing, editing, costuming, etc. HOWEVER, the Buffy writers obviously not only love what they do, but are also very good at it.

The pop culture references mingle freely with the historical. Renaissance Poetry class was never so much fun.

These scripts give you a chance to catch anything you might have missed the first time around. It's peppy. Is Poppy a word? Well, I know it's a word, but is it a word the way I mean it? Anyhow, I would recommend this book for any Buffy fan.

Watching "Buffy" T.V. series or cassettes is huge enjoyment already. Reading this script brought pure delight: sharp wit, self-derogatory under-/overstatements, punch and speed - this script is, quite definitely, for lovers of language. Stage directions, as indicated between parts of dialogue,are about as savoury as dialogue itself. I've just one reservation:I suppose, to really relish this book as it should be relished, one should obviously have seen related episodes on either TV or cassette. One then remembers Charisma Carpenter's studied drawl, Sarah Gellar's brisk deadpan humour, and Nicholas Brendon's fantastic "fool's faces". Only then does one realize, not just how good the writing is, but also, how brilliantly the whole cast has done its job. Yes, this definitely does show just how brilliant the whole "Buffy" act was - and still is. Can we PLEASE have scriptbooks of what follows?!...

The good news is that original shooting scripts of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" are available, as in this volume offering up the first six episodes of Season One. But the bad news, relatively speaking, is that we just get the scripts without any extras. The pages are your traditional Courier style font (including the title page), and while the pages are not in blue, pink, green, yellow, goldenrod and salmon to reflect the various revisions, if you follow the revision dates on the top of the pages you can figure that part out. Therefore, while I appreciate having the original scripts in front of my while watching the episodes so I can see what has been deleted/added/changed (these are not transcripts; big difference), I would have really liked to have a bit more such as introductions by the writers talking about the genesis of the script ideas or problems they had to overcoming in putting the script into production, beyond the production notes and stage directions. Certainly some of what I am looking for can be found in "The Watcher's Guide," which covers the show's first two seasons, but given how first-rate the BtVS companion volumes have been I am rather surprised this is a comparatively bare bones effort.

Included in this volume for those of you who do not have the first 100 episodes totally memorized are "Welcome to the Hellmouth" and "The Harvest," both written by series creator Joss Whedon, "Witch" by Dana Reston, "Teacher's Pet" by David Greenwalt, "Never Kill a Boy on the First Date" by Rob Des Hotel and Dean Batali, and "The Pack" by Matt Kiene and Joe Reinkemeyer. After the two-part pilot these other episodes reflect a time when the Buffy mythos was just starting to get organized. After all, Buffy has yet to find out about Angel's true nature and the emphasis is on how high school is a living hell if you are a teenager, but even more so when you are perched on the Hellmouth. Besides, once you get the first half of Season One you have to pick up the second half as well. Then there is Season Two...

It's valuable for fans of Buffy, full of hints and descriptions that make the tv episodes even more enjoyable; it's also a very cool book for anyone interested in writing tv scripts who're curious about the format, or looking for insight into how to blend comedy and suspense and juggle an excellent ensemble cast without shortchanging anyone.

I was concidentally rewatching the last season of Angel recently when I found out that this book just came out. I was ecstatic. The story, although quite a step away from what I was expecting, was very entertaining. I only wished the art was better. The story DESERVES better art than this.

A good continuation. I felt AtS did leave some open character lines (esp WRT Illyria/Fred) and the comic continues to explore them. I enjoyed it.

I actually couldn't connect to this at all...felt pretty superficial. Made me miss the actors a lot! I didn't have the same reaction to the continuation of the Buffy series...to me the personalities of the characters and the plot still engaged me. This just felt dead to me. Angel always had a dark side to it, but it was contrasted with an element of light that I just couldn't find here at all. It just felt flat, dead, depressing and pointless.

Sorry to all of the Joss fans out there (of which I am one) would have loved to be able to give a better review! I loved Fray and Buffy season 8, so I'm hoping the next segment is better...

This contains Chapters 1-5 of the canonical continuation of Angel. I read them for the first time when I got this book, all in one sitting, and I was deeply disappointed. I didn't feel an emotional connection to the characters, couldn't quite "grasp" what was going on with them, thought events were rushed and characters' actions didn't make sense. Where was all that plot and character development time I'm used to in the TV series, not to mention the nuanced expressions and gestures that I didn't even realize were guiding my interpretation of the dialogue? All this and I do read comics.

But the book was so beautiful that I kept flipping through it, reading the author's notes, thinking about it. And I started re-reading more slowly, and I realized that the sparse writing was a benefit. You can't watch episodes of Angel over and over again without wasting a lot of time, but you can reread the comic in sections however long it takes you to catch the wit, to understand the action, and to develop empathy for the characters. And there's more to the After the Fall world than that.

There are promising, intriguing new characters and plenty of space for those that didn't realize their full potential previously. The idea of camaraderie in fighting against evil is expanded as a few refuges for "good" in the middle of hell attract both demons and humans. Capable Connor shines, Wesley's in a gray area, one of our own is lost to evil again, and Angel's stubbornly holding onto why he fights after the last disastrous result.

This comic's strengths are in the world it creates through large, gorgeous panels and a wide cast; the Buffyverse and Angelverse traditions of struggle, redemption, and interaction; and the requirement that the reader tap into his or her imagination. Because, after all, hasn't Angel's strength always been that it makes us think, feel, confront our own problems, and feel strong? After the Fall is in many places dark, hopeless, and painful, but you'll also get that warm, fuzzy feeling of family and the determination to fight your demons no matter how many dragons and super-powered friends you need to help you do it.

The series finale of Angel was the most brilliant episode of television I've ever seen. It was just a poignant, sad, and epic send-off to the characters I'd been following for so many years. It ended in the middle of a fight, because the point was that Angel would always be fighting to make things right. It was the perfect way to end the show. So needless to say, I wanted more. I mean, it's "Angel." When the day came that "Angel: After the Fall #1" was released, I held it in my hand for a second and realized that I would probably be disappointed. How could this book live up to my expectations. So again, needless to say... it didn't. It exceeded them.

Brian Lynch understands the story and world of Angel in a way that only we passionate few--the fans--do. He takes what was great about Season Five and continues it, starting us off with an Angel who is broken and half the man he was, but still--as always--trying to make things right. The environment is different, because LA has been sent to Hell. Angel's situation is different, because... well, you'll have to read that to find out, because it's one of many revelations that will shock you with just how ballsy Joss and Brian are... because they take it to THAT level.

These are literally the best comics I've ever read. The story is clear, so large scale, and really tugs hard at the heartstrings. The art is stylized but always beautiful. Artist Franco Urru is great with character moments and facial expressions, but his true appeal is in his action sequences, which bust with life. I've read these five issues about fifteen times each. So last night, when I sat down to read them in the hardcover collection format, I thought I'd just read the first issue and falls asleep. But I read the entire book in the one sitting, after already having read each issue so many times. And I was still utterly captivated. Such is the power of Joss Whedon, Brian Lynch, Franco Urru, and Angel.

The book itself is beautiful and has a gorgeous cover and nice thick pages that will stand up to many readings. There is a nice design to the inside of this hardcover, which really shows that IDW put their all into this product. I've had complaints about IDW's Angel TPBS in the past, because some of the books have very weak spines, but this is simply a very handsome book that really stands out on your shelf. And unlike the Buffy: Season Eight collections, this book is packed with extras. There is an introduction by Brian Lynch, chapter page, a cover gallery, the original series proposal by Joss Whedon and Brian Lynch, the script to the first issue with commentary by Brian Lynch, and even a cloth bookmark for you to mark your place.

10/10 Classic.

My only complaint is that the comic books are so short, but they end on wonderful cliffhangers that keep you wanting more, just like the tv series. The storyline for "season 8" starts off with a bang and I'm really anxious to find out what happens next.

I must say, this particular book is well worth the purchase just for the sexy pic of Angel, Buffy and Spike alone!

I'm so impressed with this series so far, and I loved this issue. The last page was a shocker. Love it. What more can I say?

Wonder no longer! As a huge fan of Buffy/Angel/Firefly/Joss, I was anxiously determined to adapt to this new format for Season 8...and, after a few issues, adapted I have. And I guarantee that you will, too - anxiety free. Let me tell you how you won't regret it:

1. It's Joss! He IS these characters. Even just scanning the word and thought bubbles, you can HEAR them all quipping and whining and fighting just like in the good ol' days. It's super fun to try to figure out who the "surprise" character is on the next page from the little bit of enticing dialog revealed before you make that fateful page turn...such is Joss's talent for words that you'll instinctively know who it is before you see the art. You might as well be hearing their voices off-camera on the show, pre dramatic entrance.

2. While some of the body-language slash facial-expression "acting" by the artists doesn't quite match what the actor-actors (on tv) might have chosen, it is incredibly well done and seems to be getting better with each new issue.

3. The comic medium is actually used to deliver new stuff...especially special effects that would've been waaay too "special" on tv. (Dawn's giant situation, for example...but other stuff, too. Especially in this issue.) Plus, you know that some of the harshness of real-world reality, like annoying network notes and the unavailability of actors, etc, just won't be responsible for derailing stories here.

[As an aside, I have to believe that some of the giddiness of this freedom is responsible for the much-hyped Buffy/Spike/Angel fantasy panel which, to me, seems completely bogus, out of character, and gratuitous for the comic-book-guy-stereotype. Some version of this for Xander - totally! But not so much for Buffy.]

4. Joss does an incredible job of smoothing the tv-to-comic transition. As another reviewer (Beranbo) eloquently describes, Joss blatantly chooses "surprises" that almost over-resonate with connections to the tv show. And, in retrospect, you look at the surprises and you're like, "duh-of course! Why didn't I see that coming?" But no matter how well you know your Joss shows, you STILL don't see `em coming. Unlike the other reviewer, even though I occasionally saw through the device-iness - I not only bought into it but completely LOVED it.

Most importantly, the combo platter of Joss's script, the art, your imagination, and your love for the show will allow you to FEEL the characters and their stories and be swept away into their world...which is the whole point!

These comics just keep getting better. This one starts off immediately after Issue #2, and the action never stops. This, I'm sure, is the issue that will woo over any Buffy fans that have been doubting the greatness of these Whedon-penned comics.

So many questions come up after reading the first few issues, so I was counting on some answers in this one. We get to find out the following...

+ Who is Amy's boyfriend?
+ Who is the "My love" guy in Issue #2? Is it the same guy as the floaty-leather-jacket guy?
+ Is Renee alive after being stabbed last issue?
+ What's up with Willow and Kennedy?

Also, we get an appearance from a very popular baddie--none other than Ethan Rayne. Not to mention the unforgettable image of Spike/Angel that Scott Allie promised us in the letters section of the last issue. All that, plus scenes with Giles, Andrew, and the re-union of Xander, Buffy, and Willow.

The art, as usual, is amazing. However, one scene bugged me. There's a scene with only Willow's face, where she says "She looks tired" (referring to Buffy). In that scene, it looks like Willow either almost fell asleep herself or got her hands on a whole lotta drugs. But other than that one little flaw, everything is done well. Particularly Jeanty's interpretation of Ethan Rayne. Spot on. And, while I didn't think Giles looked like himself in Issue #2, this issue shows a VAST improvement. Very Gilesy.

And what can be said about Whedon's writing and plotting that hasn't already been said? Everything is tight, all is perfect. The cliffhanger at the end makes me want the next issue right away! How in the world will I be able to wait until June 6th for Issue #4?

*Note: All Buffy/Angel products rank a 10/10 CLASSIC compared to other products. This is rated against OTHER Buffy/Angel products, not all products*

9/10

Granted, with Joss Whedon doing the writing the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight" comic book is an absolute must have for fans of the late, loudly lamented cult classic television series. You might have no interest in variant covers and you might wait for the inevitable collection of issues in trade paperbacks rather than finding your local comic book store to get each issue as soon as it is hot off the presses, but if you have all seven seasons of "BtVS" on DVD (or your own personal collection of videotapes) then you have to check out what Joss is up to here because it has the virtue of constituting canon. Now the question is: how good is "Season 8" going to be?

Our Story So Far: Of the almost two thousand Slayers running around in the world about five hundred of them are working as squads under the control of Buffy and her new "Watcher," Xander. The gang is working out of a castle in Scotland investigating a strange symbol that is being carved into human bodies. But things escalate when somebody (who do not yet know who) sics Amy on Buffy. The witch and former rat has Buffy living a nightmare from which only the kiss of true love can awaken her. Oh, and Dawn is a giant.

Written by Whedon with pencils by Georges Jeanty and inks by Andy Owens, issue #3 of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight" is the third part of "The Long Way Home." As the start of this issue Buffy's nightmare continues, with Ethan Rayne showing up to play Virgil to the Slayer's Dante on a tour of her collective slayer memory, which includes an image of Buffy with Spike and Angel that you have never seen before and will never forget (What is this comic book rated?). Back in the real world Willow has finally showed up and is going toe to toe with Amy. We do not get back to the plotline where the military thinks of the Slayers as being terrorists, which I find rather intriguing, so I assume that is a set up for something down the road. However, by the end of this issue all of the pieces appear to be on the board for the end game and I am willing to round up on issue #3.

So far all three issues have ended with a bug (gasp!) reveal on the final splash page, and what bothered me is that the reveal of Amy in issue #1 reminded me of the reveal of Darla in "To Shanshu in L.A.," the season one finale of "Angel," while Willow's appearance on the last page of issue #2 explicitly repeats the sudden appearance of Giles at the end of "Two to Go" from season six of "BtVS." I find myself wondering if Whedon is trying to mix familiar bits with all of this new stuff to make the transition to this new format palatable. I mean, we know what the man is capable of and I am certainly hoping that he is able to work into this "season" his story idea for bringing back Tara (a good pair of shoes holds not temptation for me). However, I think it is safe to say that Joss is laying the foundation for his brave new world in this first story-arc and you should plan on being here for the long haul.

Reading Joss Whedon's "BtVS" comic book might take a bit of getting used to and it dawned on me today that the pacing is much more like what he is doing in one of the other comic books he is writing, "Astonishing X-Men" ("Runaways" is now the third), than what we learned to love with the television series. It turns out "The Long Way Home" is going to be a four-part story, which will conclude in the next issues. But given that the real villain is not disclosed until the final splash page of issue #3 it seems there is a lot to get covered next month. Initially my big question was whether each issue of this comic book constitutes an entire episode or just an act in an "episode," and at this point I think it is clearly the latter case. So when I think that Joss has a lot of 'splaning to do regarding who shows up on the final page I know at the same time that I am going to have to see how this whole thing plays out before I make a final judgment on how well things are going with this first "episode." Suffice it to say that my hopes outweigh my fears in this regard.

Some beach...somewhere
Some city....out there
Some cat....out where?
Some mother...to embrace
Some dad...with a backbrace
Someone...with an empty face
some heart...with no place
Some rocker...with no identity
Some babysitter...without a cent for me
Some boy...becoming a man
Some man...named dan
Some milk....gone sour
Some girl...is a coward
Some whore...left undone
some steak...cooked well done
Some girl...with no soul
Some fish...with a bowl
Some leaf...turning green
some girl...becoming a teen
Some granpda...dying
some hooker...lying

some father...writing a poem
Some people...reading his poem

This trade paperback presents a serial story that originally appeared in issues 21 through 25 of the BTVS comics. Officially it occurs at the end of the third season, but is more of a bridge into season four, presenting Buffy as a new freshman in college, desperately trying to balance the pressures of real scholastic work with her night job - slaying. When an old, scary legend of 'Mad Jack' comes back to life, Buffy over-reacts and kills the first suspect demon without a thorough investigation. The result is a major crisis when it turns out that Mad Jack was just the guardian over something much worse.

Originally released during the Roman conquest of Carthage, Ky-Laag is major badness. He was only brought under control at that time by the wiles of Vraka, another demon, who led a cult called 'The Blood of Carthage.' Several thousand years later Buffy has let the rabbit out of the hate, and Vraka heads for Sunnydale to try to stop Ky-Laag and, in his spare time, kill the offending slayer. Buffy feels the same way about Vraka, but, if they don't work something out, they will be dead and the rest of us will be worshipping Ky-Laag.

One of the other key story arcs is Willow's need for emancipation from a Xander who still treats her like a childhood sidekick. As a young woman with significant magical and intellectual skills this has become more than a little irritating. In a series of flashbacks we see the developing relationship between the two as children. One in which Xander often took the lead. The other piece of history is a series of pieces about Vraka and reason for his bad feelings towards Spike. It should be no surprise that these do not paint the vampire with a chip in his head in a very good light.

One has to think of 'The Blood of Carthage' as more than a trade paperback rehashing the contents of a series of comic books. The story itself is larger than its media, and the trade paperback or graphic novel suits it best. Part of this is due to the efforts of Christopher Golden as writer, and the rest is due to editor Scott Allie's decision to deviate from the story telling style in the previous comic series - 'Bad Blood.' This is not intended to be a criticism of Andi Watson's rambling nine-issue series. Instead, Allie decided it was time for a change of pace and then turned to Golden, a proven Buffy novelist, to implement the idea.

Golden's story line is structured much like a novel, with a focused major story arc and rising levels of complexity and intensity. To break up the pacing a bit we are treated with flashbacks to Willow's childhood with Xander and Spike's first encounter with Vraka. Another thing that makes this series special is the carefully managed creative artwork. While Cliff Richards is the artist for the main story, Chynna Clugston-Major and the team of Paul Lee and Brian Horton each get one of the flashback series. This is cleverly orchestrated to provide different moods and contexts. The art really is excellent, and a separate article on what went into it is included in this volume.

If you have been wondering which trade paperback to buy first, this should be high on your list.

I think this trade has issues 21-25 of the series, I can't be sure but the info I got is from the Dark Horse comics website. The issues aren't sectioned in the trade (the blood of carthage), they run together to form a really good story with rather good artwork. We even get to see Xander and Willow as kids! Its a good stand alone trade, I really recommend it. Spike and Dru make an appearance and Giles makes scones! The coolest thing about the trade is the Xander/Willow storyline because it really examines their relationship and who is the sidekick (or not). Christopher Golden is a great Buffy writer, I suggest you pick this one up.

The only problem with this excellent graphic novel is that it isn't a full length book. A plot so complex and characters so rich they deserve 300 pages. Christopher Golden never disappoints.

The art work is exciting and colorful. I think the actors are well drawn. Their voices are true.

Set in the fourth season, Buffy is at college. The pressures weigh heavy on her slayer duties. When she kills the wrong demon all Hell breaks loose which forces deadly enemies to work together. I recommend this to all Buffy fans

I thought this graphic novel was very good because it stayed true to the characters. The only problems were that the story takes place in season four but at the beginning of the book it says it takes during season three. The other problem (which is only minor) was that willow had longer hair in the book than she actually did at that time during the show. Sounds nitpicky I know but what can I say I know my Buffy stuff.

The art may be a bit sub-par, but the writing is so far above the usual paplum that is spewed out in these books as to make this one of the best ever!!
A real sense of character and adventure infuse this book. Plus a way cool plot taking the BTVS plot to a place we haven't been to before. Lots of fun.

I never write reviews on anything, but after reading the reviews that Chris Boal got, I had to say something. I am a HUGE fan of Buffy and I have to say that some of the writing was getting borring and silly until he came along. I am looking forward to more of Mr. Boal's writing and as a die hard Buffy fan - I hope you will listen to MY review. Thanks.

Wow - a 'Buffy' for adults. My kids are constantly trying to foist "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" on me but I frankly find most of the comics sophmoric (I admit to being a fan of the show, though). This one - which I read after simply giving up - was really good- a cut above the other "buffy" comics that I've tried to read but had to put down. If you're a Buffy fan over 15, I'd reccomend it.

I can truly say, without exaggeration that this is by far, the best Buffy the Vampire Slayer book I have ever read. Chris Boal's writing is pure genius. He seems to have a special insight into Joss Wheadon's unique vision of the character. It remains true to the original, yet at the same time it keeps it new and interesting. I don't want to give away the surprise ending in Heart of A Slayer, but wow, I sure didn't see that coming. Buffy fans, and everyone else should buy this book. It is just great.

I happened to be watching several syndicated episodes of the television show while reading Autumnal and couldn't help but miss the earlier episodes of BTVS. I miss the humor, the genuine emotions and the mystery of those earlier episodes. Autumnal harkens back to those days.

I found Autumnal a great read and really enjoyed the fact that there is still some mystery in the Buffy universe. A slayer that should be dead and a new, deadly demon, injects some mystery and wonder back into the Buffy universe.

And I though the story about the disgruntled wannabe vampire was great! Finally a return to some frivolty, some immaturity and FUN.

If you want to recapture the spirit of earlier seasons when water bills and addiction weren't the "big bad", read this book.

I'm glad they keep making the calendars despite the show not being on anymore. Keep it up!

I love getting the calander every year, because although life goes on after Buffy, this is one way to enjoy the memories again and again!

For the past few years I bought this calendar.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer was my favorite tv-show.
The pictures always are great.

Greetings,
ilja

I love this! i couldn't be happier than having tara (Amber Benson) gracing august (my birthday), fianlly i get what i want!

I love the 2008 Buffy Calendar! All of the pictures are very good. My favorite part is that Cordelia finally has a month of her own! I feel she's not recognized as much as she should be. I guess most people associate her with Angel, but thats no reason for her to be absent from so many Buffy products.

It's deffinetly worth buying.