Tales of the Vampires

    (Dark Horse, 2003-2004)
™ and ©2003 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

It is difficult to steal the spotlight from Joss Whedon, the man who created Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but Andrew Goddard comes close with the start of a tale based on years’ worth of the series’ backstory. Tales of the Vampires focuses on two plots: Goddard’s story of how Drusilla went insane in Prague and Whedon’s tale of a disenchanted young girl who idolizes vampirism.

Existing fans of Buffy will no doubt be happy to see the slow, yet interesting, opening to Goddard’s story: told in story format to a group of young Watchers-in-Training. The first installment leaves the reader wanting more, which they will surely get in the upcoming issues. (The story, however, is not friendly to new readers. Those who may be unaware of who Spike and Dru are won’t find out from this.)

Whedon’s story is more accessible, because it does not focus on characters fans are already familiar with. As his fans have come to expect from Whedon, the story is masterfully conceived and well told. The man has an uncanny knack for making the most mundane and pedestrian story interesting — quickly displaying his creative, intelligent mind.

— Nathan Melby
Jump to issue:
  • 1
    #1
    Dec 2003
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Joss Whedon, Drew Goddard  ·  A: Alex Sanchez, Paul Lee, Cameron Stewart
    9 copies from $1.92
  • 2
    #2
    Jan 2004
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Joss Whedon, Jane Espenson, Brett Matthews  ·  A: Alex Sanchez, C. Scott Morse, Vatche Mavlian
    8 copies from $2.11
  • 3
    #3
    Feb 2004
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Joss Whedon, Jane Espenson, Drew Goddard  ·  A: Alex Sanchez, Jason Shawn Alexander, Ben Stenbeck
    6 copies from $2.25
  • 4
    #4
    Mar 2004
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Joss Whedon, Jane Espenson, Ben Edlund  ·  A: Alex Sanchez, Jeff Parker, Ben Edlund
    6 copies from $1.20
  • 5
    #5
    Apr 2004
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Joss Whedon, Sam Loeb, Brett Matthews  ·  A: Alex Sanchez, Tim Sale, Cliff Richards
    3 copies from $2.25
  • Bk 1
    Book #1
    Nov 2004
    Cover: $15.95
    W: Joss Whedon, Jane Espenson, Brett Matthews, Drew Goddard, Ben Edlund, Sam Loeb  ·  A: Alex Sanchez, Jason Shawn Alexander, C. Scott Morse, Jeff Parker, Vatche Mavlian, Cameron Stewart, Paul Lee, Derek Fridolfs, Sean Phillips, Ben Stenbeck, Tim Sale, Cliff Richards
    Collects Tales of the Vampires #1-5
    2 copies from $2.25