5. Buffy: Season 8

Part I
By: Joss Wheedon

Buffy was one of those rare shows that managed to to break through the boxy little genres of television to create something that was totally new. It featured a rich universe of believable three dimensional characters with well written dialog whose 'real life' problems fit in perfectly with the fantasy setting. By the end of season seven, these characters had changed and grown to the point that taking them further would have been nearly impossible without creating a massive shark jumping. Wheedon's characters had fought their own demons (pun intended) and saved the world (one last time), and he ends on a note that would have unequivocally changed the direction and content of the show in a way that would have distanced it too much from where it began. The show had run its course and ended when it needed to.

Continuing Buffy's story in comic book form however, was the perfect way to see what happens in the next chapter of the lives of Buffy n' pals. The show is left with an appropriate conclusion, and the comic investigates all of the interesting suggestions of 'what happens next' that the show leaves open.

Its hard to talk too much about even the premise of the comic without giving away the events of the season finale, so I won't comment too much on plot. Suffice to say, there are more demons to be fought, and there's a great 'war on terror' allegory plot that builds in the first part of "Season 8". Wheedon's topical humor is still present - so is his witty writing, and the characters come through in comic form as they would on the show. However, you see the characters continue to grow as well. Xander is older and more together (although still a bit awkward in his geekiness), Buffy has come to terms with her past and has brightened back up, but she's still not the happy-go-lucky kid that was found at the beginning of the series. There are a few surprise faces from the TV series that show up in the dramatic conclusions of chapters, but that plot device doesn't seem to ring as startling without the tense music and commercial break.

Overall, Season 8 gets off to a great start and expands the story line in a way that probably wouldn't have worked on TV, but works quite well in comic form.

Recommendation: Get on your Netflix queue and fill it with Buffy seasons 1-7. Once you're thoroughly wrapped up in the slayer life, read the comic.