Comic Review: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Panel to Panel: Seasons 8 & 9 TPB

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Panel to Panel: Seasons 8 & 9 TPB
Writer:Various

Artist:Various
Genre: Superhero, Horror, Action/Adventure
Publication Date:March 18, 2015

Dark Horse Comics

Format:FC, 192 pages; TPB, 9" x 12

"Price:$24.99

Age range:14

ISBN-10:1-61655-743-5

ISBN-13:978-1-61655-743-0

Free Preview

Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer continues—only in comics! With guidance from Whedon, Buffy Seasons 8 and 9 and the series Angel & Faith further developed fan-favorite television characters and established new ones. This collection of cover art, sketches, and favorite sequences features art from series artists and many, many more!

* Showcasing the most stunning art in the Buffy canon to date!

* A great package for any fan of the television show!

The Buffy the Vampire Slayer panel to panel issue for seasons 8 and 9 explores some of the best cover art, sketches and favorite sequences from the series’ artists and should appeal to diehard fans of the comics. 

Since I’m brand spanking new to comics in general, I loved looking back at the spectacular artwork and reading about the storylines that have taken place since the beloved TV series ended back in 2003. I was a huge fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer but never had the opportunity to pick up the series in its comic form. For me, this panel to panel issue served as a “sample” of what to expect as well as a little insight into what has happened to Buffy and her friends. 

Apparently, a lot has happened. 

If you’re like me, and are just getting into the comics, all this particular issue is going to do is make you more curious than a cat in a box shop. The ultimate tease for someone like me, it whets the appetite for more.

Looking at the issue I became familiar with the seasons’ artists and their work. Arguably out of all the illustrators that season 8 and 9 had, some of the best work to me was done by Jo Chen, Jenny Frison or Steve Morris. I think it’s due to the remarkable likeness to the actors from the TV show. This greatly helps someone like me who hasn’t caught up with these comics. With so many new additions to the cast, if the regular characters don’t look familiar enough to me, I just know I’m going to get confused. Plus, they’re just amazing illustrations to look at. With their artwork the characters I loved so much seemed more alive to me.

Given that this Panel to Panel of seasons 8 and 9 is the first experience I’ve had with the Buffy comics, I’ll have to reserve judgment on things like storylines and character continuity. The stories that were spotlighted in this issue certainly sounded interesting. At $24.99, it is a steep price to pay if you’re already committed to purchasing the actual comic issues. However, if you’re not interested in purchasing each issue (which I would totally do if I could swing it financially), then by all means add this one to your “Buy List” and that’s that.

But for the diehard fan, I say buy it AND continue with each individual issue. After all, you never can have too much of a good thing right?

Sheep Rating: 3 ½ Sheep

Adria

Comic Review:ANGEL AND FAITH: SEASON TEN VOL 1 WHERE THE RIVER MEETS THE SEA TP

ANGEL AND FAITH: SEASON TEN VOL. 1 WHERE THE RIVER MEETS THE SEA TPB
Preview

Writer: Victor Gischler

Penciller: Derlis Santacruz

Artist: Will Conrad

Inker: Andy Owens

Colorist: Michelle Madsen

Cover Artist: Scott Fischer
Dark Horse

Genre: Superhero, Horror, Action/Adventure
Publication Date: December 17, 2014

Format:Price:$18.99

Age range:14

Angel’s work is never done. Last time he averted an apocalypse, part of London turned into a chaotic stew of supernatural forces. Who better to watch over it than Angel himself? Or so he thinks. Meanwhile, Faith begins a new chapter in her life—slaying the undead, and then going corporate . . . Collects Angel & FaithSeason 10 #1–#5.

* Season 10 starts here!
* Will Conrad (Serenity) returns to the Whedonverse!
“Highly recommended.”—Unleash the Fanboy

Picking up the 10th season of Angel the series was a first for me. I was one of THE biggest fans of Angel the Series and of course Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Sadly when both shows ended and the comics began, I lost touch with these characters because I didn’t read comics at the time. Scold me all you want, I totally deserve it. But now, it’s time to dive back into that world and dust off my Angel fan flag!

So here’s the sitch (Did you see what I said there?) as I gathered: Angel has since moved on from L.A., magic has returned to the world albeit a bit wonky and unreliable and most of the action happens in a place called Magic Town. Meanwhile, Faith, the formerly rogue slayer with a taste for killing is now on the up and up (sort of, that girl always was unpredictable which was what I loved about her), training slayers at a place called Deepscan.

Color me confused because it’s clear I’ve missed A LOT of happenings here. It was like attending your high school reunion, only knowing four people there but those four people have kept in touch for the past 10 years and you haven’t. Angel and Faith have obviously grown in leaps and bounds since I last saw them on tv and it took me some time to get my bearings and clue myself in to what had happened in the previous season. The finer details still escape me but I was able to get the gist of it in order to understand the conflict in these first five issues of season 10.

The story arc for the season, while not entirely clear to me was fun, interesting, and yes, got my curiosity up all the way past what should be allowed. Angel’s tv personality was familiar and I felt connected to him and was reminded how much I enjoyed his dry humor. Faith on the other hand, I didn’t connect to as well. It’s obvious she’s gone through even more in seasons past but the snarky, confident slayer with the killer humor wasn’t there. Sad really because she’s my favorite.

The artwork? Amazing. Angel and Faith had enough passing resemblance to the actors who portrayed them on tv but at the same time carving out their own unique appearance. The details in some of the scenes had me spending a few minutes at a time on each page with my brain trying to wrap itself around what I was seeing, cataloguing as much as it could in case it needed anything later. Basically, what I used to do when watching the show, looking for clues as to what would happen next is what I was doing with the comic. Kudos to artist Will Conrad on capturing not only Angel and Faith’s appearances but the scenery around them as well the monsters they battle on a regular basis.

Story? Check. Artwork? Double check. Now that I know what I’m missing, I want the all the previous seasons BADLY. I want to see what’s happened to these two characters that made up part of my teenage years, I want to find other fans and start talking about this again because I’ve realized just how much I’ve missed Angel and Faith.

Sheep Rating: 4 somewhat confused but happy sheep.

Adria