I am a fan of Joss Whedon and the worlds and characters he has created, especially Buffy and the gang from Sunnydale. This past week, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 9” #1 was released from Dark Horse Comics, and while we have Buffy, there really is no gang, and she is not in Sunnydale, but in San Francisco as everyone tries to resume life after the events at the end of “Season 8.”
The first story arc, “Freefall,” begins with Buffy as a waitress in San Francisco, trying to adjust to a more normal life. Giles is dead, magic is gone from the universe, and Buffy’s friends are going their separate ways. Buffy and her (normal) roommates throw a party, and apparently Buffy does not remember everything. In the story, written by Whedon, readers see a combination of both the party and the day after, as Buffy tries to fill in the blanks. It is interesting to see how the people from her old life interact with her new friends, and how everyone is dealing with the aftereffects from last season.
Whedon’s story was solid, and he sets up some interesting directions that can be explored in the upcoming issues. I have to admit I was hoping for a bit more action, but it is good that Whedon is setting up the foundation for the rest of the season. By showing us where each of the crucial characters is now, we can get a good look at the journey each of them will take during this season.
As always, Georges Jeanty has done a wonderful job with the art. Most of the characters are perfect, and he is able to put such emotion into each of their faces that you can truly imagine how it would look on the TV screen. While there are not many monsters in this issue, the ones that do appear are also well done.
I have to admit to being a bit apprehensive of this new season. There were parts of “Season 8” that I thought could have been better, and I am not at all happy that Giles is gone. However, I can see from this first issue that there is definitely potential here, and that Whedon believes there are more stories to be told with these characters. Issue #2 of “Angel and Faith” is set to release on September 28th, and Buffy will continue her adventures next month. Until then, keep reading!
