While the absence of any Slayerverse adventures on our screens still hurts, Joss Whedon and Dark Horse have done a wonderful job of keeping the mythology alive in their critically acclaimed comic book runs. BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: SEASON 8 lasted an impressive 40 issues, and SEASON 9 is currently eight issues in. Spin-off series ANGEL & FAITH runs alongside it, following the tortured pair as they relocate to London to deal with the catastrophic events of SEASON 8 (which we shouldn’t get into here for fear of spoilers). Now Dark Horse have announced plans to expand the universe further with two more canonical mini-series, SPIKE and WILLOW. Here’s what’s known of their plots: 

‘Spike ventures off world in his bug ship in order to get away from some personal frustration on terra firma, and winds up sucked into a demonic plot to take advantage of the absence of magic on earth.’

(For all you guys not yet caught up, yes, you read that right. Spike owns a spaceship now.)

And here’s Willow’s (beware of slight spoilers)…

‘Willow is on a quest to bring magic back to the world, and she’ll do anything to make it happen, including forming some unhealthy alliances after cracking the code to travel to other dimensions—something thought impossible since the destruction of the Seed.’

SPIKE will be written by Victor Gischler (X-MEN) and illustrated by Paul Lee (BTVS). WILLOW will be overseen by writer Jeff Parker (THUNDERBOLTS) and artist Brian Ching (WITCHBLADE). 

SPIKE #1 and WILLOW #1 will be available August 22nd and November 21st respectively. Colour us excited. As long as they don’t ask us to wait years for the trades.

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