The Vampire Slayer #8 is published by BOOM! Studios and written by Sarah Gailey. Artwork is by Sonia Liao, colours are by Valentina Pinto and Riccardo Giardina, and letters by Ed Dukeshire. Main cover art (left) is by Ario Anindito.
The Vampire Slayer #8 is available now in print and on digital where all good comics are sold.
Synopsis
Where has Buffy disappeared to? The Gang is on the case, all the while wrestling with the guilt over how they’ve treated her… though Spike and Faith may both feel differently than they expected. Meanwhile, with Spike hot on Buffy’s trail, a frightening and hungry threat stands in the way.
Review
I’m a huge supporter of what BOOM! Studios has done with the Buffy The Vampire Slayer IP. Taking it from a simple tie-in and giving it a similar reverence to Power Rangers. BOOM! has introduced a whole multiverse of possibilities for the franchise and The Vampire Slayer continues to explore a world where Willow, not Buffy, has the slayer abilities.
The rapid expansion of the BOOM!-Buffyverse does come with some drawbacks however. It’s a little difficult to understand which Earth is which. We’ve seen the continuity of the TV series is separate to the recently ended main BOOM! continuity. We’ve also been treated to glimpses of a 90’s set timeline, a future Buffy and now this version where the slayer powers have been transferred to Willow.
All of these different versions are enticing. But the delineation between them becomes difficult to perceive when the differences are small. At times I find myself questioning which timeline I’m in when a detail stands out as being different. There’s a moment in this issue where it seems like Willow and Xander aren’t lifelong best friends. But I couldn’t remember if that was a precedent set in The Vampire Slayer or a hangover from another book. It’s not a deal breaker, but I would like to see BOOM! defining the different corners of this multiverse more.
Back to the matter at hand, Buffy is missing and her friends have failed to notice for five whole days. We know that Buffy has fallen prey to Hungrus, a giant spider-like creature who is enough to make any arachnophobic shudder. Must of the issue centres on the team talking about the former-slayer’s absence and the reasons behind it.
Gailey’s characterisation reflects each of the core Scoobies as we’ve come to know and love them. Any multiverse-specific changes feel overlayed on to the Giles, Xander, Willow and Faith that we know. Rather than presenting a totally unknown character with a recognisable face. The absence of Buffy here reflects events from season 3 of the show when she had run away to LA and left the Scoobies behind. Though the circumstances are different the reactions feel somewhat similar and that is comforting as a fan of the source material.
Verdict
The Vampire Slayer continues to explore a Scooby Gang without Buffy at the helm. Great visuals and strong characters drive what is an issue killing time before the big fight ensues.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
