Pick of the Week
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Size: pages
Price: 2.99
This was another week when a lot of comic books hit the stands and it was yet another week when quite a few important comic books came out. But there was one book that I read very early on in my stack that immediately set the bar, and set it high. I finished reading it and I said to myself “Damn, that’s going to be really hard to beat.” And although a few books came close, and one book came really close, in the end none could best the Slayer.
Here’s the thing — Drew Goddard should leave the highly lucrative field of television and film writing and stay in the not very lucrative comic book writing game. Yes, I know his family and his accountant and his agent will probably disagree with me, but they need to hear me out: the dude is an exceptionally talented comic book writer! And that’s a rare thing, indeed. Comic Book Data Base tells me that other than two issues of Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Tales of the Vampire, this is his first comic book arc. That’s really impressive, considering the growing pains that usually go along with writers from other media coming into comics.
What we have here with Buffy the Vampire Slayer #15 is the conclusion to the “Wolves at the Gate” story arc and it is primarily made up of one gigantic battle between the army of Slayers and an army of vampires in the streets of Tokyo. The exceptional thing about this issue was that in the midst of this gigantic battle, Goddard was able to showcase tons of excellent character moments and bits of humor that contrasted nicely with bits of pump your fist heroism, and intense drama, and genuinely touching sadness. I mean, this comic book hit me along my entire emotional spectrum. There were times I was laughing out loud (Mecha Dawn), times I was pumping my fist (Dracula), and times when my heart genuinely hurt (Xander). Hell, I even really liked Buffy herself in this issue and she is usually my least favorite character.
In the end, Buffy and her army of Slayers triumphs over the army of magically enchanted vampires (Did you think she wouldn’t? Her name is in the title.), but it’s not without cost or consequence. In fact, it is with major cost and consequence. Not everyone makes it through the battle alive, and not everyone’s relationships (both personal and romantic) survive to the final page, either. It is tried and true Joss Whedon stuff – never allow your main characters to stay happy. By the time you reach the truly fantastic final page you’ve been through the emotional wringer. This is a comic book that hurts so good.
It’s also very, very funny.
It’s been said before but it bears repeating that Georges Jeanty on pencils is pulling off a minor miracle with this book. He draws great comics, but he also is able to capture each of these characters in such a way that recalls the actors who played them without ever coming off as stiff or lightbox-y. He actually draws these people. Usually with licensed property books the artist become so consumed with making the main characters look like the actors it often appears as if you are reading a book comprised of a series of DVD still frames — there’s no life to stuff like that. Jeanty’s stuff has life to it. I truly believe that he is half the reason why this book is so successful.
If you haven’t given this gook a try, you really should. You should run out and pick up the first trade and jump on board, right now. I only watched the first four seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, so I was missing three years of continuity when I jumped on the book but it is written in such a way that you can quickly suss out the status quo and get into the story. All you need is the basics of who is who and away you go. And if you have never seen the show but like smart, funny, well crafted comics — well, sir or madam, you should give it a shot too.
In the midst of all of the seemingly never-ending stream of mega-events and crossovers, very quietly Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of the best books on the market. A big reason for that is that it is being overseen by Joss Whedon and it has been blessed with some truly exceptional writers in Whedon, Brian K. Vaughan, and Drew Goddard to compliment Georges Jeanty’s stellar work on pencils.
Conor Kilpatrick
I like blue jeans. And irony.
conor@ifanboy.com
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So… should I read this book? I bought the first 5 issues and felt lost because i never saw the TV show. I have a feeling that I am missing out.
It’ll be a looong time before I get to this series. I’ve only watched the first four seasons of BtVS and frankly am burned out, so I’m taking a break. I also get the feeling that it isn’t a series you can jump into without having watched all 7 seasons of the show. Then there’s Angel to catch up on, as well….too much damn Netflixing to do! 😉
Paradiddle – I never watched seasons 5-7.
Couldn’t agree more. Dracula brought the ass-kicking, Xander provided the emotion, and Mecha Dawn gave the funny. A great ending to a great arch. This book just keeps getting better. All of Season 8 has far exceeded my expectations.
Next to All-Star Superman, I think this is the best book out right now.
i started the series…then stopped cuz i figured i would just get the TPs. but it is a good series. im thinking of just going back to getting all the other issues
WOW in a week of Secret Invasion, Trinity, and JSA Buffy slayed them (pun intended). Rightfully so, this has always been a top notch book.
I’ve come to recognize that Buffy will likely represent a whole bunch of great entertainment that I will never have the time to enjoy. 🙁
Only read Secret Invasion and Detective Comics so far. Loved the pacing in Detective so much that I wrote my first ever iFanboy review.
My POW as well. Definately one of my favorite comics currently, which I had not expected when it started. This may have been the best arc so far. Jeanty’s art has been the perfect match. I will miss him as he takes a break for the next arc, at least I hope it’s just a break.
Glad to hear the book is good…but I’ve not been able to summon interest in this title. I think I feel the way Conor felt about the Angel book–"The tv show was enough"–that’s just me…I’ll be interested to hear the podcast discussion tho
I don’t read this book, but I’m glad to see a Whedon property getting the POW love. My pick this week is definitely Detective. It was hella awesome, and as grigs said, well paced. Just great, fun comic books.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the awesomeness that was Criminal. So good.
I haven’t gotten to this one yet, but I will say that Tales of the Vampire was a pretty great book in its own right. Seek it out and be gratified.
View Askew:
The first arc of this comic introduced a whole new status quo, new settings, new villians, new allies, and on and on. I think people — including avid fans of the show — weren’t supposed to be quite on solid footing as they got used to it. As a dramatic device, it helped you empathize with the characters, who were also trying to figure out this new threat. So, short version, I wouldn’t let that stop you from enjoying this book.
On a side note to my fellow long-time Buffy fans, is anyone else really looking forward to the moment when Flayed-Alive Warren comes face to face with Reformed-Villian Andrew?
I loved this issue. It totally hit all the characters perfectly. Goddard really has a way of capturing the spirit of the show balancing the ridiculous notions of vampire armies and mech teens with a lot of humor and some really great character moments. Who would’ve guessed that Dracula could be such an awesome character that could be both funny, terrifying and caring? I wish Goddard would always write Buffy.
Typically I base my pick on which book makes me gasp the loudest or makes me squeal and the last page of Secret invasion made reading all those Avengers titles worth it for me. Fury is back with a vengeance.
That blue jeans and irony line is one of my favorite Buffy quotes EVER.
Great pick, Conor. As a longtime fan of "Buffy" on TV, I’ve been a little ambivalent about this comic, and actually dropped it toward the end of the first arc — I think, because as Pdallor’s comment noted, there was a new status quo I wasn’t quite ready to process. But with this arc, I’m finally totally sold on the comic. This is going to be a phenomenal trade.
Does anybody know what the next arc holds?
As good as this was, my pick would be "Invincible Iron Man." The scene where [spoiler] showed up at the cemetery and there was that awkward wow-we-used-to-be-friends interaction, combined with Tony’s simulataneously-sympathetic-and-kind-of-douche-y internal monologue. Awesome.
Buffy has been way too consistently good. I’m scared that its never gonna have a so-so issue.
I can’t wait for the Fray crossover.
And I’m glad Jo Chen is back on covers for the next arc. The Jon Foster stuff just doesn’t cut it, but Jeanty’s covers are always nice.
This book was good. Detective Comics and Criminal were also very good (the art in Criminal- unbelievable). But my POW would’ve been Invincible Iron Man #2. In two short issues, Matt Fraction has established himself as my favorite super hero writer– and this book as my favorite Marvel book. Just awesome.
Another fine POTW. You guys have been on a roll since May.
Drew Goddard nailed all the characters in this arc. Every one. I just rearead all four issues and couldn’t find a false note. In its own way, this series has been better than the teevee show. Okay, perhaps I’m still bitter that after it moved to UPN I couldn’t watch it over the air anymore and had to P2P crappy AVIs. Still, this is a hell of a series and I’m glad to see it get the POTW.
Invincible Iron Man is real good too. You wouldn’tv’e gone wrone there, either.
@Conor – Oops, you say that you only watched Season 1-4 in your review…sorry I missed it. Well, now I guess I have no choice but to go pick up the first trade as I have indeed been extremely curious about this series. I know the gist of what happens in those three seasons anyway, and watched several episodes back when they originally aired.
Another choice I gotta agree with. I really enjoyed the hell out of this book and I was *very* happy with all of my comics this week.
Can’t really disagree, but Manhunter has to get mentioned as well. It was worth the wait.
I absolutely agree with Conor on the pick! This book just keeps getting better and better. I’ll be looking forward to more Buffy in the future.