Almost everyone watches TV, but not nearly as many people read comics. But, like the girl in those taco commercials, I say: "Why don't we have both?" Every issue of the comic series connects to the currently airing show, and the two mediums work in tandem. Though there are not many other examples of that kind of multi-platform storytelling in comics, there are a lot of other instances of TV shows having comic series. There is, in fact, a trend in comics for cancelled shows to continue on with their own comics title.
Tons of shows, like Star Trek and Charmed, have found lives beyond the small screen through comics. Former viewers can reconnect with favorite characters and maintain a connection to the shows they loved. The person who has utilized these comic continuations the most, and to the fullest, is without a doubt TV creator Joss Whedon.
Whedon on TV
Whedon is one of the most well-known names in the geek subculture. He’s created a whole slew of niche shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Dollhouse and the web-series Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. Though he has a massive fan following and has received endless accolades from critics, his shows since Buffy (which ran seven seasons and ended in 2003) have not been able to find long-term homes on mainstream television. Firefly lasted less than a full season, but was so beloved by fans that it was later revived in a feature film, Serenity. Obviously the market exists for Whedon’s creations, but for some reason he has not been able to stay on Television for years (though he is making successful films, such as Cabin in the Woods and the upcoming Avengers.
Thus, there is the need for comics. Beginning with one-shot issues that told background or side stories using existing characters from Buffy, fans responded positively. Whedon has since made one-shots and mini-series that fill in gaps or continue stories from Angel, Firefly, and Dr. Horrible.
Whedon in Comics
Not only is Whedon the king of the geeks because of the shows he’s made, he’s also a major geek himself. As an existing comic book fan, it was a simple decision for him to move his storytelling to that medium. Whedon has also written for existing comics, such as his lauded run on Astonishing X-men.
The reason that Whedon’s use of comic storytelling is so major is that his transfer of from TV to comics was so seamless and complete. Whedon continues to write his shows just as he had always done, but instead of filming his scripts they were given to artists. Even when the issues were written by others, Whedon always had to approve the stories. Thus, when Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight began being published, it was not merely a comic series related to the television show, it was the show if it had continued on-air but in a different form. Though other shows have since followed this pattern to an extent, Whedon was the first to really make the move.
Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight
Even though the Buffy television show only lasted seven seasons, there were still a lot of stories to be told in that universe, so Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight was created. Beginning where the TV show had stopped, this series had a similar story arc progression to the show with all of the same characters and a few new faces. The art was based on the series with the actors serving as models for the artists. The series was published by Dark Horse and ran from 2007-2011. It was a hit amongst fans, though many have ignored the series saying that for them it is not “canonical.” However, Whedon was involved in every step of the series and supports its place in canon.
The series also made news when it contained the death of a major character from the show, a move that shocked many but legitimized the comic series as the real source for Buffy in its post-TV life.
After Season Eight ended, Dark Horse began publishing Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine, which will also run for about 25 issues.
Though comics are a very different medium than either film or television, their use in multi-platform story telling has been common since the first Superman radio show in the 1940s. It also means that when a viewer has to say goodbye to their favorite show, they don’t always have to say goodbye for good. So next time you're catching up on a favorite TV show, be sure to check out the comics if you can.