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Buffy Comics… specifically, Angel & Faith (2011)

[nowrunalong]

Fandom name: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Comics 1998) (But this post focuses on the Angel & Faith title, and specifically the first season!)
Medium: Comic (25 issues for this season)
What it is: A canon Buffy spin-off! Like Angel the Series, but in comic form.
(After Buffy aired its last episode, a series of canon post-series comics were published. The main Buffy title ran for 5 “seasons” (8-12). A spin-off title, Angel & Faith, ran concurrently to Buffy for 2 seasons (9-10).)
Where to find it: You can purchase it from the publisher (Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3) and it can be found to read/purchase elsewhere, too!

To briefly summarize: Angel and Faith are housemates in Giles’s old home in England. Together, they make plans for a resurrection.
(Due to a bunch of convoluted comics shenanigans, Giles dies by Angel’s hand at the end of Buffy s8. His death is the premise for Angel & Faith s9.)

Content warnings: Major Character Un-Death, technically! But also: Graphic depictions of violence. Body horror. Gore. One character (not Angel or Faith) suffers severe, deforming burns.

Why I like it: Unlikely housemates! England! Magic shenanigans! Awesome platonic friendships! Shipping opportunities! Swords! Character growth! Annnnnnd...

Faith!!! BtVS focused a lot on Buffy’s role as a leader - particularly in season 7, when she struggled to lead a group of teenaged girls. Season 9 is about Faith tackling teamwork and leadership, front and center. She is startled to learn that she is now regarded as a grown-up and a mentor figure by the younger Slayers. She becomes particularly close to one of them - Nadira, a main character in the Angel & Faith series. After witnessing the death of her squadron of Slayers, Nadira is hell-bent on killing Angel. (It was technically his fault.) Faith sees herself in Nadira and dedicates her time to trying to make things better for her - and trying to convince her that she cannot let herself be fueled only by hatred and a desire for revenge. It’s a very well-written character arc, and a very intriguing friendship - especially because Faith is hiding her ties to Angel from Nadira and the other women.

Angel is fantastic here, too! He is at his guilt-ridden best in this series. His friendship with Faith is very complex and layered, and so very genuine.

Drusilla appears! Spike and Willow appear! Giles’s youth is delved into!

Also! The art is fantastic. I adore it. This exact comic made me want to write and draw comics. Unlike Buffy season 8, which I found to be over-complicated and over-the-top, Angel and Faith 9 is highly engaging and easy to follow. When I first read this story, I was unaccustomed to reading comics and had previously struggled with the medium. If you were going to read just one post-series Buffy season, I’d recommend this one.

In this exchange, I am going to be requesting Nadira content. Solo Nadira! Nadira’s friendship with Faith! Nadira shipped with Faith! I love this stylish, hot-headed Slayer and her mentor/friend who relates way too much to her.

If you happen to read this series and fall for her, Nadira also appears in Angel & Faith s10!