While many comic books based on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer were published when the television show was on air they are not all considered canonical and often deal with characters who do not appear in the television series, most notably in the Tales of the Slayers and Tales of the Vampires mini-series. The first series of books were published by Dark Horse Comics between 1998 and 2004, originally in comic format but then gathered into volumes of trade paperbacks. A small number of Buffy comics have not been included in trade paperbacks, such as the books entitled "Giles", "Jonathan", and "Reunion". Following the television series finale, Dark Horse began releasing new books titled Season Eight, Nine, and Ten, and various spin-offs, which are written and/or supervised by creator Joss Whedon and officially recognized as canon to the show. In 2007, Dark Horse allowed the rights to produce the comics for Buffy's companion show Angel to lapse, and they were picked up for a short time by IDW Publishing, which released the canon series Angel: After the Fall among other non-canon titles. Dark Horse reacquired the rights in 2010 and went on to release the official Angel: Season Six and the spin-off series Angel & Faith. In 2018 it was announced after 20 years at Dark Horse Comics, the license for Buffy and all related material will transfer to Boom! Studios. The first issue of the reboot series was released in January 2019.

Relation to the TV series

Series creator Joss Whedon and a number of writers involved with the television series authored many of the comic books. Overviews summarizing the comic books' storylines were written early in the writing process and were "approved" by both Fox and Joss Whedon (or his office), and the books were therefore later published as official Buffy merchandise. The stories in the Buffy comics take place in between episodes of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series, and continue after the series ended. Issues 1 to 63 take place during the period that the series was still on air, and none are written by Joss Whedon himself. The earlier issues are not very easy to place in the series other than the season they are set in. The stories get more specific later on, however; for example, the Oz comics fill in the story line of Oz's character after he leaves the TV series, and the Death of Buffy comics take place between seasons five and six of the series. Starting in 2007, a new series of Buffy comics has been produced, also published by Dark Horse Comics. These are a canonical continuation of the television series and as such are considered Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight. One of the other comics considered canon is the 8-part series Fray, since the main character, Melaka Fray, appears in Season Eight. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight takes place after the series ended, and the issues are written by Joss Whedon to continue the storyline. A subsequent Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine series followed, accompanied by a companion or sister-series Angel & Faith which is set during the same time period and interchanges plots and characters. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten debuted in March 2014, followed by the continuation of its companion series the following month.

Dark Horse Comics (1998–2018)

Pre-Season Eight Stories

These stories are first published by Dark Horse comics, later most of Buffy stories are collected in Buffy comic books.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1998–2003)

Buffy specials (1998–2003)

Buffy mini-series (1999–2001)

Buffy tales (2002–2009)

Dark Horse Presents

Dark Horse Extra

TV Guide

Trade paperbacks

1. Compilations of most of the material listed above:
2. Compilations of all of the material listed above:

Season Eight (2007–2011)

The series serves as a canonical continuation of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and follows the events of that show's final televised season. It is produced by Joss Whedon, who wrote or co-wrote three of the series arcs and several one-shot stories. The series was followed by Season Nine in 2011.

Specials

Trade paperbacks

Season Nine (2011–2013)

When Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight was finished, Dark Horse Comics decided to publish a new comic season of Buffy. They also decided to follow up the series Angel: After the Fall with the publication of Angel & Faith as a part of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine after IDW Publishing lost the license to Angel and it went to Dark Horse Comics.

Buffy

Trade paperbacks

Angel & Faith

Trade paperbacks

Spike: A Dark Place

Trade paperback

Willow: Wonderland

Trade paperback

Season Ten (2014–2016)

Season Ten is a Buffy comic series published after Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine.

Buffy

Trade paperbacks

Angel & Faith

Trade paperbacks

Season Eleven (2016–2018)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eleven is the sequel to the Season Ten comic book series, a canonical continuation of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Buffy & Angel consist of only 12 issues per series, a much shorter run than the previous seasons, while the miniseries, Giles, runs for 4 issues. The series was published by Dark Horse Comics and began on November 23, 2016. The series was concluded with Season Twelve which began on June 20, 2018 and concluded on September 19, 2018.

Publication

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eleven

Single issues

Trade paperbacks

Angel Season Eleven

Single issues

Trade paperbacks

Giles Season Eleven

Single issues

Trade paperbacks

Season Twelve (2018)

Trade paperbacks

Fray (2001–2003)

Fray is an eight-issue comic book limited series, a futuristic spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Written by Buffy creator Joss Whedon, the series follows a Slayer named Melaka Fray, a chosen one in a time where vampires (called "lurks") are returning to the slums of New York City, and the rich-poor divide is even greater. Volume one is drawn by Karl Moline (pencils) and Andy Owens (inks).

Trade paperbacks

Boom! Studios (2019–present)

In 2019, a new Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic book series was released by Boom! Studios; this version of the series is a reboot with no continuity to the television series or previous comics. Despite being set in an alternate modern-day continuity, the likenesses of the series' actors are still used to represent their respective characters.

Main series (2019–)

Trade paperbacks

One Shots (2019–)

Willow (2020)

Trade paperbacks

Hellmouth (2019–2020)

Trade paperbacks

Buffy the Last Vampire Slayer

Trade Paperbacks

The Vampire Slayer (2022–present)

Trade paperbacks

Comics by writer