Blood-Sucking Feature

I'm sure I don't have to tell anyone how crazy the vampire trend is right now. I've never understood people's obsession with sexy dead things--or the fact that people actually wish they could be one of those sexy dead things.

Vampire imagery is becoming more and more common in pop culture. And just as more and more vampire fiction or vampire TV shows are written, you can bet that comic books are doing the same thing.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #36

Written by Joss Whedon with pencils by Georges Jeanty. Inks by Andy Owens, colors by Michelle Madsen, and letters by Richard Starkings.

I think I've mentioned Buffy the Vampire Slayer several times in this blog, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that I've been reading the season eight comic books which, sadly, is almost over. This this is the first of the final five-issue story arc before fans are going to say goodbye to Buffy... Again!

So let me start off by saying that this issue is okay. It's certainly not the best Buffy comic I've read, but it is nice to read Whedon's work. It's his connection to the comics that really makes the translation from TV actually work. But for the story-telling this time, I wasn't uber-impressed.

The comics have recently reintroduced Angel (as the initial masked villain, Twilight) and Spike (as his usual self, but traveling with giant bug things). Whom can Buffy trust, if either? It's a scenario I was hoping Whedon would avoid because now Buffy's all weird and superwoman-like, and she created a higher plane of existence, and the Buffyverse as we know it is falling apart.

I was a bit disappointed that the majority of this issue is focused on the men even though it's Buffy's comic. However, it does serve to finally explain Angel's mysterious history and connection to the entire story line. It also gives the backstory to Spike's sudden arrival in the previous issue. Also, I love the jabs that Whedon makes at other vampire narratives: Angel's villain name is Twilight (I don't have to tell you the obvious reference), but yet the world supports him and rallies for vampire rights, similar to True Blood.

So while it's not exactly a woman-motivated issue, I recommend the entire series. Even the four issues still to come. Yes, I'm biased, but Buffy's a good role-model and she's a badass vampire slayer.