Buffy the Vampire Slayer #2 Review

Writer: Jordie Bellaire
Artist: Dan Mora
Colorist: Raul Angulo
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Publisher: Boom! Studios

It kind of feels like Boom! Studios somehow tapped into my Buffy the Vampire Slayer fandom and took what I liked and then learned what more I’d like to see from it and created that exact story. The new Buffy the Vampire Slayer series stays completely true to the story and characters we love while also pushing the boundaries a little bit. This second issue displays this quality beautifully by deepening the storyline while also containing humor and teen drama.

One of the things that I love most about this new Buffy series is how Jordie Bellaire has brought the story closer to the horror genre than it ever was before. The movie, TV show, and comics before this series could all rightly be considered horror, but Bellaire has taken it a step further by actually making this new series scary. The opening dream sequence of Buffy the Vampire Slayer #2 is a terrifying nightmare with very creepy versions of Xander, Willow, and Giles. The entire opening scene is gorgeous because of Dan Mora’s dark and unsettling artwork. This opening lets us know that this series is going to be more than the usual Buffy formula we’ve seen in the past.

I was impressed with how much the first issue felt so full of content within the usual 22 pages. That wasn’t a fluke. Jordie Bellaire has apparently mastered laying out a story with the right timing, which allows issues to feel packed with content without feeling overstuffed. This second issue accomplishes so much in its 22 pages, but it’s never too slow or too dense.

In this issue, we get to really know a lot about Cordelia Chase which is exciting because she is such a great classic Buffy character. We also get a little taste of Eric, Buffy’s mom’s boyfriend, who as of right now, is quite lovable for wanting to get closer to Buffy’s angsty teenage personality. Then we meet Robin, a very handsome guy who introduces himself to Buffy in a very cute scene. And finally, we get a nice dose of Spike, a “nice British guy” as Cordelia calls him. Despite the introduction of so many crucial aspects of the story, the issue never felt like it was giving us too much.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #2 keep the momentum going by presenting an issue that excels in both quality and quantity. The series has started strong and based on the impression that this second issue gives, the series is going to continue to be exciting, dramatic, and spooky. What more could you possibly want from a Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic book?