Hi everyone! How are you all? Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. This week, I am reviewing Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer: Special by Casey Gilly, Joe Jaro, Maria Keane, Lea Caballero and Joana Lafuente.
Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer: Special was published in 2023 by Boom Studios and is 40 pages long.
The Plot
The story of this special issue of Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer takes place four years after the events of the main 2021/22 miniseries, and here we see Buffy, now Thessaly’s watcher, dealing with her life as a regular human woman in her fifties who has found herself having to look after and train the daughter of her best friends.
Characters
Buffy
Since the events of Buffy the Last Vampire Slayer, Buffy has become Thessaly’s watcher. No longer being the Slayer has left her a little twitchy, and she’s unsure how to put that unused Slayer instinct to rest.
Thessaly
Thessaly, Willow and Tara’s daughter, has spent the last four years being the Slayer. She’s been struggling with her instincts and merging the Slayer side of her with the witch side. She’s also growing up, grappling with everything that entails for a Slayer – the dating, the attitude, the not doing as your parents or guardians ask.
Spike
Spile and Buffy have gotten back together, and with Thessaly, they’ve become a family, with Spile and Buffy training Thessaly in all things Slayer.
Anya
Since we last saw her in Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer, Anya has had her ear to the ground, collecting intel on a mysterious new Root Demon in America. She’s the same tactless Anya we know and love, except in the intervening four years since we saw her last, she had a haircut!
Tara
Tara has been missing since the revelation in Buffy: The Last Slayer that she may be alive. Nobody knows whether or not she is, but Buffy promises Thessaly that whatever the case may be, they’ll find out.
Writing Style
Gilly’s writing in this book perfectly balances humour and drama, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the original series or new to the world of Buffy, this graphic novel has something for everyone.
The story is well-crafted, and Casey Gilly does an excellent job of capturing the voice and tone of the Buffy franchise. The dialogue is perfectly witty, and the characters are well-developed, each having well-defined and unique personalities.
The characters are wonderfully realised, with Buffy and Spike feeling pretty much true to their TV series counterparts. Thessaly is a relatively new character, and although I don’t dislike her, she did get on my nerves a bit — but that’s probably a sign of good writing because she’s supposed to be a moody teen.
I appreciated how the story explored Buffy’s character development since giving up her Slayer-hood, and how she had to come to terms with her role as a Watcher and parental figure to Thessaly, and, though this isn’t new to Buffy (she was a sort of parent to Dawn in the TV series), this is a different, though intriguing dynamic.
In addition to its compelling characters, Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer also delivers on the cliffhanger ending of the previous book Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer, in which Tara’s fate is unknown and up in the air, which rounds off the whole storyline nicely.
Artwork
The illustrations by Jaro, Keane, and Caballero are beautiful and highly detailed, and Lafuente’s use of colour adds depth and richness to the pages; each is full of vibrant hues that pop off the page, helping to set the tone for each scene. The result is a visually striking work of art that perfectly captures the story’s mood and tone; each panel brings the action to life in vivid detail. From intense battle scenes to quiet moments of reflection, the artists have captured the essence of the characters and their world stunningly.
Final Thoughts
I very much enjoy what Boom Studios offers regarding its reboots and revivals, and I think Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer: Special is a must-read. Anyone who enjoys Buffy the Vampire Slayer and comic books and graphic novels will enjoy this book.
With its good storytelling, excellent artwork and thrilling action, it’s a worthy addition to the Buffyverse and a testament to the enduring popularity of this beloved franchise.
Have you read this special issue of Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer? What did you think of it?
Thank you, as ever, for reading my review! It means a lot.
Until next time,
George
© 2024 GLT
Categories: Book Reviews, Reading
GEORGE L THOMAS 
Leave a comment