RETRO REVIEW: Buffy The High School Years: Glutton for Punishment

Dark Horse; $10.99

Buffy’s heading back to Sunnydale High in Buffy the High School Years: Glutton for Punishment. First of all, Principal Flutie is still around so this is really early in Buffy’s run. He is trying to get students more involved in extracurricular activities by offering extra credit to students who try new classes like art, wood shop, and home ec. Buffy and Xander choose home ec, thinking it’ll be easy and filled with free snacks. What they find is their regular teacher missing and replaced by a nightmare chef. Oh, and there’s a very hungry, large tiger-like creature roaming the streets of Sunnydale.

This was a very entertaining graphic novel. At Comic-Con International in July 2016, author Kel McDonald talked about the title and her love for Buffy, which is apparent in the details. She captured these popular characters by embodying both their attitudes and the tone of early Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes. I’m enjoying the post-show Season comics, but it’s refreshing to get back to the basics.

Yishan Li handled the art side of the book, with Rod Espinosa and Tony Galvan on colors. I’ve grown very fond of Rebekah Isaacs’ art in the Season comics, and I’m not typically a big fan of manga-style art, but this definitely works. Buffy and Co. are reimagined, with some pointy noses, but it adds to the freshness established by McDonald. The monstrous figure is quite frightening and Li brings plenty of emotion – from comically skeptical to outright rage – to all of the characters. I don’t want to go back to my high school, but I’ll be happy to join this team again for another trip to Sunnydale High.

–Amanda Sheriff