I loved the Buffy movie, but I've never cared for the television series (or its spinoff, Angel). So I wasn't expecting much from this comic book. I was pleasantly surprised to find an entertaining pulp adventure story with supernatural overtones. The writers inject a lot of personality into a new character, and a classic Silver Age artist shows his work is even stronger today than it was in his heyday.
An old locker at Sunnydale High School proves to contain much more than out of date textbooks and stinky gym shorts. A powerful spirit is contained within, and when it's released, it's up to Buffy and her witch pal Willow to deal with it. But they end up making it someone -- and sometime -- else's problem, as it's transported back to 1937 and into the life of another Slayer, a New York pauper named Rachel O'Connor.
Colan's art, which brings the 1937 scenes to life, is stunning. His gritty, textured style is in keeping with the dark elements of the plot, and it brings a delicious film-noir atmosphere to a property that is usually candy-apple bright. While Colan boasts a dark, foreboding style that brings out the supernatural elements of the story wonderfully, Rachel's spunk and youth is fortunately not lost in the haze. Matsuda's art is a bit too over the top for my taste, especially when put up beside Colan's efforts. However, the shift in styles works with the shift in settings nicely.
Espenson and Petrie's script is fairly accessible. I'm only familiar with the very basics of the TV show upon which this book is based, but I still had little trouble getting into the story and characters. That's probably due to the fact that this is really Rachel's story, not Buffy's.
There's a strong Indiana Jones pulp riff at play in the main part of this story that makes me want to see a lot more of Rachel the Vampire Slayer. The Dawson's Creek high school/college melodrama of Buffy doesn't work for me, but this take on the Slayer concept does. The Slayer as a willful, perky loner is much more appealing for some reason, as is the historical setting.
Note: This comic book was not among this week's new releases.
