In the twenty-plus years since its beloved seven-season run on television ended, Buffy the Vampire Slayer has enjoyed continued popularity in the comic book medium, in series that have both extended the original continuity of the TV show, as well as also reimagining the past, present, and future of the franchise.

Publishers Dark Horse Comics and Boom! Studios have released numerous Buffy comics over the past two decades, and many fans of the iconic series will be surprised by some of the twists and turns that these stories have contained.

Comics have been essential to expanding the universe of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and to carrying on its vaunted pop culture legacy, in the absence of a long-heralded reboot. For those fans who have not dove into the comics yet, it is worth exploring some of the things they've missed.

10 Willow Is Chosen & Becomes The Vampire Slayer

First Introduced: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #27 – Written By Jeremy Lambert; Art By Carmelo Zagaria

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #27 introduces the series' final Big Bad, Silas the Multiverse Man. To combat the biggest threat to the multiverse, the Scooby Gang decided to travel to every universe they could to recruit an army of Slayers. One of them was an adult, heavy-drinking bartender Vampire Slayer version of Willow. This particular variant must have struck a chord with readers, because shortly after the final issue, Sarah Gailey's The Vampire Slayer hit shelves, depicting Willow in the role of Slayer.

While not depicting the same version of Willow, the universe at the center of Gailey's series was similar to the actual canon of the show. Except, this time, a spell gone awry transfers Buffy's Vampire Slayer powers to Willow, while also taking away Buffy's memories of ever being a Slayer.

9 Season Six Villain Warren Makes A Nightmare-Fuel Returns, Thanks To Amy

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight #3 – Written By Joss Whedon; Art By Georges Jeanty

The original Buffy the Vampire Slayer canon comic book continuation saw the return of Amy the Witch, as she unleashes an army of the undead against the Scooby Gang. In the midst of the chaos, Willow is approached by an even more shocking ghost from her past: Warren. Warren was the man who shot and killed Tara, then, as a result, Dark Willow flayed his body, killing him in the process. Now, as a newly skinless man, Warren reveals that Amy bore witness to Warren's supposed murder and used her magic to save him before he went into shock.

As if the return of Warren and Amy wasn't weird enough, it is even weird enough to see the two characters manage to form an unexpected romance. Still, it's not the oddest romance to happen in the comics, but more on that later.

8 Xander Is Turned, Becoming A Vampire & A Villain

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #4 – Written By Jordie Bellaire; Art By Dan Mora

Xander has often been accused of being the most boring, and utterlyturning him into a vampire.

She meant to kill him, but Spike took pity on Xander and gave him his blood. An incomplete siring places Xander between life and death, but eventually, after losing what humanity he has left in Buffy the Vampire Slayer #12, he embraces the more vile parts of his new demon entity. This is solidified in Buffy the Vampire Slayer #15, where he's officially referred to as the Master before proceeding to torment Buffy and her friends.

7 Giles Dies And Is Resurrected As A Child

Death Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight #39 – Written By Joss Whedon; Art By Scott Allie; Return: Angel & Faithn #22 – Written By Christos Gage; Art By Rebekah Isaacs

In the comics, Angel once again finds himself as a Big Bad, this time because he's he snaps Giles' neck. When Angel comes back to reality, that's when the guilt sets in for the vampire with a soul. Of course, anyone who knows Angel knows that guilt is pretty much his go-to default emotion, but this seems different. This is an ache that just won't mend for Angel, and the only way for him to overcome his guilt is to partake in a ritual that is made to bring Giles back to life.

While the ritual works, it's not perfect or foolproof as it doesn't bring Giles back exactly how he used to be. Instead, it brings Giles back as a child who is forced to relive his entire life and grow up all over again.

6 The Original Slayer Trinity Teams Up Once More (With Feeling)

Kendra's Debut: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #9 – Written By ; Jordie Bellaire; Art By David López; Faith's Debut: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #19 – Written By Jordie Bellaire & Jeremy Lambert; Art By Ramón Bachs

With BOOM! Studios offering a modern revamp of the original TV series, this gave them the opportunity to be creative in how they introduced the show's other Slayers. In the original show, Buffy had to die and resurrect for Kendra to be introduced, then Kendra died for Faith to be called. In the comic series, Buffy enters and becomes trapped in the Hellmouth, and by leaving the living plane of existence, she technically "dies" without actually dying, activating Kendra as a Slayer with Robin Wood as her Watcher.

Kendra technically died by leaving our corporeal plane, bringing Faith into the picture

Kendra comes to Sunnydale, entering the Hellmouth to save Buffy; both exit the Hellmouth, but again, Kendra technically died by leaving our corporeal plane, bringing Faith into the picture. The series tries to showcase the complications that come with Sunnydale housing three active Slayers at once, while also showcasing their chemistry as a unit, along with the friendship that comes with it.

5 Xander And Dawn Become The Franchise's Most Controversial Couple

First Kiss: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight #28 – Written By Jane Espenson; Art By Georges Jeanty

For a lot of readers, this might be the most surprising development, but also the most controversial. To put it bluntly, this is a romance that gives fans the major ick. Their dynamic on the show saw Xander serve as something of an older brother to the teenage Dawn, but in the comics, that dynamic materializes into a love affair. Of course, by now, Dawn is a legal adult, but that doesn't make it any less weird. Even the story itself acknowledges how weird this feels, but that doesn't stop the creative team to fully committing to this relationship.

When it comes time for the official canon ending, Xander and Dawn are married with a child named Joyce. Whether readers love it or hate it, Xander and Dawn are an endgame couple.

4 Buffy's Role As The Slayer Is Reimagined In A Post-Apocalyptic Future

Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer #1 – Written By Casey Gilley; Art By Jose Jaro

For anyone satisfied with the ending of the television show, or who hoped that Buffy Summers and her friends got a happy ending, they may want to stay clear of Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer. The series turns Buffy's uplifting ending and takes the cast in the most bleak direction possible. Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer offers a dark future for its title character; the series envisions a world where, due to a global peace treaty following the blotting of the sun, all of Buffy's friends are dead (save for Anya). In addition, all the Slayers and potential Slayers are dead as well, truly making Buffy the last Slayer.

With a world shrouded in darkness, it affects Buffy on an emotional and physical level. She's lost without her Scooby Gang, but she's also on a losing battle against vampires who can freely walk the earth, especially when her powers stop working in her old age.

3 Willow And Tara Have a Daughter, And She Becomes The Slayer

Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer #1 – Written By Casey Gilly; Art By Joe Jaro

When all hope looks lost, a new hope arrives when Buffy is visited by a young teenage girl named Thessaly claiming to be suring Buffy in the process.

Even better, Thessaly not learns under the tutelage of Buffy, but she has Spike as her Watcher, practically making him a stepdad to her. All this knowledge from the world's greatest Slayer and the world's craftiest vamp, along with her skills as a magic , all make Thessaly into a serious threat.

2 Buffy Officially s The Watcher's Council

Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer Special #1 – Written By Casey Gilly; Art By Jose Jaro

For anyone disappointed that Buffy missed out on her happy ending from the TV show, rest assured that she does get a semblance of a happy ending even in the midst of an apocalypse in the distant future. The original series ends with Thessaly firmly established as the new Slayer, while Buffy herself rekindles a romance with Spike, even if Spuffy's happy ending comes with a dark twist.

Most importantly, as bleak as the future becomes, it's not too bleak for Buffy to start working toward a better future for the next generation. She does so by ing the Watchers Council, changing it from within for an added emphasis on forming personal relationships with the Slayers. It's something that Giles did for her, but in the previous incarnation of the Watchers Council, he was the exception to the rule.

1 Spike Officially Becomes The Endgame Romance For Buffy Summers

Buffy the Last Vampire Slayer #2 – Written By Casey Gilly; Art By Joe Jaro

As alluded to in the last entry, Spike and Buffy reunite and get back together. Sorry, "Spangel" fans, but "Spuffy" is the romance that gets validated in the comics. After not seeing each other for several years, Spike resurfaces in The Last Vampire Slayer, while raising his own coven of witches. This leads to a reunion between the former lovers after decades apart. While Buffy is initially resistant to Buffy's charms, she can resist no longer the closer Spike gets.

They subsequently collaborate on rebuilding the Watchers Council and rebuilding a life together

When the dust settles, the two officially get back together; they subsequently collaborate on rebuilding the Watchers Council and rebuilding a life together. Spike is especially instrumental in her post-Slayer life, as Buffy struggles to find her identity when she no longer has to be Buffy the Vampire Slayer with Thessaly in the picture.