Buffy The High School Years: Glutton for Punishment
Written by Kel McDonald
Illustrated by Yishan Li
Dark Horse Books
November 1, 2016
Reviewed by Elaine Pascale
Plagued by extra-curricular demands, Buffy and crew become concerned when a home ec teacher goes missing and odd demands for delicious concoctions are placed on the class.
Buffy the High School Years: Glutton for Punishment has the arc of the A plot line from the TV show. Readers are expected to know the characters and their backstories already (and most will). Buffy, Willow and Xander navigate the halls of Sunnydale High, while simultaneously working as the slayers of dark forces. Their relationship is inferred, rather than stated. The writing is minimalistic and at a reading level that would be easy for a young audience. The art is manga style; attractive in terms of colors, but not realistic. The cover art is in the style of the series, so it differs from what appears inside.
Buffy incorporates the onomatopoetic and subdued violence associated with the old Bat Man shows: “Bap” and “Whap” are written when Buffy delivers a well-placed punch. The dialogue and interactions between the characters is in the G-PG range: nothing that would not be shown during Saturday morning cartoons.
I had been hoping for vampires, but was pleasantly surprised by the monster in Glutton for Punishment. This edition of Buffy would be appropriate for a young audience—particularly those that are entertained by Scooby Doo Mysteries and the like. It is a simple, train-ride read for adults, and one that should be well received by Buffy fans.
