Review: Buffy the Last Vampire Slayer #1 (of 4)

I have been a quite fan of the newer Buffy series, having purchased the Angel series prior to it’s early exit. So this should be right up my darkened alley; it was, right up to the bit where I read “In an alternative universe….”. Yes, it’s multi-verse time yet again!

Following a near killing sun magical event, vampires now walk during the day. As such, a sort of unholy truce exists where no vampire can kill a human and no human can introduce Mr. Point to a vampire. Think True Blood but during the day and nowhere near Louisiana! Living in plain sight, an older Buffy is living an old man Bruce sort of existence; tormented by nightmares of. friends lost and learning to curb her natural un-natural killing skills regardless of the lack of use has on her wellbeing. The she stumbles across the most dangerous weapon of all time; hope!

Casey Gilly has crafted a first issue that looks to offer a futuristic dystopian future to a cast of beloved characters. Thing is, its been done loads of times already! From The Dark Knight Rises, Batman Beyond, Old Man Logan and Old Man Quill, not even counting the recent Old Woman Wanda over in the Trial of Magneto or TMNT Ronin. In doing so, at least for this issue, Gilly has seemed to have forgotten what made Buffy so fun; the interaction within the Scooby gang. With Buffy all alone. the reader gets to see what is missing from the outset. Throw in the odd always talking to herself trope, you get a book that feels a little out of the past; ironic as it is supposed to be the future.

The art is provided by Joe Jarro who utilises the fact its the future to ensure that no-one looks like they are supposed too. Granted for the main event that applies to Buffy, though there is flashback for which I am grateful names are used and don’t even get me started on the whole “C’mon, surely you can see the resemblance” line at the climax of the book. Even now, after I am told, I still don’t see it! Jarro’s line work is OK, if flip-flopping from angular artwork to manga influenced faces. I am not sure how the art is going to play out down the line. The colors from Joana LaFuente are a little watered down affair, looking a little bleached out despite the fact that there is no sun. Ed Dukeshire delivers a font that is kind of scratchy which matches some of the line work.

I know that multi-verse is all in vogue at the moment, but truth be told, I could go a month or two without “alternative timelines / universe”. Whatever happened to great stories in the current universes? This book may appeal to Buffy fans; for me though it is been there, done that, which is a poor showing for a show and character that affected pop culture so much in her heyday.

Writing – 2.5 Stars
Art – 2.5 Stars
Colors – 3 Stars

Overall – 2.5 Stars

Written by; Casey Gilly
Art by; Joe Jarro
Colors by; Joana LaFuente
Letters by; Ed Dukeshire
Published by; BOOM! Studios

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network