Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Crash Test Demons

This graphic novel collects issues 13 - 15 of the Buffy Comic series and features a story from Buffy's early high school years, probably circa season one. The Story by Andi Watson features the teen vampire villian called Selke. She's a vain, model type who is withering away. With the help of a alchemist/plastic surgeon, Selke is given daily treatments to restore her beauty but also finds a special blood source that makes vampires stronger than ever. Selve proceeds to lead a small army of super-vamps who threaten the Slayer as well as the average vamps. This eventually leads to all out war between the two factions of Vamps with Buffy and Angel caught in the middle. It's a solid storyline. Watson clearly has a good grasp of the various characters and their mannerisms, speech, befavior, etc, and they fit along very well with their TV counterparts. Nothing here in anyway would upset or contrast with the continuity of the TV show. Cliff Richards' art is very strong and he does a great job of making the characters look true to life, not always easy to do for a comic artist.

This is one of those special moments when you realize that somebody out there in the world of publishing simply ran out of ideas for a title. I have no clue why Scott Allie (the usual editor for the trade paperbacks) decided that 'Crash Test Demons' was the perfect title. Well, a car is crunched (by Buffy), there is a test (Cordelia's) and, of course, where there is a Buffy there are demons. Fortunately, one does not judge a story by its title.Now for a little continuity. This graphic trade paperback presents the stories from BTVS comics 13, 14, and 15. They also comprise numbers 4, 5, and 6 of 'Bad Blood,' the story of Buffy's conflict with Selke. It is the sequel to the trade paperback of the same name. "Delia's Gone" introduces us to an entirely new Cordelia. She is determined to help Willow win the intramural quiz-bowl competition when another contestant is vampirized at a bad time (it there a good time?). Selke has her looks back and does a little partying before hatching a plot to take out The Slayer and turn Sunnydale into a meat market."Love Sick Blues" finds Buffy trying to figure out where a sudden run of super vampires is coming from. Fortunately, they seem to spend as much time picking on each other as they do making food runs. Of course, Selke and Doc Flitter know what's cooking, but they are not about to share the information.Angel and Giles try to track down the source of the strange vampires in "Lost Highway." Buffy is trying to make it to a concert one what was supposed to be her night off, but, as usual, a few 'things' get in her way. Selke and the Doc have gone over the edge cooking up a bit of a surprise for our girl with the stake.Artwork is by Cliff Richards and Joe Pimentel and is up to their usual high standard. The 'extra' in this book is an interview with Cliff Richards (who lives in Brazil) and includes many of the trial sketches that got him the job. Of all the illustrators that have worked on the comics, Richards seems best at capturing the characters as they appear in the program. Andi Watson's story line is getting a bit erratic as the series progresses. The individual plots compete with the Selke story arc, creating a profusion of scene shifts. This doesn't seem to work as well in the intense format of a comic story as it does in a media where there is more space to grow the story. Even so, this is another 'must have' for the determined Buffy fan.

This trade collects issues 13, 14, and 15 of the ongoing series. The cover art for each issue is great, and the interior art is crisp and clean. It makes for easy reading. In "Delia's Gone" Cordelia wants to be a quiz champion so she employs a little magic. Things go awry, and in the meantime Selke continues to plot and plan. This issue has some very funny dialogue, I really enjoyed it. Next is "Love Sick Blues" with everyone's favorite -- Spike and Dru! Also, Selke is trying to make some sort of Buffy clone. . .a very good continuation of the storyline. In "Lost Highway" Selke and co. are trying to make their dark slayer but with a few mess-ups. This trade is well drawn, exciting, and well written. Certainly worthwhile.

Crash Test Demons contains three tales of horror: Delia's Gone, Love Sick Blues and Lost Highway. Selke, an old enemy of the slayer, is the glue that holds the stories together. Just to sweeten the plot Spike and Dru make a cameo appearance with a promise of things to come. The sub plots of a quiz show, a love sick suitor, and Buffy's driving are not as developed as they could be. The art work is very detailed. The characters are well drawn although I believe Willow could be improved. Her face is a bit too rounded. The action sparkles with color. The vampires are quite nasty and entertaining. For those who enjoy graphic novels and especially for those who have read Bad Blood and Remaining Sunlight I recommend this book.