While many comic books based on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series were published while the show aired, they are not all considered canonical. Some feature characters who do not appear in the television series, such as the Tales of the Slayers and Tales of the Vampires miniseries. The first series of books were published by Dark Horse Comics between 1998 and 2004, initially in comic format and later collected into volumes of trade paperbacks. A small number of Buffy comics were not included in trade paperbacks, such as the titles Giles, Jonathan, and Reunion. Following the television series finale, Dark Horse began releasing new books titled Season Eight, Season Nine, and Season Ten, along with various spin-offs, written and/or supervised by creator Joss Whedon. These books were officially recognized as canon. In 2005, Dark Horse allowed the rights to produce comics for Buffy's companion series Angel to lapse, and they were acquired for a short period by IDW Publishing, which released the canonical series Angel: After the Fall alongside other non-canon titles. Dark Horse reacquired the rights in 2010 and subsequently released the series Angel & Faith and Angel. In 2018, Dark Horse Comics announced that, after 20 years, the license for Buffy and related material would transfer to Boom! Studios. The first issue of the reboot series was released in January 2019.
Relation to the TV series
Buffy comics have a long history, with comics produced during the original run of the television series generally considered "non-canonical", with notable exceptions written by Joss Whedon. Buffy comic books published between 2007 and 2018 presented the official continuation of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, with series creator Joss Whedon serving as the primary writer and collaborating with other writers from the television series to continue the story.
Pre-2007 Similar to other ancillary media for television series, such as novels and video games, storylines for the original Dark Horse comics published during the show's run were approved by both Fox and Joss Whedon as part of broader Buffy merchandising. Stories in the original 63 issues were released while the series was on air and were intended to take place between episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, though they were often difficult to place precisely beyond the season in which they occurred. Plot elements or character details introduced in these stories were not referenced in the television series. Later storylines during this period attempted to fill narrative gaps following character departures, such as the Oz comic, or events between seasons five and six, such as The Death of Buffy, without introducing contradictions to the television canon. Buffy creator Joss Whedon distanced himself on several occasions from these ancillary works written by other authors, stating:
During this period, a number of canonical Buffy comics were also published with Whedon's involvement. These began with Fray (2001–2003), a far-future story written by Whedon that introduced elements later incorporated into the seventh season of the television series. Whedon and other writers from the show also contributed to the Tales of the Slayers and Tales of the Vampires (2002–2004) anthology series, which focused on Slayers and vampires from earlier eras.
2007-present In 2005, Dark Horse Comics and Joss Whedon announced a canonical continuation of the television series in the form of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight (2007–2011). This series shared plot elements with canonical Angel continuations published by IDW Comics, including Angel: After the Fall (2007–2009) and Spike (2010–2011). Season Eight was followed by Season Nine (2011–2013) and subsequent seasons, concluding with Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Twelve in 2018. From 2019, the Buffy license transferred to BOOM! Studios, which produced a separate run of explicitly non-canon stories set in an alternative universe from 2019 to 2023.
Dark Horse Comics (1998–2018) Pre-Season Eight Stories These stories are first published by Dark Horse comics, later most of Buffy stories are collected in Buffy comic books.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1998–2003) Issue Title Writers Artists Release date Reprinted in 1 "Wu-tang Fang" Andi Watson September 23, 1998 2 "Halloween" Andi Watson October 28, 1998 3 "Cold Turkey" Andi Watson November 25, 1998 4 "White Christmas" Andi Watson December 23, 1998 5 "Happy New Year" Andi Watson January 27, 1999 6 "New Kid on the Block" Andi Watson & Dan Brereton March 3, 1999 7 March 31, 1999 8 "The Final Cut" Andi Watson April 28, 1999 9 "Hey, Good Looking" (Bad Blood, parts 1–2) Andi Watson May 26, 1999 10 June 30, 1999 11 "A Boy Named Sue" (Bad Blood, part 3) Andi Watson July 28, 1999 12 "A Nice Girl Like You" (Food Chain, part 1) Christopher Golden August 18, 1999 13 "Love Sick Blues" Andi Watson September 29, 1999 14 October 27, 1999 15 "Lost Highway" Andi Watson November 24, 1999 16 "The Food Chain" (Food Chain, part 2) Christopher Golden December 5, 1999 17 "She's No Lady" Andi Watson January 26, 2000 18 February 23, 2000 19 "Old Friend"Andi Watson March 22, 2000 20 "Double Cross" (Food Chain, part 3) Doug Petrie April 26, 2000 21 "The Blood of Carthage" Christopher Golden May 31, 2000 22 June 28, 2000 23 July 26, 2000 24 August 30, 2000 25 September 27, 2000 26 "The Heart of a Slayer" Chris Boal October 25, 2000 27 November 29, 2000 28 "Cemetery of Lost Love" Tom Fassbender & Jim Pascoe December 27, 2000 29 "Past Lives" (Parts 2 & 4, crossover with Angel series) Christopher Golden & Tom Sniegoski January 31, 2001 30 February 28, 2001 31 "Lost & Found" Tom Fassbender & Jim Pascoe March 28, 2001 32 "Invasion" Tom Fassbender & Jim Pascoe April 25, 2001 33 "Hive Mentality" Tom Fassbender & Jim Pascoe May 23, 2001 34 "Out Of The Fire, Into The Hive" Tom Fassbender & Jim Pascoe June 27, 2001 35 "False Memories" Tom Fassbender & Jim Pascoe July 25, 2001 36 August 29, 2001 37 September 26, 2001 38 November 7, 2001 39 "Night of a Thousand Vampires" Tom Fassbender & Jim Pascoe November 28, 2001 40 "Ugly Little Monsters" Tom Fassbender & Jim Pascoe December 26, 2001 41 February 6, 2002 42 February 27, 2002 43 "The Death of Buffy" Tom Fassbender & Jim Pascoe April 10, 2002 44 May 1, 2002 45 June 5, 2002 46 "Withdrawal" Tom Fassbender & Jim Pascoe June 26, 2002 47 "Hellmouth to Mouth" Scott Lobdell & Fabian Nicieza August 7, 2002 48 August 28, 2002 49 September 25, 2002 50 "Hellmouth to Mouth, Part 4" (Mall Rats) October 30, 2002 51 "Broken Parts" Scott Lobdell & Fabian Nicieza November 27, 2002 52 "Full House" December 26, 2002 53 "Deuces Wild" February 5, 2003 54 "The Big Fold" February 26, 2003 55 "Dawn and Hoopy the Bear" Paul Lee March 26, 2003 56 "Slayer, Interrupted" Scott Lobdell & Fabian Nicieza April 30, 2003 57 May 28, 2003 58 June 25, 2003 59 July 23, 2003 60 "A Stake To The Heart" Fabian Nicieza August 27, 2003 61 September 24, 2003 62 October 22, 2003 63 November 26, 2003
Buffy specials (1998–2003) Title Story Writers Artists Release date Reprinted in "The Dust Waltz" Dan Brereton October 14, 1998 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 2 "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" "Stinger" Christopher Golden July 21, 1999 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 4 "Buffy the Vampire Slayer 1999 Annual" "Latest Craze" (Food Chain, part 5) Christopher Golden and Thomas E. Sniegoski August 25, 1999 "Bad Dog" (Food Chain, part 4) Douglas Petrie "Ring of Fire" Doug Petrie August 30, 2000Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 2 "Giles" "Beyond the Pale" Christopher Golden and Thomas E. Sniegoski October 4, 2000 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 6 "City of Despair" (Food Chain, part 8; crossover with Angel) Tom Fassbender and Jim Pascoe November 29, 2000 "Jonathan" "Codename: Comrades" Jane Espenson January 3, 2001 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 6 "Lover's Walk" "One Small Promise" (Food Chain, part 7) Tom Fassbender and Jim Pascoe February 2001 "Punish Me With Kisses" (Food Chain, part 6) Jamie S. Rich and Chynna Clugston-Major "Who Made Who?" Christopher Golden "Lost & Found" Fabian Nicieza March 13, 2002 "Reunion" Jane Espenson June 19, 2002 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 7 "Angels We Have Seen on High" Scott Lobdell and Fabian Niecieza November 2002 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 2 "Chaos Bleeds" Christopher Golden and Tom Sniegoski June 6, 2003 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 7
Buffy mini-series (1999–2001) TitleStoryWriter(s)Artist(s)Release DateReprinted in"The Origin"3 episodesChristopher Golden & Dan BreretonPenciller(s): Joe Bennett Inker(s): Rick Ketcham
Colorist(s): Jeromy Cox & Guy MajorJanuary 13, 1999 February 10, 1999
March 24, 1999The Origin Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 1"Angel"3 episodesChristopher GoldenPenciller(s): Hector Gomez Inker(s): Sandu Florea
Colorist(s): Guy MajorMay 12, 1999 June 9, 1999
March 24, 1999Angel: The Hollower Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 4"Haunted"4 episodesJane EspensonPenciller(s): Cliff Richards Inker(s): Julio Ferreira
Colorist(s): Jeromy CoxDecember 19, 2001 January 16, 2002
February 20, 2002
March 20, 2002Haunted Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 5"Willow and Tara: WannaBlessedBe"1 episodeAmber Benson & Christopher GoldenPenciller(s): Terry Moore & Eric Powell Inker(s): HiFi Design
Colorist(s): HiFi DesignApril, 2001Willow and Tara Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 6"Willow and Tara: Wilderness"2 episodesAmber Benson & Christopher GoldenPenciller(s): AJ & Klebs, Jr. Inker(s): Derek Fridolfs & Fabio Laguna
Colorist(s): Michelle MadsenJuly–September, 2002Willow and Tara Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 7"Spike and Dru""All's Fair"James Marsters & Christopher GoldenPenciller(s): Ryan Sook & Eric Powell Inker(s): Drew Geraci
Colorist(s): Guy MajorApril 14, 1999 October 13, 1999
December 27, 2000Spike and Dru Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 1"The Queen of Hearts" "Paint the Town Red"Spike and Dru Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 2"Oz"3 episodesChristopher GoldenPenciller(s): Logan Lubera Inker(s): Craig Yeun
Colorist(s): HALOJuly 18, 2001 August 15, 2001
September 19, 2001Oz Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 5
Buffy tales (2002–2009) TitleStoryWriter(s)Artist(s)Release DateReprinted in"Prologue"Joss WhedonPenciller(s): Leinil Francis Yu Inker(s): Dexter Vines
Colorist(s): Dave StewartFebruary 20, 2002Tales of the Slayers Tales"Righteous"Joss WhedonPenciller(s): Tim Sale Inker(s): Tim Sale
Colorist(s): Lee LoughridgeFebruary 20, 2002"The Innocent"Amber BensonPenciller(s): Ted Naifeh Inker(s): Ted Naifeh
Colorist(s): Dave StewartFebruary 20, 2002"Presumption"Jane EspensonPenciller(s): P. Craig Russell Inker(s): P. Craig Russell
Colorist(s): Lovern KindzierskiFebruary 20, 2002"The Glittering World"David FuryPenciller(s): Steve Lieber Inker(s): Steve Lieber
Colorist(s): Steve LieberFebruary 20, 2002"Sonnenblume"Rebecca Rand KirshnerPenciller(s): Mira Friedmann Inker(s): Mira Friedmann
Colorist(s): Mira FriedmannFebruary 20, 2002"Nikki Goes Down!"Doug PetriePenciller(s): Gene Colan Colorist(s): Dave StewartFebruary 20, 2002"Tales"Joss WhedonPenciller(s): Karl Moline Inker(s): Andy Owens
Colorist(s): Dave StewartFebruary 20, 2002"Broken Bottle of Djinn"Jane Espenson & Douglas PetriePenciller(s): Jeff Matsuda & Gene Colan Inker(s): Jeff Matsuda
Colorist(s): Dave StewartOctober 16, 2002Tales"Drawing on Your Nightmares" (Multi-comic book)"Dames"Brett MatthewsPenciller(s): Sean Phillips Colorist(s): Sean PhillipsOctober, 2003Tales"Tales of the Vampires Part 1" (Mini-series)"The Problem with Vampires"Drew GoddardPenciller(s): Paul Lee Inker(s): Derek Fridolfs
Colorist(s): Michelle MadsenDecember 22, 2003Tales of the Vampires Tales"Stacy"Joss WhedonPenciller(s): Cameron Stewart Inker(s): Derek Fridolfs
Colorist(s): Chip Zdarsky"Tales of the Vampires Part 2" (Mini-series)"Spot the Vampire"Jane EspensonPenciller(s): Scott Morse