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Kelly Thompson and Stephen Byrne are teaming up for a brand-new Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic book series from Dynamite Entertainment! With the first issue available this July, I caught up with Thompson to learn all about the new series, working with Byrne, and Thompson teases the upcoming Angel series as well:
Can you discuss your first experiences with the Buffy TV show and the impact the series and character had on you?
Kelly Thompson: So I don’t exactly when it was that I saw it, but my first episode was actually PROPHECY GIRL — the finale episode of the Season One. What a way to start! I was completely hooked and made it my mission to hunt down all the episodes that I’d missed – which was much harder back in the olden times than today – where they’re all just waiting for you blissfully on Hulu! The show, and Buffy the character specifically, were basically foundational.
For the new series, how did you approach the character and story, knowing that some readers may not have seen the original show and that the world is very different now compared to the 1990s?
Kelly Thompson: We go to great pains in the first issue – BUFFY #1 – to try to bring potential new readers into the fold – to help give them a crash course in the beauty and horror (and charm!) of the Buffyverse. But we also make some big swings for longtime fans that I hope they’ll appreciate. Something for everyone is definitely the goal.
Can you tease some of the characters and obstacles Buffy will encounter in this new series?
Kelly Thompson: We’ve got an all-new Big Bad…who is somehow both someone new AND someone fans will have seen before (how’s that for confusing!?) We also have some minions of the Big Bad that Dawn has termed “vampwires” in-story as they look super wiry and strong and have big leathery wings. They are turning out to be quite fun. Two other familiar villains fans will definitely recognize will also be popping up in surprising ways in this first arc. So yes, lots of surprises to come!
What was your collaboration like with Stephen Byrne? Can you discuss how you two brought the world of Buffy to life for this new story?
Kelly Thompson: Well, Stephen is a big Buffy fan, which is a huge bonus because in that first issue especially there’s a lot of reference work to get things right – even above and beyond dealing with the likeness issues. So having someone that’s a big fan is just a huge leg up in him understanding the characters and world and what we’re trying to do. He’s done beautiful work that I think straddles the line between respecting the origins and needing to break away and do our own thing. I think the readers are incredibly lucky to have him.
How many issues are planned? And I understand you’re working on an Angel series as well. What can you tell us about that?
Kelly Thompson: Yes! I am. Actually the BUFFY #1 (July 22) and ANGEL #1 (August 19) issues work as a sort of two-part pilot kicking off this big “crossover event” that runs through the first five issues of both books. So they’re incredibly integrated at the start of the series and they will become progressively more distinct as they go on following that first arc.
What are your favorite Buffy and Angel episodes and seasons?
Kelly Thompson: For me, without doubt, Season 5 is the stand out season of Angel. There are terrific episodes in every season, but pound for pound, Season 5 just trounces the others for me. In Season 5 the show knew they were not going to be picked up for more, and so it just feels like they’re swinging for the fences every time. That cancellation also feels like it frees them in a strange way – like it’s finally allowed to be the slightly more adult show it always wanted to be. My favorite episode of Angel is probably A HOLE IN THE WORLD. Other favorites…SMILE TIME, I WILL REMEMBER YOU, OVER THE RAINBOW. For Buffy…I think Season 6 is probably my favorite season for how dark and complicated it is, though there are obviously episodes in that Season I am quite frustrated by. Standout episodes are obviously TABULA RASA and ONCE MORE WITH FEELING. I think Season 5 is probably Buffy’s most-balanced and probably strongest season – with fewer weak episodes than usual. But Buffy can always surprise you — Season 4 is arguably one of the weakest seasons – but it also has some of my favorite episodes of the whole run: HUSH, SOMETHING BLUE, THIS YEAR’S GIRL/WHO AM I, FEAR, ITSELF. Buffy contains multitudes, what else can we say? 😉
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Eisner-winning writer KELLY THOMPSON (Absolute Wonder Woman, Black Widow) and superstar artist STEPHEN BYRNE (Wonder Twins) present a vision of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER you’ve got to read to believe!
Into every generation, a slayer is born. And Buffy Summers may have broken the mold. Though Buffy’s powers were varied and great, it was the love and devotion she inspired that was perhaps her greatest power. And when she gave her life to save the world, the people who loved her couldn’t live with that. This is that story.
Featuring the comics debut of a beloved Buffy fan-favorite character!
ON SALE DATE: 7/22/2026
FOC (Pre-Order Cutoff): 6/29/2026
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Stephen Byrne
Cover A: David Nakayama
Cover B: Amanda Conner
Cover C: Joshua “Sway” Swaby
Cover D: Juliet Nneka
Cover E: Arthur Adams Icon Cover
Cover H: Blank Authentix
