Buffy the Vampire Slayer’supcoming revival should take some cues and concepts from the sequel comics. After running for seven seasons,Buffy the Vampire Slayerconcluded on a bittersweet but open-ended note that set up a wide future for the franchise. The subsequent comic sequels set up a lot more adventures for the Scoobies and their growing network of allies, taking their threats to entirely new levels.
While the somewhat convoluted nature of thecomics would make a straight adaptation difficult, some elements, characters, and ideas from the comics would be ideal ways to expand the Buffyverse in the revival. Some of these could pay off concepts that never made it to TV screens, while others could finally give closure to lingering plot threads. Similar to howStar Warshas pulled some ideas from their original expanded universe for the current canon, here are ten great concepts from the Buffy comics that should be adapted intothe upcomingBuffyrevival.
10The Slayer Corp
An Army Of Slayers Would Be A Great Way To Introduce New Characters
One of the core ideas in the early parts of theBuffy the Vampire Slayer’s sequel comics, Buffy’s Slayer Corp would be a very interesting concept to bring back for the revival. After awakening the Slayer potential in countless young women around the world in theBuffy the Vampire Slayerseries finale,Angeland the subsequent sequel comics revealed thatBuffy found and recruited many of them into a global peacekeeping forcethat trained them in the responsible use of her powers.
“That Would Be My Dream”: I Really Hope Buffy’s Revival Brings Back Cordelia After Charisma Carpenter’s Update, Even If It Means Retconning Angel
Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s upcoming revival should bring back Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia, even if it requires some ret-conning to make work.
This set up a lot of great storytelling potential andestablished an easy way to introduce plenty of new characters, such as Buffy’s unexpected female love interest Satsu or Nadira. It creates an organization for the Scoobies to expand into, allowing the show to reference or mention unseen characters as parts of the greater Slayer network. It also sets up rogue Slayers, a tantalizing villain concept that the comics returned to repeatedly.
9The Return Of Dracula
Dracula Went From Gag Character To A Dangerous Frenemy
Introduced in season 5,Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s take on Dracula was a fun parody of his typical role in vampire fiction. However, the character made a much more impressive return in the season 8 comics storyline, “Wolves at the Gate.” Enraged that a group of upstart vampires in Japan have unlocked many of his unique abilities,Dracula briefly aligns himself with Buffyand her allies to bring down the villainous cabal before they cause too much damage.
Played by Rudolf Martin, Dracula only appeared in the season 5 premiere, “Buffy vs. Dracula.”
Notably, Dracula isn’t redeemed in this story (beyond his surprisingly genuine friendship with Xander), remaining a vicious and ancient monster. In that sense, he truly feels like a foil to Angel and Spike, an example of a vampire who would work with Buffy in the right situation but would have little concern with morality otherwise. A return of Dracula in theBuffyrevival, looking similar to his previous appearance,could also be a useful way to illustrate how the years have impacted Buffy.
8Harmony The Vampire Influencer
Hamrony Finally Became A Genuine Problem For Buffy
InBuffy the Vampire SlayerandAngel, Harmony was portrayed as a comically ineffectual villain. The former best friend of Cordelia was turned into a vampire in season 3, eventually hopping between the two TV shows as a mildly threatening and frequently annoying antagonist. However,theBuffysequel comics found a very clever way to turn her into an effective threat by recasting her as an early adaptator to modern ideas of celebrity.
After accidentally exposing vampires to the world at large, Harmony was able to turn the public attention into admiration. Quickly becoming a reality TV star,Harmony became the face of vampires across the world. In the process, she turned public perception against the Slayers, creating a lot of problems for the Slayers. TheBuffyrevival could take a similar path and recast Harmony as an influencer, using her unique status to garner fans. This could be a fun culmination of Harmony’s role in the franchise, especially if she matches her comic counterpart and survives for centuries.
7Oz’s Werewolf Sanctuary
After leaving Sunnydale in season 4, Oz never really returned to prominence in the Buffyverse. However, he did still make the occasional appearance, such as when the Slayers were forced to flee to his werewolf sanctuary in the storyline “Retreat” to escape the villainous Twilight.The fan-favorite supporting character was revealed to have found an order that learned to control and free themselves of their werewolf curse. Having fit in, Oz had even found a partner in Bayarmaa, with the pair having a son named Kelden.
Oz’s actor, Seth Green, hasexpressed interest in reprising the character for theBuffy the Vampire Slayerrevival.
Oz returning for a small supporting role in the revival would be a fitting turn, especially as it would appease any lingering questions from the fans over his eventual fate. It’s a fitting place to see the perpetually calm bassist (even if the Tibetan elements can feel a little bit like appropriation). It would also be interesting to see Oz and Willow briefly reunited, given the way their former relationship played out.
6The Death Of The Buffy Decoy
“The Chain” Is One Of The Best Self-Contained Buffy Stories Ever
Established early inBuffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8, Buffy’s importance in the world made her a target for villains all across the planet. As a result, the Slayer organization molds two willing Slayers into decoys, diverting attention away from the real Buffy. While one of them relocated to Italy and was retroactively revealed to be the “Buffy” that briefly appeared out of focus inAngelseason 5,the other was sent underground to contend with a magical threat.
As a self-contained episode that highlights the impact Buffy has had on generations of young women, a story similar to “The Chain” would be ideal for theBuffyrevival.
This Buffy was the focus character of “The Chain,” a single-issue storyline that followed her growth from a regular high schooler to a Buffy, including her heroic sacrifice to save the world from a demonic incursion. It’s one of the most powerful stories in the sequel comics, with a focus on the unknown heroism that the Slayers have always embodied. As a self-contained episode that highlights the impact Buffy has had on generations of young women,a story similar to “The Chain” would be ideal for theBuffyrevival.
5A Slayer Becomes A Vampire
A Slaypire Could Be The Ultimate Way To Bring Buffy Back Into The Field
The idea of a former slayer turned into an especially dangerous vampire was tossed around in season 4 ofBuffy the Vampire Slayer, but was dropped before it could be incorporated into the story.A vampire having all the power and experience of a Slayer, coupled with new vampiric abilities, would make for a perfect threat to outright Buffy. This idea was revisited in theBuffy the VampireSlayercomics with Simone Doffler, who was initially introduced as a rouge Slayer who believed they were inherently better than other humans.
Already a dangerous character in the comics, Simone became an even more fearsome figure after she was sired, tossing Buffy around like a rag doll during their eventual confrontation. As a “Slaypire,” Simone was a uniquely dangerous character (who was killed off far too quickly). TheBuffyrevival could take that idea and run with it,pitting Buffy against a former student-turned-vampire enemy. A Slaypire becoming a global-level threat could even force Buffy back into the field, which could be a good inciting incident for the revival.
4The Return (And Comeuppance) Of D’Hoffryn
D’Hoffryn Is One Of The Only Buffy Villains Who Wasn’t Killed
Most major reoccurring villains in the Buffyverse did eventually get their comeuppance in the TV shows, butD’Hoffryn was among the few exceptions to that rule. A powerful vengeance demon with a curiosity in humanity’s potential, D’Hoffryn was largely connected to Anya’s storyline and was the one to empower her with demonic abilities in the first place. D’Hoffryn was an important part of Anya’s storyline in seasons 6 and 7, departing from the show after killing her friend Halfrek as punishment for forsaking her regained powers.
D’Hoffryn may have escaped retribution in the TV shows,but he eventually returned in the comics as a major threat. After graduating to big bad status inBuffy the Vampire Slayer Season 10, D’Hoffryn bit off more than he could chew and ended up beheaded by Buffy. D’Hoffryn was an entertaining villain in the original series and one of the few surviving villains who could make a return, either in a similar capacity to the comics or as an unexpected resource for someone like Willow. D’Hoffryn is the exact kind of deep-cut that should be present in the revival.
3The Introduction Of Giles' Magical Aunts
Giles' Aunts Are Powerful Magical Wildcards
Initially intended forthe canceledBuffy the Vampire Slayerspin-offRipper, Rupert Giles' magically immortal Great Aunts Lavinia and Sophronia were delightful late additions to the comics. While their sister (Giles' grandmother Edna) used her abilities and knowledge to become an important Watcher,Lavinia and Sophronia embraced magic as a means of living life to the fullest. The two could easily be introduced in a Buffy revival, which could be a naturally fun contrast to their much more serious (and far more physically old) great-grandnephew.
The pair was largely present for Angel and Faith’s eventual storyline in the comics and provided a necessary bit of levity to the interactions between the two. Their dynamics with the rest of the Buffyverse heroes would be fun, especially if they got the chance to bounce off Giles.Their powerful abilities as witches could also help expose more about that corner of the Buffyverse, making them ideal characters to pair up alongside Willow.
2Angel And Faith Get Another Team-Up
Redemption Is A Never Ending Fight
TheBuffy the Vampire Slayersequel comics had highs and lows for all of the Scoobies, but Faith and Angel suffered a lot. Both characters were forced to make morally difficult decisions for the greater good, with Angel in particular left shaken after he was briefly possessed by Twilight and turned into a monster once more. The pair partnered up as they did in the TV show, helping one another find redemption inAngel & Faith.This could be a useful way to bring back two ofBuffy the Vampire Slayer’s most important (and contentious) supporting characters for the revival.
I’ve Figured Out How Much Angel Should Be In The Buffy Revival & How David Boreanaz Can Return Without De-Aging
The upcoming revival of Buffy the Vampire Slayer needs to find a way to include Angel, and there’s a way to do it without de-aging David Boreanaz.
Having the pair working together to try and earn their redemption could allow the revival to touch on the never-ending aspects of such a mission, something that was core to the ending ofAngel. Their efforts and own missions could allow them to work alongside Buffy or take them to the other side of the world, giving the revival a handy in-universe explanation for their potential absence. Faith and Angel still being around in the revival could evenlay the groundwork for them to take center stage in a follow-up to theBuffyrevival.
1Buffy Finally Chooses Between Angel And Spike
The Love Triangle Gets A Mature Ending
One of the biggest debates in the Buffyverse fandom has always been the question over whether or not Buffy should have ended up with Spike or with Angel. There’s little chance the revival can get away without at least referencing this love triangle, and it could even find a way to resolve it in a way that doesn’t anger fans of either camp.One way to do this could be to replicate what the comics did with the love triangle.
InBuffy the Vampire Slayer Season Twelve: The Reckoning, Buffy is reunited with Angel and Spike after several brief starts and sudden ends to reinvigorated romances. The storyline ends with Buffy speaking to both men and deciding that while they are important to her,they can be friends without any unnecessary drama(although she does hint that she could see another hookup with Spike in the future). This could be a modern way to resolve the love triangle in a way that could fit the themes of a more mature and worldly Buffy in theBuffy the Vampire Slayerrevival.
