Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Volume 1: High School Is Hell
Created by Joss Whedon
Written by Jordie Bellaire
Art by Dan Mora
Colors by Raul Angula
Letters by Ed Dukeshire
Cover by Matthew Taylor
BOOM! Studios
Release Date: May 22, 2019
Cover Price: $14.99
The words “reimagine,” “reboot,” and any other iteration of starting something anew when it comes to fandom have never particularly appealed to me. In fact, if I’ve read or seen the original, I typically avoid the updated version. However, there are some exceptions.
When it comes to Buffy the Vampire Slayer – my favorite television series – I can’t help but find excitement in anything new related to the franchise. If I’m being completely honest, though, when I’d heard that BOOM! Studios would be reimagining the beloved characters that I grew up with for a modern world, I had some serious reservations. Nonetheless, writer Jordie Bellaire and illustrator Dan Mora set out to slay those worries and doubts, and despite my concerns, I now believe that into this generation, they are the chosen ones.
Like most teenagers, Buffy Summers feels like an outcast who just wants to fit in at her new school in the small town of Sunnydale, California. Like most teenagers, Buffy wants to make friends and be “normal.” And like most teenagers, Buffy has a secret. Though her secret is much bigger than those of her peers: she’s the Slayer – a female with superhuman strength and agility, chosen to protect humanity against the forces of darkness.
All of the above sounds familiar, right? That’s because it’s the exact same premise as the original series. Bellaire has done a fantastic job at remaining true to the basic storyline of the first season, the characters’ personalities, and Joss Whedon‘s sense and understanding of wit and sarcasm.
But what she and Mora have done with this version, is they’ve masterfully updated the story to feel more accessible for a modern audience, particularly with the way that instant communication via smartphones would impact decisions and situations. The creative team has also included the addition of new characters as well as some familiar faces – though in new and intriguing ways.
I really enjoyed this version of Buffy and the Scooby Gang. It’s everything that the show was: fun, endearing, charming, smart, and thrilling – while not shying away from taking creative liberties to mesh with the world of today. Well done, Bellaire, Mora, and BOOM! Studios. I’ll follow your story straight into the next apocalypse.
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