Today we have our comic/graphic novel expert, Chad, sharing a review for us. We’ve never been shy about how our love for Buffy goes to pretty geeky depths. Jane Espenson, a writer for Buffy, started her own creative webseries entitled Husbands and published a comic book series based on the characters. Here is the synopsis from its Goodreads page:
Written by Husbands creators Jane Espenson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Brad Bell, this is the comic-book continuation of the sitcom phenom. Husbands tells the story of famous gay newlyweds Brady and Cheeks, who sparked a media firestorm when they woke up legally wed after a drunken Vegas weekend. Now, a mystical wedding gift launches the couple on a series of adventures-a tongue-in-cheek journey through iconic genre realms-filled with obstacles that threaten to tear them apart. Follow Brady and Cheeks into a superhero showdown, a fairytale fantasy, a Holmesian mystery, an epic galactic battle, a madcap high school romp, and a saucy secret-spy thrill ride.
Here is Chad’s review:
First off let me say this…I’m an avid Buffy fan. Always have been, always will be. It will forever hold the dearest place a TV show can hold in my heart. Since Buffy has been of the air for years I have tried my best to keep up with whoever from the Buffyverse I could. I have followed Emma and Sarah’s film and TV career(Side note if you haven’t seen Timer go do yourself a favor and watch it NOW on netflix!), Joss Whedon’s everything…I even saw the Avenger’s in theaters…and for a DC nut like me that was a big deal. As well as countless others in various entertainment mediums.
One of the most exciting things I have followed post-Buffy (RIP) has been the Buffyverse comics! They have been amazing, weird, funny, sad, creepy, romantic, and everything else I have come to love about Buffy and her peeps. Through this new comic medium it helped to grow my LOVE for Jane Espenson. When Buffy was first on the air Jane’s episodes were not always my most favorite, but since I began reading her comics I have truly fallen hard for her and her work(even changing my mind on her early Buffy episodes). She is truly a genius comic writer with an uncanny ability to fit in great and controversial social commentary in a truly human way. My new found love for Jane has caused me to go on a Jane quest to find all that is hers. Which brought me to Husbands.This was actually my first encounter with the series. I was weary of an internet show, but LOVE comics so I thought I would pick up the comic. Boy, am I glad i did!Husbands is set in the, hopefully, very near future after marriage equality is a thing. The plot is hilarious, sweet, sincere, and important. Just like the best moments of Buffy.On to the review of the comic book. It starts off with the newly wed husbands opening their wedding gifts. They find a custom made comic book with their likeness. The rest of the book takes the reader and the three main characters through five different genres, each with their own distinct art style. In each mini story the characters must discover a unique aspect of their love before they can move on and eventually come back home. The stories are hilarious and touching. It captures the essence of the web show (that I consumed back to back after reading the comic) while capitalizing on the comic book medium. Jane and Brad are at the top of their game in this comic book. I especially loved the super hero and the sherlock holmes stories, and the Archie art was great. If you are looking for something truly creative with great humor and social commentary Husbands is the comic for you!
