This mini-series was adapted from Joss Whedon’s original Buffy movie screenplay. Now I must confess that I’ve never watched the Buffy movie all the way through. I’ve intended to but the closest I’ve come is discovering it’s on t.v. and catching it somewhere in the middle. I prefer Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy over Kristy Swanson but that’s most likely because she was the Buffy I was first exposed to. A friend of mine won’t watch the t.v. show because they don’t have Buffy do the val speak Kristy Swanson did in the movie. Go figure.

As a result I’m not going to be able to give you much information on how this comic holds up against the movie. I do know that Joss Whedon was none too thrilled about the way the movie turned out. He wanted more of an action-adventure/horror flick that also had humor rather than a humor flick with a little bit of horror.

The artwork is as strong as that seen in the ongoing series. Not surprising since Bennett and Ketcham work on it as well. Once again the low special effects cost of a comic gives us uglier more ghoulish looking vamps. Rather than have to pay to use the actors’ likenesses all of the minor and major characters are not drawn to look as they appeared in the movie. In keeping with the Buffy t.v. show Sarah Michelle Gellar’s likeness is used for "The Origin" Buffy.

The story gives you a nice insight into Buffy before the responsibility of being the Slayer was thrust upon her. She’s just your typical California High School cheerleader with equally vacuous friends and a jock boyfriend.

If you’re a Buffy fan, pick up this mini. It’s the closest you’re going to get to seeing Joss Whedon’s version of the Buffy movie.