Buffyverse
Encyclopedia
The Buffyverse, also known as the Whedonverse or Slayerverse , is the shared fictional universe
in which the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel
are set. This term, originally coined by fans of the TV series, has since been used in the titles of published works, and adopted by Joss Whedon
, the creator of the fictional universe. The Buffyverse is a place in which supernatural phenomena exist, and supernatural evil can be challenged by people willing to fight against such forces.
).
Outside of the TV series, the Buffyverse has been expanded and elaborated by various authors and artists in the so-called "Buffyverse Expanded Universe
". The Buffyverse novels
, Buffy video games
and the vast majority of Buffyverse comics
, are licensed by 20th Century Fox
, but are generally considered 'less real' within the Buffyverse (apocryphal
). The creators of these works are generally free to tell their own stories set in the Buffyverse, and may or may not keep to established continuity. Unlike some other multimedia Universes, such as the Star Wars Expanded Universe, which uses complicated retcons to be as inclusive as possible in what it considers canon, the Buffyverse often fails to keep continuity over the different mediums. The numerous Buffy novels often come into conflict with the comics, and, in fact, are often themselves contradictory. Similarly, writers for the TV series are under no obligation to use continuity which has been established by the Expanded Universe, and may contradict it.
The works sometimes flesh out background information on characters. For example Go Ask Malice
provides essential information about the origins of the character, Faith Lehane
.
The Buffyverse comics
were first published by Dark Horse
who have retained the right to produce Buffy comics
. IDW
now hold the license to produce Angel comics
. Joss Whedon wrote an eight-issue miniseries for Dark Horse Comics
entitled Fray
, about a futuristic vampire slayer. Its final issue came out in August 2003. Pocket Books
hold the license to produce Buffy novels
, but their license to produce Angel novels
expired in 2004.
The Buffyverse has also inspired several unofficial Buffy the Vampire Slayer productions. For example, in recent years fan films have been created for distribution on the internet (considered fanon
), and several adult parodies of Buffy have also been produced. None of these were licensed by 20th Century Fox as official Buffy merchandise.
. The Old Ones were eventually driven out of this dimension. Any who remained were vanquished or imprisoned in the "Deeper Well", which is essentially a hole in Earth with one end opening in England. The entrance within England is in a tree ("Hole in the World" Angel Season 5). These demons are the object of reverence and worship from lesser demon species.
esy
Can be killed by
Vulnerable to
Other
mythology, werewolves are people who suffer from lycanthropy
. In the Buffyverse, werewolf characters are shown to have an animal side which either complements or clashes with their human side. Prominent werewolf characters include Oz, Veruca, and Nina Ash. Some werewolves have shown the ability to gain control/achieve harmony between their human and bestial sides (Oz and his teacher in the comics).
There are many kinds of demons portrayed in the Buffyverse, of many different natures and origins. Some demons are shown to live and reproduce on Earth (the Bezoar in "Bad Eggs"), but some are extraterrestrial (the Queller demon in "Listening to Fear"), extradimensional (Lorne
on Angel), ex-humans (Anya Jenkins
was a peasant who became a vengeance demon), and hybrids (Cordelia Chase
had aspects of demon fused in her). Some species of demon are capable of breeding with humans (Doyle
has a human mother and a demon father). Anya Jenkins
states in the episode "Graduation Day" that the demons that walk the earth are not pure demons, they are half-breeds. She states that true demons are "bigger", in reference to Mayor Richard Wilkins
' Ascension into a true demon.
Some demons in Buffy are shown to be inherently evil and interested in causing suffering, death, and harm. Other characters challenge this notion however, with demons such as Clem and Lorne who appear basically good.
.) And, although some of their methods and goals proved questionable, a government-funded group known as The Initiative was also aware of the existence of demons and was fighting a secret war against them. Other large scale groups appear in both Buffy and Angel, often as antagonists to the heroes due to differing views on how to fight the good fight.
A witch can inherit their lineage from their parents or develop their craft over many years, and neither a witch nor warlock must necessarily be human, such as Cyvus Vail.
episode Angel) seem to be born with their powers. Drusilla had psychic powers as a human before becoming a vampire though their origins are never explained. Others, like Marcie Ross from the episode Out of Mind, Out of Sight
or the trio of Nerds gain their powers by other magical, non-magical, or "scientific" means. Connor (Angel) is also a human with supernatural powers, similar to those of vampires, because he was born as a product of two vampire parents.
Additionally, there is much technology specifically geared towards the supernatural, used by the government organization known as "The Initiative" and the demonic law firm Wolfram and Hart
.
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
in which the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel
Angel (TV series)
Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
are set. This term, originally coined by fans of the TV series, has since been used in the titles of published works, and adopted by Joss Whedon
Joss Whedon
Joseph Hill "Joss" Whedon is an American screenwriter, executive producer, director, comic book writer, occasional composer and actor, founder of Mutant Enemy Productions and co-creator of Bellwether Pictures...
, the creator of the fictional universe. The Buffyverse is a place in which supernatural phenomena exist, and supernatural evil can be challenged by people willing to fight against such forces.
The construction of the Buffyverse
The Buffyverse is a fictional construct created by hundreds of individual stories told through TV, novels, comics and other media. It began with the first episodes of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series in 1997 and expanded with the spinoff TV series Angel in 1999. The popularity of these series led to licensed fiction carrying the Buffy and Angel labels, and resulted in fans beginning to distinguish what they consider 'real' within the Buffyverse (canonBuffyverse canon
The Buffyverse canon consists of materials that are thought to be genuine and those events, characters, settings, etc., that are considered to have inarguable existence within the fictional universe established by the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer...
).
Outside of the TV series, the Buffyverse has been expanded and elaborated by various authors and artists in the so-called "Buffyverse Expanded Universe
Expanded Universe
The term Expanded Universe is generally used to denote the 'extension' of a media franchise with other media...
". The Buffyverse novels
Buffyverse novels
Buffyverse novels include Buffy novels, Angel novels, Buffy/Angel novels and Tales of the Slayer.-History:-BS1:These Buffyverse tales take place around Buffy Season 1 .-BS2:...
, Buffy video games
Buffy video games
Several official video game adaptations of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer have been released:-Buffy the Vampire Slayer :Released in 2000 for Game Boy Color. Set in the fourth season...
and the vast majority of Buffyverse comics
Buffyverse comics
This is a List of Buffyverse comics including different categories of different types of publications.-Categories:*Buffy comics. These were published by Dark Horse, originally in comic format but then gathered into volumes of trade paperbacks. They were published from 1998 until 2004. A small...
, are licensed by 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
, but are generally considered 'less real' within the Buffyverse (apocryphal
Apocrypha (fiction)
In the context of fiction, apocrypha includes those fictional stories that do not belong within a fictional universe's canon, yet still have some authority relating to that fictional universe...
). The creators of these works are generally free to tell their own stories set in the Buffyverse, and may or may not keep to established continuity. Unlike some other multimedia Universes, such as the Star Wars Expanded Universe, which uses complicated retcons to be as inclusive as possible in what it considers canon, the Buffyverse often fails to keep continuity over the different mediums. The numerous Buffy novels often come into conflict with the comics, and, in fact, are often themselves contradictory. Similarly, writers for the TV series are under no obligation to use continuity which has been established by the Expanded Universe, and may contradict it.
The works sometimes flesh out background information on characters. For example Go Ask Malice
Go Ask Malice
Go Ask Malice: A Slayer's Diary is an original novel based on the American television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The author, Robert Joseph Levy, also wrote the Buffyverse novel The Suicide King....
provides essential information about the origins of the character, Faith Lehane
Faith Lehane
Faith is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Played by actress Eliza Dushku in the TV series and by Whitney Thompson in the motion comic series, Faith was introduced in the third season of Buffy and was a focus of that season's...
.
The Buffyverse comics
Buffyverse comics
This is a List of Buffyverse comics including different categories of different types of publications.-Categories:*Buffy comics. These were published by Dark Horse, originally in comic format but then gathered into volumes of trade paperbacks. They were published from 1998 until 2004. A small...
were first published by Dark Horse
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
who have retained the right to produce Buffy comics
Buffy comics
Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics refer to comic books based on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. While many of these comics were published when the television show was on air they are not all considered canonical and often deal with characters who do not appear on in the television...
. IDW
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
now hold the license to produce Angel comics
Angel comics
Angel comic book refers to one of two series published by Dark Horse Comics during 2000–2002. Both of these series are based on the television series Angel, and were published while the television series was on air. The first volume was an ongoing series halted after seventeen issues. The second...
. Joss Whedon wrote an eight-issue miniseries for Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
entitled Fray
Fray
Fray is an eight-issue comic book limited series, a futuristic spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Written by Buffy creator Joss Whedon, the series follows a Slayer named Melaka Fray, a chosen one in a time where vampires are returning to the slums of New York City, and the...
, about a futuristic vampire slayer. Its final issue came out in August 2003. Pocket Books
Pocket Books
Pocket Books is a division of Simon & Schuster that primarily publishes paperback books.- History :Pocket produced the first mass-market, pocket-sized paperback books in America in early 1939 and revolutionized the publishing industry...
hold the license to produce Buffy novels
Buffy novels
Buffy novels have been published since 1998. Originally, under the Pocket Books imprint of Simon & Schuster they are now published by Simon Spotlight Entertainment which launched in 2004...
, but their license to produce Angel novels
Angel novels
Angel novels have been published since 2000 by Pocket Books. The last was published in 2004.-Season 1:These Buffyverse tales take place during Buffy season 4, and Angel season 1 .-Season 2:...
expired in 2004.
The Buffyverse has also inspired several unofficial Buffy the Vampire Slayer productions. For example, in recent years fan films have been created for distribution on the internet (considered fanon
Fanon (fiction)
In works of fiction, fanon is a customary and unofficial canon established in a spontaneous manner by the community of fans at large, for example fan clubs, whenever the official canon is not clear on some points of its narrative....
), and several adult parodies of Buffy have also been produced. None of these were licensed by 20th Century Fox as official Buffy merchandise.
Characteristics of the Buffyverse
In many ways this world is not dissimilar to ours. However, in the Buffyverse, elements of the supernatural are found throughout the world, though only a small proportion of the human population is aware of this. It is interesting to note that although many unique aspects of the Buffyverse are introduced as "good" or "evil" and are usually treated as such, both "good" and "bad" tend to be forced into more ambiguous "grey areas". A few of the main aspects of the Buffyverse follow.The Old Ones
The world was originally ruled by powerful pure-breed demons, the Old OnesOld Ones (Buffyverse)
In the Buffyverse, the Old Ones are the extremely powerful, pure-breed demons that once dominated Earth before humankind appeared. Illyria is one of these demons, though its real form was revealed only in an illustration.-History:...
. The Old Ones were eventually driven out of this dimension. Any who remained were vanquished or imprisoned in the "Deeper Well", which is essentially a hole in Earth with one end opening in England. The entrance within England is in a tree ("Hole in the World" Angel Season 5). These demons are the object of reverence and worship from lesser demon species.
Vampires
According to legend in the Buffyverse, the last Old One to leave this dimension fed off a human and their blood mixed. A demon was trapped in the human body in the place of the soul. Giles describes how the being "bit another, and another, and so they walk the Earth". Some elements of traditional vampire mythology are used while others are abandoned. These said elements (listed below) are essentially the rules of a Vampires life.esy
Can be killed by
- Wooden stake through the heart
- Extensive exposure to sunlight (in Earth's dimension only)
- Extensive exposure to fire
- Decapitation
- Holy Water (ingestion)
- Magical and Supernatural Devices and spells (such as an amulet that channels sunlight)
Vulnerable to
- Exposure to Holy Water
- Physical contact of a Christian Crucifix
- Highly limited exposure to sunlight
- Highly limited exposure to fire
- Easily possessed by supernatural creatures and forces
- Restored souls by Gypsy magic which causes them regrets and great moral pain
- Supernatural spells and devices affect them even more than living beings
- Ancient Prophecies will always be fulfilled in way nobody expects (events may "wag the dog")
- Chip brain implants may cause emotions and through pain force ethical behavior (in Spike)
Other
- Must be invited into the home of a living human soul before entering; public places are open to all
- Vampires "dust" when killed, their bodies and clothes explode to dust like popped balloons
- Have no reflection (However, in the conclusion of Angel's opening credits, David Boreanaz's reflection can be seen in a long narrow puddle.)
- Superhuman Strength, Constitution, Speed, and Senses.
- Have no soul, unless it is in some way restored such as with Angel and later Spike.
- Cannot have children, unless foretold by prophecy such as Angel and Darla's son Connor.
- BulletBulletA bullet is a projectile propelled by a firearm, sling, or air gun. Bullets do not normally contain explosives, but damage the intended target by impact and penetration...
s cannot kill vampires but can cause them extreme pain. - In the first episode, garlic is seen in Buffy's trunk along with stakes, crosses, and holy water. It is also used by Buffy in "Wrecked" to repel Spike (Buffy). Also, in the episode "The Wish," which explored an episode where Buffy Summers never came to Sunnydale, allowing vampires to rule the city, garlic is seen lining the lockers of Sunnydale High. Also in this episode they allude that bright colors attract the vampires, and therefore the towns people wear dark, muted colors, with the exception of Cordelia.
- They can be tranquilized.
- Can become intoxicated by consuming alcohol or the blood of a human who is intoxicated with drugs, according to Spike in season two, where he claims that after he drank from a hippie at Woodstock, he spent "the next six hours watching [his] hand move," meaning that vampires can also get high from consuming the blood of a person intoxicated with drugs.
- Ancient prophecy is a plot device to bend rules; Magic devices such as rings can create exceptions such as protecting from sunlight and from being killed (such as Harmony when she finds the ring at first)
Werewolves
As in historical werewolfWerewolf
A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope , is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse...
mythology, werewolves are people who suffer from lycanthropy
Lycanthropy
Lycanthropy is the professed ability or power of a human being to undergo transformation into a werewolf, or to gain wolf-like characteristics. The term comes from Greek Lykànthropos : λύκος, lykos + άνθρωπος, ànthrōpos...
. In the Buffyverse, werewolf characters are shown to have an animal side which either complements or clashes with their human side. Prominent werewolf characters include Oz, Veruca, and Nina Ash. Some werewolves have shown the ability to gain control/achieve harmony between their human and bestial sides (Oz and his teacher in the comics).
Demons
In the Buffyverse, the term "demon" is inexact; it has been applied to just about every creature that isn't a god, robot, unmodified human, or standard terrestrial animal. Some classes of creature, such as Vampires and Old Ones, are known to be demons but not always referred to as such.There are many kinds of demons portrayed in the Buffyverse, of many different natures and origins. Some demons are shown to live and reproduce on Earth (the Bezoar in "Bad Eggs"), but some are extraterrestrial (the Queller demon in "Listening to Fear"), extradimensional (Lorne
Lorne (Buffyverse)
Krevlornswath of the Deathwok Clan, more commonly called "Lorne" or "The Host", is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Angel. The character was portrayed by the late actor Andy Hallett.-Character history:...
on Angel), ex-humans (Anya Jenkins
Anya Jenkins
Anya is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She also appears in the comic book series based on the television show. Portrayed by Emma Caulfield, the character appears as a guest star in the third and fourth seasons of the show before...
was a peasant who became a vengeance demon), and hybrids (Cordelia Chase
Cordelia Chase
Cordelia Chase is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer; she also appeared on Buffy's spin-off series Angel...
had aspects of demon fused in her). Some species of demon are capable of breeding with humans (Doyle
Allen Francis Doyle
Allen Francis Doyle is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the cult television series, Angel. The character was portrayed by Glenn Quinn.-Character history:Doyle was born to a human mother and a Brachen demon father...
has a human mother and a demon father). Anya Jenkins
Anya Jenkins
Anya is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She also appears in the comic book series based on the television show. Portrayed by Emma Caulfield, the character appears as a guest star in the third and fourth seasons of the show before...
states in the episode "Graduation Day" that the demons that walk the earth are not pure demons, they are half-breeds. She states that true demons are "bigger", in reference to Mayor Richard Wilkins
Richard Wilkins
Richard Wilkins III is a fictional character in the fantasy television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer . Portrayed by Harry Groener, he is the mayor of Sunnydale, a fictional town rife with vampires and demons in which the main character, Buffy Summers lives...
' Ascension into a true demon.
Some demons in Buffy are shown to be inherently evil and interested in causing suffering, death, and harm. Other characters challenge this notion however, with demons such as Clem and Lorne who appear basically good.
Slayers
A group of shamans used the essence of a demon to produce the First Slayer. She was banished from her own village and forced to fight the forces of darkness alone. When she died another girl was "chosen" in her place. The line of Slayers is maintained right up until some point in the 21st century. The Slayer is given great strength, lightning reflexes, fast healing powers and is highly skilled with many weapons and Martial Arts.Watchers
The Watchers' Council historically offers guidance to the Slayer, assisting them by supervising their training and by researching existing and possible demonic or supernatural threats. Notable Watchers include Rupert Giles, Watcher of series protagonist Buffy, and Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, who temporarily takes over in season 3."The Good Fight"
While most of humanity in the Buffyverse seems oblivious to the existence of demons, other groups and organizations that are waging their own battles against evil come to light over the course of Buffy and Angel and in related media. For example, a group of socially disadvantaged youth in L.A. organized themselves to battle the vampires destroying their community. (See Charles GunnCharles Gunn
Charles Gunn is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series, Angel. The character is portrayed by J. August Richards, and was named by Whedon after filmmaker James Gunn and actor Sean Gunn, both of whom had worked with Whedon...
.) And, although some of their methods and goals proved questionable, a government-funded group known as The Initiative was also aware of the existence of demons and was fighting a secret war against them. Other large scale groups appear in both Buffy and Angel, often as antagonists to the heroes due to differing views on how to fight the good fight.
Magic
Magic in the Buffyverse can be used for all manner of control. Spells can be performed by anyone by use of magical items while saying particular words. Witches and warlocks however have more knowledge and power for using it for their purposes.A witch can inherit their lineage from their parents or develop their craft over many years, and neither a witch nor warlock must necessarily be human, such as Cyvus Vail.
Humans with powers
While not prominent in the Buffyverse, there are individuals who gain special powers through means other than the ones mentioned above. Gwen Raiden and Bethany (from the AngelAngel (TV series)
Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
episode Angel) seem to be born with their powers. Drusilla had psychic powers as a human before becoming a vampire though their origins are never explained. Others, like Marcie Ross from the episode Out of Mind, Out of Sight
Out of Mind, Out of Sight
"Out of Mind, Out of Sight", also known as "Invisible Girl", is the 11th episode of season one of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer....
or the trio of Nerds gain their powers by other magical, non-magical, or "scientific" means. Connor (Angel) is also a human with supernatural powers, similar to those of vampires, because he was born as a product of two vampire parents.
Technology
Technology in the Buffyverse is more advanced than in the real world, although the applications of it do not seem to be common knowledge. Examples of advanced technology include:- The demon Moloch has an advanced robotic body built for him to inhabit "I, Robot... You, JaneI, Robot... You, Jane"I, Robot...You, Jane" is the eighth episode of season 1 of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The episode was written by staff writers Ashley Gable and Thomas A. Swyden, and directed by Stephen Posey....
." - Inventor Ted Buchannon built a highly advanced android version of himself in the 1950s that was capable of impersonating a human being without drawing suspicion. ("Ted")
- Warren MearsWarren MearsWarren Mears is a fictional character portrayed by Adam Busch in the American television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as its canonical comic book series continuation.-Television:...
builds a life-like android named April as a companion in the episode "I Was Made to Love YouI Was Made to Love You (Buffy episode)"I Was Made to Love You" is the 15th episode of season 5 of the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer.-Plot synopsis:Buffy rants about her problems with Spike to Giles while pounding away at Xander who is wearing a sumo-sized bodysuit. Xander consoles the Slayer about her love life, blaming the...
", then builds the Buffybot for Spike as well as an android version of himself. He later forms and leads the TrioTrio (Buffyverse)The Trio is the name of three fictional characters in the sixth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, who serve as the villains of the season. They continually strive to neutralize Buffy, the Slayer, and thus the primary obstacle to their ultimate goal of taking over Sunnydale...
as their technology guru. The trio is shown to use a freeze ray ("SmashedSmashed (Buffy episode)"Smashed" is the 9th episode of season 6 of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.-Plot synopsis:Willow, sad and lonely without Tara, figures out a way to turn the metamorphosed Amy from a rat back into human. Feeling newly liberated, they decide to go out and have some fun. At The...
"), an invisibility ray ("GoneGone (Buffy episode)"Gone" is the 11th episode of season 6 of the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer.-Plot synopsis:Buffy feels life spinning out of control. In the previous episode, Willow got high on the magic and crashed a car, breaking Dawn's arm. Willow is still distraught. Dawn is ignoring Buffy...
"), a Cerebral Dampener capable of removing someone's free will ("Dead Things"), and jet packs ("Seeing RedSeeing Red (Buffy episode)"Seeing Red" is episode 19 of season 6 of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In North America, this episode was transmitted to UPN affiliates a week early by accident...
"). - Pete Clarner is shown to create a chemical compound that gives him highly enhanced strength. ("Beauty and the Beasts")
Additionally, there is much technology specifically geared towards the supernatural, used by the government organization known as "The Initiative" and the demonic law firm Wolfram and Hart
Wolfram and Hart
Wolfram & Hart − Attorneys at Law is a fictional international, and interdimensional law firm featured in the television series Angel, as well as other extended materials in Joss Whedon's Buffyverse.-Fictional history:...
.