Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics

Cover to a Dark Horse Buffy comic

Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics refer to comic books based on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. While many of these comics were published when the television show was on air they are not all considered canonical and often deal with characters who do not appear on in the television series, most notably in the Tales of the Slayers and Tales of the Vampires mini-series.

The books were published by Dark Horse Comics between 1998 and 2004, originally in comic format but then gathered into volumes of trade paperbacks. A small number of Buffy comics have not been included in trade paperbacks, such as the books entitled "Giles", "Jonathan", and "Reunion".

Relation to the TV series

Series creator Joss Whedon and a number of writers involved with the television series authored many of the comic books. Overviews summarizing the comic books' storylines were written early in the writing process and were 'approved' by both Fox and Joss Whedon (or his office), and the books were therefore later published as official Buffy merchandise.

The stories in the Buffy comics take place in between episodes of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series, and continue after the series ended. Issues 1 to 63 take place during the period that the series was still on air, and none are written by Joss Whedon himself. The earlier issues are not very easy to place in the series other than the season they are set in. The stories get more specific later on, however; for example, the Oz Buffy comics fill in the story line of Oz's character after he leaves the TV series, and the Death of Buffy comics clearly take place between Seasons 5 and 6 of the series.

Starting in 2007, a new series of Buffy comics has been produced, also published by Dark Horse Comics. These are a canonical continuation of the television series and as such are considered Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight. One of the other comics considered canon is the 8-part series Fray, since the main character, Melaka Fray, appears in Season 8. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight takes place after the series ended, and the issues are written by Joss Whedon to continue the storyline. A subsequent "Season Nine" series followed, accompanied by a companion or sister-series "Angel & Faith" which is set during the same time period and interchanges plots and characters. "Season Ten" debuts in March 2014, followed by the continuation of its companion series the following month.

Chronology

Pre-20th Century

These tales take place from ancient times up until 1900.

Buffyverse stories – Ancient – 1900	Buffyverse location, time (if known)
Tales of the Slayers: Prologue	Ancient
Follows the prehistoric first Slayer, as she is rejected by her village and instructed to fight alone.

Tales of the Slayers: Righteous	England, approx 1400.
A Slayer operating within a walled medieval town during a period of witch-hunts.

Tales of the Slayers: The Innocent	France, 1789
Claudine is the Slayer during the French Revolution.

Tales of the Vampires: Some Like it Hot	Europe, early 19th century
A vampire seeks fun in the sun through some unusual surgery.

Tales of the Slayers: Presumption	England, 1813
Elizabeth Weston has to operate in the English upper-class society of 1813.

Tales of the Vampires: Jack	London, November 1888
Another crime is reported to the police. Inspector Whitcomb is on Jack's case but holds a secret of his own.

'Tales of the Vampires' framing story	England, late 19th century
Young Watchers at a Watcher's academy are taught about vampires via tales from Roche, who holds a vampire captive.

Tales of the Slayers: The Glittering World	Sunnydale, late 19th century
The American West and a Navajo Slayer.

20th Century

These Buffyverse tales take place from 1900–1995.

Buffyverse stories: 1901–1995	Location, time (if known)

Tales of the Vampires: Father	1922 onwards
The tale of a long relationship between a vampire and his human son told over the lifespan of the latter.

Tales of the Vampires: Dames	Las Vegas, 1930s
A noirish tale in which a gambling vampire meets his match while scouting casinos.

Buffy graphic novel: Spike & Dru: All's Fair	1933
Spike and Dru are at the World's Fair.

Tales of the Vampires: Dust Bowl	USA, 1933
Young Joe Cooper trying to work a barren field that rain hasn't touched.

Tales of the Slayers: Broken Bottle of Djinn, 1937 (2nd half)	New York 1937
A poor Slayer named Rachel O'Connor must deal with a powerful spirit.

Tales of the Slayers: Sonnenblume	Germany, 1938
A young WWII-era German Slayer, Anni Sonnenblume, learns who the true monsters are.

Tales of the Vampires: Spot the Vampire	New York, 1950's
A vampire is amongst the people in a 1950s-looking department store.

BS1

These Buffyverse tales take place before Buffy Season 1 (from spring 1996 up until spring 1997).

Buffyverse stories: Spring 1996 – Spring 1997	Location, time (if known)
Buffy graphic novel: The Origin	Los Angeles, summer 1996
Buffy is called while a student in L.A.

Buffy graphic novel: Viva Las Buffy	Los Angeles, summer 1996
Buffy runs away to Las Vegas with Pike.

Buffy graphic novel: Slayer Interrupted	Los Angeles, summer 1996
Buffy battles sanity in an institution.

Buffy graphic novel: A Stake to the Heart	Los Angeles, summer 1996
Buffy arrives in Sunnydale.

BS2

These tales take place during Buffy Season 2, (from autumn 1997 up until spring 1998).

Buffyverse stories	Location, time (if known)
Tales of the Slayers: Broken Bottle of Djinn, 1997	Sunnydale, 1997
A powerful spirit is released from a locker at Sunnydale High. Buffy and Willow end up transporting it back to 1937.

Tales of the Vampires: The Problem with Vampires	Prague, 1997
Spike and Drusilla leave Prague amongst chaos.

Buffy graphic novel: Spike & Dru: The Queen of Hearts	St. Louis, 1997
Spike and Dru are travelling to Sunnydale, but first stop off at St. Louis.

Buffy graphic novel: Dust Waltz	Sunnydale, 1997
Two mysterious sisters, Lilith and Lamia, arrive in Sunnydale

Buffy graphic novel: Ring of Fire	Sunnydale, 1998
The armor of a samurai demon is taken from a cargo ship, as a fight begins for master of the 'ring of fire'. Giles continues to try to cope without Jenny, and Kendra visits.

Buffy graphic novel: Spike & Dru: Paint the Town Red	Sunnydale, spring 1998
Spike is irritated by Drusilla's passion for Angelus. Their relationship comes to a heated end.

BS3

These tales take place during Buffy Season 3 (from autumn 1998 up until spring 1999).

Buffyverse stories	Location, time (if known)
Buffy graphic novel: Play With Fire	Sunnydale, 1998
A fight involving Xander at school is broken up by a huge scorpion. A new range of dolls turn out to be demonic.

Buffy graphic novel: Spike & Dru: Who Made Who First appeared in Lovers Walk comic	Sunnydale, 1998
Spike and Dru are a newly made up couple in Brazil.

Buffy graphic novel: Remaining Sunlight	Sunnydale, 1998
It's holiday season for Buffy.

Tales of the Vampires: Numb (During Amends)	Sunnydale, Christmas, 1998
Angel tries to control his evil side.

Buffy graphic novel: Uninvited Guests	Sunnydale, 1999
Buffy battles Puritans, ice imps, hellhounds, and a demon.

Buffy comic: The Final Cut	Sunnydale, 1999
A film crew arrives at Sunnydale to film a horror movie about vampires.

Buffy graphic novel: Bad Blood	Sunnydale, 1999
Buffy and the vampire Selke consider the importance of 'looks'.

Buffy comic: Food Chain	Sunnydale, 1999
Buffy deals with High school delinquents, out of control crazes, and other obstacles.

Buffy graphic novel: Crash Test Demons	Sunnydale, 1999
Buffy balances driving and slaying.

Buffy graphic novel: Pale Reflections	Sunnydale, 1999
Buffy vs. the vampire, Selke.

Buffy graphic novel: Angel: The Hollower	Sunnydale, 1999
Angel faces an old enemy who hollows out vampires.

Buffy comic: Double Cross	Sunnydale, spring, 1999
As Angel drives to L.A. demonic forces hope to exploit the separation of Buffy and Angel.

BS4/AS1

These Buffyverse tales take place during Buffy Season 4, and Angel Season 1 (from autumn 1999 up until spring 2000).

Buffyverse stories	Location, time (if known)
Buffy graphic novel: Blood of Carthage	Sunnydale, 1999
Buffy slays Sunnydale's version of Bigfoot with far-reaching unexpected, and unwated results.

Buffy graphic novel: Oz	Sunnydale, 1999
Oz leaves Sunnydale in search of himself.

Buffy comic: Giles	Sunnydale, 2000
Watcher Micaela Tomasi notifies Giles of the death of his former mentor, Archibald Lassiter. Giles is drawn back to England.

Buffy comic: Jonathan	Sunnydale, 2000
Jonathan has just performed a spell making him the superstar of Sunnydale.

Buffy/Angel graphic novel: Past Lives	Sunnydale, L.A., 2000
A huntress is tracking demons in L.A. and leaves them alive to scare Angel. The Scooby Gang come to L.A.

Buffy graphic novel: Out of the Woodwork	Sunnydale, 2000
Sunnydale becomes infested with creepy crawlies.

BS5/AS2

These Buffyverse tales take place during Buffy Season 5, and Angel Season 2 (from autumn 2000 up until spring 2001).

Buffyverse stories	Location, time (if known)
Buffy graphic novel: Haunted	Sunnydale, 2000
Faith tells Angel a story that takes place immediately after she was put into a coma. It seems the ghost of Sunnydale's former Mayor, Richard Wilkins, wanted some revenge.

Buffy graphic novel: False Memories	Sunnydale, 2000
Dawn goes missing. Her disappearance seems to be linked to the former Slayer Yuki Makumura.

Buffy Graphic novel story: Willow & Tara: Wannablessedbe	Sunnydale, 2000
The envy of a girl toward Willow and Tara's relationship becomes dangerous.

Buffy graphic novel: Autumnal	Sunnydale, 2000
Buffy needs the help of a long-dead slayer to conquer a something hunting her down.

Buffy graphic novel: Ugly Little Monsters	Sunnydale, 2001
Scoobies battle small smelly green creatures.


Buffy graphic novel: Death of Buffy: Lost & Found’	Sunnydale, 2001
The Scoobies' emotional states have been unbalanced and a demon begins feeding from those emotions.

Buffy graphic novel: Death of Buffy	Sunnydale, 2001
Willow takes lead but soon Sunnydale is under attack from disgruntled lizard-demons.

BS6/AS3

These Buffyverse tales take place around Buffy Season 6, and Angel Season 3 (from autumn 2001 up until spring 2002).

Buffyverse stories	Location, time (if known)
Buffy comic: Reunion	Sunnydale, 2001
Xander, Anya and Dawn imagine what happened when Buffy and Angel met up.

Buffy graphic novel Willow & Tara: Wilderness	Sunnydale, 2001
Willow, Tara, and Dawn become involved in mystery after coming across a plot of cursed earth near the Pacific Coast Highway.

Buffy graphic novel: Note from the Underground	Sunnydale, 2001
Angel breaks Faith out of jail and the two of them travel to Sunnydale to help control chaos there.

Buffy graphic novel: Creatures of Habit	Sunnydale, 2001
A new clubbing experience is emerging in Sunnydale. DJs are mixing up music, drugs, and blood.

Buffy graphic novel: Death of Buffy: Withdrawal	Sunnydale, 2001
Buffy's has returned from the grave but the D.J. vampire Velatti has also returned and seeks revenge.

Buffy comic: 'Chaos Bleeds'* comic prequel*	Sunnydale, 2001–2002
The walls between reality are 'bleeding' into each other as people from Buffy's past descend onto a chaotic Sunnydale.

BS7/AS4

These Buffyverse tales take place around Buffy Season 7, and Angel Season 4 (from autumn 2002 up until spring 2003).

Buffyverse stories	Location, time (if known)
Tales of the Vampires: Stacey	USA, 2002
A young teenage vampire named Stacy explains how, whilst human, she was enchanted by the idea of magic.

Tales of the Vampires: Taking Care of Business	USA, 2002
A vampire from the 15th century was formerly an inquisitor has gone mad.

BS8

These Buffyverse tales take place after Angel Season 5 and after Buffy ended, making it what would have been Season 8

Buffyverse stories: 2004 onwards (canon = bold, non-canon = italic)	Location, time (if known)
Buffy Season 8 comics: The Long Way Home	Scotland, Italy, Sunnydale ruins, England – late 2004/early 2005
A year and a half since the events of Chosen, and the Scoobies – now branded terrorists – have greatly expanded their operations.

Buffy Season 8 comics: The Chain	???- late 2004/ early 2005
The first standalone comic that tells the story of one of Buffy's Decoys.

Buffy Season 8 comics: No Future For You	England/Cleveland – late 2004/early 2005
Giles recruits Faith for a mission relating to a rogue Slayer named Lady Genevieve Savidge.

Buffy Season 8 comics: Anywhere but Here	Scotland – late 2004/early 2005
Buffy and Willow meet a demon who reveals a dim future, forcing the two to reflect on their past.

Buffy Season 8 comics: A Beautiful Sunset	Scotland – late 2004/early 2005
Buffy and Satsu are attacked by Twilight on a vampire hunt. Satsu reveals that she is in love with Buffy.

Buffy Season 8 comics: Wolves at the Gate	Scotland, Japan – late 2004/early 2005
Buffy's scythe is stolen by Japanese shape shifting vampires and the Scooby Gang teams up with Dracula to get it back.

Buffy Season 8 comics: Time of Your Life	Scotland, New York City – 2005/ New York City 23rd century
Buffy is shanghaied to Fray's time to fight magical enemies.

Buffy Season 8 comics: Predators and Prey	Scotland, California – 2005
Buffy's former classmate Harmony lands her own reality TV show.

Buffy Season 8 comics: Retreat	Berlin, Tibetan Mountains – 2005
Upon arriving in Tibet, the group is filled in on what has happened to Oz since season 4 when he departed Sunnydale.

Future

These Buffyverse tales take place after Buffy Season 8, 9, 10.

Buffyverse stories – Distant future	Buffyverse location, time (if known)
Fray limited series	New York, 23rd century
A demon named Urkonn arrives to tell Melaka Fray that she is the first Slayer to be called in 200 years and reveals her destiny to her.

Tales of the Slayers graphic novel story: Tales	New York, 23rd century
Fray discovers a former Watcher’s sanctuary and records of her Slayer forebears.