No Future For You - Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 8

Are you eagerly following the graphic-novel eighth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer? If not, then why on earth – or in hell - not? This eighth season, penned by the great hand of Whedon himself, is shaping up to be every bit the equal of its mighty seven televised forebears. And perhaps even, in some ways, the superior…

Buffy: The Eighth Season

That’s something your average Buffy fan could debate and dispute until kingdom come. But what’s not in dispute is that the Season Eight Buffy comics, or their collected graphic novel versions, are essential must-buys. Episode Two, ‘No Future For You’, is no exception in that respect.

Faith & Buffy: Another Showdown

Faith is the lead figure in the story opener – always a good sign for this Faith-devoted Buffy fan! She’s still out of prison and working for the good guys on a lone-wolf basis, having split up with handsome headmaster (and Slayer’s son) Robin. While out on a mission, she is distressed to have to put down some tiny vampires after they have been changed: returning home an emotional wreck, she finds Giles unexpectedly waiting for her. His visit is short on human sympathy: he has a new, major mission for her. It’s all work and no human connection or caring for Faith: and she’s feeling the lack keenly. But Giles has an incentive that makes her accede to his dangerous (and secretive) plans.

Buffy: Mayhem, Magic and Misinformation

Giles is sending Faith on the hunt after a dangerous human being – not a monster. And not just any human being, at that – but a Slayer. Suited, booted, and prepared with a new posh Brit accent and fake background, Faith is positioned to buddy up with her target – all the better to put her down like a dangerous animal. Because Lady Georgiana – a gorgeous, snotty, hoity-toity young tomboy – has gone over to the dark side. She feels she is inherently superior to anyone less aristocratic: and she thinks that superiority means she can kill at will.

But when Faith takes her on, she’s biting off more than she realised. Gigi, and her Irish magician tutor Roden, manage to drag an unwitting Buffy into the fray. And Buffy isn’t just unwitting and unprepared: Giles has told her nothing about the entire operation. But her involvement clarifies the issue for Faith, who sees clearly where her loyalties lie as a result, and deals with the situation accordingly. With the assistance of Giles, she takes care of business: and possibly forms an alliance for the future.

In a further episode of the Buffy Season Eight comicbook series included in this collection, Willow and Buffy take a trip to visit a temperamental supernatural demon with presence in and knowledge of past, present and future. He is guarded and mediated for by a pleasant young woman who advises and assists them in their visit. But the information they receive is still unnerving: the Slayer crew are at risk of corruption within the ranks, and Buffy may be betrayed by someone very, very close to her…

The instalment ends on a sober note: Slayer life isn’t all vamp-dusting, hi-jinks, laughs and tom-foolery. Death, sorrow and decaying friendships make their unnervingly adult appearances also. Even in Slayer world, you can’t escape real life.