Buffy the Vampire Slayer #1

Boom! Studios has hit a homerun by rebooting a Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic book series and executing it perfectly. This first issue is thrilling and humorous and is guaranteed to make some old Buffy fans happy while also collecting some new ones. Read Full Review

Overall, it's a testament to the talent of the creative team that I am able to hear the voices of the actors when I read the dialogue, or immediately feel like I'm watching a new pilot as I flip the pages. With the book sold out before it even launches and already announced for third reprinting, I hope every Scooby out there feels the same. Read Full Review

A new Buffy series is going to come under a lot of scrutiny, as the TV show is near and dear to so many people. I'm happy to say that this book delivers on everything you know and love about the show and then some. It has the same witty dialogue, action-packed fight scenes, and fun characters, but with a fresh, new take. It's sure to delight new and old fans alike. Read Full Review

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #1 is a fantastic debut issue. Jordan Bellaire writes Buffy as the same thoughtful, spunky slayer that fans love, but with playful new twists. Dan Mora's art and Ral Angulo's colors bring the Bellaire's script to life, striking that perfect balance between soft and intense. Read Full Review

This debut issue is a promising beginning, reuniting the reader with beloved characters and dropping seeds for new and exciting storylines. After years at Dark Horse, its clear that moving the Buffy franchise to Boom! Studios was a great opportunity to revitalize the beloved property. Read Full Review

Ultimately, Jordie Bellaire and Dan Mora have found the right pace for this new adventure. Rather than rush through a Wikipedia section of "Differences from the Source Material," Buffy the Vampire Slayer #1 makes its mark by putting the characters first. Strong character moments make the book stand out, and that makes it the perfect new start. Read Full Review

A fun and punchy re-invention of Buffy, BOOM! is off to a good start here. Read Full Review

The writing of this reboot has captured the voices of the original cast well, and Dan Mora has done a brilliant job reimagining modern looks for the characters (well, excluding Giles obviously). In the next issue we will be introduced to the reboot's first Big Bad, and given the ending of this comic and the cover of next month's issue; I can't wait! Read Full Review

Reinventing a classic in the best possible way. The creators show respect for the original source material while producing an outstanding first issue. Buffy The Vampire Slayer is set to impress and shock you all over again. Read Full Review

Dan Mora has some beautiful art in this first issue. All of the characters look great and there is an amazing sequence in the cemetery that allows the art to standout. Read Full Review

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #1 manages to reboot a long-running franchise without losing its core appeal. Read Full Review

The first issue drew me in with its differences. I am curious where Boom! Studios will take the story. It was a strong first installment that kept the heart of the original, but gives it a modern flavor. Looking forward to the next issue. Read Full Review

Our welcome back to the Hellmouth for the first time was indeed worth the wait. My confidence about this new start to Buffy The Vampire Slayer was shaky up to this point, but right now I feel that we are already in a comfortable place after the events of this first issue. This was endearing, it had action, and it reminded us of the true vulnerabilities these characters faced in their early days. Read Full Review

The Scooby Gang is back and adjusting to the modern era well. This is a great read for both fans and newcomers. Read Full Review

As fun as this book feels, I am not sure of the reason for it. Dark Horse has previously published the Buffy book set after the TV show as cannon which was really popular. So why go back to the start and re-vamp (no pun intended) the whole thing? I am sure that there will be elements of fun as we get to meet the newer versions of Mr Pointy, Kendra, Spike, Angel, Faith et al but is that enough for you to buy into this book? Whilst I am on the fence at this stage, the quality of the work and clear love for the show is evident throughout the books pages . Read Full Review

Buffy fans new and old will likely find themselves hooked on this modern reimagining of the Buffyverse. Read Full Review

An impressively strong start then, and if youre a fan of Buffy Id highly recommend picking this one up. Youll find the same quality found in early episodes of the TV show here but its packaged in such a way as to make it feel remarkably fresh and exciting for all of us whove seen it before. So if youre new to Buffy or you just miss it being a part of your life, this gets an easy recommendation from me. Read Full Review

Boom! Studios's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" gets off to a nice start with a solid first issue that hopefully sets a course for more outlandish and creative risks to come. Read Full Review

The book ticks all the right boxes for what a Buffy comic should do and it's clear that the creative team have a love and understanding of the series. Read Full Review

While some may feel that Buffy is just fine without a reboot, try thinking of this as a journey through the Buffy Multiverse (or Tuna Verse) where you know all the players but everything else is up for grabs. Read Full Review

An enjoyable first issue that's a fine introduction for new fans that maintains enough familiar elements to please faithful followers. It will take a while for me to get used to the changes in the story, but this was fun. The visuals are good, with the majority of characters resembling their television personas and the action being solid. Read Full Review

There are some differences including introducing Anya in the new series' first issue not as a vengeance demon but as an underground broker of mystical artifacts. Also noticeable by their absence are Cordelia, Angel, and the Master. Nor do we see Dawn, so it seems Buffy will start high school sister-free. I'll be curious to see who makes the cut into the new Buffyverse (and what other differences may be in store for all involved). Worth a look. Read Full Review

All in all, Buffy the Vampire Slayer #1 was a good start for BOOM! Studios' updated relaunch of the series. As someone who has no feelings for the show good or bad, I had a pretty good time. Jordie Bellaire did a good job of bringing the reader into the story and not letting you feel lost or like you had missed something. The art team is excellent and, as always, does an incredible job. I would be very interested to hear from actual Buffy fans what they thought of the issue in the comments. For me, though, this has me on for at least a few more issues; and, hey, it might light that fire to start season 1 episode 1! Read Full Review

We're back to the beginning but is that a good thing? Hopefully it gets better as we progress. Read Full Review

When I first read about BOOM! Studios' plans for their Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics, it reminded me a lot of Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley's UltimateSpider-Manor Stjepan Sejic's sadly shortlived Switch.These comics were contemporary takes on the classic characters, Spider-Man and Witchblade respectively, and introduced their mythos to new fans. However, cheesy effects and bad fashion choices aside, “Welcome to the Hellmouth” does a better job of introducing Buffy, Willow, and Xander than this comic so it fails at being a gateway to these pop culture icons for a new generation of fans. Dan Mora is one hell of an artist though. Read Full Review

Psycamorean

Jan 24, 2019

This was really cool! I'm a huge fan of both Buffy and Angel, so I had to check out this reboot. This is like if they took the later elements of the show, such as Willow's lesbianism, Anya and the magic shop, Buffy getting a job, and infused it into the earlier parts of the series. With just a little hint of Angel in there, too, with the inclusion of Wolfram and Hart. And also it's modern. But that doesn't really take away from the charm that the show had, which is probably always a worry when they attempt a "modern reboot". But yeah, I loved this. I don't know if it is as great for people who didn't see the show. If you've never seen Buffy before, you could start here. I just think that maybe without knowing these characters, you won't be as enthused about it as a fan would be. I'm really interested to see where this series goes. So far so good! more

KFuqua

Jan 24, 2019

Off to a really good start. I look forward to more.

Simon DelMonte

Jan 23, 2019

Did the critics read the same comic I did? The story was bland and undermined the art and script.

Full Spread

Jan 25, 2019

SIGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I would consider myself a fan of the show. It's got plenty of problems (whether we're talking episodes, seasons, or "Go Fish"), but it's overall well paced, has brilliant character arcs, and overwhelming charisma. So it's an accursed shame that this reboot(?) is so clumsy. I can't imagine somebody completely new to Buffy getting anything out of this. There's no weight to anything here. #1 feels like a sped-up "best of hits" only understandable by somebody who already knows the original source material. On the other hand, I can't imagine preexisting fans getting any enjoyment from this rushed, illogical cluster**** of the original's acute vision. Willow is a shell of what she was in the origina l. You can take her to new places--but actually give her a personality. Joyce just shows up to establish Buffy has a mom. There's no real connection or conflict established between them. She just shows up for practically 1 page and goes away. This slapdash attitude defines the whole issue. WHY DOES THIS EXIST?!? This isn't different enough to make it's own mark, but it's such a far cry from the expertly crafted first episode of the original. I know comic and television pacing are two separate entities; yet that's still no excuse for this to have such miserable pacing. more