Buffy the Vampire Slayer is gearing up to step out of the shadows. The hit ’90s series is eyeing a comeback as Sarah Michelle Gellar is set to star in its television rival. It won’t be long before Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale comes to life and bring with it a new Slayer for a new generation. But just in case you forgot, well — Buffy the Vampire Slayer already has the perfect sequel.
While it never hit the small screen, the Buffyverse put forward its own sequel years ago under Joss Whedon’s guidance. The series creator crafted the spin-off Fray in 2001, believe it or not. The overlooked sequel has been around for 24 years now, and it’s one every fan should peek at before Buffy the Vampire Slayer makes its television return.
Fray Is the Forgotten Buffy Sequel Fans Deserve
More than 20 years ago, Buffy the Vampire Slayer expanded its lore with Fray, a sci-fi limited series set in the far future. The series follows a young woman named Melaka Fray, a Slayer who lives in a high-tech iteration of New York City. In this future, the city’s slums are rife with vampires while the rich keep themselves safe with their wealth. Written by Whedon, this little-known Buffyverse entry takes the mythos introduced in Buffy and cranks it up to eleven. But sadly, the eight-issue series has struggled to stand the test of time.
Despite the comic’s close ties with Buffy the Vampire Slayer season seven, Fray has been all but forgotten. It’s been over 20 years since the futuristic sequel dropped, and in that time, the Buffy fandom has moved on. Thanks to new comics and viral podcasts, the community’s hunger for nostalgia helped it overlook Fray, and the ambitious sequel is only now coming back into the light. All the new attention has come in the wake of Buffy‘s impending television return and to the surprise of few, Fray seems to be a hit with curious fans.
Fray Proves Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Revival Can Work
As Buffy the Vampire Slayer eyes its return to TV, it is more important than ever to revisit the franchise as a whole. Buffy Summers’ journey as a Slayer transformed the character into a modern legend, and fans expect the heroine will do so again in this revival. Still, there is more to the Buffyverse than fans realize. Beyond the show’s extensive comic continuation, Buffy the Vampire Slayer broke the mold with Fray. The ambitious sequel asked fans to enter a world even darker than the one they found on television, and readers brave enough to enter met Melaka in exchange.
The 19-year-old isn’t talked about much these days, but her Slayer journey is second to none. This comic sequel shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s charm was hardly an accident. After all, Melaka experiences the same highs and lows that Summer does on screen. If this magic can be captured a third time, there is little doubt Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale will be a success. The only question is whether the team at Hulu is up for the task.
