BTVS The Long Way Home
I'm kind of disappointed--the comic version was hard to follow and it seemed like much more of an emphasis was placed on 'ooh, how much skin can we show' than how much character development & plot we can have. There's no development, the plot is very fuzzy and short, and we're just given more questions and no answers. I want to know what happened to Willow and Dawn and Xander and what the gang's been up to, instead of more bloody battles and what the heck, FAIRIES? I mean...there's demons and that kind of supernatural, but I really really didn't see fairies coming into this thing. Still, I have to say it's awesome, cause it's BUFFY, of course, and Joss is an incredibly sweet writer to actually want to continue the series, I just wish it was still televised or at least a movie, not a comic book, regular book would be great, too! Comic book is just too many pictures, not enough plot for me, but I'll still be following, of course, and I'm off to order Volume 2, now.

A void filled
Being a buffy and angel fan, I was hestitant to actually start reading these. I read the other reviews, and noticed that the comics were written by the man himself. I also read the astonishing X-Men, written by Whedon, and knew he had a voice for comics. The only problem with this is it's too short. I was hoping for both volumes 1 & 2, to be combined into one for this. The stories are good and the quick quips that Whedon is known for continue. The line about Sergant Fury just made me put the book down and laugh. It's those little moments that make his work good.

Pretty average fair
This book is written/produced by Joss Whedon and like everything Joss touches some people will think it is wonderful, however, I can't find much good to say about this graphic novel.

Joss's work in comics has been very varaible. At points, he hits on the stellar characterization and emotional warmth that has drawn many to his tv works, however, at other times the work is pretty much drivel and poor pulp fan fare. His best works to date in comics IMHO are probably the first 12 issues of Amazing X-men and the Giant Size finale of his Amazing X-men run (all the rest of the comics in this series fail to fit well in the universe or produce truly enjoyable stories). Many people have blamed the lack of quality on Joss being over-worked.

Buffy Season 8 starts out as a very weak poorly characterized pulp fan service comic with little or no redeeming value. It does get better and the comics further into the series are decent and somewhat above average in writing and it is continually improving. However, the series is still far from the best thing out there.

Take this piece as an weak introductory piece to a better series and ask yourself how much you like Buffy and the tv show. If you really liked the show, you probably should by this book, however, do not expect to get the quality you have grown to expect until you get further into the series.

Joss's other current productions most notably Angel: After the Fall are a little more solid (which starts out weak.. again). His work at Marvel started out good but ended on a lower note than this series acheives. Serenity: Better Days is so far ok but not great.

FANTASTIC!
While this wasn't what I wanted to see for a next season type of thing, it's still Joss Whedon and his vision how he would have like to continue it, with no budget to worry about.

There are ups and downs in the storytelling, as there were when the TV series began, but just like that series, one is rewarded for their patience.

The art is more realistic than I had expected, but still stylish as all get out. The writing is very good as one would think, and the appearance of one of the Slayer's oldest enemies is cool, and I was left wanting more, and I was glad!

Cauldron-boiler stuff
Buffy the movie was clever and fun. The seven TV seasons were some of the best entertainment ever, IMO. I have Fray and Tales of the Slayers comics and they're ok. Season 8 Vol 1 is ok as well, I guess. Calling this season 8 implies it's going to be TV-quality Buffy, but in a different medium. I don't see why that's not possible and, especially after reading other reviews, I actually believed it. But S8V1 is very low quality and I'd go as far as to say it is not entertaining, certainly not considering its pedigree. Good acting, storytelling and emotions can certainly be conveyed through the medium of comics but this isn't it.

Maybe you're happy to spend $15 to make up your own mind (I was). I really wanted to believe the good reviews, but please note that not all the reviews here are positive.

Whedon has done some great stuff because he's his own person and a risk-taker. This feels less like a risk that failed and more like just a pot-boiler. Maybe he's just run out of things to say in this genre. Whedon can certainly write music+lyrics: how about a rock opera next?