Buffy The Vampire Slayer

“BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER” fans won’t have to wait much longer for the return of their beloved huntress. Joss Whedon, the creator of the hit show that had a huge gay following even before Buffy’s best friend Willow the witch (Alyson Hannigan) came out of the closet, is working on an eighth season of the series.

But wait, it’s not going to be on television; it’s going to be coming to a comic book store near you. Whedon - who has been busy writing “The Astonishing X-Men” and “Runaways” for Marvel Comics - is penning the first four issues of a monthly “Buffy” comic book for Dark Horse Comics. There will be about 30 issues in the new saga penned by different writers, which picks up some time after the 2003 series finale.

In this “season,” Buffy has left Sunnydale and is the head of a squadron of Slayers that she trained. Artist Georges Jeanty draws the main character to resemble actress Sarah Michelle Gellar without looking exactly like her.

All the major characters from the show will be back - including Willow - even though they’ll be introduced slowly, as the action unfolds. Look for the first issue on March 7.