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I am a huge Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan. Ask my boyfriend and my roommates: I watch it constantly, and I listen to the musical all the time. If Buffy could be a religion, I would be a devout follower.

Since Buffy is no longer on television, I’ve been going through a bit of a Buffy drought. Once the comics appeared on the scene, I began reading them sporadically, waiting for the paperback volumes to be released to purchase them. I caught an article on the New York Times about Issue #12 and Buffy’s lesbian “experimentation”. This isn’t the first time Joss Whedon has included lesbianism in his series.

For those not familiar with the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series, Willow - a witch and Buffy’s best friend - develops a lesbian relationship with a fellow witch, Tara, during college. After Tara’s death, Willow begins dating a potential slayer.

Joss Whedon has often said that making Willow a lesbian wasn’t so much about her being a lesbian, it was about her finding in love in someplace unexpected, regardless of whether it was a man or a woman. As a character, Willow’s most obvious trait was her ability to love anyone wholeheartedly, and Whedon played on that trait in her relationship with, and grieving of the loss of, her girlfriend. While BtVS wasn’t the biggest pop culture hit during its seven year run, it was a show that used science fiction and fantasy story lines to highlight true life experiences and the struggles teens and young adults face growing up.

Besides, there’s nothing more fabulous than a show that takes the “high school is hell” metaphor and turns it into the basis for an entire seven season show.

From the NYT:

In a new issue of the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” comic book series, being released Wednesday, Buffy sleeps with a fellow slayer. And, oh yeah, she’s a woman.

It’s an unusual development for a lead character of a series, whether on television or in comic books.

The story line “evolved naturally,” said Joss Whedon, who created Buffy for the 1992 film and the 1997 television show, which ran for seven seasons. Mr. Whedon is also executive producer of the comic book, published by Dark Horse Comics and promoted as “Season Eight.”

He has written several stories for it, including an opening arc that introduces Satsu (pronounced SOUGHT-sue), one of nearly 2,000 slayers activated in the television show’s finale. One of Buffy’s prized disciples, she ends up sharing her bed.

Mr. Whedon has developed their liaison over several issues. In No. 3 Buffy is overcome by a “Sleeping Beauty” spell undone only by a kiss from someone who loves her. In No. 4 Buffy realizes that Satsu saved her. Last month the pair discussed Satsu’s feelings. Buffy, although flattered by Satsu’s attentions, said the risks of involvement were too great.

“People who love me tend to … oh, die,” she said. Or, she added, they leave, because “sooner or later everybody realizes there’s something wrong … something wrong with me, or around me.”

My favorite part, however, comes from none other than Mr. Whedon himself:

But before fans start blogging frantically, they should know that Mr. Whedon is clear where this is headed. “We’re not going to make her gay, nor are we going to take the next 50 issues explaining that she’s not. She’s young and experimenting, and did I mention open-minded?”

I can’t wait to read this issue! Nerd alert…

[Image from Dark Horse Comics, NYT]