Customer Reviews

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Vol. 15: Viva Las Buffy

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The television show did a pretty good job of rewriting the events of the movie to better fit the series. But there was always something missing from the time line. What happened to Buffy after setting fire to the school gym and before arriving in Sunnydale?

This book tries to answer the question. Here again is Pike, Buffy's companion in slaying. Together they discover a lot of vampires coming to LA from Vegas. Buffy decides she must see what is going on. In the shadows, Angel watches and gains more respect for this slayer's abilities.

A fun story with decent illustrations that fills in a critical hole in the Buffy time line. Even if you don't normally read the Buffy comics, this is a good chapter to read.

This Graphic Novel collects issues 51 - 54 of the Buffy Comic and features a bit of a departure for the comic. Rather than fitting in stories to the TV chronology, this 4 part story art actually takes place BEFORE the TV series starts and AFTER the events of the original film.

Buffy had just burned down the school gym and unable to cope with being the Slayer she flees to Las Vegas along with friend Pike, the character Luke Perry played in the movie. They get jobs in a casino that just happens to be run by a couple of vamps. Angel is on the scene too although Buffy is never aware of it so no continuity is screwed up. The art team of Cliff Richards and Will Conrad could have gotten away with all sorts of sleaze since the story takes place in Vegas. Instead, while they show Buffy suffering for her art in a bustier, hot pants and nylons, none of the artwork looks exploitive. She looks instead as seriously out of place in that outfit as she should.

In the end, Pike realize his place is not with Buffy and leaves Buffy alone where she would eventually go home and then move to Sunnydale. This was a solid storyline told from Pike's point of view and fills in a little depth to the Slayer's history.

Time frame: after when the movie took place (Origin comic) but before her parents put her in an insane asylum (Slayer, Interrupted).

Buffy goes to La Vegas to investigate this vampire factory/casino. The story is basically told by Pike, the guy Buffy hooked up in the movie and in Origins. He has to determine whether to let himself accept this lifestyle or let Buffy go. He also gets to double stake some vamps while on his motorcycle.

Meanwhile, Buffy is Watcher-less. The Watcher's Council must determine who will become Buffy's new Watcher and Giles has some competition. Even a bit of the ol' Ripper side comes out of his tweed.

Angel also shows up to watch Buffy's back and investigate the casino, although Buffy doesn't know it. He gets thrown into the 1930's through a closet portal thingy. Artistically, it's an interesting sequence since he's the only one in color in a black-and-white world.

Add a skimpy fighting outfit, time-traveling portal, vampire friendly casinoes, conjoined twins, black magic, and a priest being thrown into the water line, and you've got yourself an entertaining read.

The only weird part is that Dawn is present at Buffy's home.

Otherwise, highly recommended for any Buffy and Angel fan.

What's a Slayer to do after burning down her high school gym and getting expelled? Avoid her problems by running away to Los Vegas with her boyfriend Pike, ostensibly in search of more vampires. At least that's the premise of this comic that tries to fill some of the gaps between the end of the movie and the beginning of the TV show. Using the excuse of checking out a potential vamp nest, Buffy and Pike ride off on his motorcycle, get jobs at a casino (Buffy as a hat check girl), and start getting into trouble. Angel, lurking in the shadows, tags along, helping as best he can. Meanwhile, back in England, we get to see how Giles, in slightly Ripperesque form, becomes Buffy's new Watcher.

In many ways, this is a fun read. The story is told from multiple perspectives, giving insight into how the characters feel. Pike's emotions are especially well-explored, and we find out why Buffy is boyfriendless when she comes to Sunnydale. I liked the art work a great deal; some of the drawings of Buffy the Hat Check Girl were priceless. My only complaints were that the Big Bads were genetically impossible (yeah, I know it's fantasy, but still . . .) and that the storytelling was somewhat disjointed toward the end. Otherwise, "Viva Las Buffy" is a quick, satisfying excursion back into the Buffyverse.

I wasn't entirely sure I would like this, as it doesn't have any of the regular cast besides Buffy herself, but I was suprised to find that I really enjoyed it. The writers did a great job and the art is fantastic. Pike is pretty cool (it was him I was afraid I wouldn't be able to like), and this gives us more background for Buffy, which is always good (at least for me). I'd definitely reccomend this for any Buffy fan.