The Origin, Part One

Comic Issue
The Origin, Part One
Publication date	January 13, 1999
Pages	22
Series
The Origin #1
previous first issue in series	next The Origin, Part Two
Creative Team
Published by	Dark Horse Comics
Writer(s)	Dan Brereton & Christopher Golden
Penciller(s)	Joe Bennett
Editor(s)	Scott Allie
Cover artist(s)	Joe Bennett, Hector Gomez, Jeromy Cox & Guy Major
Inker(s)	Rick Ketcham
Colorist(s)	Jeromy Cox Guy Major
Letterer(s)	Ken Bruzenak

The Origin, Part One is the first issue of “The Origin” comic book miniseries. It was written by Dan Brereton and Christopher Golden, and illustrated by Joe Bennett.

Synopsis

The comic book adaption of the cult film starts the New Year off with a bang. Adapted from creator Joss Whedon’s original screenplay, witness Buffy’s humble beginnings as the Slayer! Follow her trials and tribulations as she comes to accept her destined role, and all the vampire slaying you can handle in a three-issue series. See the original Buffy before she set fire to the red-hot television show.^[1]

Summary

A popular high school student, Buffy Summers, is planning her next big school dance, when she became the Slayer. Merrick, her Watcher, seek her out and informs her of her destiny.

Continuity

• The events take place before Buffy moves from Los Angeles to Sunnydale ("Welcome to the Hellmouth").
• Buffy’s first encounter and patrol with Merrick had been shown as flashbacks in episode "Becoming, Part One".
• Buffy’s fight against Robert Berman and the unidentified vampire, as well as the aftermath of this encounter, are eventually told to Dawn in the prose "The First Time".

Appearances

Individuals

• Amilyn
• Robert Berman
• Cassandra
• Consuela (Only mentioned)
• Grueller
• Kimberly Hannah
• Maryanne Heinel (Only mentioned)
• Mr. Howard (Only mentioned)
• Benny Jacks
• Merrick Jamison-Smythe
• Jeffrey Kramer
• Lothos
• Oliver Pike
• Buffy Summers
• Hank Summers
• Joyce Summers
• Tyler (Only mentioned)
• Unidentified Bar Maiden Slayer
• Unidentified Dark Ages Slayer
• Unidentified Hong Kong Prostitute Slayer

Organizations and titles

• Los Angeles Police Department (Only mentioned)
• Slayer
• Watcher

Species

• Human
• Vampire

Events

• Hemery High School Dance (Only mentioned)

Locations

• El Salvador
• Europe (Only mentioned)
• Los Angeles, USA
  • Hemery High School
  • Summers residence
• Hong Kong, China (Only mentioned)
• Spain (Only mentioned)

Weapons and objects

• Stake

Death count

• A vampire, staked by the unidentified bar maiden Slayer (in flashback).
• The unidentified bar maiden Slayer, killed by Lothos (in flashback).
• Grueller, killed by Bessel.
• Robert Berman, sired by an unknown vampire (only mentioned).
• Robert, staked by Buffy Summers.
• Unidentified female vampire, staked by Buffy.

Behind the scenes

Production

• According to editor Scott Allie, “established Buffy novelist Christopher Golden pitched an adaptation of Joss [Whedon]’s original screenplay, minus the camp of the film, and done in the style of the TV show.”^[2]

• Unlike the Buffy the Vampire Slayer film, the comic’s story is canon. About this, Joss Whedon has stated: “The origin comic, though I have issues with it, CAN pretty much be accepted as canonical. They did a cool job of combining the movie script (the SCRIPT) with the series, that was nice, and using the series Merrick and not a certain OTHER thespian [referring to Donald Sutherland] who shall remain hated.”^[3]

• The photo cover features a promotional picture taken for Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 1.

• Differently from other representations, at this point the comic issues had vampires also able to transform into green creatures with red eyes, pointy ears, a wide mouth, and long teeth. Although, this seems more like an artistic choice, not having direct consequence to the stories.

Distribution

• The Origin, Part One was the 33º best selling comic issue in its publishing month, with 49,974 sales in January 1999 at comic specialty stores.^[4]

Collections

• "The Origin"
• "Omnibus: Volume 1"
• "Classic 2: The Origin"

Pop culture references

• Buffy mentions shoplifting a lipstick at department store Macy’s
• Buffy asks if singer Elvis Presley (1935–1977) have talked to Merrick, questioning his sanity.

Goofs, bloopers & continuity errors

• Although Merrick affirms Robert had died three days before, his tombstone has his year of death as 1990, six years before the time this story takes place.

Gallery

Cover artwork

Joe Bennett main cover

Original photo cover’s picture

Add a photo to this gallery

References