Writer: Joss Whedon
Artist: Georges Jeanty
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
The first section of Buffy Season 8: The Long Way Home recently finished and it must be said that Joss Whedon and Georges Jeanty delivered what was promised of a continuation of the Buffy canon. Not only does it feel like the characters have developed and evolved, but it does so with fun and fright.
The interesting part is that the book is amazingly newbie friendly. It assumes nothing, yet rewards both the new reader and the old fan. Every character is introduced like they are new to the world and the story is presented like that of a TV show where things get explained and relationships are informed upon as the moment requires it. This is why Whedon has been able to get a whole different group of readers to the new Buffy series.
The theme that seems to be resonant in the new season is that of mass female empowerment and the intimidation by those who fear it. Whedon’s always had strength of intent when it came to writing Buffy as a myth and he expands on the myth by making her den mother to a new breed of slayer. Being a slayer is no longer a solitary function, but a community built in self reliance and intelligence.
Xander Harris is back as well, in a new role as the Watcher for the various slayers. He still has his whimsy, but he also believes in the mission. Dawn Summers still goes and mopes a lot. She believes that her older sister does not love her. She has been changed into a giant by dating the wrong guy. She misses Willow and resents Buffy without understanding that she needs to grow emotionally not just physically bigger.
Willow is interesting in Season 8 not because she has great one liners of amusing dialogue, but the one thing that could be problematic with the new season is that Willow may be a Deus ex Machina for Whedon. In the first story Willow is the heavy hitter. So heavy is she that when danger is intimated, there is no fear for her. She will make it out alive. I know there will be a surprise here somewhere, but I’ll take her use here as a temporary moment that leads to something bigger.
The Long Way Home reflects old and the new as we meet the antagonists…The United States Military, a witch names Amy with a strange grudge for the Scooby gang and the unexpected return of Warren who both acts a creepy villain with his remake, but also the symbol that Buffy and company fight, the fear of power in the hands of someone not a man. The general who funds all this mayhem is a member of a cult that Buffy hunts in the start of the first issue and gives her a warning that her group is considered terrorists, because they look and smell like terrorists. The basis of the fight is arguing for the notion that any change is terror. It is also the driving force for Buffy Season 8, how by standing up for yourself can make people think you are the bad guy.
To say that Joss Whedon’s script fulfills the needs of the Buffy audience is an understatement. It feels like Buffy should. What it also does is that Buffy Season 8 delivers something very important in that Whedon has developed his skills as a comic writer that he is able to create a Buffy story without the issue of budget of the TV show. With this in mind he gives Georges Jeanty enough things to draw that display that the scale of the Buffy has grown immensely. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a bigger thing now and it’s beautiful. Jeanty has the characters that look like the actors of the show, yet he makes them his own they are recognizable, but distinctly Jeanty. He brings a sense of scale that is not overwhelming, yet mythic. His designs for the new characters are very distinct and noticeable.
A special note should be mentioned to cover artist Jo Chen for making iconic covers that deserved to be framed. So beautiful these covers are that this reviewer has issues handling the books, but the variants by Jeanty are no slouches. They tell you what happens in the book simply.
Overall, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 delivers what Buffy Fans, Whedon fans, and readers of a genuinely great story no matter how it is told want.
- Francis Davis a career drunk with a love of comics and movies, lives in and works for the City of Chicago. Confidentiality agreements prevent him from saying exactly what he does, but it is important.