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BOOM!'s Buffy the Vampire Slayer 25th Anniversary Special #1
- Artist:
- Bayleigh Underwood, Claudia Balboni, Marianna Ignazzi, Claire Roe, Carlos Olivares
- Colorist:
- Valentina Pinto, Heather Breckel, Raúl Angulo, Mattia Iacono, Roman Titov
- Cover Artist:
- Justine Frany
- Letterer:
- Ed Dukeshire
- Price:
- 9.99
- Publisher:
- BOOM! Studios
- Release Date:
- 2022-03-30
- Writer:
- Danny Lore, Jeremy Lambert, Sarah Gailey, Casey Gilly, Lilah Sturges
Thanks to its enduring popularity, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with much fanfare. The teen hunter and the cast of eclectic characters sank their fangs into the public imagination and never let go. So what better way to celebrate the beloved franchise than with an anthology collection of stories from the Buffy-verse, bringing some much-needed feel-good nostalgia to readers and also promising more from BOOM! Studios' excellent adaptations of the series. The first issue is written by Jeremy Lambert, Lilah Sturges, Danny Lore, Casey Gilly, and Sarah Gailey with artwork from Claudia Balboni, Claire Roe, Marianna Ignazzi, Bayleigh Underwood, Carlos Olivares, Raul Angulo, Roman Titov, Mattia Iacono, Heather Breckel, and Valentina Pinto and lettering from Ed Dukeshire. Thrills and more await within the pages of Buffy the Vampire Slayer 25th Anniversary Special #1.
Including 5 short stories, Buffy the Vampire Slayer 25th Anniversary Special #1 starts with an epilogue to "We Are the Slayer," a finale to the recently concluded story arc in the ongoing Buffy comic series. Told as an extended action sequence, this epilogue does what it says on the tin and brings some much-needed finality to a somewhat messy multiversal arc. The next few stories, however, focus on Buffy's closest friends and try and capture the nostalgic feeling of the original. "Wondrous and Surprising Magic" is a light-hearted, feel-good story that focuses on Willow and her girlfriend Tara trying to enjoy a romantic evening, while Buffy and her friends run point to make sure their date goes uninterrupted. "Is this what I Wanted" features Xander Harris getting up to his usual shenanigans in an endearingly obnoxious way. "Mirrors Don’t Lie" follows Spike in his formative years as a vampire, bringing up the quirky glitz and glamour that shaped his distinct Rockstar personality. Finally, "Trust the Process" is probably the most intriguing story of the collection, featuring Buffy unburdening herself and her insecurities to a psychiatrist and the toll her responsibilities take on her.
A litany of great writing talent brings each story to life in ways that expand upon the existing universe while also lovingly remaining true to what made these characters so endearing. "We are the Slayer," written by Jeremy Lambert, is probably the weakest of the bunch, but only because it requires prior reading of the BOOM! series to keep up with it. All other stories can be read as stand-alone entries, which fans of the show will be able to relate to in a heartbeat. Lilah Sturges brings some cute, rom-com energy to Willow and Tara's date night, while Danny Lore actually makes Xander somewhat more likable than his show counterpart in his own story. Spike's formative flamboyant years are captured in their glitzy glory by Casey Gilley to a tee. Sarah Gailey manages to provide a deeply insightful look into the kind of pressures placed upon Buffy's shoulders while also masterfully weaving in the narrative of a new generation of slayers for BOOM!'s Buffy The Last Vampire Slayer series.
Some phenomenal artists and colorists back the talented collection of writers, bringing their own distinct style and energetic feel to each story. Claudio Balboni, Claire Roe, Marianna Ignazzi, and Mattia Iacono, to name a few, are the star cast that brings the visuals to life in each story. In particular, Carlos Olivares and Valentina Pinto’s work on "Trust the Process" melds dark colors and heavier tones with emotive character experiences that perfectly fit the distinct, existential narrative of the story. On a converse note, Heather Breckel and Bayleigh Underwood bring the glitz, glamor, angst, and danger of Spike's life to the fore with their work on "Mirrors Don’t Lie."
Buffy the Vampire Slayer 25th Anniversary Special #1 manages to revive the feel-good energy of Buffy's past and combine it with the anticipation of new storylines of the future in this distinct anthology collection. This is a short, sweet, and succinct celebration for fans of the franchise, with the promise of more adventures for the titular slayer on the road ahead. Teasing a new series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer 25th Anniversary Special #1 ends with an announcement as the celebrations continue.