Buffy the Vampire Slayer #5

I tried this series, but characters are completely changed like Dru or Xander. Even Spike. I guess it’s not for me.

The Dru and Spike dynamic certainly changed. Dru is the leader and Spike is her pet. But I don't see Spike's change as much of a leap because he's certainly like that as William the Bloody in the show.

Xander, I think leaned into an uncomfortable aspect to his character in the show. He always had a streak in him of this really, for lack of a better word, problematic attitude about Buffy. And that's sort of what leads him down the path he's on now, which I won't spoil in case you don't know.

Drusilla is certainly the biggest change. The other characters are like themselves, but if different aspects of them were brought to the forefront, if that makes sense. At least, that's my opinion.

Spike is also acting weird, don’t think he’s the same& Xander is way too depressive& shy. He’s like a total different character. With Dru it’s a shame, she was awesome in the show. Willow is also full lesbian now& her relationship with Oz gets ignored.

I disagree. William the Bloody is basically what Spike in the comics is. Xander always had depressing aspects about him. Like his home life, which was hardly ever discussed, but when it was, it was clear he was in a bad place. I think Dru still has a commanding presence on comic and how alike. I also think down the road that we may see Dru go crazy. Willow may still be with Oz. He hasn't been introduced yet and it's way too early to tell. She's bisexual. There's always a place for Oz.

Comic and show alike*

I also disagree. Spike is acting a lot like he does later in the show, when he has a soul, but without his Charme& humor. Xander was never depressive, he was goofy& acted like the lovable idiot. He never was like that in the show. Up until now Willow is a lesbian, we only saw her with a girlfriend, which means they changed her entire character development. Haven’t seen Oz yet.

Spike is acting more like himself when he was younger, with Angelus, Darla and Drusilla. I think a good example of that is the Angel episode, "Destiny". During that episode, we get numerous flashbacks to Angelus tormenting newly sired William the Bloody over Drusilla. The way Spike acts there is how he acts in this comic.

Xander made some pretty dark jokes. He's always had trouble fitting in. He hated being the Zeppo for a long time. After they graduated high school, it took him seasons to find his place, only then to screw it all up. That's his biggest trait in the comic: failure to fit in. And it truly does hurt him, as it did in the show. Meanwhile, he also has feelings for Buffy, as he did in the show, and that only makes him feel worse and leads him directly to where he is in this issue.

The fact that Oz hasn't been introduced five issues in is forgivable, as mainstays like Angel have only just sorta been introduced. This comic has a slow pace, so I forgive it for not introducing a character that didn't even appear until season two of the show.

Again as it's only five issues in, I'm giving them time to flesh Willow out, which they almost certainly will. This series is obviously made by a fan of the original, and I don't think they'll completely ignore that part of Willow's journey. But at the same time, if I wanted the show again, I'd just watch the show. I'm willing to see where this comic wants to go. I don't need or want a repeat of the show, as I said in my review.

I disagree about Xander& Spike. But you can be right with Oz. However I doubt they turn a lesbian in a bi person. Many LGBT people will be offended, if Willow suddenly likes men again, if she was just introduced with a girlfriend. I prefer the show& the old comics.

You can disagree all you want, but I backed up my opinion with evidence from the source material. I'm LGBT and I wouldn't care at all if Willow was bisexual.

You didn’t, you only stated your opinion. I have watched every Buffy& Angel episode& neither Spike nor Xander are acting like themselves in this comic. Spike is acting way too nice, not like when he was still with Angelus. You are just wrong here& Xander never was full of self doubts& depressive like he is in this comic. It’s just not true. And as for Willow, that goes for you. On Twitter there are many LGBT fans, who are offended, when Ivy isn’t with Harley, so I wouldn’t be surprised, if they

were with Willow too, if she was with Oz. You are also just assuming she will, but t could also be, that Oz isn’t even in this comic. Point is: Spike, Dru& Xander are severely out of character in this comic.

I don't think you've watched the show recently. Go watch Destiny and The Zeppo for Spike and Xander.

And I don't care what Twitter thinks and neither should this writer. This is five issues in. Oz not being established yet is perfect fine for the pace this comic has.

Drusilla is the one character that's most different from their show's counterpart, but she's still an extremely powerful character just like the show.

And again, if I just wanted a repeat of the show, I'd watch the show. I think this writer is doing a really good job of remixing these characters and bringing different aspects of them to the forefront in order for fans and newcomers alike to experience something new.

And this immediate disregard because the characters are exactly as they were in the show is very frustrating and a problem I've had with so many different fans. This is a reboot telling its own story. You're not going to get the original again. That would be boring and unoriginal.

...the characters aren't* exactly as they were in the show...

I‘m watching the show almost daily lol I’m currently watching season 5 of Buffy. Spike is acting way too nice in the comic given the fact, that he’s still with Dru. It’s like they put the Spike of later seasons in season 2 of Buffy, but he’s not the same& ertainly not like Wiliam the Bloody. Xand is struggling with being not cool enough in Zeppo, but he’s far away from being depressive or shy. It’s like Xander was turned into Willow from season1& Willow is like Willow from season 5-7 of Buffy.

Agreed, but people are offended by everything these days& if companies want to be successful they often are listening to these kind of people. Look at Batman Damned, look at HIC & Batgirl cover. We will see, when it comes to Oz. Maybe he’s in it, but without having a relationship with Willow.

Dru is still a total different character& I want the Dru I know, not a character, that has only her name. I was thinking that too at first. It’s a reboot of the TV show, that follows its own story& I wouldn’t need a retelling of the show, but characters are way too different from their original selves to make me enjoy it. They are acting& talking weird.

Well, I clearly disagree with the bulk of that. Plus, Batman Damned didn't need to be censored. That was a boneheaded decision by DC. And neither did the HiC or Batgirl covers. I think companies should stop listening to the vocal minority because absolutely nothing will happen if they don't. But if they do, they're jeopardizing their integrity as a company.

Yeah agreed, but unfortunately DC always seems to give in to these complainers. Most of the time these complainers aren’t even real fans like for example the Ivy fans, who complained about the cover hate 80% of Ivy’s character& ignore those. Guess there are just some weird fans on Twitter. Not everyone of course,