Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9: Library Edition, Vol. 1
Written by Joss Whedon, Andrew Chambliss, Jane Espenson, and Scott Allie
Illustrated by Georges Jeanty, Karl Moline, and Cliff Richards
Colored by Michelle Madsen
Cover by Steve Morris
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: January 14, 2015
Cover Price: $29.99

The classic slayer wit and charm returns in Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9: Library Edition, Volume 1. After an epic, yet fairly disappointing story-arc in season 8, Joss Whedon, Andrew Chambliss, Georges Jeanty, and a small group of other talented writers and artists have recaptured the allure and excitement that made Buffy, well…Buffy!

Season 9 has been available for a while now — with season 10 already in the middle of its run — but if you haven’t had the chance to check it out yet, the Library Edition, Volume 1 is the perfect place to start. Collecting the first and second volumes of the ninth season, as well as a couple of one-shots, there is a plethora of scoobie mischief to take a stab at all at once.

The Occultist, Volume 2: At Death’s Door
Created by Mike Richardson
Story by Mike Richardson and Tim Seeley
Script by Tim Seeley
Art by Mike Norton
Color by Allen Passalaqua
Letters by Nate Piekos of Blambot
Cover and Chapter Break Art by Steve Morris
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: June 25, 2014
Cover Price: $16.99

As I’m sure you probably gleaned from the title, this graphic novel is centered around mystical powers. And if that’s all that The Occultist, Volume 2: At Death’s Door had going for it, it would still be a darn fine read. But fortunately for us, there is more going on here than you might first think. This is not your typical supernatural story, not by any means.

Since this was a miniseries originally, it is exceptionally nice that the writers included a couple of pages of back story to help new readers. Most of the time we don’t get that luxury. The premise here is a young man named Rob Bailey has been given the power of an ancient tome entitled The Sword. Following the loss of his trusted friend and mentor, Rob teams up with a local detective to stop the demons and the undead from seizing power and killing innocents. And that leads us to the current chain of events in this five issue series.

Dark Horse Comics has released a 7-page preview of Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 10 #1, which begins a new comic book season for the publisher’s continuation of the popular television series. Season 10, which is executive-produced by Buffy creator Joss Whedon, will be written by Christos Gage with art by Rebekah Isaacs and colors by Dan Jackson. Steve Morris provided the cover for issue #1, with Isaacs doing the alt cover.

Here below you can check out the 7-page preview and official solicitation for the 32-page full-color issue, which is currently available for pre-order, with a release date of March 19, 2014.

The Occultist #1
Created by Mike Richardson
Written by Mike Richardson and Tim Seeley
Art by Mike Norton
Color by Allen Passalaqua
Letters by Nate Piekos of Blambot
Covers by Steve Morris, Paolo Rivera
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Cover Price: $3.50

I’ve got a confession to make here, I chose to review this comic based solely on the title. I love horror comics and when a book is entitled The Occultist #1, I immediately think of Lovecraft, Cthulhu, and the like. So I dove in with some preconceived expectations, most of which never presented themselves. But hey, can’t blame a guy for trying…right?

Now, I don’t want you to get the wrong impression here. This wasn’t a bad book, quite the contrary. It just wasn’t what I was expecting. The main character, Rob Bailey, is in possession of an ancient artifact called The Sword. He’s described as a “mild-mannered college student,” but that just made me think of a certain super man masquerading as a newspaper reporter. I assume this was done purposefully, sort of tongue in cheek you might say. But Rob is a young man trying to unlock the secrets to this cryptic power he has been given. He’s not flying around saving the world…he’s saving it one haunted house at a time.

Angel & Faith #25
Written by Christos Gage
Illustrated by Rebekah Isaacs
Executive Produced by Joss Whedon
Colored by Dan Jackson
Lettered by Richard Starkings and Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt
Cover by Steve Morris
Alternate Cover by Rebekah Isaacs
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: August 28, 2013
Cover Price: $2.99

When Buffy the Vampire Slayer ended its seven-year run in 2003, fans of the Joss Whedon-created television series could (and did) take solace that a Buffy spin-off, Angel, was still on the air. Weekly forays to the Whedon-verse, however, ended when ended its abbreviated five-year run only a year later, Buffy/Angel fans contented themselves with syndicated reruns and DVDs. Whedon, of course, moved on, first to the short-lived Firefly (one season followed by a big-screen wrap up, Serenity) and Dollhouse several years later. Dollhouse only made it through two seasons on FOX. Despite his other projects, Buffy and Angel were never far from his mind.

Rather than attempting to bring Buffy back to network or cable television (an unlikely possibility given the passage of time, rights issues, and the availability of key cast members), Whedon decided to continue the series in comic-book form, first through Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8, a sprawling 40-issue run that ran from 2007 through 2011, and subsequently through the about-to-be-concluded Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 9. Acting initially as co-writer for Buffy, but primarily as an executive producer or showrunner, Whedon handed over Buffy to newcomer Andrew Chambliss and a new spin-off series, Angel & Faith to longtime comic-book scribe Christos Gage and artist Rebekah Isaacs. Both series were meant to run in parallel, each with 25 issues plus two spin-offs, one devoted to Willow, Buffy’s best-friend and witch, and the other to Spike, the other vampire with a soul.