10 Best Buffy the Vampire Slayer Moments Fans Missed (If They Don’t Read the Comics)

In the twenty-plus years since its beloved seven-season run on television ended, Buffy the Vampire Slayer has enjoyed continued popularity in the comic book medium, In series that both extended the original continuity of the TV show, while also reimagining the past, present and future of the franchise.

Publishers Dark Horse Comics and Boom! Studios have released many Buffy comics over the past two decades, and many fans of the iconic series will be surprised by some of the twists and turns these stories have contained.

Comics have been essential to expand the universe of Buffy the Vampire SlayerAnd to carry on his vaunted pop culture legacy, in the absence of a long-heralded reboot. For those fans who haven’t delved into the comics yet, it’s worth checking out some of the things they’ve missed.

10

Willow is chosen and becomes the Vampire Slayer

First introduced: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #27 – Written by Jeremy Lambert; Art by Carmelo Zagaria

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #27 introduces the latest Big Bad of the series, Silas the Multiverse Man. To combat the biggest threat to the multiverse, the Scooby Gang decided to travel to every universe they could to recruit an army of Slayers. One of them was A grown-up, hard-drinking bartender Vampire Slayer version of Willow. This particular variant must have hit the readers, because shortly after the last issue, Sarah Gailey The Vampire Slayer Hit shelves, depicting Willow in the role of Slayer.

Although not depicting the same version of Willow, the universe at the center of Gailey’s series was similar to the actual canon of the show. Except, this time, a spell gone wrong transfers Buffy’s Vampire Slayer powers to Willow, and also takes away Buffy’s memories of ever being a Slayer.

9

Season six villain Warren makes a nightmare-fueled return, thanks to Amy

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight #3 – Written by Joss Whedon; Art by Georges Jeanty

The original Buffy the Vampire Slayer Canon comic book continuity saw the return of Amy the Witch, as she unleashes an army of the undead against the Scooby Gang. In the midst of the chaos, Willow is approached by an even more shocking ghost from her past: Warren. Warren was the man who shot and killed Tara, then, as a result, Dark Willow flayed his body, killing him in the process. Now, like a new skin without skin, Warren reveals that Amy witnessed Warren’s supposed murder and used her magic to save him before he went into shock.

As if the return of Warren and Amy wasn’t weird enough, it’s even weirder to see the two characters manage to form an unexpected romance. Still, it’s not the strangest romance to happen in the comics, but more on that later.

8

Xander is the opposite, becoming a vampire and a villain

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #4 – Written by Jordie Bellaire; Art by Dan Mora

Xander is often accused of being the most boring, and absolutely the worst character among them Buffy Cast, so boom! Studios decided to try to make him more interesting by shaking things up a bit. While he’s moping about his overlooked place in the Scooby gang, Drusilla—appropriately going under a new mistress moniker to match her new role as main antagonist—uses Xander in a vulnerable state, turning him into a vampire.

She meant to kill him, but Spike took pity on Xander and gave him blood. An incomplete searing puts Xander between life and death, but eventually, after losing what humanity he has left in Buffy the Vampire Slayer #12, he embraces the more vile parts of his new demon entity. This is fixed in Buffy the Vampire Slayer #15, wow He is officially referred to as The Lord before proceeding to torment Buffy and her friends.

7

Giles dies and is resurrected as a child

Death Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight #39 – Written by Joss Whedon; Art by Scott Allie; return: Angel & Faith #22 – Written by Christos Gage; Art by Rebecca Isaac

In the comics, Angel again finds himself as a big bad, this time because he is possessed by the mystical Twilight entity. Like Twilight, he snaps Giles’ neck. When Angel comes back to reality, that’s when guilt sets in for the vampire with a soul. Of course, anyone who knows Angel knows that guilt is pretty much his go-to default emotion, but this means otherwise. This is a pain that just won’t fix for Angel, and The only way for him to overcome his guilt is to participate in a ritual designed to bring Giles back to life..

While the ritual works, it’s not perfect or foolproof because it can’t bring Giles back to exactly how he used to be. Instead, it brings Giles back as a child who is forced to relive his entire life and grow again.

6

The Original Slayer Trinity Teams Up Once More (With Feeling)

Kendra’s Debut: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #9 – Written by ; Jordie Bellaire; Art by David López; Faith’s Debut: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #19 – Written by Jordie Bellaire & Jeremy Lambert; Art by Ramón Bachs

With BOOM! Studios offer a modern revamp of the original TV series, this gave them the opportunity to be creative in how they introduced the other slayers of the show. In the original show, Buffy had to die and resurrect for Kendra to be introduced, then Kendra died for Faith to be called. In the comic series, Buffy enters and becomes trapped in the Hellmouth, and by leaving the living plane of existence, she technically “dies” without actually dying, activating Kendra as a Slayer with Robin Wood as her Watcher.

Kendra comes to Sunnydale, the Hellmouth comes to save Buffy; Both exit the Hellmouth, But again, Kendra technically died by leaving our body plane, bringing faith into the picture. The series attempts to showcase the complications that come with Sunnydale housing three active Slayers at once, while also showcasing their chemistry as a unit, along with the friendship that comes with it.

5

Xander and Dawn become the franchise’s most controversial couple

first kiss: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight #28 – Written by Jane Espenson; Art by Georges Jeanty

For many readers, this may be the most surprising development, but also the most controversial. To put it bluntly, this is a romance that gives fans major IQ. In their dynamic on the show, Xander serves as an older brother to the teenage Dawn, but in the comics, the dynamic materializes into a love affair. Of course, Don is now a legal adult, but that doesn’t make it any less funny. Even the story itself recognizes how strange this feels, but this does not stop the creative team from fully committing to this relationship.

When it comes time for the official canon ending, Xander and Dawn are married with a child named Joyce. Whether readers love it or hate it, Xander and Dawn are an end game couple.

4

Buffy’s role as the Slayer is reimagined in a post-apocalyptic future

Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer #1 – Written by Casey Gilley; Art by Jose Jaro

For anyone satisfied with the ending of the TV show, or who was hoping that Buffy Summers and her friends had a happy ending, they might want to stay clear of Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer. The series turns Buffy’s uplifting ending and takes the cast in the bleakest direction possible. Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer offers a dark future for its title character; The series envisions a world where, due to a global peace treaty after the blotting of the sun, all of Buffy’s friends are dead (save for Anya). In addition, all the Slayers and potential Slayers are also dead, truly making Buffy the last Slayer.

With a world shrouded in darkness, it affects Buffy on an emotional and physical level. She’s lost without her Scooby gear, but she’s also on a losing battle against vampires who are free to walk the earth, especially when her powers stop working at her age.

3

Willow and Tara have a daughter, and she gets killed

Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer #1 – Written by Casey Gilly; Art by Joe Jaro

When all hope seems lost, a new hope arrives when Buffy is visited by a young teenage girl named Thessaly claiming to be the daughter of the late Willow and Tara (who at the time was thought to be dead, but it was later revealed She becomes the mother mother). Buffy takes time to warm up to the little girl, and it takes time for Buffy to pull down her newfound loner mentality, but She eventually begins training Thessaly to become the ultimate slayerSurpassing Buffy in the process.

Even better, Thessaly doesn’t study under Buffy’s tutelage, but she has Spike as her watcher, practically making him a stepdad to her. All the knowledge of the world’s greatest slayer and the world’s hottest vamp, along with her skills as a magic user, all make Thessaly a serious threat.

2

Buffy officially joins the Watcher’s Council

Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer Special #1 – Written by Casey Gilly; Art by Jose Jaro

For anyone disappointed that Buffy missed out on her happy ending from the TV show, rest assured that she can get a semblance of a happy ending even in the midst of an apocalypse in the distant future. The original series ends with Thessaly firmly established as the new Slayer, while Buffy herself rekindles a romance with Spike, even if Spuffy’s happy ending comes with a dark twist.

Most importantly, as tumultuous as the future becomes, It’s not too uncomfortable for Buffy to start working towards a better future for the next generation. She does this by joining the Watchers Council, changing it from within for an added emphasis on forming personal relationships with the Slayers. It’s something Giles has done for her, but in the previous incarnation of the Watchers Council, he was the exception to the rule.

1

Spike officially becomes the endgame romance for Buffy Summers

Buffy the last vampire slayer #2 – Written by Casey Gilly; Art by Joe Jaro

As stated in the last entry, Spike and Buffy reunite and get back together. Sorry, “Spangle” fans, but “Spuffy” is romance validated in the comics. After not seeing each other for several years, Spike resurfaces The Last Vampire SlayerWhile raising his own coven of witches. This leads to a reunion between the former lovers after decades apart. While Buffy is initially resistant to Buffy’s charms, she cannot resist the closer Spike idol.

When the dust settled, the two officially got back together; They then collaborate on rebuilding the Watchers Council and rebuilding a life together. Spike is especially instrumental in her post-Slayer life, as Buffy struggles to find her identity when she no longer has to be Buffy the Vampire Slayer With Thessaly in the picture.