Where should I start?

[whitewolf]

Where should I start reading Buffy comics? I'm assuming I should finish the show before starting season 8, but are there any out that wouldn't spoil things for me? Also, are they still making new comics or is the run over? Thanks for all the help.

 

[BuffyElevated]

You definitely need to watch the rest of the show before starting the comics. There are things, even in the 1-shots, that would be confusing or spoilery, so I think it's best that you hold off til you're done with your watch of the show(s). 🙂

 

[Robb Stark]

Finish both series first, absolutely. There is so much of both S8 and Angel: After the Fall that won't make any sense at all unless you watch all the episodes before that. Like HisMs said, spoilery is the name of the game.

I'm only part-way through S8, but it's been good so far. I really, really enjoyed After the Fall.

 

[whitewolf]

All right, I'll wait then. Thanks for the heads up, because I was thinking of getting the Volume One omnibus, but it seems like waiting would be a good idea.

 

[Skytteflickan88]

I think you first need to decide if you will start with the canon/pretty-sure-it's-canon stories or non-canon stories. Because some comics don't seem to be a part of the "official" story, they're more alternative dimension/what if stories. For example almost everything in Omnibus 1.

I would recommend reading the canon or maybe-canon stuff first to catch up and be able to talk about the comics as they are published(they are being published right now) with the rest of us. Deciding if you will go digital or not might be an issue, since there's a lot of comics to buy. I'm trying to get rid of my physical comics right now to buy them digitally instead, and that's a pain in the butt.

I have a recommended reading list for you. The comics within [] are maybe-canon or not absolutely necassary to follow the "main" stories. I recommend to read them, but it depends on how much you wanna spend.

[Darkhorse: Tales of the slayer/vampires]
[IDW: Spike: Asylum]
[IDW: Spike: Shadow Puppets]
IDW: Angel After the fall
[IDW: Spike After the fall]
[IDW: The 8 issue Spike series(that doesn't have a proper name for the entire series)]
Darkhorse: Buffy Season 8(includes one shots)
Darkhorse: Buffy Season 9
Darkhorse: Angel & Faith
Darkhorse: Buffy season 9 mini series(right now only #1 of the Spike series is out)

These are all collected in different ways, ask us if you want suggestions on what collection to buy. For example, if you want the Tales stories, buy the Tales hardcover to get them all.

I think, if I haven't forgotten one, those are the ones you should read to get a hang of the official stories. What's canon or not can be a hard nut to crack, but for me, it's good to know what the writes do or don't consider "real", so that they and we know what events and personal development the characters have actually gone through.

Btw, I really recommend that you one day read all comics. Some of the non-canon ones are really great.

 

[EVIL UU]

1. Finish the show
2. Read the original run comics ( "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus" )
3. Watch Angel
4. Read Angel comics
5. Read Fray

After that you can read Season 8 and the ongoing 9. You really need to watch both of the shows and read Fray to understand what's going on in season 8, otherwise you'll feel lost.

And no, the canon season 8 and 9 are not worth all that hassle. Original run comics won't spoil anything, just use this list

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffy_comics

and read the comics from seasons you're done with.

 

[Skytteflickan88]

Right, I forgot Fray. That should be read before Season 8.