
It seems that a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot is still a distant dream. Although there have been numerous attempts in recent years to bring the beloved show back to life, none have materialized into anything substantial. This absence of a reboot might actually be a blessing in disguise, but there’s no doubt that many fans would love to see Buffy Summers and her companions return to the small screen for new adventures.
Recently, Sarah Michelle Gellar, who originally portrayed Buffy, hinted that she would be open to reprising her role in either a reboot or a continuation of the story. While Dolly Parton, who was an uncredited producer on the original show, has teased the possibility of a “revamped” version, there have been no official announcements.
In the meantime, there’s something fans can enjoy: “Buffy The Vampire Slayer: A Picture Book”, a children’s bedtime story released in 2018 as part of the Pop Classics collection. The picture book is a fresh take on the series, reimagining Buffy and her friends as young children. It’s illustrated by Kim Smith and presents the story from the perspective of an older Buffy, now a seasoned vampire slayer, looking back on her early days.
“The cult classic TV show is now a charming picture book for the youngest fans in the Buffyverse!” the official synopsis reads. “In this new picture-book story brought to life with cute and colorful illustrations, young readers see what the world’s strongest vampire slayer was like back when she was a kid! Join not-so-brave little Buffy, Willow, and Xander as they investigate strange sounds coming from the closet, seek advice from their school librarian Giles, and encounter everyone’s favorite Buffyverse monsters.”
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The story begins with Buffy hearing unsettling noises coming from her closet. She invites her two best friends, Willow and Xander, over for a sleepover so they can investigate. Of course, Rupert Giles, the school librarian, also makes an appearance, along with some fun surprises: several well-known demons from the series make their way into the narrative.
The demons appear at the end of the book, after Buffy, Willow, and Xander have gathered the courage to open the closet. Among the familiar faces are the “loose-skinned” demon Clement, the “Vengeance demon” D’Hoffryn, the demon Sweet from the musical episode “Once More, With Feeling,” and the Gentleman from the chilling episode “Hush.”
In an interesting twist, however, none of the demons in this reimagining are depicted as threatening; rather, they’re friendly and even join the kids for their sleepover!
If you’ve missed the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and are eager for more, you can find the original series available for streaming on Disney+.
The show starred Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers, alongside Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase, David Boreanaz as Angel, Anthony Head as Rupert Giles, Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris, Seth Green as Oz, Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg, Eliza Dushku as Faith, and James Marsters as Spike.
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