Buffyverse
This article describes a work or element of fiction in a primarily in-universe style. (September 2022) |
Buffyverse | |
---|---|
Created by | Joss Whedon |
Original work | Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) |
Owner | 20th Century Studios |
Years | 1992–present |
Print publications | |
Novel(s) | List of Buffyverse novels |
Comics | List of Buffyverse comics |
Films and television | |
Film(s) | Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) |
Television series | Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003) Angel (1999–2004) |
Games | |
Traditional |
|
Role-playing | Buffyverse role-playing games |
Video game(s) | Buffy the Vampire Slayer video games |
Audio | |
Soundtrack(s) | Buffy: The Album The Buffy EP) |
Audiobook | Slayers: A Buffyverse Story |
List of all Buffyverse canon |
The Buffyverse or Slayerverse is a
Construction
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.
Outside of the TV series, the Buffyverse has been expanded and elaborated by various authors and artists in the so-called "Buffyverse
The Buffyverse comics were first published by
Characteristics
The Buffyverse is distinguished from the real world in that it contains supernatural elements, though only a small proportion of the human population is aware of this. In regards to the presentation of morality, many aspects of the Buffyverse are introduced as good or evil and are usually treated as such, though certain instances are often 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
Vampires
This section possibly contains original research. (August 2011) |
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.
Buffyverse vampires can be killed by:
- Wooden stake through the heart
- Extensive exposure to sunlight (other dimensions' stars may not work the same as Earth's, as Pylea's dual suns did not kill Angel)
- Extensive burning by fire
- Decapitation
- Holy water (ingestion)[6]
- Magical and supernatural devices and spells
Buffyverse vampires are vulnerable to:
- Exposure to holy water
- Physical contact with a cross
- Limited exposure to sunlight
- Limited exposure to fire
- Possession by other supernatural creatures and forces
- Supernatural spells and devices
Other vampire features:
- Cannot enter private dwellings unless invited.
- Vampires' bodies and clothes explode to dust when slain (except for articles of importance, magical rings, amulets, etc.)
- Have no reflection (but do have a shadow and can appear in photos)
- Superhuman strength, endurance, 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)
- Bullets cannot kill vampires, but can cause them extreme pain.[7]
- In the first episode, Spike. 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 to the fact that bright colors attract the vampires, and therefore the townspeople wear dark, muted colors.
- They can be tranquilized.[8]
- 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," and as seen in season four of Angel, when Faith becomes high on the drug orpheus and allows Angelus to feed on her, causing him to react to the drug as well.
Werewolves
As in historical
Demons
In the Buffyverse, the term "demon" is inexact; it has been applied to just about every creature that is not 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 "
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
Slayers
A group of
Watchers
Within the Buffyverse, the
"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 Gunn.) 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
Humans with powers
While not prominent in the Buffyverse, there are individuals who gain special powers through means other than the ones mentioned above.
Technology
Technology in the Buffyverse is more advanced than in the real world at the time it was produced, 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, Jane".
- Inventor Ted Buchanan built a highly advanced Ted")
- Seeing Red").
- 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 & Hart.
See also
References
- ISBN 0-14-303862-1.
- ^ Porter, Rick. "Whedon's 'Angel' Goes Down Fighting". Zap2it. Archived from the original on 13 February 2007. Retrieved 14 February 2007.
- ^ Morris, Clint. "Interview: Joss Whedon". Moviehole.net. Archived from the original on 13 December 2006. Retrieved 14 February 2007.
- ^ "A Hole in the World". Angel. Season 5. Episode 15.
- The Harvest". Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Season 1. Episode 2.
- ^ "Helpless". Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Season 3. Episode 12.
- ^ "Angel". Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Season 1. Episode 7.
- ^ "Doppelgangland". Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Season 3. Episode 16.