Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Long Way Home (Season 8, Volume 1)

Bibliographic Info

Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Long Way Home (Season 8, Volume 1)

Author: Joss Whedon

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

Publication Date: 2007

ISBN: 978-1593078225

Plot Summary

Season 8 of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic series picks up where the television series ended.  The Hellmouth has been destroyed, and all the “Potentials” have become fully realized slayers.  Despite the rosy potential of a great evil’s destruction and the unleashing of girl superheroes across the land, all is not well in Slayerville.

A new version of the Initiative has formed with the mission of taking Buffy out, who certainly must be powerful if she wiped out an entire city.  Now she’s commanding an army of female superheroes.

Buffy must face down the monsters sent by the Initiative to destroy her.  Willow also comes face to face with a monster from her past.  Once again, it’s up to Buffy, Xander, Willow, and Giles to save the world and stay alive.

Critical Evaluation

For Buffy fans, this comic revives a beloved television show.  Joss Whedon’s writing stays true to the themes and dialogue of the t.v. show.  The images created by George Jeanty compliment the story and add a cool visual element to the text.

Reader’s Annotation

Even after the Hellmouth is wiped out and slayer powers granted to all the Potentials, Buffy’s still got it rough.  A new division of the Initiative has formed with Buffy as a target.  What they send after the Scoobies will test all of the gang’s powers.

Author Info

Joss Whedon (born Joseph Whedon) was born in New York City on June 23, 1964.  His father and grandfather were also television writers.  His mother was a history professor at Riverdale Country School in New York City.  Whedon graduated from Wesleyan University in 1987.

Whedon created several television series in addition to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, such as Angel, a spinoff of Buffy, Firefly, and Dollhouse.  He wrote or co-wrote films such as Toy Story, Alien Resurrection, and Titan A.E.  Whedon has written for several comic books and for online media like blogs.

Joss Whedon (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joss_Whedon

Genre

Comic book.

Curriculum Ties

None.

Book Talking Ideas

Suddenly a target for a new Initiative, Buffy, Willow and Xander fight off fiends new and old.

Reading Level

14+

Challenge Issues

Witches, monsters, a super-sized STD (uh, eww, actually Dawn turns into a giant after sleeping with a Thricewise)

Challenge Responses

Active Listening

Refer to library’s collection policy

Provide complaint form

Refer to book reviews

Selection

Stumbled across in the library.