Question Should I bother with the S9?

[MmmmFashnik]

Hi! I didn't quite get what I wanted out of the S8 comics. I really really hated the first meeting of Spike and Buffy, I didn't like the space-sex and I didn't really get the logic behind the Twilight story. Didn't really care for the return of Warren either.

So should I bother with S9?

Does it get better? Does it feel closer to the TV-Buffy? Does it properly address character relationships in a more realistic way?

 

[POTN]

I'm curious about this as well. I made it halfway through S8 before stopping for similar reasons.

 

[Mylie]

I didn't like season 8 at all but enjoyed season 9 as a whole. I'd recommend reading it mostly for Angel and Faith season 9 though (which are my favorite comics in all buffyverse). It was much stronger than the btvs side where I only enjoyed 2 arcs (Guarded and The Core). But if you like the Spuffy relationship then I'd say you'll enjoy the BtVS side.

 

[POTN]

Is there a guide for the order? After the fall-> Faith and Angel -> S8 -> S9?

Etc?

 

[Mylie]

Is there a guide for the order? After the fall-> Faith and Angel -> S8 -> S9?

Etc?

@TheFerg is really the best person to answer this but I can try and if there's anything he'll correct me.

You should start with After the Fall (issues 1 to 17). It's quite good and follows the show right after Not Fade Away.

Then :

Buffy The Vampire Slayer Comics Guide and Reading Order

 

[sosa lola]

If you disliked S8, I think you're going to enjoy S10 and S11 as they're more in tone with the show. S9 has a bit of S8 crazy in it. I personally enjoyed the first and final arcs of S9 but didn't care much for the middle.

 

[VisionBoy]

I quit early into season 9. It starts off more Buffy-ish and grounded, but then something happens that I'm afraid was the final straw for me. However I loved Angel and Faith.

 

[thetopher]

Season 8 is pretty much the best the comics had to offer in terms of characterization, plot and use of metaphor. The early arcs are very good and it goes down hill right about when you said.
It doesn't really recover; Season 9 is more 'grounded' and has a decent start and a decent end. The middle is mostly boring dross and (In one case) actually kind of insulting.
S10 is better but then goes on to have its own unique problems.

 

[The Ferg]

So should I bother with S9?

The only thing you need to understand about BS9 is that it takes a down-to-Earth/back-to-basics approach, which seemed like a great idea after the bombastic BS8, but then it just abandons that mantra during the 4th volume (out of 5).

Does it get better?

Not, in my opinion, until BS10. Angel & Faith is phenomenal though.

Does it feel closer to the TV-Buffy?

Eh, slightly.

Does it properly address character relationships in a more realistic way?

Well I honestly didn't feel like S8 really did anything majorly wrong in this regard, but I suppose I would say yes?

Is there a guide for the order? After the fall-> Faith and Angel -> S8 -> S9?

Etc?

It's pretty simple.
1. Angel: After The Fall
The first four volumes (17 issues) are the "official" continuation of Angel. There's much more you can lump in there, specifically Spike: After The Fall and the 8-issue series simply titled: Spike, but if you've never read a comic beforee don't worry about them.

2. Buffy: Season 8
40 issues. 8 volumes. 4 library editions. The first half is just as good as the TV show imo, and it's what made me a huge fan in the first place, but the back half gets a little ridiculous. I enjoyed it for what it is, but it pretty clearly has some faults.

3. Season 9
This includes Buffy (25 issues), Angel & Faith (25 issues), Willow (5), and Spike (5). These can be read by themselves, or in chronological order, as Mylie's post implies. Angel & Faith is AMAZING but Buffy... eh not so much. In it's defense it definitely took a more barebones approach, compared to BS8, but it's still a little bland.

4. Season 10
Includes Buffy (30) and Angel & Faith (25). A&F was awful, and while Buffy got the creative team from A&FS9, I thought it ranged from 'just ok' to above average. I've only read it through once though (that was with monthly breaks inbetween issues), and it does seem to have quite the following on here.

5. Season 11
This is happening now. They're stripping it down to 12 issues per series (sans Faith) to create one big mega-arc. I think it's a great idea. We'll see what happens.

There are PLENTY of tangential reads that I would love to unload on you, but I think I'll just leave it at that.

 

[Guy]

Hi! I didn't quite get what I wanted out of the S8 comics. I really really hated the first meeting of Spike and Buffy, I didn't like the space-sex and I didn't really get the logic behind the Twilight story. Didn't really care for the return of Warren either.

So should I bother with S9?

Does it get better? Does it feel closer to the TV-Buffy? Does it properly address character relationships in a more realistic way?

I'm curious about this as well. I made it halfway through S8 before stopping for similar reasons.

I love season 8, but I'd definitely agree that it's very DIFFERENT to the TV show. That difference can make it difficult to enjoy for many fans.

Season 9 is definitely closer to the TV shows in terms of style, but the quality of it varies - 'Buffy' season 9 is very inconsistent, and ranges from excellent to terrible, but 'Angel & Faith' season 9 is FANTASTIC, and almost universally beloved.

Season 10 is EVEN CLOSER to the TV shows in style, and you could probably start it without reading the previous seasons and still love it. Note, however, that this time 'Buffy' is great (not flawless, but great), while 'Angel & Faith' is boring, IMO.

You should start with After the Fall (issues 1 to 17). It's quite good and follows the show right after Not Fade Away.

Note - you should probably read 'Spike: Asylum' and 'Spike: Shadow Puppets' (in this order) before starting 'Angel After the Fall'. They're not strictly canon, but they'll help you understand 'After the Fall' better.
Also - You should definitely read 'Fray', 'Tales of the Slayers' and 'Tales of the Vampires' before reading season 8.

 

[The Ferg]

Note - you should probably read 'Spike: Asylum' and 'Spike: Shadow Puppets' (in this order) before starting 'Angel After the Fall'. They're not strictly canon, but they'll help you understand 'After the Fall' better.
Also - You should definitely read 'Fray', 'Tales of the Slayers' and 'Tales of the Vampires' before reading season 8.

I didn't want to confuse or overwhelm anybody, but yea, Tales of the Slayers/Vampires and Fray (and Spike: Asylum/Shadow Puppets to a slightly lesser extent) are must-reads. In fact, I'd say they're a perfect jumping on point for people who don't generally read comics.