Season Nine is a comic book meta-series from Dark Horse Comics, which began to be published in August 31, 2011 and finished in September 11, 2013.
Although Joss Whedon did not write many stories, he served as an Executive Producer for the meta-series. It is the canonical continuation of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel series. The story is a direct continuation of Season Eight, followed by Season Ten meta-series.
The meta-series followed different (groups of) characters as they reacted to the fall-out of the Twilight crisis, the end of magic, and the emergence of zompires.
Season 8 ended with a bang that cut the world off from magic — culminating in another set of world-ending problems. Buffy has left her best friend, Willow, powerless, and brought an end to a millennia-long tradition of superpowered girls. By day, Buffy is a twenty-something waitress with no real direction, and even though magic is gone, she's still a vampire Slayer by night. Bigger problem? Vampires are becoming an epidemic… of zompires!
With the Scooby gang on the skids, Buffy finds herself increasingly alone. When faced with some tough decisions grounded in "real world" problems (i.e., not the slaying of pesky demons), Buffy is determined to make her own choices, but that doesn't mean she won't need a little handholding along the way. Cue Spike, compelled to stand by his best friend in her moment of need. Together they'll tackle the increasing zompire population and a rogue Slayer out for blood.
The Chosen One has a new lease on life, courtesy of… Kennedy?! In a bold move to give disenfranchised Slayers a meaningful societal role (with pay), Kennedy recruits Buffy to act as bodyguard for high-profile clientele. But unlike the other recruits, Buffy struggles to abandon her Slaying instincts and looks for demony threats where none lie (much to Kennedy's dismay). So it's only natural that her first job is to protect a tech mogul who just so happens to be running from demon assassins! Then, guest writers Jane Espenson (Once Upon a Time) and Drew Greenberg (Warehouse 13) show a new kind of Slayer emerging in a small town about to be contaminated by the growing zompire epidemic!
Buffy is unwillingly recruited by the demon Illyria and a mystical council to take down the Siphon — for good. He is on the loose again, and a danger to all remnants of magic! Meanwhile, the loss of magic has begun to affect those closest to Buffy…
When Dawn falls ill, it's up to best friends Buffy, Xander, and Willow to join forces and find a supernatural cure in a world sorely lacking magic. The trio must fight their way into the Deeper Well, the former home of Illyria and other ancient deities known as the Old Ones, where they hope to jump-start magic back into existence.
Angel has made bad choices in his life. Most recently? While possessed, he killed Giles. However, he believes he's found a way to make amends, by bringing the Watcher back from the grave! Cue Faith — rebel Slayer, and Angel's only ally — who only supports this harebrained scheme in order to keep her friend from catatonia. New threats emerge as this unlikely duo struggles against real and personal demons alike, while hitting the dark streets of London!
The dark streets of London are increasingly dangerous as murderers, mystically devoid of emotion, begin to impact the lives of Angel and Faith. In unraveling this new mystery, the pair follow clues in the Watcher's Files to a demon from Giles' past and a "child" from Angel's. Then, Drusilla returns to her homeland and becomes the hot new vampire in the underground scene! While Angel faces Dru, Faith must deal with issues that reawaken her inner turmoil — a visit from her deadbeat dad, who's looking for a favor, and a troubled Slayer hell bent on revenge.
Artists: Rebekah Isaacs, David Lapham, Lee Garrett
Angel's quest to resurrect Giles has brought an old friend to London—Willow! Tensions run high as these two confront the loss of Giles, but before blood can be shed, Willow has a proposition. She'll help Angel on his quest if he'll help her find magic. To do that, she'll need Connor to get them into Quor'toth, a hell dimension where magic runs deep.
When a demon from Giles' past emerges in London, Angel has his chance to capture the final piece of Giles' soul. But when Faith's innocent Slayer friends end up standing between the guilt-ridden vampire and his prize, Angel is unwilling to sacrifice new lives for one that was already lost — even if it destroys his quest altogether!
Angel's quest to restore Giles' life has entered its last stage. As he and Faith prepare to carry out their task and resurrect an old friend, Season 9's Big Bads enter the last phase of their own plan to restore balance to the earth.
Armed with Buffy's broken scythe, Willow has entered another dimension and begun a quest to somehow, someway, against all odds, bring magic back to Earth. She must keep her darkest self at bay while she battles demons—the scaly and horned type as well as her own!
Fresh from his latest attempt to get Buffy to act on her feelings for him, Spike, the once-terrifying vampire Big Bad, has fled to the dark side of the moon. His soul-searching trip leads him to a group of dangerous demons and a rude awakening from his reverie, which in turn leads him on an unexpected adventure to… Sunnydale!
Writers: Joss Whedon, Andrew Chambliss, Jane Espenson, Scott Allie
Artist: Georges Jeanty, Karl Moline, Cliff Richards
The world has lost its connection to magic, and a new breed of vampires has been born — zompires! Still, there's more trouble for Buffy the Vampire Slayer: a magic siphon is loose, student loans have to be paid, Willow goes walkabout, and Buffy finds herself pregnant while coming to terms with her relationship with Spike.
Writers: Andrew Chambliss, Christos Gage, Jeff Parker, Jane Espenson, Drew Greenberg
Artists: Georges Jeanty, Brian Ching, Karl Moline
When Buffy is unemployed and killing fewer vampires than ever, a group of Slayer-driven special forces called Deepscan gives her hope for a more prosperous future. But Buffy can't resist her slaying instincts in a new world where not all bad things are… bad. The world keeps changing, and the Slayer struggles to keep pace. Meanwhile, Willow embarks on a singular journey to reclaim her identity and her magic in strange worlds where she confronts extraordinary beasts, resists magical temptations, and must discover the gateway home again.
Buffy, Xander, and Willow set out on a journey to find a supernatural solution in a world sorely lacking magic. This trio of friends will confront new enemies — a superbeing bent on revenge, a Slayer gone rogue, and the ancient god who created vampires — in a battle that will change the shape of the world. Buffy, with a little help from her friends, will rediscover what it truly means to be a Slayer.
The supernatural world is reeling after the loss of magic in Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8. The death of Buffy's mentor, Giles, at Angel's (possessed) hand has the vampire with a soul looking for a way to make amends. He's going to bring the Watcher back from the grave! Faith, rebel Slayer, is helping Angel with his quest, if only to keep him from going too far. But there's more keeping this duo sword ready: a set of demon twins, Angel's former guide Whistler, Faith's vengeful Slayer sisters, and the crazed vampire Drusilla!
Artists: Rebekah Isaacs, Paul Lee, David Lapham, Lee Garrett, Cliff Richards
Willow arrives in London looking to join forces with Angel and Faith and gain access to Angel's son, Connor. With Connor's help, Willow hopes to travel to the fearsome hell dimension, Quor'toth, and restore magic to earth! On the dark side of the moon, Spike embraces some peace, quiet, and distance from the Slayer. But when a pack of demons and a succubus rip him from his melancholic reverie, he embarks on an unexpected adventure that reveals some hard truths.
When a demon from Giles's past reemerges in London, it gives Angel the opportunity he's been waiting for: capturing the final piece of the late Watcher's soul. For Faith, emotions run high after her Slayer comrades discover her long-standing relationship with public enemy number one, Angel. And if that wasn't enough, Slayers start turning into zombies!