A Nice Opening Act To Continuing The Series

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Season 8), Vol. 1: The Long Way Home by Joss Whedon. Illus by Georges Jeanty (Dark Horse, 2007, 136pp.)

“The thing about changing the world...once you do it, the world’s all different.”

A lot has changed in the Buffyverse since the hit show Buffy the Vampire Slayer ended in 2003. Now, instead of there being one Chosen Slayer, there are 1,800 of them. In addition to this, wicked witch Amy has teamed up with a skinless, reanimated Warren from Season 6. Oh, and did I mention that the United States Armed Forces is out for Buffy’s head?
 
Where the TV seasons were made of 22 episodes, this graphic novel “season” is made up of eight volumes. There’s not much I can say about The Long Way Home. While not exactly emotionally engaging, it still exhibits the series’ trademark quirkiness, and acts as a nice foundation stone for continuing a much beloved series, albeit in a different genre.