Buffy the Vampire Slayer officially returns in one month, but there’s a catch

Fans of the series will have a continuation for one of the most beloved characters of all time

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of the most important TV shows ever made. Created by Joss Whedon and starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, the show followed Buffy Summers, a teenager with superpowers who balanced her duty as the vampire slayer with plenty of high school drama. The franchise has been at the forefront of fans' minds with a Hulu revival in development over the past couple of years. The series, titled Buffy: New Sunnydale, was led by showrunner Chloé Zhao and Gellar in the lead role. However, it was canceled in March, with the studio scrapping a finished pilot episode.

In one month, Buffy the Vampire Slayer will return in a new format. The character is back with a comic book series starting on Aug. 19. Led by Kelly Thompson (Absolute Wonder Woman) and Stephen Byrne (Green Arrow and the Serenity comic), the comic marks a new entry into the Sunnydale universe, continuing the story of Buffy and her friends for a new generation of readers. The writer and artist team will be joined by colorist Lee Loughridge and letterer Jeff Eckleberry. Nate Cosby serves as editor and packager.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is back

The plot of the comic book remains unknown. According to a press release shared by Dynamite Entertainment, the series is a “must-read for any die-hard fan of the show, but also a cool moment to join the fandom for the first time with an epic event that brings all the characters together for one big story that points to the heart of everything Buffy the Vampire Slayer has always been about.”

The first issue will be 32-pages long and sold digitally and in comic book stores. “Into every generation, a slayer is born. And Buffy Summers may have broken the mold,” reads the official synopsis. “Though Buffy's powers were varied and great, it was the love and devotion she inspired that was perhaps her greatest power. And when she gave her life to save the world, the people who loved her couldn't live with that. This is that story.”

Concept art teases the return of beloved characters like Buffy, Spike, Rupert Giles, Dawn, Angel, Willow, and more.

One of the best modern heroes

Thompson appears to be committed to the world of Sunnydale, leading a new Buffy story and a comic book for Angel, the supporting character played by David Boreanaz, who also had a TV show spin off of his own. The two comic books are connected, and are meant to compliment one another.

In a statement, Thompson shared her excitement at her involvement with the series. “Buffy Summers is, in my opinion, one of the best modern heroes of science fiction/fantasy,” she said. “The show was wildly inspirational for a young Kelly, and like so many things that feel very lucky in my life, I’m not sure I’m a writer today without encountering Buffy at the right moment. This idea for Buffy has been sitting with me for a long time – and so when the chance to grab both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel came along, I couldn’t resist trying it. I hope you guys will enjoy the ride — it comes from a place of deep love for the franchise – and I’ll try my best to be worthy of it.”

Byrne also shared a statement, revealing that he’s a long-term Buffy fan. “I’ve been a lifelong Buffyverse obsessive, and I’ve got the VHS boxsets and DVDs to prove it. Working on this comic with such a phenomenal writer is a surreal dream come true, and I still can’t quite believe it. I can’t wait for fans to see what Kelly has planned,” he said.

Thompson and Byrne’s Buffy story continues a long history of comic book adaptations for the series, which date back to when the show first aired in the late ‘90s on The WB. Over 150 canonical comic issues have been released, expanding on the franchise’s universe and characters.

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